Glory to God in the Highest

Christmas – Glory to God in the Highest

Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ the Savior of Mankind

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from [the Roman King] Caesar Augustus [born Octavian and reigned from 27 BC to 14 AD], that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was Governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the [birth] City of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her Firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn [the guest room at the house]. ~ Luke 2:1-7

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the Glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David [Bethlehem] a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; All of you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host [Angels] praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth Peace, Good Will toward men. And it came to pass, as the Angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His Name was called JESUS, which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb. ~ Luke 2:8-21

Christmas Day “Savior Day”
The Day Jesus Christ the Savior of the world
entered into the world!

Christmas Day “Savior Day”

Christmas Day “Savior Day”

Christmas Day is “Savior Day” the day God (Jesus Christ) the Savior of mankind entered into the physical human realm to accomplish both the Redemption and Salvation of mankind. The exact Christmas Day is thought to be in the Fall sometime however the actual day is unknown as the Bible highlights the adult Ministry of Jesus and particularly the last week, Holy Week, when Jesus was with His disciples in and around Jerusalem and among His fellow Jews in their Temple.

The Gospel of Luke 1:68-70 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited (Mary is pregnant with Jesus) and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

The word “Savior” means “healer” to be made healthy, whole, to be safe and sound, saved from mortal danger. The name Jesus means “God and Savior” Je=Jehovah (God-YHWH), sus=salvation (life giver).

Luke 1:30-33 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His Name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

The Crucifixion/Cross Day is the “Redemption Day” the day Jesus paid the full death penalty of sin for all mankind and redeemed (purchased) mankind back into His presence.

To be redeemed is to be bought (purchased) back into the presence of God. The redemption is the end of separation the separation between man and God. With Jesus Christ physically present on earth starting with His virgin pregnancy in Mary and His virgin birth from Mary, mankind is now redeemed and in the presence of God. After the cross and resurrection mankind is now in the Spiritual Redeemed presence of God-Jesus.

The term “Salvation Day” is the correct Theological term for Easter Sunday and our Salvation in the eternal life giving Resurrection of Jesus.

Easter Sunday is “Salvation Day” the day Jesus resurrected from death by His divine eternal life to offer His eternal resurrection life Spirit to all who are willing to receive the Holy Spirit to live forever in the presence of Jesus in heaven.

Redemption: Exodus 6:6-8 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out [Passover night] from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm (cross), and with great judgments: And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land (Israel), concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

The redeemed Jews then received a type of Salvation approximately three days later after the Passover blood of the lambs when the Jews were “saved” from the certain death of the attacking Egyptian army. The salvation was a representation of the Easter Resurrection of Jesus where with the eternal Resurrection life of Jesus the enemy army of sin and death that plagues mankind has been destroyed, washed into the sea like the attacking army of the slave master Pharaoh however it is the death, bondage and sin of the slave master Satan that has been washed away never to return to the redeemed and saved of Jesus Christ.

Salvation: Exodus 14:26-31 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand [cross – redemption before salvation] over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

The salvation from Egypt was later rejected by the nation of Israel when they rejected God as their leader and instead asked for a human to be their King so they could be like the other Gentile nations and have a human King represent and lead them. God then gave them Saul as their first King of Israel followed by King David and later the descendants of King David starting with King Solomon and ending with King Zedekiah as even the Kings of Israel turned away from God (1 Samuel 10:17-19) but God has always been faithful and remains faithful to His chosen people the Jews. God has never turned away from Israel or from His people the Jews and now God is also showing forth His faithfulness to the Christian Church.

Salvation (protection) later Rejected: 1 Samuel 10:17-19 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto Him, Nay, but set a king [Saul] over us.

Currently the Jews are a Redeemed people redeemed into the presence and plan of God. The Jews, Hebrews, Nation of Israel however have postponed their Salvation from God and receive their salvation healing when they enter into Heaven the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 43:1-12 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I Am with thee: I will bring [return from the Dispora] thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by My Name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and My Servant (Jesus Christ) whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Later in the physical virgin birth and presence of Jesus, God again came to the Jews this time to permanently redeem and save them and all mankind those Jews and Gentiles who are willing to be saved by God.

Luke 2:25-32 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation (comfort) of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

The Apostle Paul when talking with the Jewish elders of his day about Christianity and in explaining the concepts and reasons for the existence of the Christian “Sect” Paul is mentioning only that it is the healing salvation that the Jews are rejecting in rejecting Jesus. Paul did not call into question the redemption of the Jews because the Jews remain the redeemed of Israel. The gentiles however in becoming Christians receive both the redemption and the salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

Acts 28:17-31 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, … therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, … we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect (Christianity), we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him (Paul) a day, there came many (Jews) to him into his (Roman prison) lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the (O.T.) law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias (Isaiah 6:9) the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this (Jewish) people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal (salvation) them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Redemption is the work of God alone. God alone came to mankind and God alone went to the cross. God alone Resurrected from the dead and it is God alone that has opened up and made available His Redemptive presence to mankind.

Salvation is a work in cooperation with God. It is God that provides the healing but it is up to the individual person to accept and cooperate with the plans and conditions of God in order to receive and be healed in the salvation power that God offers.

Conclusion: When a modern Christian uses the term “salvation” (as in are you Saved?) it implies that “redemption” is a part of the salvation process and it is also used without consideration of the Jews and of the Jewish relationship with God and of their redeemed presence with God. The Jews remain in the redeemed-relationship presence of God yet not having the complete redemption of the cross of Jesus Christ are not in the redemptive-salvation relationship with God that the Christian Church is in. One must first be redeemed by the blood and cross of Jesus Christ to be in the presence of God to then begin receiving the salvation (Holy Spirit) and the continued healing work of being saved “salvation” in the eternal (no more death) life Resurrection presence of Jesus Christ.

God gave us Life to share with others! – Faith Lives! Faith Gives! – Merry Christmas!

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

The CHRISTmas Message in the Bible

The Evangelical Christmas Message in the Bible

God’s Wonderful Creation of Our Life and Existence

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:26-28 And God (Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit) said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God Created Mankind for Fellowship

Genesis 5:1-2 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him; male and female created He them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Adam & Eve Sin against God – Mankind is now Separated from God

Genesis 3:9-13 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree (of evil), whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent (Satan) beguiled (tricked) me, and I did eat.

God Promises Mankind the Redeemer Jesus – the Seed of the Virgin Birth

Genesis 3:14-15 And the LORD God said unto the serpent (Satan), Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed (antichrist) and her seed (Redeemer-Jesus Christ); it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

The Tree of Life is Sheltered until Sin is Removed

Genesis 3:22-24 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Abraham is Promised to be in the Lineage of the Redeemer

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram (Abraham), Get thee out of thy country (Babylon/Iraq), and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land (Israel) that I
will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation (Jews), and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee (through Jesus-Redeemer) shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Balaam’s Christmas Prophecy

Numbers 24:17 … there shall come a Star (Christmas Star) out of Jacob, and a Scepter (King) shall rise [resurrection] out of Israel …

The Prophet Samuel Anoints the Sheperd Boy David to be the King of Israel

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the (Holy) Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.

Nathan’s Prophecy to King David that his Throne Will be for the Redeemer

2 Samuel l7:4-17 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell My servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build Me an house for Me to dwell in? Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt (slavery), even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

In all the places wherein I (God) have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people Israel, saying, Why build ye not Me an house of cedar?

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto My servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel:
And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies.

Also the LORD telleth thee that He (God) will make thee (David) an house.

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed (descendants) after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

He shall build an house for My name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

I will be His Father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

King David’s Reply to God’s Gracious Gift of Providing the Redeemer

2 Samuel 7:18-28 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house (family), that Thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in Thy sight, O Lord GOD; but Thou hast spoken also of Thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? And
what can David say more unto Thee? for Thou, Lord GOD, knowest Thy servant.

For Thy word’s sake, and according to Thine own heart, hast Thou done all these great things, to make Thy servant know them.

Wherefore Thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people (Jews), even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to Himself, and to make Him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for Thy land, before Thy people, which Thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For Thou hast confirmed to Thyself Thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee for ever: and Thou, LORD, art become their God.

And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

And let Thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before thee.

For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to Thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath Thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto Thee.

And now, O Lord GOD, Thou art that God, and Thy words be true, and Thou hast promised this goodness unto Thy servant: Therefore now let it please Thee to bless the house of Thy servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee: for Thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with Thy blessing let the house of Thy servant be blessed for ever.

The Prophet Isaiah Reminds the House of David about the Coming Redeemer

Isaiah 7:13-14 And he (Isaiah) said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).

The Prophet Isaiah Instructs that God Himself will be the Redeemer of Mankind

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born (virgin birth), unto us a Son is given (cross): and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The Angel Gabriel Announces the Coming Entrance-Birth of the Redeemer of Mankind

Luke 1:26-38 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS.

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits and is Greeted by Elisabeth

Luke 1:39-45 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Mary’s Reply – “The Magnificent”

Luke 1:46-56 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and Holy is His name.

And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; As He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

John the Baptist’s Father’s Prophecy Regarding Jesus the Redeemer

Luke 1:67-75 And his (John’s) father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; The oath which He sware to our father Abraham, That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.

The Virgin Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem

Luke 2:1-7 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus (Roman Ruler) that all the world should be taxed.

And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Sheperds are Invited to View the Redeemer Jesus

Luke 2:8-12 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The Heavenly Angels Rejoice in God at the Birth of Jesus the Redeemer

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

The Sheperds Visit the Baby Jesus the Redeemer of all Mankind

Luke 2:15-16 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

The Sheperds Begin to Tell the World that Jesus the Redeemer has Arrived

Luke 2:17-20 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

The Wise Men Come to Present Gifts and to Worship Jesus the Redeemer and King of Mankind.

Matthew 2:1-11 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is
born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star (Christmas Star) in the east, and are come to worship Him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young Child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Jesus is Circumcised and Officially Given His Name Jesus Jesus = God (self-sustaining, ultimate power-authority) and Eternal Salvation (healing)

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Note: After the Tribulation Period during the coming 1,000 year Kingdom reign of Jesus here on earth we will not be primarily calling God “Jesus” (Jehovah God is Salvation) we will be calling God “Jehovah Tsidkenu” (THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS). Jeremiah 23:6 … and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The Holyman Simeon Prophesies about Jesus

Luke 2:22-35 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him.

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

The Holywoman Anna Prophesies about Jesus

Luke 2:36-39 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

Jesus Grew and Accomplished All that He was Sent to Do

Luke 2:40 And the Child grew, and waxed strong in Spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.

Matthew 18:31-33 Then He took unto Him the twelve (Apostles), and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished.

For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death (cross): and the third day He shall rise (resurrection) again.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ the Living Redeemer

Mark 16:14-16 Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.

And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel (good news) to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Our Eternal Future with God our Redeemer and the Tree of Life

Revelation 22:1-2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

The Angel Testifies that these things are soon to come

Revelation 22:6-7 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done.

Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book (Bible).

Jesus Testifies that He is the Redeemer

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Invitation to All People to Become Redeemed

Revelation 22:17 And the (Holy) Spirit and the bride (Church) say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Christmas time is a wonderful time it is a time of reassurance of God’s love and of God’s commitment for all mankind throughout all time.

Enjoy the Christmas holiday season knowing that there is indeed a Savior-Redeemer for mankind and that Jesus Christ is the Savior-Redeemer.

Have a very merry CHRISTmas!

God bless you!
David Anson Brown

© Copyright by David Anson Brown 2005. All rights reserved.

Articles

Various Articles

PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL

The prophet Isaiah throughout his writings entitles the coming Messiah–our Lord Jesus Christ–the “Holy One” although he uses this significant name interchangeably for God the Father. This title, Isaiah’s favorite, is used a total of twenty-nine times beginning in the very first chapter of his most significant prophecy, most significant because of it’s intense focus on our Lord Jesus. This attribute of the character of God is in fact more than just an attribute, for holiness is the primary word used to describe the very essence of our God. It is not surprising therefore that the preparation for the Holy One’s birth would be saturated in holiness as described in Luke chapter one. From the very outset, when Zacharias was visited by the holy angel as he was ministering in the holy place at the altar of incense, God’s holy angel underlined the fact that Zacharias’ son would ‘be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. Another of God’s holy angels, Gabriel, would then visit the virgin Mary bringing the good tidings of great joy, telling her that she would ‘conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS’. He explained to her that ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God’. …

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Commentary: You can’t take Christ out of Christmas – But this seeming backlash against Christianity is bordering on the absurd, and we should continue to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season – America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded

(CNN) — This whole push to remove Christ from the Christmas season has gotten so ridiculous that it’s pathetic. … Its time that we return to traditional values, and end this ridiculous charade. It’s important that we take a fuller account of WHY we celebrate Christmas, as opposed to falling for the barrage of ads that tell us what is most important. Parents, don’t be so consumed with the notion that your children will have a terrible Christmas because the tree isn’t overflowing with gifts. The true love that you show them is more important than anything else. America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded.
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Christmas vs. Holiday

Christmas – is “about” One Thing, that sacred day 2,000 years ago when a Babe was born in Bethlehem, not to offer Capra’s wonderful life on Earth, but to offer Christ’s Eternal Life in Heaven. On Christmas Day, Christians must ask which life they are contemplating.
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The Kingdom Reign of Jesus Christ

8th Kingdom – Jesus Christ – The Eternal Kingdom – The 3 Thrones of Jesus Christ – Current Throne in Heaven, Eligibility: Relative – Son of God (Father God) [eternal co-reigning with the Father and the Holy Spirit] – Future Millennial Kingdom Throne in Jerusalem, Eligibility: Relative – Son of Man (descendant of King David) – Eternal Throne of New Heaven (sky) and New Earth, Eligibility: Conqueror (John 16:33)

Currently Jesus Christ is seated on His own Throne (co-reigning – interceding) at the right hand of His Father’s Throne in Heaven. “Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth [not Jesus]? It is [Jesus] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, *Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us [not condemning Christians].” — At a future date for the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on earth Jesus will be seated upon the Throne of King David (Acts 2:29-33) in Jerusalem. Then with the New Heaven (sky) and the New Earth, Jesus as the conqueror of this earth [realm] will sit eternally [continuing to coreign] with the Father and the Holy Spirit on His own Throne upon the New Eternal Earth (Revelation 21:3). — “John 16:33 These things I (Jesus) have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I (Jesus) have overcome the world.”
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8th Kingdom – Jesus Christ – The Eternal Kingdom – Jesus Christ – The Only Possible Legitimate Messiah – The prophet Jeremiah was specific when he wrote in 23:5-6 of the coming of the royal son of David: “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. “In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.'”

A Legal Heir: Moreover, because Jesus descended from Mary, who also was a descendent of King David through the lineage of Nathan, He had a legal claim to the throne. The two lines of David focused on the Messiah. No one else could ever bring a legitimate claim to the throne of David. Luke presented the physical line of Jesus through His mother who descended from David through the line of Nathan (Luke 3:31). in this way Jesus escaped the curse of Jehoiachin. Donald Barnhouse concludes, “If Jesus is not the Messiah who has descended from David according to the Old Testament prophecies, there will never be a Messiah. For Jesus had no human children, and each of his brothers (who are the only other possibilities through whom another messiah might descend) had the curse on him and would have passed it on to his children” and Jeremiah’s prophecy would thus be fulfilled. — Jesus Christ is the legitimate descendent from two lines of King David. He is the King announced in the Jewish prophecies. He is the King Messiah who was also the Son of God. He is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” No one else can make that claim. He is the only possible legitimate Messiah. There can absolutely be no other. How significant that the great prophecy that the Messiah King would come through the line of David was given just a few verses after the great words of judgment on the descendents of Jehoiachin. C. C. Ryrie notes, “If Jesus had been born only in the line of Joseph (and thus of Jechoniah, Heb. Coniah), He would not have been qualified to reign on the throne of David in the Millennium.” He also writes, “Had our Lord been the natural son of Joseph, He could not have been successful on the throne of David because of this curse. But since He came through Mary’s lineage, He was not affected by this curse.” There was no curse on Nathan’s line. Though Jechoniah’s sons never occupied the throne, the line of rulership passed through them. If Jesus had been a physical descendent of Jechoniah, He would not have been able to occupy David’s throne. Luke’s genealogy makes it clear that Jesus was a legal descendant of David through his son Nathan (Lk. 3:31). Joseph, a descendent of Solomon, was Jesus’ legal adoptive father, so Jesus traced His royal rights to the throne through Joseph. Jesus Christ is the only legitimate legal Jewish Messiah. Let us bow and worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
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8th Kingdom – Jesus Christ – The Eternal Kingdom – The Bible’s book of Job (Job 4:18) seems to indicate that God did not at one time (before the cross and resurrection of Jesus) trust the holy angels to remain holy and not take part in the fallen angelic, Mystery Babylon conspiracy against God and against mankind – In the book of Daniel (Daniel 10:21) it is revealed that only the Angels Gabriel and Michael the Archangel were aware of the plans and timing to restrain Mystery Babylon and to bring in the incarnation of God (Jesus Christ) into the realm of mankind – The Angel Gabriel that spoke to and instructed the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:21) is the same Angel that spoke to and instructed both the priest (Luke 1:19) Zacharias [the father of John the Baptist] and the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-35) regarding the incarnation of Jesus Christ

“Job 4:17-21 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, **He put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly: How much less in them [humans] that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” — “1 Timothy 5:21-22 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, *and the **elect angels [holy angels that have responded to the calling of God and remained holy], that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. Lay hands suddenly
on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” — “Hebrews 1:4-9 [Jesus] Being made (G1096 – appear in history, come upon the stage, appearing in public) so much
better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. For unto which of the angels said He [Father God] at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son? And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten [Jesus Christ] into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him [Jesus]. And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son He saith, *Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy Kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy [Father] God, hath anointed Thee [Jesus] with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”
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8th Kingdom – Jesus Christ – The Eternal Kingdom – The Bible’s book of Daniel Chapter 7 tells of a vision that Daniel had during the reign in the first year of Babylonian King Belshazzar [the grandson of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar – 3rd Global Gentile Kingdom of the earth] regarding four beasts (the 4 remaining global gentile governments- Persia, Greece, Rome, Revised Rome) – Later in Daniel chapter 10 in the third year of Cyrus King of Persia [4th Global Gentile Kingdom of the earth] it was given to Daniel to have further interpretation regarding the previous vision in chapter 7 – Possibly Jesus Himself and an angel [thought to be the angel Gabriel] came to Daniel with encouragement and more information – The information that the Angel brought to Daniel was that the Holy Angelic realm was actively opposing and fighting against [the fallen Mystery Babylon realm of fallen angels (Revelation 17:5,9)] – The angel had currently been resisting Mystery Babylon’s (spiritual) Persian Empire and also very importantly the Angel was already preparing to resist the then coming Mystery Babylon’s (spiritual) Geek Empire [5th Global Gentile Kingdom of the earth] — “Daniel 10:20-21 Then said he [thought to be the angel Gabriel], [now] Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia [a fallen angel]: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince [another fallen angel] of Grecia (Greece) shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of Truth [Bible]: and there is none that holdeth [has the knowledge – plans of God] with me in these things [in the O.T. times before the incarnation, cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ], but Michael [the Archangel] your prince [a holy angel of Israel].”

“Daniel 7:1-3 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds [spirits] of the heaven strove upon the great sea [humanity]. And four great beasts came up from the sea [humanity], diverse one from another.” – The holy Angelic realm seems to have had a special interest in combating the Mystery Babylon Kingdom of Greece. Greece in many ways was and is the most sustained and dangerous of the Mystery Babylon Kingdoms. Ancient Greece accumulated and parlayed much of the deep ancient Mystery Babylon Kingdom knowledge assembling the secrets of (The Tower of Babel, Egypt, Babylon and Persia) and preserved them in a Westernized format for a continued and sustained onslaught against mankind that has lasted for well over 2,000 years. Along with the deep ancient secrets of Mystery Babylon, Greece has initiated mankind with secular philosophy, the myths and gods of Olympus, a prolonged cultural substitute for godliness and a seemingly sustainable nanny state society. Including the fact that in ancient Greece were sown and continued some of the seeds of our modern UFO phenomenon and of our current modern Evolution Darwinian hoax dilemma further designating that no culture, not even Rome has left such an impression [in a harmful way] on so much of the human race for such a long time. — “Daniel 11:45-12:3 And he [Antichrist] shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [Mt. Moriah, Jerusalem]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. And at that time shall Michael [the Archangel] stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy [Jewish] people: and there shall be a time of trouble [Jacob’s trouble – During the Great Tribulation of Revelation], such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake [participate in the ongoing first resurrection], some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt [judgment]. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
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• Hope – Basic Christian: Theology, Answers to Life’s Questions, 132 Topics
  

   

  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. ~ Titus 1:2

  Hope is the optimistic expectation of future success. The opposite of hope is despair; the expectation of future disappointment and failure. Hope is in conjunction with faith. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hope is an expectation. We could hope for a relationship, job, car, house, but as soon as we realize our expectation we no longer hope. We might have a new hope for a bigger car, or a bigger house, but as soon as we receive it, we no longer hope for it. We hope for what we don’t have. Unfulfilled hope is disappointment. Our hope in Jesus will never be disappointed because one day we will meet Jesus face to face.

Giving ‘Glory to God in the Highest’ this is the very basis of our human relationship to the Holy, loving, kind, compassionate and tender God!

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

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Christian Resources

Recommended Resources

The Christian Community Daily Devotional

Basic Christian: Essentials

Jesus Walk Easter Devotional – Leadership Articles 2004
by David Anson Brown

iExalt.com Church Leadership Article #1 April 4, 2004

The Passion of Leadership (part 1 of 5)
by David Anson Brown

Luke 12:49,50 I (Jesus) am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Jesus has a Passion for leadership and for His leaders. The Old Testament foretold of God’s zeal concerning the fulfillment of His plan for mankind.

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this …

As we all know it is not enough to just have Passion for leadership. Caiaphas, Pontius Pilate, Herod and Judas each had a Passion for leadership but as they went on to demonstrate, Passion without knowledge can easily be misdirected and when misapplied to the leadership role the results can be disastrous.

What then is our safety net for the much needed Passions of leadership?

Jesus is the anchor of the leadership soul. Jesus has to be the Passion for our leadership for it is only Jesus who has the knowledge and the understanding of mankind and He knows the fullness of His own plan for salvation, therefore Jesus is the only safety net to the Passions of leadership.

John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

Whom seek we? …

Whom does our Passion dictate that we should seek after? Unless our Passion dictates that we seek Jesus than like Herod or like Judas we are setting ourselves up for disaster.

Leadership by definition involves moving people along through one event and circumstance and into another. Good leadership is going to substantiate good results of growth, maturity and endurance encompassing all of the individuals throughout all of the events and circumstances involved.

Because of the rapid succession of the Passion events of Jesus during the Holy week the question could be asked did Jesus get swept up and caught up in a series of events that were bigger than He is or did Jesus in His role of leadership use the series of events to instruct and guide each of us along through our own betrayals, trials and circumstances to bring us into His everlasting resurrection life.

With so much written in each of the Bible’s four Gospels about the Passion events of Holy Week the events themselves clearly come into focus as a chain, a series of meaningful connected links connected to establish and fulfill the meaningful events foretold by the Holy Prophets of old. Events that would forever alter the face of history and the destiny of mankind. Clearly these are not just a series of random circumstances but the deliberate and ordained plan of God Himself.

The Passion is a study in the leadership of Jesus Christ as He and the disciples go through one event after another and in the case of the disciples sometimes it is triumph and sometimes it is not a triumph but a momentary failure and regardless of victory or defeat each event is a learning experience for the disciples.

In our own Passion to follow Jesus and to learn from Him, as disciples of Jesus, let’s go back with Jesus and the original disciples to revisit and re-live the last week that Jesus spent on earth. This week is also referred to as “Holy Week.” The 10 days will be Friday through the next Sunday. To examine the last week we will have to piece together many items and statements from throughout the Bible. As we go back to the original Holy Week, we will travel like students and detectives, searching the scriptures for events and clues that took place nearly 2,000 years ago. We will in actuality be students and detectives of Jesus, searching out Who He is and what His ministry came to accomplish here on earth.

The Jesus Walk 2004 Holy Week Timeline Devotion is a unique invitation and opportunity to join in and to do just that, to walk with Jesus. I sincerely hope that each of you will take this opportunity to take part in the Jesus Walk 2004 devotion.

Next week: Lessons in Leadership from the Fig Tree part 2 of 5 from The Passion of Leadership.

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

iExalt.com Church Leadership Article #2 April 11, 2004

Lessons from the Fig Tree (part 2 of 5)
by David Anson Brown

Leadership requires the Passion to get to the root of the matter …

In our journey with Jesus and the rest of the disciples during the Bible’s original Holy Week – Passion events we find that on the very next day after the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that Jesus and the disciples encounter a fig tree that is not capable of producing fruit for God. Finding no fruit, Jesus will then curse the fig tree.

Matthew 21:18-20 Now in the morning as He (Jesus) returned into the city, He hungered. And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Jesus’ leadership at the fig tree reveals that leadership is not just a surface matter, but in regarding problems Jesus is depicting for us that the correct action is not to merely prune a few branches and then let the problem still exist or to try to make it easier to look at and more appealing, but that leadership involves getting down into the root of the problem and then cutting it off at the root for a total removal of the problem.

Good leadership knows that with a total removal of the burden comes the total freedom of relief from the problem. Good leadership knows that to totally remove the burden, it is the root of the problem that has to be discovered and cut off. But, what not even our good leadership knows is the depths of the root of the problem.

How deep are the roots of the problem? …

Genesis 3:7,8 … and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Only Jesus knows the depths of the root of the actual problem.

Jesus, with full knowledge is able to fully access the depth of the root of the problem. In the case of the fig tree, the root of the problem of man seeking to hide himself from our loving God extends all the way back to the original sin of mankind and continues on to this day.

During our journey with Jesus we stand by looking at the fruitless fig tree in amazement as we realize that this Jesus is the same God that Adam and Eve sinned against in the Garden of Eden. They then used the fig leaves in an attempt to cover up the shame of their own sins instead of acknowledging their sin & looking and turning to God, their loving Father to provide the answers to their problems.

Jesus with His cross in view and within days of it is now saying that there are no more self-made, man-made coverings for sin. The covering of sin is to be the blood of Jesus from the cross and not of contraptions derived and stitched together by man.

In fact the system of fig tree religion is now cursed by God. Cursed because fig tree religion never did produce fruit for God and certainly fig tree religion never did lead to eternity.

Jesus as the leader recognized unfruitfulness and He took action to remove it. Everyone one of us (unlike Jesus) has an unfruitful aspect in our own life. Can we be bold like Jesus, and when we see unfruitfulness declare it as unacceptable to God? Can we recognize it as a cursed item and not a blessing? And in cursing it to curse it at it’s root so that it will immediately wither and dry up, no longer sustaining an appearance of being potentially fruitful but being what it truly is, something that does not give pleasure to God.

Matthew 21:20 … And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

During our own individual companionship with Jesus as He reveals problem areas to us in our life and we begin to remove them at the root we too like the disciples will rejoice and say, “How soon is the fig tree withered away!”

The Jesus Walk 2004 Holy Week Timeline Devotion is a unique invitation and opportunity to join in and to do just that, to walk with Jesus. I sincerely hope that each of you will take this opportunity to take part in the Jesus Walk 2004 devotion.

Next week Lessons in Leadership from the Gardens of God; Eden, Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb in part 3 of 5 from The Passion of Leadership.

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

iExalt.com Church Leadership Article #3 April 18, 2004

The Gardens of God; Eden, Gethsemane, and the Garden Tomb (part 3 of 5)
by David Anson Brown

During the Passion events of Jesus at the completion of the Last Supper – “The Lord’s Passover Feast” and with Jesus now on His way to the infamous Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus begins His Priestly Prayer of intercession for us to the Father. Jesus then commits to His crucifixion and crosses over the brook of Cedron as He proceeds to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden of destiny and betrayal.

Leadership is the ability to recognize and to correlate events into a meaningful pattern; a pattern that can display the lessons that the leadership desires to be taught, the valuable lessons are learned and can then be passed on and distributed to others.

The Garden is the ideal place to reveal that God is in control, it was so many years ago that Adam and Eve lost mankind’s relationship with God, through their own sin of disobedience, in the original Garden, the Garden of Eden, the Garden of creation.

Had Jesus been arrested anywhere but in a garden, say for instance, in the streets or in the upper-room it would be difficult to correlate the events of the Last Supper to the events of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But since God made certain to go to the Garden we can only correlate these two Garden events and the coming event of the resurrection of Jesus from His Garden Tomb. This again reveals the detailed plan of God as He has set it out for us in His Prophetic word, the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

On this Passion night as we journey with Jesus we now know why God has not made the Lord’s Passover to be a “Rest – Sabbath Feast” like all of the other Holy Feasts prescribed by God to Moses and written down in Leviticus chapter 23 of the Holy Bible. Had the “Lord’s Passover Feast” been a rest feast then Jesus and the disciples would have had to remain at home or inside after the feast and could not have legally walked to the Garden of Gethsemane, this Garden of destiny. Had this been a “Sabbath – Rest Feast” it is also very unlikely that the Temple guards would have broken the Sabbath Law themselves to journey to the Garden to arrest Jesus, who after all was only peacefully praying to the Father. This is another powerful demonstration that these events are orchestrated and allowed to happen by God Himself and are not solely the whims of man but instead are completions to the events that were foreseen in the prophetic writings by the prophets of the Old Testament.

It was God that walked during the cool of the evening with Adam and Eve so long ago in the original Garden, the Garden of Eden and now it is God that is stepping into another Garden, the Garden of Gethsemane. This time through His desire and obedience Jesus will continue to restore back the lost relationship between mankind and God, and this time forever.

We follow and see that Jesus is separated from His disciples and engaged in prayer to the Father. Jesus asks for the third time for the Father to remove “this cup” Matthew 26:42 but there is no other “cup” of redemption available to mankind. Either Jesus gives His life for us, or mankind will never be reunited to God.

Angels come and minister to Jesus. He arises. Judas can now be seen leading a group of Temple soldiers intent on arresting Jesus. Judas then betrays Jesus with a kiss, Matthew 26:49. Jesus in turn calls Judas “friend” Matthew 26:50. Jesus is arrested, bound with ropes and led off meanwhile all of the disciples abandon Him and flee.

Two Gardens revealing the destiny of all mankind, the Garden of creation, fellowship and beauty, and the Garden of agony, suffering and betrayal. Yet there is a third Garden of God, a third appointment with destiny, the Garden Tomb where Jesus would physically resurrect from death and begin to establish His new Garden Paradise in those His followers the Christian Church.

The Gardens of God are an invitation a call from God to mankind to walk with God among His Gardens. To walk among the original Creation Garden of Eden and sometimes journeying into the Garden of agony, rejection and betrayal, but always onward and into the glorious Garden of Resurrection and of Eternal Paradise life.

Walking with God does indeed require us to walk along on His path and among the Gardens that He Himself has walked in.

The Jesus Walk 2004 Holy Week Timeline Devotion is a unique invitation and opportunity to join in and to do just that, to walk with Jesus. I sincerely hope that each of you will take this opportunity to take part in the Jesus Walk 2004 devotion.

Next week The Holy – Passion Week Holy Feasts of God part 4 of 5 from The Passion of Leadership.

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

iExalt.com Church Leadership Article #4 April 25, 2004

The Passion of Leadership: Holy Week Feasts of God (part 4 of 5)
by David Anson Brown

Leviticus 23:1-2, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the Feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be Holy convocations, even these are my Feasts.”

As we already know Leadership requires both Passion and knowledge the passion to do the job and also the knowledge to accomplish the job correctly. In the case of Christian leadership it is required to have some knowledge of the plan and events of God. Fortunately God has carefully spelled out His plan for us in the Bible.

With the Passion events of Jesus being the very definition of Leadership, let’s take a look at just what some of the events are that Jesus was fulfilling in His deliberate plan of leadership. We can find a list of the plans of God in the Old Testament in Leviticus chapter 23. This is a list of eight Feast or Holy-Event days given directly from God to Moses and prescribed for the followers of God to follow for all eternity.

Since the Holy Week – Passion events occur on four of the eight Holy Feasts Days and they directly relate to the other four Feasts let’s take a look at the Feasts of Holy Week and their fulfillment as Jesus in His leadership role is fulfilling His desired plan for mankind.

A look at the plan of God given in His Holy Feasts …

Leviticus 23:4, “These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.”

These four Holy Feasts are observed in the First Month of the Jewish religious calendar, occurred during the Holy Week – Passion events and correspond to the First Coming of Jesus.

Feast #1 Sabbath

Sabbath means a complete Rest including one’s spirit, soul and body. This is the kind of rest that can only come from having security and trust in God. This rest can only come from having God as our ultimate leader. This feast day is observed and fulfilled in Jesus as He entered into Jerusalem [Palm Sunday] presenting Himself to the world as the rightful ruler and King of the World.

Mark 11:10, “Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.”

*Note: In the Greek writing of the Bible it is evident that the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was accomplished on a Saturday the Sabbath feast day even though today the day is traditionally celebrated on a Sunday (Palm Sunday).

The next two feasts are both celebrated as the one long eight day feast of Passover. The Lord’s Passover (1 day) + Unleavened Bread (7 days) = Passover (8 days).

Feast #2 The Lord’s Passover

The Lord’s Passover is the covenant feast of God whereby God agreed to step into man’s predicament of condemnation and death whereby God would take upon Himself the sins of the world and suffer death in order to bring about death to sin. This feast day was observed and fulfilled as Jesus offers His eternal body and His eternal blood to His followers in His New Covenant of Eternal Life given during the Passover Feast. In fulfillment of this feast death has now “passed over” all of those who have entered into this New Covenant relationship with God.

Matthew 26:27-28, “And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the New Testament (Covenant), which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Feast #3 Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is the removal of sin. Leaven (yeast) is a type of a symbol of sin and to remove the leaven is to remove the sin. This feast was observed and fulfilled on the day that Jesus was crucified and died on the cross.

1^st Corinthians 5:6-8, “Your glorying {about sin} is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Feast #4 First Fruits

The Feast of First Fruits according to Leviticus Chapter 23 was to be observed on the first Sunday after the Feasts of The Lord’s Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread had been observed and yes, you guessed it! This is the very exciting day that Jesus rose from death (Easter day). This feast has begun to be fulfilled as Jesus breaths the First Fruits of the Holy Spirit – Resurrection Life into each of His new followers.

John 20:19, “Then the same day (Easter Sunday) at evening, .. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (Spirit).”

Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

Feast #5 Pentecost (Fifty)

Later the Feast of Pentecost would begin as the disciples would again receive of the Holy Spirit this time it will be an actual experiencing of the Holy Spirit as the disciples will individually speak in tongues and observe the flames of fire upon the heads of the other disciples.

Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, ..”

For a more in depth look at all eight of the feast days please refer to the Jesus Walk 2004 Timeline Devotion.

The Jesus Walk 2004 Holy Week Timeline Devotion is a unique invitation and opportunity to join in and to do just that, to walk with Jesus. I sincerely hope that each of you will take this opportunity to take part in the Jesus Walk 2004 devotion.

Next week Lessons in Leadership from the Communion Cup part 5 of 5 from The Passion of Leadership.

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

 iExalt.com Church Leadership Article #5 May 1, 2004

The Passion of Leadership: The Communion Cup of Jesus Christ (part 5 of 5)
by David Anson Brown

Matthew 26:27 “And He (Jesus) took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them (disciples), saying, Drink ye all of it;”

Matthew 26:28 “For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

As we have seen in the Leadership of Jesus during the Passion – Holy Week events, the many events didn’t just happen to Jesus but in actuality Jesus happened to the events.

In the final analysis Leadership has to have Passion and substance and it has to be a part of reality in order to have meaning. Without meaning nothing is being accomplished except for an opinion, an idea or a philosophy that is simply being taught and not the meaningful life forming substance of reality.

The substance, meaning and reality of Jesus’ Passion Leadership is embodied in His Communion Cup the cup, that contains the mercy of God within His eternal blood providing the forgiveness of our sins and the reconciliation of sinful mankind into a relationship with the Holy God.

Jesus taking the cup of redemption, Mark 14:23 and like the bread, giving thanks. Jesus then passed the cup to the disciples and said “take, drink all of it”, “this cup is the New Testament in My blood: this do, that as often as you drink of it, do it in remembrance of Me” (Jesus) Matthew 26:27.

The disciples are fully aware that Jesus is speaking of a better blood than man has. He is speaking of His Spiritual life blood. They gladly take the cup of wine and gladly drink all of it. We marvel that Jesus wants us to “Drink all” that He has for us, all of His life, love, healing, compassion, mercy and grace.

Through the New Covenant; God agreed to take on the appearance of a human and to come for us and to die in our place for our sins so that we can Live anew in a new Spiritual relationship with God. God in His Love for us has taken our penalty of death so that we can live in His life of love. With the New Covenant and our New Spiritual Life “All things have become New.”

2^nd Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold All things are become New.”

Christianity is substance and as substance it is to be taken part in. The offer is to take-receive and to drink-absorb it, to internalize what God has for us and to then live out all that God has for us, all of His comfort, security, holiness, boldness and convictions.

While embracing the substance of Jesus’ cup of wine, we Christians are to become connoisseurs of the fine wine contained within the cup. We are to savor every drop and to delight in the infinite eternal pleasures to be derived from the exceedingly fine wine all the while discerning even the tiniest hint of man’s imperfections that might have been added to the meaningful substance of the communion cup of Jesus.

Christian Leadership knows that the reality of freedom cannot be obtained without actually being free. Therefore, Christian leadership leads us to the eternal blood of Jesus Christ. The blood that He provides, provides our freedom as it is only the eternal blood of Jesus Christ than can provide the resurrection life, liberty and opportunity that comes with a new life in the resurrection relationship with God.

But will we drink of the cup of eternal blood that Jesus is offering to us? …

Yes, we will drink of it if we see our need for it as the gift of eternal life that God has given to us in His unselfish sacrifice on the cross. Like Jesus our Leader we are to give thanks for the Cup and for the opportunity that is contained within it. It is only through acknowledging our need for it, by recognizing its significance of the eternal life provided by it and by being thankful for what we have received from God, that we will use it and appropriate it into our lives.

Ultimately the leadership of Passion is to give thanks to God by accepting from His hand His cup that He is offering to us and to drink from His cup of Christianity. To take part in Christianity is to partake in God’s culture of life, freedom and joy. It truly is God’s gift of life, freely given for us and it is from acceptance of this gift that all of our Passion for Leadership then does emerge.

Are we allowing ourselves to live in our new found Relationship with God and are we allowing ourselves the New Freedom that this relationship has to offer? When Jesus took His Communion cup and offered it to His followers, Jesus gave with it the instruction and the invitation to “Drink all of it” Amen! and drink all of it we will.

The Jesus Walk 2004 Holy Week Timeline Devotional is a unique invitation and opportunity to join in and to do just that, to walk with Jesus. I sincerely hope that each of you will take this opportunity to take part in the Jesus Walk 2004 devotional.

Thank you for taking part and being a part of The Passion of Leadership series.

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

About the author, David Anson Brown is currently the administrator of the BasicChristian.org website and moderator of the [now closed] Basic Christian discussion forum.

Source: The Jesus Walk 10 Day Holy Week Timeline Devotional

Starting Friday April 11^th 2014 until — Easter Sunday April 20^th 2014

A Holy Week (Easter) 10 Day Timeline Christian Devotional

Website
2014 PDF
Basic Christian PDF

The Original Holy Week

A Timeline and Biblical explanation of the events of the original ten days of Holy Week

Biblical Significance

Luke 12:49-50 I Am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism [Holy Week – cross – resurrection] to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! ~ Jesus Christ

Friday – April 11, 2014

Jesus and His disciples in the village of Bethany

John 12:1-3 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Mark 11:1-3 And when they [Jesus and His Twelve Disciples] came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and **Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village [Bethphage] over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

Saturday – April 12, 2014

Palm Saturday the Triumphal Entry of King Jesus into Jerusalem, the Feast of Sabbath is fulfilled

Mark 11:7-11 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. **And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the Temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Sunday – April 13, 2014

Jesus cleanses the Temple of moneychangers

Mark 11:12-17 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it. ***And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the Temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the Temple. And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My House [the Temple] shall be called of all Nations the House of Prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Monday – April 14, 2014

The Pharisees dispute the authority of Jesus & the Mt. Olivet discourse is given

Mark 11:20-22 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God [Jesus]. Mark 13:1-4 And as He went out of the Temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto Him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And ***as He sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the Temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these [Kingdom] things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Tuesday – April 15, 2014

Judas agrees to betray Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the Twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Wednesday – April 16, 2014

The New Covenant of Jesus. God agrees to die for our sins; therefore death has “Passed us Over.” The Feast of the Lord’s Passover is fulfilled

Matthew 26:17-20 Now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Passover] the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city [Jerusalem] to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve.

Thursday – April 17, 2014

Crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross, providing removal of our sins, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is fulfilled

Matthew 27:1-2 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the Governor.

Friday – April 18, 2014

The tomb of Jesus is sealed by the Romans, spices and ointments are purchased and prepared to further anoint the body of Jesus

Matthew 27:62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation [for the Feast of Unleavened Bread], the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch [guards]: go your way, make it as sure [secure] as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure [inventory of the tomb contents], sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Saturday – April 19, 2014

The tomb of Jesus remains sealed, Sabbath day

Luke 23:52-24:1 [Thursday][Crucifixion day] This man, Joseph of Arimathaea, went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down [from the cross] and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher (tomb) that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation [preparation for the evening Sabbath of Unleavened Bread], and the Sabbath [Unleavened Bread, evening Sabbath curfew] drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld (observed) the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned (home) and [Friday] [normal Day] prepared (worked & labored) spices and ointments; and **rested the [Saturday][Sabbath Day] Sabbath day according to the commandment [the 4th of the 10 commandments, the weekly Saturday Sabbath]. Now upon the first day of the week [Sunday][Resurrection Day], very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Easter Sunday – April 20, 2014

The Resurrection of Jesus, the Feast of First Fruits is fulfilled as Jesus gives the First Fruits of the Holy Spirit to His disciples

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

By David Anson Brown 2001 – 2014

Source The Jesus Walk 10 Day Holy Week Timeline Devotional

God bless everyone!

David Anson Brown

A Timeline and Biblical explanation of the events of the original ten days of Holy Week

Biblical Significance

Luke 12:49-50 I Am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism [Holy Week – cross – resurrection] to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! ~ Jesus Christ

Friday

Jesus and His disciples in the village of Bethany

John 12:1-3 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Mark 11:1-3 And when they [Jesus and His Twelve Disciples] came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and **Bethany, at the mount of Olives, He sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village [Bethphage] over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

Saturday

Palm Saturday the Triumphal Entry of King Jesus into Jerusalem, the Feast of Sabbath is fulfilled

Mark 11:7-11 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. **And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the Temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the twelve.

Sunday

Jesus cleanses the Temple of moneychangers

Mark 11:12-17 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it. ***And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the Temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the Temple. And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My House [the Temple] shall be called of all Nations the House of Prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Monday

The Pharisees dispute the authority of Jesus & the Mt. Olivet discourse is given

Mark 11:20-22 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God [Jesus].
Mark 13:1-4 And as He went out of the Temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto Him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And ***as He sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the Temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these [Kingdom] things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

Tuesday

Judas agrees to betray Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the Twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

Wednesday

The New Covenant of Jesus. God agrees to die for our sins; therefore death has “Passed us Over.” The Feast of the Lord’s Passover is fulfilled

Matthew 26:17-20 Now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Passover] the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city [Jerusalem] to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the even was come, He sat down with the twelve.

Thursday

Crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross, providing removal of our sins, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is fulfilled

Matthew 27:1-2 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the Governor.

Friday

The tomb of Jesus is sealed by the Romans, spices and ointments are purchased and prepared to further anoint the body of Jesus

Matthew 27:62-66 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation [for the Feast of Unleavened Bread], the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch [guards]: go your way, make it as sure [secure] as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure [inventory of the tomb contents], sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Saturday

The tomb of Jesus remains sealed, Sabbath day

Luke 23:52-24:1 [Thursday][Crucifixion day] This man, Joseph of Arimathaea, went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down [from the cross] and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher (tomb) that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation [preparation for the evening Sabbath of Unleavened Bread], and the Sabbath [Unleavened Bread, evening Sabbath curfew] drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld (observed) the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned (home) and [Friday] [normal Day] prepared (worked & labored) spices and ointments; and **rested the [Saturday][Sabbath Day] Sabbath day according to the commandment [the 4th of the 10 commandments, the weekly Saturday Sabbath]. Now upon the first day of the week [Sunday][Resurrection Day], very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Sunday

The Resurrection of Jesus, the Feast of First Fruits is fulfilled as Jesus gives the First Fruits of the Holy Spirit to His disciples

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

By David Anson Brown 2001 – 2013

Source The Jesus Walk 10 Day Holy Week Timeline Devotional

Starting Friday March 22nd 2013 until — Easter Sunday March 31st 2013 Holy Week (Easter) 10 Day Timeline Devotional is located here 

After Holy Week and Pentecost

Both of the 2013 Summit events the ‘Holiness Summit’ and the ‘End Time Summit’ are as usual scheduled to take place over the 2013 Fall Feast Schedule i.e. September 14^th – 20^th in 2013. The 2012 Summits were both posted in March of 2012 and the 2013 Summits will probably be posted either after Holy Week or after Pentecost but there should be a reposting and an observance of the Summits during the actual [Jewish] Fall Feasts schedule.

2013 Jewish Holy Feast Schedule

Passover (Pesach) [fulfilled – Holy Week – Matthew 26:19-21, Luke 22:8,15]
2013 begins in the evening of  Monday, March 25th and ends in the evening of Tuesday, April 2nd.

Pentecost (Shavu’ot) [fulfilled – in progress – Acts 2:1-4, John 16:8] May 14, 2013 – nightfall  May 16, 2013 Christian Pentecost 2013 – May 19, 2013 [Christian observance date of Pentecost in 2013]

Thu. September 5-6, 2013 – Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah) – The Jewish New Year
[Future] (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Sat. September 14, 2013 – Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
[partially Fulfilled (Matthew 26:28) – completed at the future 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ]

Thu. September 19-20, 2013 – Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
[partially Fulfilled (John 7:2) – completed at the future 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ]

Sources:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holidayc.htm
http://www.moresureword.com/FeastDates.htm
All Feast dates and times are local time for Jerusalem, Israel.

Holiness Summit 2013 – End Time Summit 2013

Material for the Holiness and the End Time Summit 2013 is already being arranged and some of the topics include ‘The Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ’, ‘The Atonement – Levitical blood sacrifice’, ‘The Melchizedek/Believers Priesthood’ and ‘Pentecost – the Work (Ministry) of the Holy Spirit’.

Further in 2013 and into 2014

After the Fall Feasts and Christmas of 2013 but probably starting in 2014 there are some plans to begin a video ministry that will transition the material and Summits from text to video postings and downloads.

God bless everyone, David Anson Brown

Revealing that those who are teaching the very false doctrine of Justification through Sanctification i.e. the Progressive Justification of Augustinian and Calvinism doctrines by wrongly claiming that both the Christian Church (Justification) and individual Sanctification (individual Christian growth) both began only at Pentecost and that now both continue simultaneously based on our own individual actions and deeds are either knowingly or unknowingly perpetuating perhaps the biggest error in modern Christianity when in fact the work of Christian Church (Justification) was completed on Resurrection Sunday at the completion of Jesus’ Holy Week Ministry almost two months before the individual Sanctification empowerment (Acts 1:8, Romans 15:16) work of Pentecost even began.

Also Note: the Holy Feast cycle is completed in the Fall with the Redemptive Fall Feasts. The three Biblical (Leviticus 23) Feast groups are the Spring (Passover) ‘Justifying’ Feasts (Romans 3:24-25, Colossians 1:20) that bring us sinners into a right relationship with God through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then our individual Christian growth ‘Sanctification’ and the empowerment process given from God to us on the Feast Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1, Philippians 2:12) followed by the Fall Feasts and our Final ‘Redemption’ (Romans 8:23, 2 Corinthians 5:10) at our own physical death – when our actual body (soul and spirit) come into the perceivable presence of God.

~ David Anson Brown

Holy Week (Easter) 10 Day Timeline Devotional is located  here