Sabbath Before Passover—2015

Significance of Day-Four & the Crucifixion

Fred R. Coulter—March 28, 2015

• - Video | - PDF | Audio | [Up]

Track 1 : or Download

Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services! This is the Sabbath before the Passover, and the Passover this year falls on Thursday night, April 2. The Night to be Much Observed falls on Friday night, April 3rd, and then the finishing of the Holy Day—the day portion of the 15th—falls on April 4th.

It's very interesting when it falls that way, because then in counting Pentecost everyone has it right, except those who don't believe that the Passover is a day of unleavened bread, because it is! So therefore, the first day of the count toward Pentecost begins on the 5th of April. And the last Holy Day for Unleavened Bread is on Friday, and we have a Sabbath right after that.

This is why Pentecost is on the 24th of May. This means that the way the Jews have it counted is correct this year; but most years it's not. This also means that the Catholics and Protestants have it correct, because they figure it the same way as the Jews do. All the other times they're incorrect.

So, on the Sabbath before Passover, let's understand that the whole Bible—all 49 books—focuses in on day-four, the Passover Day, on the death of Jesus Christ.

Very interesting, and also, very powerful! As a matter of fact, Jesus Christ, as the Lord God of the Old Testament—the Creator of Adam and Eve—after they had sinned gave the first prophecy of the Messiah. That is relatively close to six thousand years ago. The reason that it is so long is because God has a greater plan than mankind has ever, ever figured! So great and marvelous that Satan the devil—the one who was 'the cherub that covered'—rebelled at the creation of man, because it would depose him from his position. So, Satan decided that he would become like God.

Now we have the epic account of how Jesus Christ came in the flesh—49 books all focusing on day-four, and that focuses on Psa. 49. Then right after Psa. 49 we have Psa. 50 that is a Pentecost Psalm. God is the One Who has made the covenant with us and to grant us eternal life, and it has to come through Jesus Christ; everything must come through Jesus Christ!

Psa. 49 is a very interesting Psalm. This was not a Psalm by David; this was a Psalm by one of the priests—Korah—one of the sons of Korah. Notice who it's directed to, because the Passover has to do with everyone in the world. Always remember this: God is going to solve most of the human problems beginning with the Millennium and then the second resurrection!

Psalm 49:1: "Hear this, all you people; give ear, all inhabitants of the world…" This involves everyone

Doesn't this sound an awful lot like the book of Revelation, "…both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom… [that's God's plan] …and the thoughts of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the lyre" (vs 1-4).

There's quite a story with that that Dwight Blevins has accounted for with the Calculated Hebrew Calendar. It is utterly amazing! We hope to have that available in the near future. God gave the appointed times on day-four; four is very interesting:

• 49 books of the Bible
• day 4 Jesus was crucified

Also, something else very interesting. The way that the world is, deceived by Satan the devil, cut off from God. Look how bad it was until the days of Noah and the Flood. It got so bad that even God 'repented of making man.' Though He has the great plan for mankind, it grieved Him that men had become so evil. We're right at that same point today; men are becoming more and more evil, just like it says in the book of Daniel: The wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand! They shall do more and more evil and iniquity. That's why Christ has to return! But first, Satan the devil had to be overcome!

Could God overcome Satan the devil at any time that He desires? Yes, He could! As God He could! Now then, we're going to see one of the reasons why Jesus came and was to die. It was because He had to defeat Satan the devil as a man! Not as God, not as an angel, but as a man!

Remember that after Jesus was born—He was the first born of His mother Mary. His name was called Jesus; also Emanuel, which is God with us! So, God watched over Him. We find in Isa. 50 that God taught Jesus as a child, waking Him up every morning to teach Him. And how that by the time He was age 12 He astounded all of the educated in the Word of God at the temple, and spent three days there answering questions and asking questions. They were all amazed and startled at His understanding.
However, before Jesus could begin His ministry He had to also overcome Satan, as a man. Satan tried to kill Him when He was child (Matt. 2). I'm sure there were other attempts on His life; they're not recorded here in the New Testament. But after Jesus was baptized—He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness—then He went into the wilderness. Here again we have another day-four: year-49 ending and year-50 the Jubilee beginning. This is the mark of the Passover all the way through the Bible.

Jesus began His ministry on the Day of Atonement 26A.D., which was a Jubilee year. That day ended the 49th year and began the 50th year. Actually, the 49th year ended on the Feast of Trumpets, but the 50th year count did not begin until the 10th day. Guess what day of the week that was in 26A.D. when Jesus began His ministry? The first thing he had to do was overcome Satan the devil. That was the fourth day of the week. Let's see how He overcame him.

Luke 4:1: "And Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by the devil…." (vs 1-2). That's important because of what God did for the penalty of Adam and Eve and their judgment.

He gave to all mankind human nature with 'the law of sin and death.' In order for sin to be condemned in the flesh, Jesus Christ had to take that same 'law of sin and death' within Himself and never once succumb to any temptation.

Notice that Satan came to Jesus in the weakness of human flesh, and the very weakest that He could possibly be, because He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and was sustained by the Spirit of God.

"…And He ate nothing in those days; and after they had come to an end, He hungered. Then the devil said to Him…" (vs 2-3). Think about the temptation in your weakest moment. This was the battle for all of mankind, right here. Satan in his demented way of thinking thought that if he could kill Christ, or if he could get Him to sin, then his rebellion against God would be successful. That's why Jesus had to meet him in this weakened condition, as a man.

Verse 3: "Then the devil said to Him 'If You are the Son of God, command that this stone become bread.'" Jesus could do that, no problem. If He turned water into wine, He could turn a stone into bread, without a doubt.

In His weakened condition He did not succumb to that proposition of Satan the devil. So, Jesus quotes Scripture. Where He says 'Man' He's referring to Himself as the Creator of all mankind, which then means it projects out to every human being in the world.

Verse 4: "But Jesus answered him, saying, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."'" Of course, now we're going to see that this is the same proposition that is going to come with the mark of the beast—

• you can't buy
• you can't sell
• you can't eat
• you will have no place to sleep
• you will have no place to go

You will have to rely on God, and if you lose your life for the sake of God then you will gain eternal life for your love of the Truth and your obedience to God. Jesus knew this!

If He would have done this, who would He have obeyed? Of course, the one you obey is your master—isn't it? If He would have done this He would have obeyed Satan the devil. He didn't do it, because he said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." That's a projection forward of the whole plan of God.

Verse 5: "Then the devil led Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'I will give You all this authority, and the glory of them all; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I desire'" (vs 5-6).

How was it delivered to Satan the devil? Beginning with the sin of Adam and Eve, because they did not want to worship God and obey Him! They wanted to do it their way, and when they obeyed the voice of Satan the devil, Satan became the 'god of this world.'

God was still here in the Garden of Eden until the Flood, and only the righteous patriarchs would come to meet God at the east-end of the Garden of Eden. But now what happened was that Satan was telling Jesus, 'You'll get Your kingdom of the whole world now, and I will give it to you.' Here is the catch:

Verse 7: "Therefore, if You will worship me in my presence, all things shall be Yours." That is as God, worship him as God. That would be the greatest triumph of all—wouldn't it? He already had a third of the angels with him. Now, if he could get the Son of God to obey him, yes, indeed! But notice what Jesus said to him; and this is what we are to do. In this age we are living, it is a very satanic world filled with great technological marvels, all designed to bring in a fantasy reality that people will anticipate and live by. And then to bring in the beast and the false prophet, and to have the whole world in rebellion against God.

Verse 8: "But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Get behind Me, Satan; for it is written, "You…"'"—not referring to Satan, because Satan will never worship God. He's referring to Himself and all mankind.

"'…You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."'…. [here is a very interesting point]: …Then he led Him to Jerusalem and set Him upon the edge of the temple, and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down from here; for it is written, "He shall give His angels charge concerning You to keep You; and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone."'" (vs 8-11). That would have been a spectacular thing! Very interesting, indeed!

Verse 12: "But Jesus answered and said to him, 'It is clearly stated, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."'"

• Don't tempt God by doing evil!
• Don't tempt God by obeying Satan!

And expect God to bail you out of it! With mankind there is repentance. But with Jesus there was no way that He could sin ever once. That was really quite a thing that went on, and this is the battle. Satan wanted to have Christ die; die for sinning, never be resurrected and then he would be supreme! But God is greater!

Verse 13: "Now, when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from Him for a time." Satan was always around somewhere, trying to trap Jesus, trying to catch Him in doing something wrong.

Let's come forward to the Passover Day and what we find in Luke 22. Let's see who inspired all the things of evil going on leading up to the Passover of Jesus Christ. This was the great battle, as it were, of the universe, because Jesus was going to die, and Satan wanted Him dead! Satan did everything that he could to get Jesus to sin, and he was going to see if he could do it through the means of the Passover. He knew what was going to happen.

Luke 22:1: "Now, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching; and the chief priests and the scribes were speculating as to how they might put Him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve" (vs 1-3). Just like there were the three cherubim:

• Gabriel
• Michael
• Lucifer

Lucifer:

• right there at the pinnacle of power, evil!
• right there with the disciples, among them, and they didn't even know it!

That's something to think about, because things come along, which appear to be good, appear to be right, appear to have a substance of truth, but they're inspired of Satan the devil!

Verse 3: "Then Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went away, and spoke with the chief priests…" (vs 3-4).

The religious leaders of Jesus' day didn't understand how far away from God they had gotten, and they did not have clue that their god was really Satan the devil (John 8). There at the temple of God, God put His presence! Little did they realize that in 40 years the temple would no longer be. The whole system that they had would be gone, because the New Covenant would be enforced.

"…and the captains about a way by which he might betray Him to them. And they rejoiced, and agreed to give him money. And he promised, and sought an opportunity to betray Him to them away from the multitude" (vs 4-6). Quite an interesting thing.

In order for this to come off correctly, and find that opportunity, Satan also had to come to the last Passover that Jesus had, right there in the presence of Jesus and the apostles. And the apostles didn't know it! But Jesus did!

Here's this big spiritual battle going on. Remember, Jesus said that He could 'call 12 legions of angels' if necessary. Just picture Jerusalem like a big Superdome with all these events going on inside, fighting between the angels of God and the demons of Satan the devil, and Jesus, the man, Who was going to be the Sacrifice for the sins of the world. He had to come as a man. Satan didn't get Him with the temptation in the wilderness; now he was determined to get Him through the crucifixion. He probably, in his demented reasoning, thought that if Jesus died, and 'If I can just get Him to sin once' then he would be victorious!

So, here we have our stealth spy right at the very first New Covenant Passover. Jesus had to end the Passover with the lamb and the supper for the Old Testament, to end the Old Covenant. Then He had to introduce the new. Then we have the foot-washing.
John 13:1: "Now, before the Feast of the Passover, knowing that His time had come to depart from this world to the Father, Jesus, having loved His own who were in the world, loved them to the end. And during supper (the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son that he should betray Him)" (vs 1-2). Satan was possessing Judas and put it into his heart.

Sidebar: Not all thoughts that look like good thoughts come from God. Satan the devil is there to add a benefit and to seek his will. Remember, when he first starts it's just like he did with Jesus at the temptation: 'Oh, come on, You can have a little bread; You can turn this into bread.' He would have had the benefit of the bread, but He would have lost His life, and the plan of God would have to be worked out another way.

Then they had the foot-washing. He told them the purpose of the foot-washing. We'll cover that on the Passover night. Let's just stop here and look at the purpose of it. This helps us to all realize who we are, where we are, what we're doing and what we should be doing. Especially for the apostles, that they would not get lifted up in vanity and self-exaltation and self-appointed authority and power over brethren that God did not give them to have.

After the foot-washing, He said, 'Do you know what I've done?'

Verse 13: "You call Me the Teacher and the Lord, and you speak rightly, because I am. Therefore, if I, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also are duty-bound to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example, to show that you also should do exactly as I have done to you" (vs 13-15). Here is the reason! Very important, indeed! We need to understand that, realize that and never forget that.

Verse 16: "Truly, truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, nor a messenger greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (vs 16-17) Think on that for a minute!

Don't those who say that the Law is done away make themselves greater than the Messenger? greater than their Lord? Don't those who say, 'Well, we don't have to keep the Passover, we can take the Eucharist every Sunday morning, are they not putting themselves greater than Jesus? greater than God? Yes, indeed!

After giving the New Covenant ceremony of the bread and the wine, and told them that this is to be done 'in remembrance of Me,' let's see what happened after that. It was something also of a real lesson for Peter. This was almost as if to emphasize what Jesus told them about the foot-washing. This also shows the spiritual battle that was going on there.

Luke 22:31: "Then the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon, listen well. Satan has demanded to have all of you, to sift as wheat.'" That's why we need the protection of God. Satan wants to get us! That's why we need:

• the protection of God's angels
• the protection of God's Spirit
• the protection of the Word of God

in our daily relationship with God through prayer and study.

Notice Peter's thought that he could do it on his own, which would make him greater than the Messenger, greater than his Lord.

Verse 33: "And he said to Him, 'Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.' But He said, 'I tell you, Peter, the cock shall in no wise crow today before you have denied knowing Me three times.' And He said to them, 'When I sent you without purse and provision bag and sandals, did you lack anything?' And they said, 'Nothing.' Then He said to them, 'Now, however, let the one who has a purse take it, and likewise his provision bag… [when you go out to preach] …and let the one who does not have a sword sell his garment and buy one. For I say to you, that which has been written must yet be accomplished in Me…'" (vs 33-37). A whole section of the Psalms is devoted toward

• Jesus' ministry
• His sacrifice
• the Passover Day

Very profound, indeed! All of those things!

Verse 39: "Then He left the houseand went, as He was accustomed, to the Mount of Olives; and His disciples also followed Him. And when He arrived at the place…" (vs 39-40). There was a special place that they had on the Mt. Olives.

"…He said to them, 'Pray that you do not enter into temptation.' And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw; and falling to His knees, He prayed, saying, 'Father, if You are willing to take away this cup from Me—…'" (vs 40-42).

All of the human nature within Him was crying out, 'There must be an easier way.' That would be a temptation that all of us would have, as well. Just like the things that are going to happen with the persecution and martyrdom to come. You will be offered a way out. Your temptation and flesh will say, 'Go ahead, do it.' But God's Spirit will say, 'NO! Do not do it!'

This is exactly what Jesus was going through. So, what did He say? "'…nevertheless, not My will, but Your will be done'" (v 42).

Notice, because of this great spiritual battle going on in Jerusalem, Satan, the 'religious leaders, Judas, Jesus and the 12 apostles:

Verse 43: "Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly…. [He knew that it had to be] …And His sweat became as great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (vs 43-44).

An agony and experience that no other human being would ever do. Everything of God's plan hinged on this day. He knew what it was going to be, because as the Lord God of the Old Testament, He prophesied every word that was written!

Verse 45: "And after rising up from prayer, He came to His disciples and found them sleeping for grief. Then He said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Arise and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation.'" (vs 45-46). Temptations were coming!

Verse 47: "And while He was still speaking, a crowd suddenly appeared, with the one who was called Judas, one of the twelve, going in front of them; and he came near to Jesus to kiss Him." Yes, the tender mercies of Satan! The kiss of betrayal! The absolute epitome of duplicity, trying to hide sin with a righteous act!

Verse 48: "But Jesus said to him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of man with a kiss?' And when those who were with Him saw what was about to happen, theysaid to Him, 'Lord, shall we strike with the sword?' Then a certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, 'That is enough!' Then He touched his ear and healed him" (vs 48-51). Think about the mercy and compassion that Jesus Christ had.

I've often wonder about the rest of that night. That guard must have reached up and felt his ear. It was cut off and hanging down. It's there; there's no blood! Quite an amazing thing!

Verse 52: "And Jesus said to those who had come out against Him, the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders… [they were all out there] …'Have you come out, as against a thief, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not stretch out your hands against Me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness'" (vs 52-53)—doing it at midnight! Isn't that an amazing thing?

Look back in history and see how many evil events occurred in the middle of the night. Who is the power of darkness but Satan the devil!

Let's see what happened to Judas, Matthew 27:1: "Now, when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus…"—all inspired of Satan the devil.

Once people destroy themselves, commit the sin that is so grievous, Satan leaves them to their own devices.

"…so that they might put Him to death. And after binding Him, they led Him away and delivered Him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor. Now, when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, he changed his mind… [but too late] …and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, 'I have sinned and have betrayed innocent blood.' But they said, 'What is that to us? You see to it yourself.'" (vs 1-4).

Isn't that just the way Satan is? Yes! He cares nothing about human beings. But the chief priests and scribes were 'righteous' and they said:

Verse 6: "But the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.'"

But what did Judas do? Verse 5: "And after throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out and hanged himself." Why did he have to hang himself? Everyone who gets possessed of Satan the devil… Look at how many leaders of the Nazi regime beginning with Hitler committed suicide.

Here in this case, Judas committed suicide because who was to judge him? Would the priests judge him? No! Could the apostles judge him? No! Jesus had already judged him by what Judas had done, and because Jesus never sinned, even though being betrayed. God caused him to take his own life. Jesus could not have done anything other than have that happen to Judas.

• Could Judas live after doing that?
• Could Judas go on with an ordinary life after that?
• Absolutely not, because he was the 'son of perdition!'

Jesus said that He had 'lost none of the disciples, except Judas Iscariot, the son of perdition, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.'

Let's see some of the prophecies of what Jesus was going to go through. Let's understand something: because this all comes in as the love of God, why did Jesus have to go through and suffer all of these things? Because He gave human nature to human beings! Look at the world today with all the evil that's going on, because of human nature and Satan the devil! Jesus had to take all of that upon Himself!

Notice that since it was planned from the beginning of the world, let's see something important concerning what Jesus did.

John 10:14: "I am the good Shepherd, and I know those who are Mine, and am known of those who are Mine." That's why we need to know Jesus.

{Note: 1-John 2:4,' the one who says that he knows God, knows Jesus, but doesn't keep His commandments is a liar.'} But we know Him because we do, and because we have the Holy Spirit.

Verse 15: "Just as the Father knows Me, I also know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold…." (vs 15-16)—because of the preaching of the Gospel that would take place when the apostles were sent into all the world.

"…I must bring those also, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd. On account of this, the Father loves Me: because I lay down My life, that I may receive it back again. No one takes it from Me,but I lay it down of Myself…. [because of the love of God] …I have authority to lay it down and authority to receive it back again. This commandment I received from My Father" (vs 16-18). Jesus did this all willingly!

Remember that the next time you have a situation that seems to be, to you, rather overwhelming and rather overbearing upon you. Whatever the circumstances are look at what Jesus went through.

We will look at some of the prophecies on how God knew what was going to happen, and how it was going to be done. That had to be in order to save mankind!

Track 2: or Download

The Passover Day

Let's come to the prophecy in Isa. 53; this is quite revealing. It's amazing how the prophecies of the Old Testament portrayed all of this that was going to come. Yet, the principle ones involved in it didn't understand it, because they were blinded by Satan the devil. The whole chapter Isa. 53 is really very profound and important. This was given in about 800B.C. That means that's about 2800 years ago-plus.

Isaiah 53:1: Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?…. [here's the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ]: …For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground…" (vs 1-2). No spiritual life in Jerusalem at all, or in what was called the 'Holy Land.'

"…He has no form nor comeliness that we should look upon Him, nor beauty that we should desire Him" (v 2).

• He didn't come as a conquering hero
• He didn't come as some Hollywood movie star
• He didn't come because He was the tallest, the most handsome

He came as an ordinary human being!

Notice His life, v 3: "He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…" Imagine the grief that He had knowing that He was the Lord God of the Old Testament, God manifested in the flesh, and knowing all people, their thoughts and their evil. No wonder He had such compassion on them, to heal them, and to show His great love and power toward all human beings. Yet, they do what?

• They turn their back on Him!
• They despise Him!
• They reject Him!

"…and we hid as it were our faces from Him, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not" (v 3). Sometimes we go through events like this in our lives. But we have to do just like Jesus did:

• always look to God the Father
• always be faithful regardless of the circumstances
• always know that salvation is going to come from God

And just as it cost Jesus Christ His life, to be able to save those that will be in His kingdom at His return, and the rest of humanity later on, He willingly laid His life down for all of this!

Verse 4: "Surely He has borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows; yet, we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted." That's what they said; they jeered Him when He was on the cross:

• If you be the Son of God, come down here and prove it to us!
• You've saved others, but You can't save yourself!

Smitten of God!

• You're there because You have sinned!

But notice the cost for the forgiveness of our sins, because just as Paul wrote, 'The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin.' Only the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Creator God of human beings!

Verse 5: "But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities…" And to be scourged like He was is an absolute crushing!

If you've ever had a rib broken, or if you've had something wrong with your ribs, magnify that by about a thousand-fold and you've got it pretty close to the pain that Jesus suffered during the scourging that He took.

"…the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed" (v 5). Yes, He had to take that to open the door for us to have the grace of God given to us. How important that the grace of God is. What a wonderful thing that that is. But Jesus had to go through this first, so that we could be received by God the Father.

Verse 6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet, He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and with His generation who did consider that He was cut off out of the land of the living…" (vs 6-8).

They didn't understand it. As we'll see a little later, Jesus had to open the mind of the apostles to understand. No one could understand the great magnitude of the love of God, that God would do this; that God—Who sentenced men and women to evil, suffering, debauchery, killing and death, because of their sins—Himself would take it upon Him—in order to forgive them, in order to redeem them—and willingly lay down His life. He knew all of this; He prophesied all these words.

"…for the transgression of My people He was stricken. And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death…" (vs 8-9). Yes, there were two malefactors who were crucified with Him, and the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea was right at hand where this spot of the crucifixion took place.

"…although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet, the LORD willed… [It was the will of God!] …to crush Him…" (vs 9-10). Yet, not a bone was broken with all the pain that He went through.

"…and He has put Him to grief: You shall make His life an offering for sin…." (v 10). Think of that! That is an amazing thing! An offering for the sin of mankind. That's why John the Baptist said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.' It all comes from the sin of Satan the devil and Adam and Eve. God is redeeming us from that!

However, because of the power of the resurrection, it says, "…He shall see His seed… [we are the seed of Abraham;' the seed likened to the stars of heaven] …He shall prolong His days… [unto the resurrection and on into eternal life] …and that the purpose of the LORD might prosper in His hand" (v 10). God's purpose for all that He will call. The purpose of God's whole plan hinges on this.

Verse 11: "He shall see of the travail of His soul…." It was travail.

Isaiah 52:14: "Many were astonished at Him—for His body was so disfigured—even His form beyond that of the sons of men." For what purpose? To forgive all human sin! Of course, that has to be upon repentance!

Verse 15: "So shall He sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths because of Him; for they will see that which was not told to them; yea, what they had not heard, shall they consider." That's quite a thing what God is doing here with this.

Isaiah 53:11: "…He shall be fully satisfied. By His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; and He shall bear their iniquities." This is why no workof law can put you in right standing with God. Right standing means justification! Justification cannot come until there is repentance, and until the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His shed blood is applied personally and directly to everyone who repents. Then there is forgiveness of sin!

Verse 12: "Therefore, I will divide to Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He has poured out His soul to death; and He was counted among the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors." That's something! That's what Jesus did!

Let's see how Psalm 22 brings out the prophecy through David, of what Christ was going to experience. This crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the central point of everything that the Bible focuses in on. The 49 books of the Bible for the fourth day of the week. We will see that Jesus even had to come to the point of feeling—though He knew that God was with Him; yet, there was a cover of darkness over the earth from noon until the sixth hour—forsaken! He had to feel that abandonment, because He had to bear the sins of the world by Himself!

Psalm 22:1: "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me, and why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not answer; and in the night season, and am not silent" (vs 1-2). There are some words that apply directly to David in his circumstance, but most of these were prophetic utterances by David applying to the coming Messiah Jesus Christ.

Verse 5: "They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in You and were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and no man…" (vs 5-6). Feeling absolute in everything about being a human being, His suffering was so terrible that He said "…I am a worm…"

"…a reproach of men and despised by the people. All who see Me mock Me; they shoot out the lip; they shake the head, saying, 'He trusted on the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, since He delights in Him!'" (vs 6-8). Amazing! The very words of Christ!

Verse 9: "For You are He who took Me out of the womb… [the birth of Jesus] …causing Me to trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth; You are My God from My mother's womb" (vs 9-10). Go back to when the virgin Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit so that Jesus could be born of her.

Verse 11: "Be not far from Me; for trouble is near, for there is none to help. Many bulls have encircled around Me…" (vs 11-12). These are the demons looking down. Just like the priests on the earth were looking up laughing and mocking Him. Here the demons were circling around, and I'm sure that the angels of God were also there. God the Father couldn't look at the time that He was dying on the cross, from noon to three. Here was this spiritual battle going on.

Satan and the demons pictured by these "…strong bulls of Bashan have surrounded Me" (v 12)—and lions and so forth. Satan goes around as a roaring lion hoping, hoping, hopingthat Jesus would sin on the cross! That He would die a death and never be resurrected. But it didn't happen!

Verse 13: "They opened wide their mouths at Me, like a ravening and a roaring lion." Can you imagine how gleeful that Satan and the demons were; 'We've finally got Him! Now, if we can make Him sin!'

Here's how Jesus felt, v 14: "I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of My bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; dogs have surrounded Me; a band of evildoers have encircled Me; they have pierced My hands and My feet; and You have brought Me into the dust of death. I can count all My bones; they look and gloat over Me" (vs 14-16). Yes, He could look down and see His exposed ribs, with the flesh torn because of the scourging!

Verse 18: "They divide My garments among them and cast lots upon My vesture." Exactly like the Roman soldiers did, prophesied over a thousand years before it occurred; 2800 years up to our day.

Verse 19: "But You, O LORD, be not far from Me; O My strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver My soul from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth; yea, and from the wild ox's horns. You have answered Me" (vs 19-20). What did He look forward to? The resurrection and the building of the Church!

Verse 21: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You. You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all of you, the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and stand in awe of Him all of you, the seed of Israel" (vs 21-23). So, God intervened, rescued Him and carried out His plan exactly the way that it was going to be.

As Jesus was our Savior and Sacrifice, now Paul is writing in the book of Hebrews what God had to do through Jesus; what it was concerning the sacrifice that He went through. How that it was so much greater than any of the things that the angels could have done.

{Note sermon series: Hebrews—an in depth series going through verse-by-verse, every verse in the whole book of Hebrews. There are 40 separate segments in it.}

Hebrews 1:1: "God…" That's Who the Jews and Israel looked to, but not in the right way. Now Paul tells them what it was the really happened.

"…Who spoke to the fathers at different times in the past and in many ways by the prophets, has spoken to us in these last days by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the ages…" (vs 1-2)—or the worlds; that ties right in with the beginning of the Gospel of John: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! And nothing came into being without Him, the Creator who made the heavens and the earth. He became a man and died to save humanity, and to fulfill the plan of God!

Because He did that, v 3: "Who, being the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His person…" Jesus told the disciples, when they said to show them the Father, 'If you've seen Me, you've seen the Father.' The exact image of His person.

"…and upholding all things by the word of His own power…" (v 3). You talk about how righteous you have to be to do that! How powerful you have to be to do that!

"…when He had by Himself…" (v 3)—alone on the cross, bleeding, dying, agonizing, to pay for the sins of all the world so that we can receive salvation. Later on in the Millennium and the second resurrection, how many more billions will be saved? That's why He did it all!

"…purged our sins… [then it goes right into the ascension into heaven]: …sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; having been made so much greater than any of the angels, inasmuch as He has inherited a name exceedingly superior to them" (vs 3-4). That's why angels cannot forgive human sin. Humans cannot forgive human sin. We will see that only God in the flesh could do that. Only God in the flesh could provide the sacrifice necessary for the forgiveness of sin.

Verse 5: "For to which of the angels did He ever say, 'You are My Son; this day I have begotten You'? And again, 'I will be a Father to Him, and He will be a Son to Me'? And again, when He brought the Firstborn into the world… [when Jesus was born in the flesh]: …He said, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him'" (vs 5-6). Didn't that happen? Remember the account in the book of Luke with the shepherds out in the field! They heard the host of angels singing 'glory to God in the highest.' Yes, indeed!

Verse 7: "Now, on the one hand, of the angels He says, 'Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.' But on the other hand, of the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God… [here is a direct Scripture that calls Jesus God] …is into the ages of eternity; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; because of this, God, even Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions'" (vs 7-9). Quite a thing!

Now let's see what Jesus had to go through. Let's see how it relates to what God is doing with us, for us and to us. Wherever the people of God are on the earth, wherever they have been in the past, wherever they will be in the future, it all applies to this.

Nothing an angel can do can forgive our sins. God could forgive them by fiat, but because of the judgment that He brought upon mankind for their sin, and putting them under the authority of Satan the devil because of their sin, that's why He became a man. God is just! God is righteous! And what He brought upon mankind He took upon Himself.
Hebrews 2:5: "For it is not to the angels that He has placed in subjection the world that is to come, of which we are speaking." It is to US, the sons and daughters of God!

Verse 6: "But in a certain place one fully testified, saying, 'What is man, that You are mindful of him, or the son of man, that You visit him? You did make him a little lower than the angels…'" (vs 6-7). Yes, we're a little lower than God, a little lower than the angels.

"'…You did crown him with glory and honor, and You did set him over the works of Your hands'" (v 7). What a glorious creation that it is, the human race made after the image of God. He gave us the whole world and said, 'Multiply and replenish the earth, and have dominion over it'; over everything that there is on the earth. Isn't that something?

Notice, projected into the future, our resurrected life as spirit beings, v 8: "You did put all things in subjection under his [man's] feet.' For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that was not subjected to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him."

Why? Because in order to have everything subjected to us, we must be spirit beings! We must be perfected through the plan of salvation! Then through the resurrection of the dead in order to have this kind of authority and this kind of life.

However, until then, v 9: "But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death, in order that by the grace of God He Himself might taste death for everyone." That is an amazing thing that God did!

Verse 10: "Because it was fitting for Him, for Whom all things were created, and by Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings." We read that suffering.

So, when we come to the Passover, remember these things. Understand what you're doing. Understand how tremendously important it is for us:

• to repent
• to understand what God has done
• to have faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ
• to have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
• to have faith in His death and resurrection
• to have faith in the receiving of the Holy Spirit of God so we likewise can overcome!

Notice what God is doing with this, v 11: "For both He Who is sanctifying and those who are sanctified are all of one… [the Family, the Kingdom of God] …for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, 'I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the Church I will sing praise to You'" (vs 11-12). That's where we learn of God, in the midst of the Church:

• with His Spirit in us
• with His Word in front of us
• by keeping His commandments
• by keeping His Sabbath and Holy Days

and the Passover to commemorate the very death of God in the flesh! To save us from our sins and hold out for us the opportunity of eternal life.

Notice how Paul is quoting Scripture after Scripture, v 13: "And again, 'I will be trusting in Him.' And again, 'Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.'" That has to take place at the resurrection when we are presented to God the Father, and Jesus Christ will be there standing right by the throne of God the Father and saying to all behind Him, as the Father looks out upon us, 'Behold, I and the children You have given Me.'

What a fantastic moment that is going to be! That means that all the suffering, all the agony, all the things that Jesus went through, and all of those who likewise as Christians have suffered in whatever capacity, by whatever hand, by whatever evil person under the auspices of Satan the devil. It will all be just like a thought that disappears into nothing.

Verse 14: "Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same, in order that through death He might annul him who has the power of death—that is, the devil." Annul everything that he has done. That comes through:

• repentance
• baptism
• forgiveness
• the Holy Spirit of God

Verse 15: "And that He might deliver those who were subject to bondage all through their lives by their fear of death. For surely, He is not taking upon Himself to help the angels; but He is taking upon Himself to help the seed of Abraham" (vs 15-16)—the spiritual seed of Abraham!

That's what Paul wrote: 'If you are Abraham's seed—if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed—and heirs according to the promise.' That's the promise of eternal life. It's not restricted to the physical children of Israel, but to all those whom God would call, regardless of the nation, regardless of the physical inheritance that we have.

In order for that to happen, v 17: "For this reason, it was obligatory for Him to be made like His brethren in everything that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, in order to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered, having been tempted in like manner, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (vs 17-18).

We get a glimpse as to the struggles that Jesus Christ went through, because Satan was there to try and get Him at every turn. Notice how difficult it was for Him with this. To carry 'the law of sin and death' within His own fleshly body, and yet, never sin. To be tempted with everything as powerfully as Satan the devil tempted Him, and then go through the crucifixion when Satan wanted Him destroyed forever; to try and get Him to sin just once. But He didn't do it!

Hebrews 5:7: "Who, in the days of His flesh, offered up both prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because He feared God."

• this ought to give us strength
• this ought to give us hope
• this ought to help us appreciate the love of God in every way what God has done for us
• this ought to help us understand that He has taken the depravity of human nature and has:
  • forgiven us
  • given us His Spirit
  • given us His power

for us to change, overcome and grow in grace and knowledge, and to serve God! To await that resurrection, because He made it possible.

Verse 8: "Although He was a Son, yet, He learned obedience from the things that He suffered; and having been perfected…" (vs 1-9). Yes! God is perfect, but He was perfected even more through what He went through with this.

"…He became the Author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him" (v 9). That's quite a thing! This is why the Word of God, being Christ personified, being the Holy Word that we have here. This is why we study and pray everyday, so that

• God can correct us
• God can lead us
• God can help us
• God can open out mind

So that we can know what Jesus went through to make all of this possible

Hebrews 4:12: "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both the joints and the marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." No other book can do this. No other writing can do this. The Word of God is living and powerful!

Verse 13: "And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. Having, therefore, a great High Priest, Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot empathize with our weaknesses, but One Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations; yet, He was without sin" (vs 13-15).

This is why we are to have the faith, hope and love of God. This is what to do to strengthen us. This is why we have the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread every year; that we are renewed. Human beings are made to be renewed by the very existence of us as human beings With the Holy Spirit of God our mind is renewed; the Word of God is put in there and we are led by the Spirit of God.

Verse 16: "Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Let's see that even when Jesus was on that cross dying He was acting as High Priest, right after they crucified Him, because all of this was prophesied. Yes, it was all being worked out according to God's plan and way, however, they didn't know that it was being done this way. They didn't even realize that Satan the devil was behind it. So, the very first thing that Jesus said, when He was nailed to the cross was this:

Seven Sayings of Christ while on the Cross

Luke 23:34: "Then Jesus said, 'Father, [#1]forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.'…." The very ones that murdered Him, the very ones that were under the power of Satan the devil to do this. That's why we are told to come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive forgiveness.

Here's the second saying. The first one is forgive them. The second one is that He gave a promise to one of the malefactors:

Verse 43: "And Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I tell you today, [#2]you shall be with Me in paradise.'" I won't explain it because that will deter from what we're talking about.

Notice that in all of these things, Jesus is acting as High Priest. He is also honoring His mother.

John 19:26: "When Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, [#3]'Woman, behold your son.' Then He said to the disciple, [#4]'Behold your mother.' And from that time, the disciple took her into his own home" (vs 26-27). Taking care of His mother, honoring His mother, who was now bereaved because He was dying. Who had already lost her husband before that.

Let's see what Christ experienced and how He experienced it: Matthew 27:46: "And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, [#5]'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' That is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'"

He had to come to the point that many people do in their lives, and that is that there is no one who cares for them, no one who understands them. They are completely confounded. But Jesus had to do that and experience that, so that by Himself He could purge our sins.

Luke 23:46: "And after crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, [#6]'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.'…."—went back to God, and God the Father put it back into His body, which saw no corruption at the end of day-three in the tomb.

John 19 will finish the seven sayings of Jesus while He was on the cross. All of these things are foretold. Isn't that amazing? What a testimony! What a witness!

John 19:30: "And so, when Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, [#7]'It is finished.' And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit." Amazing! What a relief that must have been.

He had to do that! He had to go through all of that in order to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. And to be the perfect High Priest in mercy, forgiveness, kindness, love and everything.

Sidebar: That's why the New Testament is written in epistles, letters from God to us! Quite an amazing thing.

Let's see why Jesus' life was the only life to redeem human beings:

• He's the Creator of all human beings
• He was Divinely begotten by God the Father
• He was God manifested in the flesh
• He was the only human to live His entire life according to the will of God
• He was the only human to never sin
• He was the only human never to yield to a single temptation of the flesh or of Satan the devil
• He was the only human not to come under the death penalty for His own sins, but the death penalty for all the sins of the world

We need to understand that! I'm going to finish by reading from A Harmony of the Gospels, pg 255, (third edition, hard cover):

Only the precious blood of the Lamb of God could atone for all human sin. The death of God in the flesh was complete and perfect as a sacrifice and an atonement because His life in the flesh encompassed the full scope of human experience. On the human level, He suffered every type of temptation possible. He suffered the vilest of human indignities and excruciating tortures, enduring violent beating, scourging, and crucifixion, and the shame of public death. He suffered rejection by His own people and injustice at the hands of religious and civil authorities. He was the victim of political expediency and religious hypocrisy. He overcame all, gaining total victory over Satan the devil and the pulls of the flesh through His perfect love and obedience to God the Father. The sacrifice of His perfect life opened the way for all mankind to receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (John 3:16-17).

That's the meaning of the Passover!

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 49:1-4
• Luke 4:1-13
• Luke 22:1-6
• John 13:1-2, 13-17
• Luke 22:31, 33-37, 39-53
• Matthew 27:1-4, 6, 5
• John 10: 14-18
• Isaiah 53:1-11
• Isaiah 52:14-15
• Isaiah 53:11-12
• Psalm 22:1-2, 5-23
• Hebrews 1:1-9
• Hebrews 2:5-18
• Hebrews 5:7-9
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• Luke 23:34, 43
• John 19:26-27
• Matthew 27:46
• Luke 23:46
• John 19:30

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Isaiah 50
• Matthew 2
• John 8
• 1 John 2:4

Also referenced:

• Sermon Series: Hebrews
• Book: A Harmony of the Gospels by Fred R. Coulter

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3-6-15

Copyright 2015—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.