Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Proverbs 16:5-6 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Isaiah 1:9-11 Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the LORD. “I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.
Romans 6:12-14 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law, but under grace.
Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 7:15-20, 23-25 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it but sin that dwells within me. . . but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then I serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 8:5-8 For those who lived according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
1 Corinthians 10:13-14 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 5:17-18 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. . .
Colossians 3:5-6 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
James 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Human beings, although created in God’s image; and He who does not sin, recognizes that we humans He created are full of selfish, sinful desires. We frequently do not stop and wait for His timing nor do we disregard our desires and wants. We go after them, and work hard and diligently to see them granted. We want what we want when we want it. Humans desire things, and do not like waiting for the most part. Impatience just adds to our idea of being fulfilled immediately. Certainly, I think in our country we are so accustomed to getting, purchasing, or letting others know what we want and receive these desires so soon; it is almost as though we do not have to really work toward them. Our country for the most part expects to get things soon after a desire hits.
For sure, I have acted on desires or wants and done things to obtain them in the soonest manner possible. At times those choices have cost me dearly–one would think I would learn. And I have some, but still I will find my brain exploring how I could manage to get this–but I do ask God for direction as to waiting or going ahead. I am very aware I tend to be selfish.
God started dealing with our sinful natures in the Garden–the place where He walked with Adam and Eve. We want what we want. We are impatient, and can so easily talk ourselves into good reasons why we should get what we want. ‘It is not so bad; it looks like great and tasty fruit. Why should I not have it? Why would God have forbidden us to eat that? What harm could it do to eat this?’
But that is part of our human nature; we constantly battle between our desires and wants and what we know God does or does not want for us. As a child, my Dad used to tell me that we had good and bad within us. Each time we were tempted to do bad, we had to make a choice. You push away the bad (angel, devil) from your left shoulder, and the desire would decrease so we could choose to do what is right. Both the right and wrong desires live within us. What will you do, Kathy? Which shoulder would get the brushing? I must admit, that that visual worked most of the time.
I was certainly not always obedient, and did more than my share of sneaky and bad things–things I knew were wrong, or had already been told to NOT do. But I could be challenged to follow friends and go on an “adventure” that I knew I was not supposed to be going on. Pride and selfishness are indeed considered root causes of sin, often leading to actions that are harmful to one selfish and others. Pride can lead to a lack of concern for others, and manifest as greed, laziness, and anger toward others.
We are born with a a selfish bent. We scream for food and for diaper changes, and to have any discomfort immediately taken care of, to seek comfort fast. We do not like being uncomfortable from birth. We cry with belly aches, with hunger, with dirty uncomfortable diapers, being wet and from urine creeping out of the diaper sneaking up our back or stomach, or being nauseous, over-tired, and so many other times when there is discomfort. We learn quickly that by expressing our discomfort our needs to feel better will be attempted to be met. It reinforces our selfish needs–originally that are basic needs, but they grow to other wants and desires.
Humans are selfish, and born to think more of ourselves than others. And this leads to sinning–we see something someone else has and wants it. Do we steal it? Do we just want it and maybe try to buy something close to it–or better than the one seen? Do we yearn and yearn for it. David yearned for a woman so badly that he was willing to bring her into his home–knowing she was the wife of one of his friends and good soldiers, Uriah, and slept with her. She became pregnant and when he found it out, he maneuvered things so that her husband was killed. Then he married her. Huge sins, and God was very displeased with him. The child died . And for the rest of his life, there were awful problems within his family. A daughter was raped by her half brother, and son killed his half brother, and son railroaded his father into abandoning the palace and running as his son was overthrowing the thrown. David was deceived, and by the end of his life, quite alone.
Lord, You designed us to be able to choose. And we often sin when we want something that does not belong to us, and belongs to others and we consider how to get them. We crave for something that is not for us. That is a sin. Our Lord wants us to be satisfied with what we do have. It is wrong for us to compare and crave what others have, and that can lead us to sinning–stealing, not being happy or satisfied with the blessings we have, trying to obtain that which we desire. Temptations are desires for something we want–and often they are desires which are not good for us–unhealthy–cigarettes, alcohol, spending too much money or things not needed or whatever. We yearn for something else, making us feel crave something not needed, only wanted, and but making us more selfish and stuck on our wants and desires.
Lord, thank You for teaching me to want You more than material things. You are eternal, and things, NOTHING, is forever except You and eternity. I praise You and all You have done for ‘me and mybellaviews.’
Leviticus 3:2 And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons, the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar.
Leviticus 4:20-35 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be given. And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly . . .
Leviticus 16:5 or whole book And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
Leviticus 17:11,14 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. . . For the life of every creature is is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, you shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood, Whoever eats it shall be cut off.
2 Chronicles 30:16 They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levi
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
Hebrews 9:12 . . . he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. . . .
Hebrews 9:22, 26 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shredding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. . . . for then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
If someone asked me what I thought was the most defenseless animal, I am unsure if I would say the rabbit or lambs. After looking it up, I read and was reminded that rabbits are very alert, and often will freeze in place to be less noticeable, but if they are, have speed and frequently run in a zig zag pattern, and they have boroughs already dug, have very strong rear legs, and a couple of sharp front teeth as well as being able to camouflage themselves into the brush and area.
Lambs have no defense other than bleating when frightened or lost. They are docile, curious, and can get lost just ambling and munching on grass. They do not recognize danger in slipping off rocks, getting wedged between a couple of big rocks, they have no defense when a wolf, coyote, or some other predator is nearby. Lambs are sweet, innocent and cause a tenderness to most people. Generally, something like young kittens, puppies,, very young foals and calves pull at feelings and heartstrings.
God wanted the people to feel the pain and sacrifice, the fear of the animals as they smelled the death and tried to resist. They would have been full of fear, and with the larger animals–rams, oxen and so forth would have been hard to control, unruly and resistant in their fear. Lambs also would have been resistant, an inborn fear of blood and death. But being so much smaller and malleable, they would have been much easier to hold down and kill and be the sacrifice and atonement for our sins. How hard it is to see that something so gentle is being killed for the sins of us.
We. who are created in God’s image, have reason, intelligence, and hopefully feel the guilt and remorse of committing sins that cause the life of something so innocent and gentle. God gave us heart and empathy so we are capable of hurting and sympathizing with the death. We are capable of a great deal of hurt and grief at an innocent death. Yet, I have seen some animals also express feelings–fear; I once saw a Canadian goose, squawking loudly when a young goose started out into a rode, and the parent goose, looked fearful. tense, was screeching–although I could not hear the screech. Unfortunately, I have seen a deer hurt or killed and the other deer let out a loud animal cry, then turn and hurry for the woods. When my male Boston terrier got ill several years ago, the female little mate came in, licked him about face and neck, before he raised and turned his head away. She then went into one of the beds. A few minutes later my male cat who had enjoyed lying often near the male dog, and they always seemed to have a good pet relationship. The cat came into the house, and went over to the dog, then he too, began to lick the dog about his face. Clancy, the male dog, allowed the attention for a few minutes, then again, lifted his head and turned away from the cat. This occurred on a Friday afternoon. For the rest of the weekend, all the animals walked the furthest they could by the sick dog, rather than their normal of walking near, inches and going about the pet business.
The female dog and male cat did not linger with him again. They had recognized death coming, and had been able to say their good-byes.
I have seen a calf taken away from the mother and she follows the calf–sometimes wounded, sometimes deceased. She will follow the farmer carrying the calf with a mournful mooing. Animals grieve–I am not sure always, but it is not an uncommon thing, to see some animals grieve.
I had a pair of blue birds who for the seven years I lived in that house used one of the two bird houses I put up. It was always the same one, but they would diligently check out both. Once decided, they would busily collect twigs, dog fur and whatever they used to build a next. Then the busy male would scurry about bringing food of mealy bugs, and whatnot for the female to eat, and then at dusk, they would both go into the nesting house together. Within several days you could see the male carry away parts of light blue shell out, and return a few minutes later. He didn’t always fly in the same direction, but already he was protecting his young family, protecting them by flying the shells that had surrounded the hatchlings. I would rarely see the female , sometime, just poking her head out of the hole, getting a bit of fresh air, but she did not leave the nest that I saw, depending on her male to bring her food.
But one summer, with their second littler, in July, it was exceptionally hot. I would see her frequently poking her head out, just gasping for air. Several days later, the female came out of the nest and went and stayed on part of the fence, and watched the nest, rarely flying away. Occasionally, the male would come and set with her for a few minutes, but she would not be stirred from the place where she sat–and mourned. I don’t know where they went in the evenings, but fairly early in the morning for three mornings in a row, she would sit on that fence post. I did not have enough guts to open the bluebird house, but when a friend came to visit, I talked her into doing it. All four hatchlings had suffocated, stuck in that birdhouse with a single hole and the infernal heat. Once my friend cleaned out the nest, we left the door open, so fresh air could cleanse the staleness from the box.
But God created us, most of us, to have empathy, sympathy, and to feel guilt, remorse, at seeing another creature killed for sins we have committed. So when God demanded blood sacrifice to cover our sins, He gave the Laws of which animal death covered which sins and I wonder if I would have been able to attend these religious sacrifices. But blood and death have a recognizable, distinguishing, and disgusting odor. Recognizable once you have been exposed. But it makes animals aware and nervous, so therefore they would have been more difficult to move to the sacrificial area. lambs would have been no or very little difficulty as they would only be able to squirm, not strong enough to evade. But the rams, the oxen–they are strong, and as almost all animals have an instinct to avoid an untimely death.
“It is because of sin that God made the sacrificial system as a means of satisfaction of God’s wrath. It is in the sacrificial system that we see the ultimate provision for sin that is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.” Pastor Bobby Owings, Devotional in the Gathering App, April, 25, 2025.” According to Hebrews, the forgiveness of sins through blood is a symbolic act representing the seriousness of sin and the need for atoning for sinning.
The priests must have been quite strong to manipulate the larger animals then bare their necks for a deep and lethal cut. I just think I would have wanted to flee; if not flee then stay in the far back of the crowd. Truly, I would not have wanted to be there. And then to know that one of these animals was killed for an atonement for one of my sins, would make me ill. I would have tried to never sin, so I would not be responsible for the death of an animal. That can be a lot of mourning amongst the people and also when one animal is separated from the herd. Loss. Regret. Mourning. But God had supplied a means of covering sins; blood sacrifices for the sins is what He demanded.
Lord, You have provided a means for our sins to be atoned for not by the continuous deaths of animals, but by the death of Your Son. God, my Father, I am so thankful for the sacrifice of your Son to free me of my dark and multiple sins. You provided a way for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Genesis 37:11, 18-20, Joseph’s brothers being jealous and angry with him
Genesis 37:25-27 Joseph’s brothers plan to do him harm and sell him to the Ishmaelites
Genesis 39:2-20 Potiphar’s wife propositions Joseph often, finally able to grab his cloak and declare he tried to rape her
Genesis 40:1-23 Joseph in prison and interprets dreams for two of the inmates who had both worked for Pharaoh in a close capacity.
Genesis 41 King dreams and needs interpretation. Joseph brought to him from the prison, and becomes second in command
Genesis 42:1-23 Prepares Egypt for the famine that will be coming–storing supplies to be able to feed when necessary
Genesis 45:1-11 Joseph tells his brothers who he is
Exodus 1:8-18 Pharaoh getting fearful as the Hebrew community grows and grows
Exodus 2 Moses is born and through a bit of deception, his mother is able to nurse him, then returns him to Pharaoh’s daughter who pays the woman so she can “adopt” him.
Exodus 4. 14 God encouraging Moses to speak with Pharaoh, then all the plagues and misery endured by the Egyptians. Finally, Pharaoh telling the Hebrews to leave once the first born males are killed
Joseph was spoiled and his many half brothers resented him and the place he had in their father’s heart. After bragging to them about a dream he had had, when an opportunity arose to get rid of him, the brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites and he was carted off to Egypt. Did they wonder if he had been killed quickly? Did any other than Reuben feel regret? That must have been a scary time for the young man.
Joseph was a man who God had gifted. He was apparently a hard worker, intelligent, and did what was right. He was trustworthy to whomever he was serving as a job; which actually got him put into prison for a period of a coupe of years. A woman (so often it is a sneaky woman who causes trouble!) , the wife of the man he worked for tried to seduce him, and he repeatedly rebuffed her until she one day grabbed his coat and then fled without it as it came off. Her story was he had tried to seduce her–and he was thus thrown in prison. I do wonder if there were NO other males slaves or servants in that household who had had to deal with this female? Probably yes, and they might have taken the risk to enjoy her; or maybe even fearing she was also in control of the household, and they should do as told. But somehow, Joseph had an innate sense of right vs wrong. (It was going to be more than 400 years before God would write the ten commandments out on stone tablets for Moses, so Joseph did not have the Law0. Both the baker and the chief cupbearer were imprisoned with Joseph. They had similar dreams, and Joseph interpreted them; similar dreams, but very different outcomes. The baker was killed, and the cupbearer was restored to his former position. However, the cupbearer for got about Joseph for a few years–until the Pharaoh had a dream that was bothersome to him.
In prison, Joseph had an opportunity to share interpretation of some dreams a couple of other prisoners had had. He asked that when the one who was going to be released and get his position back, if he would pass on the news so he could be released from the prison. However, that did not happen for another couple of years. Pharaoh had had a dream and wanted it to be interpreted, and then the man (Pharaoh’s butler, who had been restored to his position) recalled how Joseph had come forth and interpreted his dream and the baker’s dream. So Pharaoh called for Joseph to be brought up from prison to interpret his dream. Joseph was able to predict the Pharaoh’s dream declaring there would be a famine after seven years of good crops, and it should be necessary to store away excess food so when the times were lean, there would still be enough food for the people during the famine years. And now years after Joseph’s brothers had sold him, and after he had had some difficult experiences, Joseph was placed the second in charge after Pharaoh. God had blessed him with wisdom, practicality, and a shrewd business sense.
His dream was to show that there would be seven plentiful years, then there would be seven years of poor crops and no rain. Immediately, Pharaoh promoted Joseph to be in charge so that hopefully there would be enough in storage to feed the people when the lean times his it seven years. Joseph set up food storage areas, having the people bring much of their crops in to store. When the lean times came, he was able to sell food to them, when money ran out, he traded food for land, making Pharaoh richer, but supporting and caring for the people’s needs. Because God had given him foresight. But the famine had come into the land where his family lived also, and they needed food, so their father Jacob ordered them to go to Egypt and get food. So ten of them went, only the youngest staying behind with Jacob.
Joseph was now second in command to Pharaoh and as the famine also struck his own family and the brothers came to Egypt to purchase food. Joseph was finally reunited with his brothers and father, and encouraged them to move to the area. During the famine, his forethought and planning allowed all to have food. Joseph encouraged his brothers and father to move to Egypt, which they did. Because they were shepherds, and not very accepted by the Egyptians because of their job, Pharaoh told them to settle in Goshen–near to Joseph, but not directly near to Pharaoh. Although the Egyptians were not fond of shepherds, Pharaoh encouraged Joseph’s family to continue caring for the animals in Goshen.
As their father was reaching the end of his life, Jacob (Israel) to die, the brothers wondered if they would now face Joseph’s anger, wrath, and being vindictive.
I wonder how long after Joseph died did their status change? Joseph had been admired by the Egyptians. But now 400 years after Joseph had his important role beside Pharaoh, the Israelites had been forced into slavery. Pharaoh had gotten nervous as the Israelis obeyed God and multiplied and Pharaoh feared they would eventually turn and attack the Egyptians. He ordered all males to be killed by the mid-wives who served the Israelis, but these two women did not obey that command as they feared God.
Moses was the youngest child of at least three children–Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. His mother made a reed cradle, water-proofed it and set the cradle in the bushes near where she knew Pharaoh’s daughter bathed. The woman did find the cradle and scooped it up and brought Moses into her home. Miriam, who had witnessed this, volunteered to get a woman to nurse the child, so Moses had contact with his biological mother
So, Moses was raised in the palace as an adoptive son, as he had been found floating in a reed basket by Pharaoh’s daughter. It is likely that the present Pharaoh and Moses had played together as young boys. But he knew the Jewish , as hithe Israelis were God’s chosen people and lived by the standards set out by his mother. But as he grew into a young man, he interrupted an Egyptian who was abusing and Israeli, and ended up killed the man. The next day, he saw two Israelis fighting, and when he approached them, one turned and asked him if he intended to kill them also. Moses became frightened and fled into the desert–where he lived, shepherding sheep for forty years.
Then God called Moses and told him he was the one chosen to lead the Israelis out of Egypt to “the Promised Land.” But while enslaved, it does not seem as though the Israeli’s had much interaction with God, but as the fear and unease grew in Pharaoh about the number of Israelis, he decided to add more pressure and work to them. And finally, they called out to God for release.
Eventually, Moses and Aaron were able to lead the Israelis out of Egypt. It is guesstimated there were a few million people, and many animals–oxen, sheep, rams, and so forth. It mentions no carts or wheeled vehicles to help on their journey–just walking into the desert to “the Promised Land.” After God had led the Israelites out of Egypt, He needed to provide them with food, water, ensure there was enough for the many herds of oxen, sheep, and so forth that were also being led away. I cannot even imagine how to prod that many animals forward, maintaining the same direction, dealing with their fear–especially crossing the Red Sea. The people must have been frightened and unsure, but the animals were being forced into what had been a full river, and now stood tall on both sides like a wall. How did they not balk and refuse to enter, making it more difficult to get them across. The people must have also been terrified, “What do we do if the wall of water comes over us? We will all drown.” But God was with them, and they did not . . . .
Again, just a reminder to listen to He’s Alive by either Dolly Parton or Don Francisco. Awesome song by Don Francisco, and my favorite rendition is Dolly’s, but both are powerful
Matthew 28:1-8 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. And behold, there was an earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. . . .But the angel answered the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. . .
Mark 16:2-7 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away–for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. . . .”
Mark 16:12-13 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either
Luke 24:13-35 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. . . Jesus appeared to them in another form, and did not recognize Him until they were breaking bread.
Luke 24:36-43 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit . . . So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.
Luke 24:44-47 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.-, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
John 20:1-9 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”. . . For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
John 20:11-18 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping, and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feel, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, what are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me. for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and said to them ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'”
John 20:19-23 Jesus appeared to the ten disciples in a locked room. Thomas was missing from the group and Judas had already committed suicide. As He appeared, He said, “Peace be with you.” In the midst of their fear, their grief, their guilt, yet sharing a bond that had lasted over three years, they had to be stunned. He showed them His hands and feet. After speaking peace over them again, He breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit
It was early Sunday morning when Mary arrived at the place they had seen Joseph of Arimathea wrap and lay Jesus, the Romans had closed the huge stone. The women were grieving–so hurt, empty, confused and lost. He had been so easy to love, and to show His love to all others. And now, senselessly, He had been killed. That did not make sense, did it? To anyone. Those vicious Pharisees and other religious pompous people had caused the people to have a herd mentality; they had stirred them up, caused confusion, and the more shouting and denials of His innocence had incensed the crowd further. But Mary had experienced for herself the freeing of demons from within. They had harangued and beaten her with their vicious cries, emotional scars, and filled her with a hate so she did not know who she was until He had come and freed her. He loved her; with her rancid past and all, Mary knew He loved her.
As they hurried along, they wondered how the stone would be removed. But hadn’t they seen Him do miracles, maybe His Father would move the stone for them since they were going to be caring for His Son for burial. As they approached, they could see the stone had already been removed. Hurrying forward–with trepidation, with possible joy, with their minds and hearts full of questions, fear and horror that He had been stolen. Mary Magdalene fled to where the disciples were staying, while the other left.
Fearful, full of remorse, and I am sure all filled with some guilt–as they had all fled, leaving Him alone when the soldiers and Judas had appeared and arrested Him. Yet, they couldn’t believe her. Yes, she was Mary, but still one didn’t believe a woman–a woman could not even give testimony. Peter, always, the first to raise his hand, rashly volunteer, pledging his full allegiance, had three times denied knowing Him, and now Mary stood there saying she had seen. They knew they had seen Him die miserably on that cross, John had stood right at the foot of the cross, doing his best to console Jesus’ mother. But some spark of hope had John gasping, then running for the door, with Peter following. For a few moments they ran together, but John, always quicker, sped on ahead. He reached the tomb, the stone was indeed pushed away and the opening stood like a dark gaping hole. Now John waited for Peter to catch up, and they entered. The linens Joseph had wrapped around Jesus lay on the slab of rock; for John, through his grief, it was like an epiphany–he realized Jesus had risen, just as He had told them. For Peter, it added to his guilt and loss. He had messed up, he had not protected His Lord and friend, had in fact denied Him, and now He was gone, probably stolen by those vicious Roman soldiers.
Although, the bible does not say, I wonder if Mary hurried after the two disciples to learn what they thought and felt when they saw the tomb. Maybe some of her questions and concerns would be answered. We don’t know if she was able to hear the two disciples with their mixed reactions talking–there still had to be some uncertainty between the two as they began walking back toward where the group was staying. I think Mary lingered, when she bent forward, she saw two angels–was she startled, apprehensive, confused? When she turned away she saw Jesus, although she did not recognize Him, thinking He was the gardener. And gently, He said her name, and her eyes were opened and she recognized Him.
She dashed to hug and hold Him, but He warned her not to as He had not yet risen, but instructed her to go and tell the apostles–and Peter– that He was rising to see His Father–their Father–and to be with His God, and their God. And He would meet them in Galilee.
Later that same afternoon, He met up with two followers, not either the closest of the twelve/now eleven, who were walking to Emmaus, and talking about the shocking events of Thursday evening, the early morning visit of Pharisees and many in the crowd yelling for Jesus’ death. They did not recognize Jesus, so Jesus began explaining to them how the Scriptures and all that had been prophesized about Him had to come to pass. And they still did not recognize. They invited Him to join them for the evening meal, and as He broke the bread, then they knew. But Jesus was gone. They immediately left to return to Jerusalem and the disciples and share their good news with them.
About the time the two men were hustling back to Jerusalem to tell of spending a walk and discussion with Jesus, Jesus appeared in the locked room where His disciples were grieving, some feeling guilty, some betrayed–after all they had believed He was there to rescue them, and now He was dead–and probably those nasty Roman soldiers had taken the body and hidden it. They all felt defeated, afraid, and just miserable. So He appeared, shocking them, and said, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet; it is I myself.” I am sure they kept staring, maybe asking questions, trying to understand how He was here and alive–yet they were not fully grasping it. He asked for a bit of fish and bread, and as He spent time with them, talking with them, they believed. I don’t think they fully understood, but they believed.
Oh my Lord, You sacrificed for me, such a sinful, selfish wretch. . . and have continued to walk with me, guide me, and love me. You are my rock for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey
Matthew 27:62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate,
Mark 11:15-18 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of thieves.’” And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.
Mark 15:42M Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
Luke 23:54 That day was the Preparation and the Sabbath drew near
John 11:47-53 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
John 12:12-15 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
John 12:17-19 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
John 19:14,31.42 Now, it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”. . . therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a “high day”), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. . . . So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
On the Sunday before His death, Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and many gathered and cried out, “Hallelujah! Our King is coming. Yay! He will beat back the Romans and help us get back to making prophets, probably reduce our taxes and continue to heal and feed us! Look! Here He comes surrounded by His friends and many others. A cause to rejoice!” This happy crowd who seemingly adored Jesus was cheering and so happy to witness Him coming into Jerusalem. He had healed many, ousted demons residing within some, had even raised back to life the only son of a widow, a twelve year old girl, and finally, His friend, Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. Their desire is clear. They want a King who can master death; it is their understanding that is still lacking. They do not realize Jesus must die before he can defeat death. They thought He would fight, develop an army and defeat the oppressors. That night he and apostles celebrated Passover.
The next day was Monday, and on this day, Jesus bearing a whip and anger entered the temple courtyard, yelling for them all to leave the area, furious that the temple, His Father’s house was being used as a cheap marketplace to expand the pockets of the religious leaders—both Pharisees and Sadducees. (John 2:14-16). People were selling birds, some lambs, oxen, exchanging money and making the temple seem more like a marketplace for livestock animals for sacrifice and a gambling hall. The religious leaders were willing to sacrifice the sanctity of the temple to line their pockets with more money.
His anger and temper display encouraged the religious leaders to grab and kill Him sooner than later. His shouting and demanding respect for His Father’s house was causing some of his followers and the crowd to wonder if he was crazed. The religious leaders needed to act now, and manipulate the Romans into being responsible for killing him. Afterall, didn’t they add to the funds that the Romans were already taxing them. Perhaps, He was right, and thus maybe the religious leaders were taking advantage of them. Afterall the temple was supposed to be for all people to experience God’s presence and forgiveness. And they had heard Him call the temple His house. They already recognized He had awesome powers—healing the sick, curing the lame, the blind, the deaf, the lepers, freeing people from demons, and raising some from the dead.
And Jesus announces He is restoring the temple to its original purpose—a place of worship, a place of sacrifice, and thankfulness for the awesome works of God for the past several centuries. He wants them to realize He will be the final sacrifice, and the old covenant is broken. He is the new covenant; if one will heartily repent and follow Him, they will have eternal life.
Did these people not know the first three commandments to love God, to not blaspheme Him in any manner, and to honor the Holy Temple? Anger, dismay and the knowledge that He had only hours before He would be brutalized and killed had Jesus showing His fury at the disrespect to His Father; to the trinity, of which He was an equal member. Had His life all been for naught? Was he going to face the agony, humiliation, scourging, pain, and abandonment by His Father and also his friends, for all these ungrateful people who were selling, trading wares, animals, exchanging money and denigrating His Father’s house. Would it be all for naught? Of course, He knew better–but that fully human side had to be suffering so deeply and with such anger.
That evening, He went to join Lazarus and his sisters for dinner. While Mary is pouring fragrant spikenard on his feet and drying them with her hair and tears, Judas, angered at ‘waste’ of this expensive ointment, slips out and arranges to betray His teacher and the Man he has chosen to follow for the past several months for 30 pieces of silver. Judas then plans to turn Jesus over to the religious elite. He is given a miserly pittance for the life of another to be taken, promises to keep in touch and arrange a time to meet and deliver the Messiah.
Tuesday, He spends His time with intense teaching, and still He heals those who come to Him. His time is short. Hos hours are numbered. By mid evening on Tuesday, He only has 48 or so hours left to spend with His disciples, to teach, to imprint on their minds, to spend time with those He loves and has nurtured.
On Thursday, Jesus and His disciples have their last meal together. This night was the beginning of Passover. Celebrated among the Israelites from the time they fled Egypt, even during their time in the desert, to remember how God had saved them, using the blood of a Lamb painted with a hyssop branch on their door post, so the angel of death would not include them in the taking of the firstborn’s life. It did not matter if it was human or animal, all the first born were killed.
I found some speculation that this may have been like a graduation celebration before Jesus met His death, and His apostles would then be alone, but with their knowledge, and the coming of the Holy Spirit to them, they would now be the ones to spread the Word, to show the Way. I have done some research and as Passover was originally directed by God to Moses to be on the 14th day of Nisan, the first month, I have wondered if that also was truly Passover. The next day would have been the Preparation Day for the Sabbath meal which would begin at sundown on the next day. And Passover was the first day of the weeklong celebration of Unleavened Bread. Thus, the Passover began on Thursday, 14 Nisan, and Jesus was tortured Thursday night through early Friday morning, then scourged, tormented and humiliated, then placed a heavy cross on His beaten back, shoulders, and body, and minutes later, nailed Him to that wooden cross.
There He hung, separated from His Father, and was suspended into a darkness and place of putridness while He defeated Satan and ended the sacrificial lambs, oxen, goats and so forth, and made the new covenant, that if one believed Him to be the Son of God, and the Sacrificial and Final Lamb, He was the last Atonement for ALL sins—mine, yours, and for all. One only needs to be sincere, repentant and walk to follow Him, then gains eternal life. Physical death will come, but to live with God’s glory around you for all eternity, within the love of God, the Father, His Son, my Savior, Jesus, and the Hoy Spirit, that is a resounding win to me.
Father, I praise You and thank You that long before I was a thought, You arranged for the salvation of people so they would not forever be separated from You. Thank You for all You have given and the many blessings for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
Hi, I'm Kathy. Welcome to my website!