Jesus Christ Our
Passover
THE EIGHTH AND NINTH OF NISAN
Now let’s count back
six (6) days to the eighth of Nisan, a Thursday, and then proceed
chronologically forward throughout this study. Going to God’s Word:
John 12: 1
and 2 -- Then Jesus six days before the Passover [the slaying of the lamb on the
fourteenth] came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which
had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and
Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
This took place six
days before the Passover on the 14th – on the 8th of
Nisan and early in the evening on the 9th of Nisan. Remember, a new
day began at sunset. Jesus Christ came to Bethany on a Thursday, the 8th
of Nisan and stayed with Lazarus and a few others for supper. This sets the
time and event for the beginning of our research.
The fact that Jesus
recently raised Lazarus from the dead caused quite a stir in Bethany and
Jerusalem. Many then believed in Jesus Christ, but the unbelievers became more
determined to have Jesus Christ put to death. Here is a detailed record of the
unjust and totally insane conspiracy and persecution that Jesus Christ was up
against. There are people like this today. I’ve had to face up to them myself.
Pray for them and then get rid of them – quick-like. Don’t ever feel sorry for
a devil spirit(s). They will ‘melt your face’ the first chance they get.
Remember.
John 11:
45 to 53 – Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things
which Jesus did, believed on him.
But some
of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had
done.
Then
gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council [the Sanhedrin], and said, What do we? For this man doeth many miracles.
If we let
him thus alone, all men will
believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and
nation.
And one of
them, named Caiphas, being the
high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
Nor
consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people,
and that the whole nation perish not.
And this
spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that
Jesus should die for that nation;
And not
for that nation only, but that also he shall gather together in one the
children of God that were scattered abroad.
Then from
that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
These were the
respected religious leaders who were conspiring with the high priest of Israel
to kill Jesus Christ due to jealousy, envy and fear. They were inspired and
possessed by Satan and his host of devil spirits. Little did Satan know the
surprise God had in store for him on the day of Pentecost regarding the
mystery. The enemy can blind people so badly, who refuse to believe, that they
will walk in vehement opposition to the true God whom they claim to serve.
There is almost nothing worse than religious people. Do you know any? Suit and
tie, Bible, and no knowledge of it. Get rid of them.
I have done some work
for you with the above Scriptures. Now we need to work together. You don’t want
to become a spiritual hitchhiker so read the next four (4) verses on your own
before you continue.
See John
11: 54 to 57
Notice that Jesus
Christ didn’t hang around these idiots. He went off into the wilderness to a
different city to continue working the Word of God with his disciples. The
chief priests and Pharisees still sought him out diligently and made an attempt
to get the people to help them find Jesus Christ.
Here was Jesus Christ,
public enemy number one and he never did anything but God’s Will and helped
people. Because of the circumstances, people were not certain that he would
come to Jerusalem to the Passover. He did go to Bethany for supper even though
it was close to where the danger was lurking. Lazarus was present at the meal
and so were his sisters, Martha and Mary. At this emotional time, there were
also other disciples present. The love of God among them was great and the
danger was imminent. The events of this supper are significant and are recorded
in God’s Word.
John 12: 1
to 3 – Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus
was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
There they
made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at
the table with him.
Then took
Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of
Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with odour of
the ointment.
Mary acted with deep
gratitude when she used this expensive ointment to anoint Jesus. In the East,
this act was observed when crowning a king and when priests were dedicated. Oil
symbolized the presence of God and the anointing was a sign that God was
setting this person apart. Jesus Christ was the Messiah, the anointed one, the
king. By wiping Christ’s feet with her hair, she expressed great humility, for
in the East, a woman’s hair was her glory. Of course, there seems to always be
someone present to criticize the act of humility, honor, love, and kindness.
See John
12: 4 to 6
Guess who objected?!
The value of the ointment was 300 pence. Judas was the treasurer for the
disciples and was a thief who stole money from the treasury. But Jesus Christ
who perceived Judas’ weakness, spoke up and reproved him.
John 12: 7
and 8 – Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she
kept this.
For the
poor always ye have with you, but me ye have not always.
After this reproving of
Judas, the account returns to the topic of the chief priests.
John 12: 9
to 11 – Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came
not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had
raised from the dead.
But the
chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
Because
that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Can you imagine this?
Because Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead and was a testimony of the
power of the true God who directed Jesus Christ’s every move, these chief priests,
operated and controlled by devil spirits, wanted Lazarus dead also.
Let’s take a moment to
clear up some confusion regarding what people call "Palm Sunday" a
teaching that is NOT in accordance with God’s Word.
John 12:
12 and 13 – On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Took
branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed
is the King of Israel that
cometh in the name of the Lord.
This is a Friday, the
ninth [9th] of Nisan and was the day that was Christ’s first entry
into Jerusalem. Tradition teaches he made one entry into Jerusalem and this
also is not in accordance with the Scriptures. The Word of God states that his
first entry was on a Friday, the 9th, and his second entry was on
Saturday, the 10th, in blessing.
The three (3) gospels
of John, Luke, and Mark record the first entry on Friday, the ninth of Nisan.
You need to read these three (3) records before moving on. Here are the
Scripture references for all three Gospels documenting this event:
John 12:
12 to 19 An
account of this identical entry is also found in:
Luke 19:
29 to 44 Even
more detail is provided in:
Mark 11: 1
to 11
These three records compliment
each other with no contradiction. They are individual records documenting an
identical event – the first entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. The only
animal mentioned in these accounts is an ass’s colt. In Eastern culture, this
was indicative of judgement.
See Judges
5: 10, 10: 3 and 4, 12: 13 and 14
The reason Jesus Christ
requested this specific animal, an ass’s colt, is because he rode into
Jerusalem to judge as the representative of his Father, who is the Supreme
Judge, God. Some people teach that Jesus Christ wanted an ass to ride and sent
his disciples to take a colt away from the first man they saw. Would God’s Son
help himself to anyone’s private property? Under Eastern culture, he had a
perfect right to request such an animal.
In the East, animals
were donated to the Temple for God’s service and were kept in a special place.
They were usually on the outskirts of town and were to be used by any holy man
in service to the Lord, as they were gifts to God according to Biblical
culture.
Mark 11: 2
– And [Jesus] saith unto them, Go your way into the village over
against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied,
whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
"Whereon never man
sat" was an expression dealing with ownership meaning that the animal was
consecrated for God. It was God’s property, not to be used for man’s work. As
Mark 11: 3 clearly states all that a man had to do was to say that the animal
was needed in the service of the Lord and the keeper would release the animal.
See Mark
11: 4 to 7
The record in Luke 19:
29 to 35 is identical to this record. John 12: 1 and 12 show that this happened
the day after the sixth [6th] day before the Passover. Let’s go back
to the record in Mark 11.
Mark 11: 8
and 9 – And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches
off the trees, and strawed them in
the way.
And they
that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
It was a custom then
for people to spread their mantles before the king as he passed by as a display
of great honor and esteem.
II Kings
9: 13 – Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and
blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
In Mark 11: 8 and John
12: 13, we see the crowd cutting down palm branches and "strawed them in
the way." The palm branches represented joy and triumph. Multitudes of
people gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and when they
heard that Christ was coming, they went out of the city enthusiastically to
greet him.
See Luke
19: 37 and 38
At the time of Jesus
Christ’s first entry into Jerusalem, the disciples who witnessed Lazarus being
raised from the dead spread this news to the people who were in Jerusalem.
John 12:
17 and 18 – The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out
of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
For this cause
the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
But there were more
than just well-wishers and curiosity-seekers attracted to the road in Jerusalem
that day.
Luke 19:
39 and 40 – And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him,
Master, rebuke thy disciples [from making such joyous commotion].
And he [Jesus]
answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace,
the stones would immediately cry out.
The "stones crying
out" is a figure of speech called personification – giving inanimate
objects human characteristics. The excitement in the crowd was electrifying
because the common people really loved Jesus.
John 12:
19 – The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail
nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
The Pharisees were
overcome with jealousy because of Jesus Christ – the miracle worker.
Jesus Christ wept
greatly as he overlooked the city of Jerusalem and he prophesied of her
destruction.
Luke 19:
41 – And when he [Jesus] was come near, he beheld the city, and wept [wailed
aloud] over it.
See Luke
19: 42 to 44
That word
"visitation" in verse 44 is episkope in the Greek and it means "inspection, overlooking," as
in judgement. The people of Jerusalem did not realize that this was the day
that Jesus Christ would assess and pass judgement. This was the significance of
his first entry into the city.
Mark 11:
11 – And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had
looked round about upon all things, and now eventide was come, he went out unto
Bethany with the twelve.
This concludes the
first entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This was a Friday, the ninth [9th]
of Nisan, five days before the Passover. At the end of the day, after Jesus
Christ passed the judgement of Jerusalem's destruction, he "looked round
about on all things" in the Temple, and returned to Bethany with his
apostles where he was abiding at this time. Multitudes had joined Jesus’
disciples on that great day. However, the religious leaders were angry and
determined to rid themselves of what they believed was a serious threat to
their religious beliefs and traditions. Jesus Christ boldly entered Jerusalem
and the Temple in judgement despite death threats from the religious leaders.
With this day, the most tumultuous and unusual week in history began to unfold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~