04-14-2007, 06:19 PM
Our focus is to be, and remain on the crucifixion of Jesus, not on a distraction, or a dead carcass like Judas Iscariot. This type of distraction might turn into a form of hero worship, which interferes with the Salvation of the soul.
To which John’s apostle,
Polycarp, writes:
"…and whosoever does not confess the martyrdom of the Cross, is of the Devil."
Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians, .7
And the reason we need to keep focus on the Cross, and to understand the wisdom of its location, is because through the birth and crucifixion of Jesus, the Old Kingdom, and its free range of unhindered magic and sorceries was abolished, except for the end times last week of 7 years.
Ignatius, a contemporary to Polycarp, and bishop of the churches within the third largest city of the Roman Empire, informs us,
“Now the Virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the LORD; 3 MYSTERIES OF NOISE, which were wrought in Silence by GOD.
How, then, was He manifested to the ages? A Star shone in Heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else. Hence, every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the Old Kingdom abolished -- GOD Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of Eternal Life, and took now a Beginning that had been prepared by GOD. Henceforth all things were in a state of Tumult, because He mediated the abolition of Death.”
(Ignatius to the Ephesians, .19)
So as we look to these things, let us remember the wisdom of the Cross, and its power through YHVeH, and GOD’s justification, to the saving of our souls. If the star of His Coming had so much power, how much greater the power of His work at the Cross!
In contrast to the brilliance of the night of His birth, I am of a mind to believe on the night before His death, Jerusalem had a heavy overcast on the night of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
Remember, in John 18:1, John and Andrew tell us that they passed over the running brook of the Kidron; and not simply through the Valley of the Kidron. Running water in Judea suggests rainfall, and rainfall suggests cloud cover. This is confirmed in the Greek where slipping occurs, and knees that "sink down" while in prayer. This "overcast" and blackness of night explains why it would have been so hard for Judas and others with him to spot Jesus in the light of a full moon; unless that heavy overcast had concealed and made the night thick with darkness.
Further, though campfires would have been lit all around Jerusalem, there being some 3,000,000 Jews in attendance for Passover observation, the very fact that there would have been so very many torches and lanterns moving through the night, would certainly have spelled trouble.
And what would be a real revelation for us in Scripture so that we might see the importance of the Crucifixion? How about the Cross and the mission behind it, symbolized ever before GOD the Father in Heaven through the faces of the 4 living Creatures?
Food for study and meditation. Shalom.
To which John’s apostle,
Polycarp, writes:
"…and whosoever does not confess the martyrdom of the Cross, is of the Devil."
Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians, .7
And the reason we need to keep focus on the Cross, and to understand the wisdom of its location, is because through the birth and crucifixion of Jesus, the Old Kingdom, and its free range of unhindered magic and sorceries was abolished, except for the end times last week of 7 years.
Ignatius, a contemporary to Polycarp, and bishop of the churches within the third largest city of the Roman Empire, informs us,
“Now the Virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the death of the LORD; 3 MYSTERIES OF NOISE, which were wrought in Silence by GOD.
How, then, was He manifested to the ages? A Star shone in Heaven above all the other stars, the light of which was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. And all the rest of the stars, with the sun and moon, formed a chorus to this star, and its light was exceedingly great above them all. And there was agitation felt as to whence this new spectacle came, so unlike to everything else. Hence, every kind of magic was destroyed, and every bond of wickedness disappeared; ignorance was removed, and the Old Kingdom abolished -- GOD Himself being manifested in human form for the renewal of Eternal Life, and took now a Beginning that had been prepared by GOD. Henceforth all things were in a state of Tumult, because He mediated the abolition of Death.”
(Ignatius to the Ephesians, .19)
So as we look to these things, let us remember the wisdom of the Cross, and its power through YHVeH, and GOD’s justification, to the saving of our souls. If the star of His Coming had so much power, how much greater the power of His work at the Cross!
In contrast to the brilliance of the night of His birth, I am of a mind to believe on the night before His death, Jerusalem had a heavy overcast on the night of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
Remember, in John 18:1, John and Andrew tell us that they passed over the running brook of the Kidron; and not simply through the Valley of the Kidron. Running water in Judea suggests rainfall, and rainfall suggests cloud cover. This is confirmed in the Greek where slipping occurs, and knees that "sink down" while in prayer. This "overcast" and blackness of night explains why it would have been so hard for Judas and others with him to spot Jesus in the light of a full moon; unless that heavy overcast had concealed and made the night thick with darkness.
Further, though campfires would have been lit all around Jerusalem, there being some 3,000,000 Jews in attendance for Passover observation, the very fact that there would have been so very many torches and lanterns moving through the night, would certainly have spelled trouble.
And what would be a real revelation for us in Scripture so that we might see the importance of the Crucifixion? How about the Cross and the mission behind it, symbolized ever before GOD the Father in Heaven through the faces of the 4 living Creatures?
Food for study and meditation. Shalom.
