Gospel Readings Before Easter - A Study

[Smiling Dawn]

Originally Posted by Diane
I'm so glad this thread started back up.
It's beyond my imagination what horrible suffering Jesus did for us.
In Matthew The Plot against Jesus starts in chapter 26 to the Resurrection in chapter 28
Mark it starts chapter 15 with Jesus before Pilate
Luke it starts chapter 23 with Jesus before Pilate
and in John chapter 18, Jesus arrested.
I hope this helps.


I am not the moderator here so I hope I am not overstepping any boundaries...

But I am thinking that we can start reading the Scriptures that Diane posted and discuss them here. If any one has any though provoking questions on the verses being read, please ask.

[Shelley]

Thank you for posting this.

[Smiling Dawn]

You are welcome, Shelley. to you. God is good

I read the first part of Matthew 26. Jesus tells his diciples that he will be crucified...vs.2.

Then we are told of some who ate conspiring to kill Jesus; the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people.



Found something on Scribes here:

http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/easton/east3241.htm

Scribes - anciently held various important offices in the public affairs of the nation.
The Hebrew word so rendered (sopher) is first used to designate the holder of some military office (Judg. 5:14; A.V., "pen of the writer;" R.V., "the marshal's staff;" marg., "the staff of the scribe").
The scribes acted as secretaries of state, whose business it was to prepare and issue decrees in the name of the king (2 Sam. 8:17; 20:25; 1 Chr. 18:16; 24:6; 1 Kings 4:3; 2 Kings 12:9-11; 18:18-37, etc.).
They discharged various other important public duties as men of high authority and influence in the affairs of state.

There was also a subordinate class of scribes, most of whom were Levites. They were engaged in various ways as writers.
Such, for example, was Baruch, who "wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord" (Jer. 36:4, 32).

In later times, after the Captivity, when the nation lost its independence, the scribes turned their attention to the law, gaining for themselves distinction by their intimate acquaintance with its contents.
On them devolved the duty of multiplying copies of the law and of teaching it to others (Ezra 7:6, 10-12; Neh. 8:1, 4, 9, 13).
It is evident that in New Testament times the scribes belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, who supplemented the ancient written law by their traditions (Matt. 23), thereby obscuring it and rendering it of none effect.
The titles "scribes" and "lawyers" (q.v.) are in the Gospels interchangeable (Matt. 22:35; Mark 12:28; Luke 20:39, etc.).
They were in the time of our Lord the public teachers of the people, and frequently came into collision with him.
They afterwards showed themselves greatly hostile to the apostles (Acts 4:5; 6:12).

Some of the scribes, however, were men of a different spirit, and showed themselves friendly to the gospel and its preachers.
Thus Gamaliel advised the Sanhedrin, when the apostles were before them charged with "teaching in this name," to "refrain from these men and let them alone" (Acts 5:34-39; comp. 23:9).

[Smiling Dawn]

Elder - a name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7).
It also denoted a political office (Num. 22:7).
The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them (Ex. 3:16).
They attended Moses on all important occasions.
Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law (Ex. 24:1).
Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people (Num. 11:16, 17).
The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric wherever the patriarchal system exists.
At the present day this is the case among the Arabs, where the sheik (i.e., "the old man") is the highest authority in the tribe.
The body of the "elders" of Israel were the representatives of the people from the very first, and were recognized as such by Moses.
All down through the history of the Jews we find mention made of the elders as exercising authority among the people.
They appear as governors (Deut. 31:28), as local magistrates (16:18), administering justice (19:12).
They were men of extensive influence (1 Sam. 30:26-31).
In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs (Matt. 16:21; 21:23; 26:59).

The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the new.
"The creation of the office of elder is nowhere recorded in the New Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former was transmitted from the earlies times. In other words, the office of elder was the only permanent essential office of the church under either dispensation."

The "elders" of the New Testament church were the "pastors" (Eph. 4:11), "bishops or overseers" (Acts 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers" (Heb. 13:7; 1 Thess. 5:12) of the flock.
Everywhere in the New Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same officer of the Christian church.
He who is called presbyter or elder on account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with reference to the duty that lay upon him (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17-28; Phil. 1:1).

Found this here: http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/easton/east1146.htm

[Smiling Dawn]

The chief priests I think are like the priests...if anyone knows any more let me know. When I looked up Chief Priests I was referred to Priests. Look here: http://www.htmlbible.com/kjv30/easton/east3001.htm


Is the account of the woman pouring the very precious ointment on Jesus' head in each Gospel?
I wonder what alabaster is?
I can imagine the smell of the room.
Jesus says she did it for his burial. Again, predicting his death.
Wonder what the lady thought before, during and afterwards?

[Diane]

Smiling Dawn, that was very imformative. Thanks
This is something I came upon that I would like to share.
The question is, Which old testament book has a verse in it which is taken as a Messianic prophesy about Jesus being betrayed by a friend?
The answer is, Psalms 41:9
even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

[mcgill]

Here's the definition of "alabaster" as a noun, SD:

"–noun 1. a finely granular variety of gypsum, often white and translucent, used for ornamental objects or work, such as lamp bases, figurines, etc.
2. Also called Oriental alabaster. a variety of calcite, often banded, used or sold as alabaster."

I would imagine that the jar to which you refer is along the lines of a figurine or a vase.

If you go back into the earlier books of the Old Testament, the Chief Priests were descended from one of the earlier leaders, ad Yahweh had instructed David or Moses. I can't mention this for certain, but did you check the Book of Leviticus? I stand to be corrected. I DO recall that there were specific duties performed by each person in the Temple.

[Diane]

In Matthew 26: 6-13 is to me a beautiful story of this woman, name not mentioned in my Bible, who poured the perfumed oil on Jesus, and Jesus saying that she will always be remembered wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world.

[Smiling Dawn]

Thank you, mcgill. I appreciate your answering my question!

Diane, I did like reading that she would always be remembered, too.
The question you wrote above I knew of. Jesus must have been sad that it was His friend. Judas walked with him. Saw the miracles and heard the words of life. Judas and Peter have been compared how they both failed their God...Judas sees no hope and takes his life and Peter wept, and later finds finds mercy and forgiveness. In Mark 16:7 Jesus tells the women who find Him alive to go tell the disciples and Peter that He is alive. I remember having the words pointed out to me "and Peter", like Jesus was saying make sure Peter hears your words.

[mcgill]

SD, to answer your question regarding the OT Book which gave a Messianic prophecy about Jesus being betrayed by a friend, please check the Book of Isaiah 53: 2 - 3. This chapter and the 2 others which follow are known as the "Suffering Servant" chapters or prophecies. (In answer to your question about the Bibical book you mentioned above.)

Diane, I don't think that the woman is mentioned at all. For some reason, I believe that it's understood to be Mary Magdelene. I stand to be corrected on that, though.

[Smiling Dawn]

That wasn't my question, mcgill, in reply # 6. Diane and I had the same avatar and I am thinking, I could be wrong I know that, that the avatars being the same was confusing here with one response after the other.

Isaiah 53 is the passage I like to read before we take the Lord's supper. He was bruised for our iniquities. For my inquities I can read into it to make it personal. There was no guile found in His mouth, that passage will tell us. I marvel that He was falsely accused and didn't defend Himself. I know there was a leader or two that was astonished at that fact, too...somewhere I read that in the above mentioned passages in reply #1. Not sure of the leader's names now.

[mcgill]

Leave it to me!! I confused the 2 of you. My apologies. The post I addressed to you was meant for Diane.

My most favorite passage of all comes in Luke 23: 33-34 (NJB). It demonstrates - to me, at least, how one is to overlook others' wrongs, heinous as they may be. It's the only way we can carry on with our lives, even after severe trials to anyone.

[Diane]

Smiling Dawn, take another look at our avatars. Mine is a tulip vine flower with a hummingbird, and your's is pink flowers with a bee although they are some alike, they are some different too. Hugs
Mcgill, I think that the woman's name not mentioned was on purpose. I think the message of what she did for Jesus was the main thought. Although He said she would be remembered forever for what she did,

[Diane]

thanks Mcgill for letting me know about the "Suffering Servant" chapters. I haven't heard them called this before.

[Smiling Dawn]

Diane we had the same avatar, I changed mine...I should have said something about it.
No trouble, mcgill... I appreciate you. On the verses you mentioned in Luke Jesus does overlook in a sense, you are right. Forgiveness is key to moving on in our own lives and Jesus gives an example, yes?

[mcgill]

Jesus is THE example of perfect & complete forgiveness of our faults!

SD, when you mentioned that Christ never opened His mouth against the false accusations against Him, I wonder if you come to the conclusion as I have, that each person who falsely accuses another must live with the consequences of that lie and make reparation as far as is humanly possible for all the damage done to the accused person. It's easier to say nothing when you know that all you'll do is to add fuel to the fire and that the people aren't acting rationally. Mob behavior always makes people hysterical in such instances.

[stray]

I am confused about the dead in Christ. The Bible says that during the Second Coming, the dead in Christ will rise first, then those of us who are living will follow.
Yet, particuarly at funerals, we are told that the one who has passed is with the Lord.
IF we go to Heaven as soon as we die, where do those dead in Christ who will rise first come from?
I did ask this at a Christian website and it was strongly hinted that we wish to comfort people at funerals and we may not focus on accuracy at that time.
I read about a strong Christian lady whose tombstone read "Waiting." I think that is correct, but I would certainly like the comfort of thinking my mom is already in Heaven if it is Biblically based.

[mcgill]

This is the resurrection of the dead temporal remains of each person. It's your soul which will be transfigured and you will not recognize your family & friends as you see them on Earth. Their souls will have been purified in the refiner's fire of Purgatory for the wrong we have done on Earth towards God's image and likeness in each other of us. God sees us in a much different light than we see ourselves. It IS biblically and theologically based. Much more study is needed than what I can explain here.