When Mesiah Tabernacled Among Us

By Patrick A. Grillo

Why do we call Jesus the Lamb of God? What was the real date of Jesus' death? Why is He a first fruit?
These questions and more are answered in this amazing novel that follows the Biblical timeline of the life of Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth. Both Christian and Jew will come to an understanding of the true meaning of the Old Testament feasts, the Gospels and the God who walked the earth in the form of a man.

"And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we actually saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, lovingkindness) and truth." John 1:14 Amplified Bible

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735128450

Book preview

Patrick Grillo has done an excellent job of explaining in his introduction the Old Testament Feasts of Israel and their fulfillment in Jesus, our Messiah King. The rest of the book is a work of fiction; but one that is soundly Biblical, insightful and enjoyable. Readers will soon find themselves caught up in the culture in which Jesus lived, causing them to hunger for more of the One who still Tabernacles Among Us.

—David Ravenhill

Author & Teacher

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Genesis 12:3

Title

WHEN MESSIAH

TABERNACLED AMONG US

SECOND EDITION

Copyright © 2014, 2020 by Patrick A. Grillo

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

NOTE: Some conversations and actions by the characters are necessarily drawn from the Holy Bible to preserve the integrity of the Biblical account of Jesus’ life. In a few cases, direct quotations are used. Citations are not given in order to facilitate the readability of the story. The reader is encouraged to follow along in the Gospels to enhance understanding.

ISBN:

Published by:

OLIVE ORCHARD PRESS, LLC

CORAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA 33071

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God:

I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psalm 52:8

PART 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AUTHOR’S NOTE

INTRODUCTION

PART 1

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

PART 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

CHAPTER 35

CHAPTER 36

CHAPTER 37

CHAPTER 38

CHAPTER 39

CHAPTER 40

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 42

CHAPTER 43

CHAPTER 44

CHAPTER 45

CHAPTER 46

CHAPTER 47

CHAPTER 48

CHAPTER 49

CHAPTER 50

CHAPTER 51

CHAPTER 52

CHAPTER 53

CHAPTER 54

CHAPTER 55

CHAPTER 56

CHAPTER 57

HOW TO RECEIVE SALVATION

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my dear friend:

RITA SCHMIDT SANTANIELLO

1952—2014

Rita’s zest for life and family was only surpassed

by her zeal for God.

It was Rita whose belief in this work brought the final pieces

together, connecting me with my gifted editor,

Ellen Nestos, and my publishers.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To my dear friends, Richard and Tami Hayhoe, I thank you for your encouragement and support and for helping to take these books to the next level.

I would like to thank my editor Ellen Nestos for her untiring work, her dedication to detail, and her desire to see Jesus glorified. Ellen, you are like Supergirl who had the power to turn a lump of coal into a diamond.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

In the late 1980’s my friend Jack invited me to attend a conference of Jewish believers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Each year around Independence Day, the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Association of America) meets at Messiah College for a time of teaching and worship.

As a new believer in Christ, I was eager to go. I had grown up in an Italian-American Catholic family in Brooklyn, New York. Our neighborhood’s population was evenly split between Christians and Jews, so I had a little knowledge of Jewish customs. However, up to that point, any interest I had in the Jewish holidays stemmed largely from the fact that over seventy-five percent of the students who attended Lincoln High School were Jews and a Jewish holiday meant a day off.

My attitude changed when several Jewish families—European immigrants who had survived the Holocaust—moved into homes on my block. Marvin, one of the new boys who moved down the block from my home, was just a year older than me and we became good friends.

Because I am a Goy (a Gentile), Marvin’s family and some of the others would ask me to do little chores around their home after sundown on the Sabbath when religious Jews are forbidden to do any work. I was able to observe their celebrations, and was introduced to keeping kosher. My interest in Judaism was piqued.

I thought from my experiences with the Jews in my neighborhood that I was prepared for what I would experience at the conference. Nothing was further from the truth!

My first jolt with reality occurred when I sensed an overwhelming joy in the atmosphere. Jack and I were awed to find almost 1000 people dancing and singing praise to Yeshua. Many of the people looked like traditional Hasidim with long curly hair, black garments and fur hats. However, the Jews we were familiar with in New York did not dance and sing for joy. We stood there with our mouths agape.

The next four days were eye-opening and life-changing for me. David Chernoff, Michael Lax and Jonathan Cahn revealed the Bible to us in a way Jack and I had never experienced. Rabbi Cahn taught a class on the Feasts of Israel that mesmerized me. He opened up scripture in a way I, a Roman Catholic schooled by nuns and priests, had not known before. New light was shed on scriptures in the Gospels which I had found confusing. Now I saw the context in which these scriptures were written.

I was hooked. Since then I have tried to learn as much about the Jewishness of Jesus as I can. The Jewish holidays now hold tremendous meaning for me, just as they did for the Jews in the time of Jesus.

The writers of the Gospels took for granted that their readers knew the significance of the Jewish festivals and holidays. It was as much a part of them and their times as breathing. However, as Gentiles, we are ignorant of Jewish cultural traditions. This is analogous to my asking an American, What are you doing for Turkey Day? An American would immediately know that I was talking about Thanksgiving and would know the history behind the feast. It is part of who we are—a tradition handed down for generations. But to someone in Australia, for example, that question would make no sense.

It is the same with the Jewish feasts and traditions. Without an understanding of them, we cannot fully appreciate Jesus, the Gospels and God’s fulfillment of prophecy.

So, that brings us to this book. I have written it in an attempt to bring to light the truth behind the scriptures and correct some misconceptions we Gentiles still have, and hopefully, to persuade some Jews that your Messiah has come. Shalom.

— Pat Grillo

INTRODUCTION

ALTHOUGH THIS BOOK IS A WORK OF FICTION, many of the events in the story are historic, cultural, Biblical and prophetic, and follows the Biblical timeline of the Gospels. Your understanding of the richness of the times in which Jesus was born, lived, died and was resurrected, as well as His influence on the world will be enhanced with a little fore-knowledge and history.

THERE IS AN APPOINTED TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

AND THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERY EVENT UNDER HEAVEN.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB

1. F EAST D AYS

The nation of Israel and the Jewish people celebrate several feasts and festivals. Some such as Purim and Chanukah (also known as the Feast of Dedication) were instituted by man to commemorate events in Israel’s history. For example, the Feast of Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jews through Queen Esther. However, the feasts which are important to this book are not the man-made feasts, but rather the seven feasts which were imparted to Mo’she by God on Mt. Sinai.

After Mo’she led the Jewish people out of Egypt they arrived at Mt. Sinai. Here Mo’she was given the Ten Commandments for the people and directions for seven Holy Days which they were to observe. Among other things, these Holy Days memorialized their deliverance from slavery. God gave Mo’she detailed instructions on the dates and rituals which were to be followed explicitly. Interestingly the two Hebrew words which are associated with these seven feasts are:

•Moed : a set time or an appointment.

•Micrah : a holy convocation or rehearsal. ( See Strong’s Concordance.)

What is most important to both Jews and Christians who believe that Jesus is the Messiah, is what the priests and people were instructed to rehearse.

THE PASSOVER

The Passover, celebrated on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Aviv, commemorates the Death Angel passing over every Hebrew home. Mo’she instructed the people to place the blood of a sacrificial lamb on the lintel and door posts of their homes. In those homes in Egypt which were not protected by the blood of the lamb, the angel struck down and killed every firstborn.

Preparation actually begins a few days earlier, on the 10th of Aviv. On that day the sacrificial lamb—a one year old male, without spot or blemish, and never mated—was selected. It was taken into the home and kept as a pet for those few days so that the children would grow close to it and feel a sense of loss when it was sacrificed. During its time in the home the lamb was constantly inspected and examined to ensure that there were no imperfections.

In Jesus’ day the 10th of Aviv was a joyous occasion. It was the first day of a week of celebrating feasts designed to remind the people of God’s magnificent deliverance of the Jewish people from the slavery of Egypt. On that day the lamb selected for the Temple sacrifice was led into the city on a tether from a pasture in nearby Bethlehem.

Since Passover is a pilgrimage feast, that is, a feast which required every male over the age of twelve to attend, the population of Jerusalem would swell from about 25,000 to over 250,000 people. It was these pilgrims who were lining the road on the first Palm Sunday.

Traditionally the people laid garments on the ground, waved palm branches and sang Psalms as the lamb passed by. This is the reason there were so many people lining the road as Jesus entered. He simply followed the lamb—probably by no more than a few hundred yards— into Jerusalem, where the Gospels tell us He spent the next four days in the Temple being examined by anyone and everyone. And, as is evidenced by the statements of both Pilate and Herod, there was no fault found in Him.

•The First Passover Sacrifice and Meal.

Shortly before the ninth hour (3 PM) on the fourth day—the 14th of Aviv, the father brought the lamb to the front door of the home. He placed his hand upon the lamb’s head and prayed that God would accept it as a worthy sacrifice, and that his family would receive its benefits. At the ninth hour the lamb’s throat was cut and the blood was placed on the door posts and lintel as instructed by Mo’she. This, in combination with the blood which ran down onto the ground, effectively sealed the door on all four sides.

The mother then prepared the meal. First, she cooked the lamb—again according to the instructions given by Mo’she—by impaling it on a pomegranate stake and cooking it in an upright position. The remaining ingredients of the meal were bitter herbs and unleavened bread—bread made without yeast. Since the meal was eaten after the twelfth hour, it was considered by Jewish law to be the next day in deference to Genesis 1:5: And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening, and there was morning, one day.

All the ingredients of the meal, along with the ritual which was to be observed, are symbolic.

○The Passover Lamb . Reminds the people that the firstborn of Israel lived because the lamb had died.

○The Bitter Herbs. Reminds people of the bitterness of slavery.

○The Unleavened Bread . In scripture leaven is always representative of sin. Therefore putting away all leaven depicts sanctification.

Cooking bread without leaven creates some interesting comparisons with Messiah. First, the lack of leaven causes the dough to bubble, thereby requiring a series of small punctures— similar to the way one would puncture a sausage to allow the liquefied fat to be released. Second, since it is not cooked in a pan, but grilled, its final appearance is striped. The finished product, called matzo, is a perfect description of Messiah as found in Isaiah 53:5 (NAS): "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging (stripes) we are healed."

Verse 9 goes on to state: "Because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth (no leaven)." [Emphasis added.]

The ritual calls for the meal to be eaten in haste. In fact, it must be eaten with staff in hand and sandals upon one’s feet, symbolic of being ready to leave at a moment’s notice. (See Exodus 12:8.)

The scriptures tell us that as a result of losing his only son on the night of the Passover, Pharaoh was so distraught he finally granted permission for Mo’she to lead the Jewish people away. The Egyptians had suffered greatly as a result of the judgments against them and they had been begging Pharaoh to allow the Jews to leave. When Pharaoh finally acquiesced, the Egyptian people were so relieved that they showered the Jews with expensive gifts of fine fabric and jewels. Pharaoh’s benevolence was short-lived, however, and his remorse soon turned to rage.

On the last day that Egypt would be a serious military power, Pharaoh made a fateful decision. He ordered six hundred select chariots which were assigned to his premier guard, along with every other chariot in his army, to give chase to the Jews. Pharaoh, along with his entire army, died that evening in the Red Sea.

That same day the Jews emerged unscathed from the other side of the Red Sea and the nation of Israel was born. According to Deuteronomy 16:1, Israel made the crossing during the night, emerging on the distant shore just as the sun was rising.

Our God is so amazing. Egyptian law clearly stated that since Pharaoh was considered a god, the Hebrew slaves belonged to him, not to the state. Slaves were considered property that was passed down from father to son for generations. They were given to Pharaoh by his father, and Pharaoh would have given them to his son when he died. However, Pharaoh’s only son had died at the hands of the Angel of Death. As a result, at Pharaoh’s death in the Red Sea, there was no one to take title of the Hebrew slaves. Therefore, Israel was not only physically free but legally free as well. No one held title to them any longer. They had been redeemed!

SEVEN HOLY DAYS

Shortly after passing through the Red Sea to safety, Mo’she received the Law from God and instructions for establishing and observing seven Holy Days. Four take place in the spring and three in the fall. The spring feasts are:

•P ASSOVER

Commemorates the slaying of the lamb, and the Angel of Death passing over their homes

•T HE F EAST OF U NLEAVENED B READ

Commemorates the meal eaten in haste, and Israel’s departure from Egypt

•T HE F EAST OF F IRST F RUITS

Commemorates the birth of the nation of Israel as the Jews safely exit the Red Sea

•P ENTECOST

Also known as the Feast of Weeks, Pentecost commemorates the receiving of the Law on Mt. Sinai

THREE DAYS IN THE GRAVE

Many Christians have not understood how Jesus was three days in the grave before He was resurrected, as He had prophesied. If He were crucified on Friday, how could He have been resurrected at dawn on Sunday? That is only two days.

The answer lies in a misunderstanding by the Gentiles who interpreted the scriptures from the original Hebrew. They apparently had little knowledge of Hebrew Law or tradition.

We know that Jesus followed the lamb into the city on the 10th of Aviv, a Sunday (the day after the Sabbath). We also know according to scripture that He was crucified on Passover, the 14th of Aviv.

Passover was on a Thursday that year, not a Friday, so Jesus’ execution would have been on a Thursday. The traditional misunderstanding that Jesus was slain on a Friday comes from this verse:

Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a High Day) [Thursday Passover, not on a Friday.] asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

John 19:31 NAS [Emphasis added.]

Knowing this, it becomes clear that Jesus was in the grave for three full days, not parts of three days as some teach, and He was resurrected on a Sunday.

However, the day of Jesus’ resurrection was even more significant because it was also the Feast of First Fruits. The Apostle Paul writes: "But now Messiah is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20 NAS).

Seven weeks later on another feast day, the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on the believers in the Upper Room.

FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

Now let’s examine the feasts and the fulfillment of prophecy. Remember the meaning of these two words:

•Moed : a set time or an appointment.

•Micrah: a holy convocation or rehearsal.

•P ASSOVER

The rehearsal for Messiah’s appointment with death

•T HE F EAST OF U NLEAVENED B READ

The rehearsal for Messiah’s appointment with burial

oIt was on this day, Aviv 15, that Jesus was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Aramithea. Aramithea , or Ramah , its Hebrew equivalent, means seat of idolatry. Mo’she, in an act that foreshadowed the discovery of Christ’s empty tomb, entered the tomb of the Patriarch Joseph (in Ramah, Egypt, the seat of idolatry), on the 15th of Aviv to retrieve his body, leaving the tomb empty.

•T HE F EAST OF F IRST F RUITS

The rehearsal for Messiah’s appointment with resurrection

•T HE F EAST OF P ENTECOST

The rehearsal for Messiah’s appointment to found His Church.

†

A PASSOVER TRADITION

An interesting tradition called afikomon (meaning that which comes after) takes place at the Passover Feast, and dates back to the time of Jesus. Three pieces of unleavened bread are placed in a sack known as the unity bag. During the first part of the Passover meal, the middle matzo is removed and broken in half. Half is placed back inside the unity bag. The other half is wrapped in a piece of linen and buried (hidden somewhere in the house). The children watch to see where it is buried and compete to retrieve it. The matzo is then held for ransom, and since the feast cannot continue without it, it usually fetches a good price.

When asked about the part of the afikomon where the father pays a ransom for the broken piece of matzo, a Jewish friend smiled and said, Big bucks! Big bucks!

It is not hard to see the parallel between the afikomon and the Trinity. The middle piece of matzo, representing Jesus who was broken for our sins, is wrapped in linen, buried, resurrected, and then returned to the Father.

†

2. T EMPLE R ITUALS AND O RGANIZATION

Volumes of information could be written about the Temple and the hidden meanings of much of its structure and organization. However, as this is just a prelude to the novel, only relevant information is included here.

The Holy of Holies could be entered just once a year—on Yom Kippur—and only by the High Priest. He entered to make amends for the sins of the nation and only after he had offered sacrifice for his own sins, lest he be struck down for entering the presence of God in sin. The High Priest’s robes had bells sewn into the hem, and a rope was tied around his waist before he entered the Holy of Holies. If the attending priests who remained in the Holy Place did not hear the bells ringing, they knew that the high priest had been struck down and they pulled his dead body out from the presence of God by the rope.

Jesus told His followers that He was the only way to the Father, that He would open the doors. He did just that at His crucifixion. At the moment of His death, the curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom, giving us access to God the Father.

We know from the Gospels that Jesus—representing the sacrificial lamb for the sins of all mankind, was sacrificed on Passover, and that the High Priest also sacrificed a lamb at the Temple Passover service.

On the feast of Unleavened Bread, the priest would make a Wave Offering of unleavened bread before God. The priest would lift a basket of unleavened loaves into the air and wave it from side to side. The purpose was to demonstrate symbolically the separation of the fruit of the new year from the leaven of the old year. The feast typifies full unbroken communion with Messiah, who is the perfect unleavened wave offering, for in Him was found no sin.

THE FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS. First fruits represents resurrection, and its whole emphasis is on new life. Jesus said, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24).

Levitical law required that as a harvest was reaped, a sheaf of the grains—the first fruits—be brought to the priest who would wave them before the Lord. This was to acknowledge that all that was good and all that we are to be thankful for comes from the Lord.

It was on the Feast of First Fruits that Messiah Jesus rose from the dead.

THE LATTER SIGNIFICANCE OF PENTECOST

According to historian Albert Edersheim—

If Jewish Tradition connected the Feast of First Fruits with the "Mount that might be touched," and the Voice of words which they had heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more, we have in this respect come to Mount Zion, and to the better things of the New Covenant. To us, the Feast of Pentecost is indeed the Feast of First Fruits and the giving of a better law, written not on tablets of stone, but on the fleshly tablets of the heart, with the Spirit of the living God.i

THE FEAST OF WEEKS or PENTECOST: SHAVU’OT. Historically The Feast of Weeks celebrates the journey of the freed Israelites from Egypt to Mt. Sinai where they received God’s Law. (See Leviticus 23:16-21.) Shavu’ot is considered the birthday of Judaism, and the Torah is studied all night long to celebrate.

The period of seven weeks between the Feast of First Fruits and Pentecost connects the first fruits of the barley harvest with the beginning of the wheat harvest.

When Jesus rose from the dead, He instructed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. Up to this point they may have considered the death and resurrection of Jesus during the Holy Days as a coincidence rather than as fulfillment of prophecy. That would soon change. As His followers were gathered for prayer in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit fell on them. The roar of a mighty, rushing wind was heard and tongues of fire appeared above each head. (This was the same type of manifestation that had taken place 1500 years earlier on Mt. Sinai. See Exodus 19.)

Jesus died at the barley harvest (First Fruits). The church was born at the beginning of the wheat harvest. The seed that was planted at Calvary was harvested seven weeks later on Pentecost.

The following chart provides an interesting comparison between Shavu’ot in the Old and New Testaments.

The Temple offering that took place on the Feast of Weeks consisted in part of offering two loaves of bread with leaven. The two loaves are significant in that they represent both Jewish and Gentile believers who became the Church.

According to Biblical scholar Cyrus Scofield, Loaves, not a sheaf of separate growths loosely bound together, but a real union of particles, makes one homogeneous body. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost unified the separate disciples into one organism. iii (See 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 12:12; 13:20.)

Further, the wave offering of loaves were offered fifty days after the wave offering of the sheaf. This is precisely the time period between the resurrection of Messiah and the formation of the Church at Pentecost. With the wave sheaf, no leaven was offered for there was no sin in Messiah. The wave loaves, typifying the Church, are baked with leaven because within the Church there is still sin.

3. J OSEPH ’ S O CCUPATION

Although almost all translations of the Bible refer to Joseph and Jesus as being carpenters, the correct translation of the Hebrew word is craftsman. A craftsman would have been proficient as a carpenter, stone mason, and some forms of metal work. Those words will be used interchangeably in the narrative.

4. M ARY W ORSHIP

Miriam, or Mary as she is known today, was without a doubt the most honored woman ever to live. God selected her because she was innocent, humble and devoted to Him. There is no doubt that she was a virgin at the time of Messiah’s birth, but did she remain a virgin for her entire life, and was she sinless as some denominations teach?

When Mary visited Elizabeth (Elisheva) shortly after being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, she heard Elizabeth confirm what the angel Gabriel had proclaimed, i.e., that Mary would be the mother of Messiah. Mary responded with what has become known as the Magnificat, My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. (See Luke 1:46-55.)

If Mary was sinless as some contend, why would she need a savior? Obviously, she would not. And, if she were sinless, then Messiah’s death on the cross would be meaningless because then it would be possible for human beings to enter into heaven on their own without the blood of Jesus. That would contradict the entire New Testament. There was only one immaculate conception, that of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some religious organizations celebrate as a holy day what they believe happened to Mary’s body upon her death, the Assumption. According to their tradition she was carried bodily into Heaven in the same way that Jesus was, although there is no hint of that in the Bible.

Mary was holy and set apart for God. However, she was just another frail, sinful human in need of a Savior. In fact, the very words of Messiah prove that it is not possible for Mary to have been sinless.

Jesus said to him;

I am the way, the truth, and the life,

no one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:6

No one means no one—not even His mother!

Equally important are Mary’s words at the wedding feast at Cana. It is the only recorded command attributed to Mary. John 2:5 reads: His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it." (NKJV) Mary, still humble even after 30 years, pointed others to Jesus.

Those instructions are as true today as they were two thousand years ago. In John 12:48 Jesus tells us how important it is to both hear and obey His words: He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (NKJV)

Some denominations teach that if you ask Jesus anything in Mary’s name, He must grant it because He cannot deny His mother. Nothing in scripture confirms this. Instead, the Gospel of John states:

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

John 14:12-14 NKJV

Additionally, Luke describes a scene where Jesus was teaching and someone called out from the crowd:

And it happened as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him; Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts which nursed You!"

But He said, More than that, blessed are those who hear the Words of God and keep it!

Luke 11: 27-28

Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:11

If Mary were to be exalted above all others, these would have been the perfect occasions for Jesus to confirm it. Not only did Jesus not confirm it, but He placed every other believer before her. This proves that as holy as Mary was, she was just another saint like every believer in Christ.

5. J ESUS ’ B ROTHERS AND S ISTERS

Relying on tradition, not what is written in the Bible, some denominations contend that Mary remained a virgin her entire life. In fact, several scriptures in the Gospels mention Jesus’ family. In one, His brothers are even named. The Bible recounts how Jesus called His disciples in the book of Mark, and in the sixth chapter, the writer describes an incident which took place when Jesus and His disciples returned to Nazareth.

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!

Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Shim’on? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him.

Mark 6:1-3 NKJV

Some maintain that those named are His disciples, but the scripture says they are the children of Mary. There is no Joses ever mentioned any other place in regard to Jesus, and it calls our attention to the fact that He had at least two sisters. Remember, these things were spoken by the people who watched Him grow up. Historians tell us that in the time of Jesus, there were only about 450 people living in Nazareth, so they would have known the family very well.

In Mark 3, Jesus and His disciples were teaching, and, as usual, Jesus was surrounded by people when:

His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You. But He answered them, saying, Who is My mother, or My brothers? And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.

Mark 3:31-35 (NKJV)

The same narrative is also described in Matthew 12:46-50. And, in John 2:12: "After this He went down to Capernaum, His mother, His brothers and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days." (NKJV)

This is an important verse because it differentiates between Jesus’ brothers and His disciples.

The apostle Paul also differentiates between the disciples and Jesus’ brothers, writing to the Galatians, "Then three years later, I did go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord" (Galatians 1:18, 19 Amp.).

And, John mentions Jesus’ brothers when writing that Jesus was about to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles—a pilgrimage feast which all males 12 years of age and older were required to attend, when: His brothers therefore said to Him, ‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing’ (John 7:3 NKJV).

This distinction between His brothers and His disciples is also made again. They were not the same. At this point the Holy Spirit had not yet revealed that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. John 7:5 reads: For even His brothers did not believe in Him. Disciples believe in the one they follow; but, as Jesus Himself said: ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house’ (Mark 6:4).

Lastly, the apostle Paul also differentiates between the apostles and the brothers of Christ when writing to the Corinthians. Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 Corinthians 9:5)

Another vivid example appears in Acts 1, describing who was in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost—

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the [j]mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and [m]James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the [o]son of James.

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 1:12-14 (NASB Emphasis added.)

6. P ARADISE AND T ORMENTS

This portion of the book is based on an account in Luke 16:19-31. There are several places in God’s Word which suggest that the description in the story may not be far from the truth. John 5:24-29 (NKJV) states:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

First, this account is not a parable. Whenever Jesus spoke in parables, the Bible tells us He did. He taught this as literal truth. It is interesting that while calling Lazarus by name, Jesus did not even regard the rich man enough to give him the same respect. He was just a rich man who trusted in the deceitfulness of his riches.

Next, the rich man showed no sign of change at all, he remained interested only in his own wellbeing and the wellbeing of his family. He still considered Lazarus a servant to do his bidding. (Have him bring me water. Have him go to my brothers.)

Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and scribes in this passage, so the last few verses are enlightening but tragic: But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Mo’she and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead (Luke 16:31 NKJV).

Some Pharisees accepted Jesus as Messiah before His death, but none afterward that we are told about except Paul. And Paul’s conversion came about not because of the reports of Jesus’ resurrection, but because Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus.

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom (Luke 16:23 KJV). There are still untold millions of souls in torments right now waiting the Great White Throne Judgment. Those who were in the now-empty bosom of Abraham have already been judged at Calvary.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and

Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15 NKJV

In Jewish culture there is a belief in the LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE, although it is not called by that name. It is known as THE BOOK OF THE RIGHTEOUS. In fact Jews believe that God has three books that are referred to concerning judgment, which would explain the reference in Revelation 20:12 to other books. The others are THE BOOK OF THE WHOLLY UNRIGHTEOUS, which contains the names of those who have no desire to ever obey or please God; and THE BOOK OF THE INTERMEDIARIES, which contains those who could go either way. The jury is still out on them, so to speak.iv

7. A ARONIC B LESSING (T HE H IGH P RIESTLY B LESSING )

In the book, the Aaronic Blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) is cited as Jesus departed bodily from this earth, because I believe no other scripture better shows the heart of God the Father. This blessing was initiated by God, not by man. It is not an attempt by man to coax anything from God, but rather is a gift from a loving Father to His children. In three short verses God gives His people every good thing imaginable. I leave it with you as my blessing, as well.

•The Lord bless you. That is, The Lord speak well of you. (Have you considered My servant Job?) It implies a proud parent bragging about the accomplishments of a child.

•And keep you. Keep you safe, keep you healthy, keep you content, keep you supplied with all you need, and keep your home peaceful and loving.

•The Lord make His face to shine upon you. Do you remember the greatest torment that Jesus suffered while on the cross? It was the fact that once He had taken the sins of the world upon his back, a Holy God could no longer look at Him. The Father turned away. But what God really desires is to make His face shine upon us. God wants us to be sin-free so that we will be able to look at each other face to face. Picture a small innocent child sitting on Abba’s lap, giggling as he pulls his father’s nose or ears. Obviously, the only way that is possible for sinful man is for us to put our trust in Jesus, our sinless Savior.

•And be gracious to you. Through Messiah Jesus all grace flows from the cross of Calvary. GRACE: God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense.

•The Lord lift His countenance upon you. God is never depressed or despondent. He knows the end of a thing before the beginning. God’s desire is that in any situation we remain resolute in our faith. We can always be confident that our heavenly Father knows what is best for us and will always be there for us. Praise Him in the midst of every situation.

•And give you peace. Jesus said, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27). His peace supersedes the world’s peace, because it is not temporal or temporary. It is an inner peace which projects confidence in a protective, loving Father. Just as a child boasts to friends, My dad can beat up your dad, God has already defeated Satan by the blood of Jesus on Calvary.

8. T HE F INAL I NSULT

It was the custom of Roman aristocracy and soldiers to have their servants clean them when they had defecated. The servants carried with them a bowl containing vinegar and a sponge attached to a branch of hyssop. When a soldier had finished relieving himself, his servant would use the vinegar-soaked sponge to clean his master. It was this sponge that was offered to Messiah to drink just before He took His last breath.

CHAPTER 1

JERUSALEM, SOMETIME BETWEEN THE 3RD AND 10TH OF SIVAN, 8 BC AN HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE

THE HORIZON EAST OF JERUSALEM showed the first gray traces of dawn. Zacharias looked out over the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, still shrouded in fog and shadow. Breathing deeply of the moist morning air, he turned and made his way back inside the Temple where the priests were beginning their morning rituals.

Pulling his over-cloak tighter about him, Zacharias joined the other priests who were to serve. He wondered, Will today be the day? Will I finally have the honor of ministering to the Lord?

As his group closely followed two torchbearers and their superintendent, Elishama, Zacharias reflected on all his years of service and a silent prayer escaped from his heart. If it pleases You, Lord, may I have Your favor when the lot is cast? May I call to Your remembrance my old age?

The bevy of priests paused at the door to the Court of the Priests. At the superintendent’s knock, the Temple guards on the other side unbolted the lock and swung open the door, allowing them entrance.

Once inside, the priests divided into two equal groups, each with a torchbearer. One group advanced eastward, the other westward, inspecting the court as they went. Each group completed its circuit at the chamber where their high priest’s daily meat offering was prepared. The inspection reports were given, It is well! All is well!

Those assigned to prepare the high priest’s offering immediately set about their business, while the others entered into the Hall of Polished Stones, the room where the Sanhedrin met.

There they formed a circle around Elishama. He stepped in front of one of the priests and removed the man’s priestly headdress. The superintendent then called out a random number. Today the number was 40 and, beginning with the now-hatless priest, Elishama began to count those in the circle. Each priest had previously extended his hand to Elishama, revealing the number of fingers which that priest chose to be counted.

When he arrived at the priest upon whom the number fell, the young priest, Samuel, left at once. It was his job to cleanse and prepare the altar for those who would be chosen in the second lot to perform the morning sacrifice.

As Samuel was leaving the Hall of the Polished Stones, one of his brethren reminded him where the silver chafing dish was deposited and another called out, Do not touch any of the sacred vessels until you have washed your hands and feet.—as if he needed warning of that!

Immediately, Samuel stepped in front of the brass laver and turned the knob, allowing water to flow. The drumming of the water hitting the brass admonished the others to readiness. He quickly and thoroughly washed himself.

Once clean, and while the others were waiting to wash, Samuel ascended to the altar. He took the silver chafing dish and scraped the altar, removing the burnt coals and depositing them at a spot slightly north of the altar.

As he descended from the altar, other priests, having already washed their hands and feet, came to assist. With a practiced efficiency of movement, they took shovels and prongs and moved aside that part of the sacrifice which had not been consumed the previous evening. They then cleaned out the ashes, laying some on the great heap on the center of the altar. The rest were laid aside to be carried from the Temple.

This completed, another priest ascended the altar. He placed wood from a fig tree along with the unconsumed pieces of the previous evening’s sacrifice onto the altar.

Once these things were accomplished, all the priests gathered again for the second lot. The one on whom this lot fell was designated—along with the twelve who stood nearest him—to offer the sacrifice and cleanse the candlestick and altar of incense.

Immediately after casting the second lot, Elishama nodded to one of the priests, Ascend to the pinnacle and give the report.

Quickly climbing the stone stairs, the priest reached the pinnacle of the Temple where he scanned the horizon. Keeping his balance with one hand on the wall, he placed the other to his mouth and shouted down to Elishama, The morning shines!

The superintendent questioned him further; Is the sky lit up as far as Hebron?

Yes, as far as Hebron.

Satisfied that all things were in order, Elishama ordered, Fetch the sacrifice!

One of the priests entered the chamber and untied the selected lamb, which had been kept there for the four previous days. He took the lamb to the others who gave it water to drink from a golden bowl and reexamined it by torchlight. The lamb bleated softly as they pulled the wool aside and ran their fingers over its body. Reassured that it was without spot or blemish, they led the animal to the altar.

The priest upon whom the second lot had fallen and his assistants fastened the lamb to the second ring on the northwest side of the altar. They tied its legs—first both left legs together and then both right. They laid its head toward the south and fastened it through a ring, turning the face to the west.

The sacrificing priest took up his position on the east side.

The elder who carried the keys unlocked the gates. Backing away he shouted, Open the gates.

As the last of the enormous Temple gates were opened, he turned to Elishama and nodded. The superintendent gave the signal to blow the trumpets. Three long blasts were emitted from silver trumpets, calling the Levites and other representatives of the people to their duties and announcing to the city that the morning sacrifice was about to be offered.

The great gates leading into the Holy Place opened to admit the priests who were to cleanse the candlestick and altar of incense.

The opening of the gates was the signal to slay the lamb. The priest in charge of the sacrifice drew forward the windpipe and gullet of the lamb and quickly thrust the knife upward. The coppery smell of blood immediately filled the air.

One of the assistants caught all the lamb’s blood in a golden bowl. Standing on the east side of the altar, the sacrificing priest first sprinkled the blood on the northeast corner, and then the southwest. The remaining blood in the bowl was poured out at the base of the altar.

Meanwhile Obed and Usiah, the priests upon whom the lot had fallen to trim the candlestick and prepare the altar of incense, went about their jobs in the Holy Place. The first took the burnt coals and ashes from the golden altar, put them into a golden vessel and then exited. As he did, he walked backwards, his face towards the Most Holy Place.

As the blood was being sprinkled, Usiah ascended the three stone steps that led to the candlestick. He trimmed and refilled the lamps that were still burning, removed the wick and old oil from the five which had gone out, supplied fresh oil and then relit them. His work complete, he, too, made his exit, walking backwards as he went.

Meanwhile in the Court of the Priests, the sacrificed lamb had been hung on one of the hooks, flayed and cut up according to the Law, cleaned and handed to one of the six priests who carried it to the rise in the altar. The pieces were then salted and placed upon the altar.

Now the most solemn part of the service was about to begin. For the third time that morning the priests assembled in the Hall of Polished Stones to draw the third and fourth lots of the day.

Outside the Temple, those who were gathering for the morning prayer started making their way to the inner courts. Hundreds of devout worshipers assembled in the outer court, waiting to enter.

†

The old woman did not look any different from the others who stepped onto the Royal Bridge spanning the deep chasm of the Tyropoeon Valley between the City of David and the Temple. Elisheva’s thin frame was concealed within plain brown clothing, her hair and face hidden under a drab tan veil. Only her lively brown eyes which belied her age were exposed.

Slowly she made her way across the massive span, once again taking in the magnificent view. All of Jerusalem lay before her with its suburbs, orchards and many gardens. The most beautiful among them were the Garden of Flowers and the spectacular Royal Garden. The horizon was bounded by the hazy outline of the mountains in the distance.

Had she ventured to gaze over the parapet to the valley below, she would have seen the huge stones which made up the many arches that held up the walkway. This was the sight that awed the Queen of Sheba in the days of Solomon. The bridge was over 350 feet long and 50 wide, standing 250 feet above the valley below.

Elisheva’s mind wandered as she left the marble causeway and entered the central avenue of the Royal Temple Porch. Passing two marble pillars at its entrance she continued along Solomon’s Colonnade. She thought about the many times