Psalms 132:11-18 NLTse The LORD swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. (12) If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.” (13) For the LORD has chosen Jerusalem; he has desired it for his home. (14) “This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired. (15) I will bless this city and make it prosperous; I will satisfy its poor with food. (16) I will clothe its priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy. (17) Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed one will be a light for my people. (18) I will clothe his enemies with shame, but he will be a glorious king.”
While I was studying these prophecies about Jesus a question came up. Is there a prophecy that places Jesus’ sacrifice on the particular Passover He died on on just before that particular Sabbath? The question seemed simple enough. When I thought about the question, I couldn’t see why God would not provide a simple answer to the question. Where does the Bible tells us, Jesus will die on that particular date? How did Jesus know the date? “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” (Luke 24:46-49 NLTse).
I have to admit, I missed the prophecy in Psalm 132. I didn’t see the implications in it until after I prayed about finding the date Jesus would die written in the Old Testament prophecies. After gathering the texts, the answer became clear.
I also searched the Internet to see if anyone wrote about the prophecies showing the date Jesus would die. I didn’t find anything remotely addressing the subject. I did find a number of studies arguing what day Jesus died, but not a single one of them offered any evidence from scripture to support their views. They argued about the year and the day, if Jesus died on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. All of them tried to explain it in human terms based on calender days. All of them relied on personal understanding, None of them looked beyond physical evidence. None of them understood the spiritual lesson. None of them could make the connection of prayer and the spiritual lessons it taught. None of them understood or prayed about understanding God’s timing.
When you look at the time Jonah spend in the fish’s belly, what did Jonah do? He prayed. At that moment Jonah was a symbol pointing to Jesus. The fulfillment is always greater than the symbol. Therefore we have to look for a greater prayer, a greater person, and a greater accomplishment than being spit out by a fish. We also have to find an event that relates to the main theme in Jonah, delivering a message from God. We find all of these in Jesus. The event begins the moment Jesus prayed in the garden. Scripture also tells us the moment Jesus was taken by the guards, He was condemned to die. Jesus was in a spiritual tomb the moment He was chained and tied up. This began the prophecy written by Jonah. “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the LORD. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.” (Jonah 2:5-7 NLTse). There are two parts to the prophecy. Wrapped up in seaweed and imprisoned in the earth. Both of those occurred inside the fish. Jonah prayed inside that fish. Jesus had to still be alive and breathing to pray. The prophecy began its fulfillment the moment Jesus was arrested.
To understand God’s prophecies, we have to understand God’s timing. Previous studies covered the basics of looking at an event on a time line crossing it with events explaining how the event was fulfilled. Every scripture crossing that line must also agree with events leading up to and following the point on the time line. Each of those related events will focus on and teach the same spiritual lessons.
Our first step is to look at key words the author repeated. These will lead us to parallel texts explaining how the prophecy was fulfilled. In this case the word descendants seemed like the logical choice. The word descendants leads to a number of texts, but knowing the fulfillment will also include David narrows down the choices and leads us to Acts chapter 2.
Acts 2:25-33 NLTse King David said this about him: ‘I see that the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. (26) No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. (27) For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. (28) You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.‘ (29) “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. (30) But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. (31) David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. (32) “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. (33) Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.
Once we examine Acts chapter 2, we also find other connecting key words, promised and oath. When we check the introduction and summation to Acts 2, we also see how the key words bless, satisfy, and increase are fulfilled. There’s no doubt Psalm 132 points to Acts chapter 2.
I’d like to stick to basic Bible Study rules for a moment before commenting on scripture at this point. It’s more important to understand how to find answers than to have someone explain minor details. Another important rule of Bible Study is to always look up the original texts when we find it quoted. The author only provided a portion of the lesson taught in the original text and we’ll miss the full lesson if we don’t look.
I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalms 16:8-11 NLTse).
We see a minor change in the first part of the texts, and Peter left off the last part. Peter said, ” I see that the LORD is always with me.” David wrote, “I know the LORD is always with me.” This seems like a small difference between seeing and knowing. But look what happens when we combine the minor change with the part that was left out. “I know the LORD is always with me, and the pleasures of living with you forever.” This brings a whole new understanding which is much easier to see. Sometimes this is what God is trying to communicate to us, an easier way of understanding. It may not be the answer we’re looking for or the answer we expect, it is a lesson in being open and humble before we can see more. As we also know, checking the original texts is only part of the process. We also have to look at the surrounding texts.
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods. LORD, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. (Psalms 16:1-7 NLTse).
Now we can begin to look at these texts as a whole. We see the prophecy in Psalm 132 leads us to a point on a time line when Jesus’ disciples received God’s Spirit and began to preach. The first thing they preached was the most obvious. They taught how Jesus was the Messiah by showing How Jesus was David’s descendant. This was easier for the Jews in Jerusalem to understand. They weren’t ready for the concept of Jesus as High Priest.
The prophecy tells us, The LORD swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. If yourdescendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.” Jesus was the only one of David’s descendants to obey all the terms of God’s covenant and the laws that He taught them. The prophecy also tells us how God choose Jerusalem and He will make it prosperous and satisfy its poor with food. Of course we see in Acts this refers to spiritual food. God will also clothe its priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy. There is no mention of the fancy way of the priests dressed adopted by the disciples. Clothing also has a spiritual meaning. God began a new era of priests. Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed one will be a light for my people. Peter fulfilled this by preaching about Jesus and explaining the prophecies He fulfilled.
Filled with God’s Spirit Peter explained how David died and is buried in his grave, but Jesus lives to fulfill all those prophecies written about the Messiah. David was a prophet delivering one of God’s promises, not only to himself, but to us. We have to ask what David wanted us to in Psalm 16. We’ve seen one promise. The prophecy contains others. David goes over some vital details in his introduction explaining the point Peter is also trying to make.
Keep me safe, O God
I have come to you for refuge.
I said to the LORD
You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.
Notice how personal David’s prayer is. God keeps David safe. David went to God as his refuge. David spoke to God. God is David’s master. Every good thing David has came from God. David opens his prayer showing us the personal relationship he has with God. David didn’t go through a priest or prophet when he wanted to talk to God. David personally approached God’s throne. Only after examining the prophecy Peter pointed us to are we able to understand the introduction to Acts 2.
Acts 2:1-8 NLTse On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. (2) Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. (3) Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. (4) And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. (5) At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. (6) When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. (7) They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, (8) and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!
We can’t allow ourselves to remain caught up in so called established teaching that claims God’s Spirit was only poured out on Jesus’ remaining disciples. That’s not what scripture says. Luke, the author pointed out, all the believers were meeting together in one place, and everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. God’s Spirit was never distributed to only a select few, but to all the believers. We see the same message in the introduction to Psalm 132 revealed in a spiritual message.
Psalms 132:1-10 NLTse LORD, remember David and all that he suffered. (2) He made a solemn promise to the LORD. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, (3) “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. (4) I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber (5) until I find a place to build a house for the LORD, asanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” (6) We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar. (7) Let us go to the sanctuaryof the LORD; let us worship at the footstool of his throne. (8) Arise, O LORD, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. (9) May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy. (10) For the sake of your servant David, do not reject the king you have anointed.
We see keys words Home, house, and sanctuary repeated. Peter explained this in detail in one of his letters. You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. (1 Peter 2:5 NLTse). This prophecy contains another detail about Jesus’ ministry after He rose from the tomb. “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber until I find a place to build a house for the LORD, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” Jesus didn’t return to Heaven, His home until He was sure His disciples understood everything and had the knowledge and skills to lay the foundation of God’s spiritual house, Jesus being the cornerstone.
The prophecy in Psalm 132 also contains a few words not easily defined. We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar. When this happens the logical thing to do is look them up a Concordance.
Ephrathah
H672 ‘ephrath ‘ephrathah
From H6509; fruitfulness; Ephrath, another name for Bethlehem; once used in Psa_132:6 perhaps for Ephraim; also of an Israelitish woman: – Ephrath, Ephratah.
Jaar
H3293 yaar yah’-ar
From an unused root probably meaning to thicken with verdure; a copse of bushes; hence a forest; hence honey in the comb (as hived in trees): – [honey-] comb, forest, wood.
David knew where God’s ark was, so he couldn’t have been referring to himself hearing where it is located. When we look at the meaning of the word Ephathah, we see the ark containing the law is found in fruitfulness – a forest. This is difficult to understand until we link it to Acts 2 where we see all the believers receiving God’s Spirit. Now that we see the spiritual meaning of some of the symbols, we can understand the prophecy and the importance of its fulfillment. As we’ve learned, more is revealed when we compare the summations.
Psalms 132:11-18 NLTse The LORD swore an oath to David with a promise he will never take back: “I will place one of your descendants on your throne. (12) If yourdescendants obey the terms of my covenant and the laws that I teach them, then your royal line will continue forever and ever.” (13) For the LORD has chosenJerusalem; he has desired it for his home. (14) “This is my resting place forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the home I desired. (15) I will bless this city and make it prosperous; I will satisfy its poor with food. (16) I will clothe its priests with godliness; its faithful servants will sing for joy. (17) Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed one will be a light for my people. (18) I will clothe his enemies with shame, but he will be a glorious king.”
Acts 2:40-47 NLTse Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” (41) Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day–about 3,000 in all. (42) All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (43) A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. (44) And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. (45) They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. (46) They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity– (47) all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
The prophecy in Psalm 132 is the summation. When we compare the spiritual house and increasing the power of David; “my anointed one will be a light for my people,” to Peter’s preaching, we can see how the prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus received His Kingdom and throne before His disciples received direction on their personal ministries. Look at the results. The people responded by selling their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They also met in homesfor the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. This fulfilled the portion of the prophecy promising the poor in Jerusalem will be satisfied with food. Not only physical food, but spiritual. Part of that spiritual food is found in the other prophecies Peter quoted.
Acts 2:16-21 NLTse No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: (17) ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. (18) In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants–men and women alike— and they will prophesy. (19) And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below– blood and fire and clouds of smoke. (20) The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives. (21) But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’
Joel 2:23-32 NLTse Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. (24) The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil. (25) The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. (26) Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you. Never again will my people be disgraced. (27) Then you will know that I am among my people Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. Never again will my people be disgraced. (28) “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. (29) In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants–men and women alike. (30) And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth– blood and fire and columns of smoke. (31) The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. (32) But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.
Peter points back to the prophet Joel for a very good reason. Peter wants his listeners to see the gift of the Holy Spirit they see in front of them is poured out on everyone. Preachers with PhD’s don’t have a corner on the Holy Spirit market. Joel also explains how all the spiritual food stripped away by the locusts of the world will be restored. Jesus began that restoration, it was continued by His disciples, and we’re supposed to be carrying the restoration on now. Look at Peter’s message, the one He was given by the Holy Spirit. Study it. What did Peter teach? How does it differ from what you see and hear taught today. There is supposed to be a difference. People were kept in the dark before Jesus’ ministry and history will repeat itself. Peter wanted people to see all of Joel’s prophecy and understand it.
I just watched a couple of modern movies. One about Peter, the other on Paul’s ministry. I didn’t finish watching the movie on Peter. I turned it off when the movie showed how repetitious prayer saved Peter. Not the type of one on one plea to God we find in David’s Psalms, but repeating the same prayer over and over again. The movies skipped over every part of Acts 2 discussed here. The movies on Paul also showed Peter’s preaching on Pentecost and omitted every scripture Peter quoted. This made me wonder why people invested such a large sum of money to make those movies but omitted every shred of spirituality. Those were long three hour movies. In place of the spiritual lessons taught in Acts the writers and producers injected a series of behind the scenes soap opera type relationship scenarios. Those obviously distracted from the lessons taught in scripture as well as suggested Peter’s and Paul’s accomplishments were due to their own works and understanding. The movies did all they could to strip all the glory away from God and Jesus. All that money invested to take glory away from God. I also wondered how many people paid to see the movies or own a copy of it themselves. It made me wonder if they produced those movies to give the world what it wants – short distorted answers with a total lack of scripture and spiritual lessons.
I was also contacted by a young man asking me about the twelve elders and four beasts in Revelation chapter 4. I have no idea what those represent. I can admit any answer on my part would be a guess. The first thing that came to mind was to ask him if he ever claimed the promises in Hebrews chapter 10 and approached God’s throne himself. Of course he acted as if he never heard of the concept of talking personally with God like a friend. I explained how Jesus died to open up a direct path to God’s throne and gave the young man a copy of my book on Mark’s gospel explaining how Jesus taught His disciples to understand scripture. He wasn’t interested in approaching God’s throne or learning to understand scripture. He wanted a simple answer so he could share it with friends and impress them. He implied I could not be a Christian if I could not provide the answer he was looking for. So what does that make him?
The world doesn’t want truth, which amounts to nothing more than a close personal relationship with Jesus, to meet His Father and rely on God’s Spirit. I never felt comfortable with anyone giving me answers without checking it out for myself. I feel less comfortable with people insisting their beliefs are right and all others are wrong. Experience has shown what little evidence they are able to provide from the Bible – not to mention a lack of evidence showing Jesus in their life. The deeper you look into their lives the darker it becomes. This is a fact quite opposite of having a real relationship with God established on His Word. The deeper we look at God’s Word the more light we find. We see another example when we look at the introduction of Joel chapter 2. If you hadn’t noticed, we are testing or investigating what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. If God opens up the followers He blessed to investigation, shouldn’t we test everyone in the same way?
Joel 2:1-3 NLTse Sound the alarm in Jerusalem! Raise the battle cry on my holy mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear because the day of the LORD is upon us. (2) It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of thick clouds and deep blackness. Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again. (3) Fire burns in front of them, and flames follow after them. Ahead of them the land lies as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Behind them is nothing but desolation; not one thing escapes.
Joel shows how the land existed in darkness before Jesus explained the scriptures He fulfilled. Then suddenly God’s army appeared. People being baptized, about 3,000 in a single day. Joel described the flames of the Holy Spirit as fire burning in front of them and flames following them. Those flames cleansed the believers. All of their misguided beliefs are gone. They can finally see the light. Joel’s prophecy of course will be fulfilled again before Jesus’ return. Peter gave us an example of what to expect. Are you ready for it?
Suddenly, like dawn spreading across the mountains, a great and mighty army appears. Nothing like it has been seen before or will ever be seen again. This shows the concept of the spiritual battle going on all around us. We can’t see the physical battle unless we know what to look for, but we cannot deny the war exists. The question is, what side are you on and who are you taking your orders from? No where in the Bible does it say we take our orders from just any priest, pastor, elder, or religious leaders. When God appointed His leaders here on earth, He gave them evidence beyond question. Look at the signs God gave Moses. Look at the signs God gave Joshua and Gibeon. David was proved by defeating a giant and God gave gifts to the disciples at Pentecost. When God appointed leaders, He provided evidence. Now that Jesus is King and High Priest, we receive our orders directly from Him. If you don’t receive your orders directly from Jesus, how do you know your fighting the right battle with the correct weapons? How can you be sure your fighting on the right side? When you give your life to Jesus, you can see how people all around you case undue stress and trials. You can’t help but notice, those people are following orders from the enemy without knowing it. That’s where love and patients comes in. Not only do we need love and patients far above any and every earthly concept, we also need our marching orders and battle plans from the same source, Jesus.
Peter didn’t stop there. We have to keep in mind, the main theme of Peter’s speech was to convince the people gathered in Jerusalem that Jesus rose from the dead and is the Messiah they were promised. Peter had to face a battle not much different than what we face today. All the Jews in Jerusalem were hand fed the same distorted interpretations on prophecy the disciples believed and clung onto up until about a month ago. Why did God allow the disciples to remain blinded until after Jesus rose from the grave? It was to teach them patients. The Gospel writers don’t hide the fact Jesus’ key disciples wanted power and glory and didn’t know how to lead the way Jesus needed them to lead. They had to learn patients. Jesus tried to teach them patients in a lot of different ways. Jesus’ life was an example. They saw how Jesus treated the poor, lame, blind, lepers, and others rejected from society including Samaritans, Gentiles, and Romans. Jesus also took the main leaders into a mountain to see Moses, Elijah, and hear God’s voice. None of it seemed to hit its intended mark at the time. Finally Jesus was left with no alternative but to let them see their best friend die on the cross with all their hopes and dreams. They had to be completely emptied before they could be filled. Peter also quoted another prophecy from David.
Acts 2:34-36 NLTse For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand (35) until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.“‘ (36) “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
Psalms 110:1-3 NLTse The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” (2) The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem; you will rule over your enemies. (3) When you go to war, your people will serve you willingly. You are arrayed in holy garments, and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
This is an example of what Jesus taught them when He refilled them with His love and patients. Notice how Peter is smart enough to know the crowd he is dealing with. With the help of God’s Spirit, Peter knows what those people believed, where they were on their walk with God, what they were ready to hear, and where God’s Spirit was going to lead them. Peter first had to convince the Jews in Jerusalem that Jesus rose from the grave. He used scripture to prove his point. God’s Spirit gave Peter the right scripture to share. Peter only quoted the portion of Psalm 110 the Jews were ready to hear. They all looked for David’s descendant to take the throne in Jerusalem. Jesus didn’t come and die to receive and earthly throne, but the throne in Heaven. Jews had to first understand Jesus was the King in prophecy who will reign forever. They were not ready for the second part of Psalm 110. The LORD has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalms 110:4 NLTse).
It would have been suicide for Peter to introduce this concept at Pentecost. God knew that. This shows now important it is for each of us to accept God’s Spirit and take directions from Him and only Him. Without direction directly from God’s throne, we have no idea if our message will do more harm than good. Jerusalem was not any more prepared to accept Jesus as High Priest than the disciples were ready to accept Jesus’ words when He tried to explain how He was about to be arrested, beaten, killed, then rise from the tomb. At least Peter finally learned how to be patient and accept the message from God’s Spirit and deliver it without question or alterations. This was the first step in spreading the Good News. This is the first and greatest commandment Jesus talked about. “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NLTse).
How does this study answer the question, where does the Bible show us Jesus had to die on that specific day? Where did Jesus find the answer? Are you ready for the answer? Are you willing to dedicate yourself to finding the answer? Are you willing to approach God’s throne to ask the question? Are you willing to accept an answer directly from God? Peter had to hold back and let God’s Spirit explain the concept of Jesus as High Priest. There are things in the Bible too precious to be preached by anyone except Jesus. I hope this study showed that point. The answer is in scripture, in a series of texts intersecting that point in time. You know how to compare surrounding texts to determine context. You know the date Jesus died. You know its relationship with the Passover.
There are hints in the texts we studied. David talked about a rest. The context has to be proved before determining what the rest David wrote about points to. In other parts of the Bible the Sabbath is described as a rest. Other parts of the Bible explain the Passover and how it’s a symbol pointing to Jesus’ ministry. Other parts of the Bible explain Pentecost and the feast it points back to. Call it homework, or an opportunity to spend time alone with God at His throne. The answers are in God’s Word. They’ve always been there.
Advent Bible Study 