Resurrection Power and the Shroud

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Barrie Schwortz, Dame Isabel Piczek, Gary Stearman, L.A. Marzulli, proof of the resurrection, Prophecy Watchers videos, Resurrection of Jesus, Russ Breault, The resurrection, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the Shroud of Turin, theshroud.com

“Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” John 20:3-9

So, they entered the tomb, and there lay the shroud. What must that have been like? Both Peter and John responded to the experience differently. Peter ran right on to the scene, and stared at it, gazing intently at it, looking upon it as a spectator. He saw with his eyes and wondered, but did not see with his heart. John (referred to here as the “other disciple”) however, stopped in the doorway and looked cautiously around, observing the linen clothes thoughtfully with his eyes. Then he fully entered into the tomb. When he did so, he saw not only with his eyes but also with his mind and his spirit, and what he saw and experienced both outside and inside led him to believe.

Herein lie two reactions, that of seeing with the eyes only, and that of seeing with the eyes and heart and thus believing. There is also the third reaction which was that of the Pharisees who attempted to cover up the truth (Matthew 28:11-15). But, there is no overlooking it.

Now, what will we do with the Shroud?

All of the videos below are exceptional: from L.A. Marzulli interview of Barrie Schwortz and Dame Isabel Piczek, to the interview of Russ Breault by Gary Stearman on Prophecy Watchers. These are interviewers and researchers and experts in their fields; at least two were able to see and experience the Shroud first hand. Whatever your belief about the Shroud thus far, if you have not heard these testimonies it is high time that you did. Whatever your belief about Christ theologically or historically, this is something worth hearing and definitely worth your time.

Barrie Schwortz is in both videos #1 and #2. He was raised as an Orthodox Jew, has spent “much of his time educating Christians that the Turin Shroud may well be an artifact of Jesus. An expert on imaging, he was the official documenting photographer for the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP), the 1978 team that conducted the first in-depth scientific examination of the Shroud. In 2009, he founded the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. (STERA, Inc.). Schwortz began as a skeptic of the shroud, but by scientific evidence became absolutely convinced of its authenticity. To be open-minded and brave enough to immerse oneself in the evidence of beliefs that go against your own, and allow yourself to be convinced of their validity, requires a courage and honesty that not many can claim.” His website link is also listed at the bottom.

In video #1, at the 10 minute and 30 second mark and again at the 17 minute and 45 second mark, Dame Isabel Piczek is introduced as a muralist and particle physicist from the country of Hungary. At age 2, she was already trying her wings as an artist doing drawings. At age 11 she won Hungary’s national first prize with one of her paintings, and at age 14 she “painted in the Vatican”. It was at approximately the age of 6 that she was captivated by the Shroud. She explains the Shroud in a way I have not heard anyone else describe it. It BLEW me away! She explains that at the resurrection there were two “event horizons”, which means that at that point gravity was defied and time and space stopped. She states this was the first time in the universe where there was a “total time collapse,” a “Big Bang type singularity,” and an “explosion that cannot be described” that is evident on the Shroud. What happened at the resurrection of our Lord was beyond powerful and is nearly impossible to put into words. Indeed, the Shroud is God’s signature for those who will see.

Russ Breault in videos #3 and #4, gives a refreshing, thoughtful and respectful account of the shroud, expressing that it is truly God’s “receipt” and indeed, undeniable proof of Jesus’ resurrection.

Though for years I was very skeptical and could not have said I believed or disbelieved that the Shroud belonged to Jesus, my heart and mind have been powerfully touched by these accounts, specifically by Dame Isabel’s mind-blowing explanation using both her expertise as a physicist and an artist. It is no wonder that the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;11 If, by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” He goes on to say in Ephesians 1:18-23, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” For, “if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you,” (Romans 8:11).

Oh the miraculous force, even violent, earth-shattering strength of His resurrection! And, believe it or not, that same awesome, indescribable, earthquake, Big Bang moment of explosive, dynamite power that indelibly imprinted the Shroud at Jesus’ resurrection, is at this very moment at work in us and will one day soon resurrect us. Wow!!!

In Awe,

Holy Light Ministries

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

Russ Breault: The Shroud – The Receipt Of The Resurrection?

Video #4

Russ Breault: The Mysterious Man Clothed in Linen

THE SHROUD WEBSITE:

https://shroud.com/

Quote from the website: “The Shroud of Turin is a centuries old linen cloth that bears the image of a crucified man. A man that millions believe to be Jesus of Nazareth. Is it really the cloth that wrapped his crucified body, or is it simply a medieval forgery, a hoax perpetrated by some clever artist? Modern science has completed hundreds of thousands of hours of detailed study and intense research on the Shroud. It is, in fact, the single most studied artifact in human history, and we know more about it today than we ever have before. And yet, the controversy still rages. This web site will keep you abreast of current research, provide you with accurate data from the previous research and let you interact with the researchers themselves. We believe that if you have access to the facts, you can make up your own mind about the Shroud. Make sure you visit the page where you can Examine the Shroud of Turin for yourself. We hope you enjoy your visit. Barrie M. Schwortz, Editor.”

Living in light of the resurrection: The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us

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Psalm 22’s Detailed Crucifixion Prophecy, part 3: Enduring the Cross, Despising the Shame

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1 Peter 5:8, Death on the cross, Jesus sacrifice on the cross, nails and the crucifixion, Psalm 22, Roman nails and the crucifixion, the bulls of bashan, the place of the serpent, the sacrifice of the cross, the tola worm, They pierced my hands and my feet

We have been studying Psalm 22. So far we have uncovered that Psalm 22 is in general a prophetic psalm that had been recognized by the Jews as Messianic; we have discovered that it predicted the death of Jesus, that specifically God did not turn His face from Jesus when on the cross, that God had always saved His people, and that on the cross God was saving His people in the manner of the Tola worm who is scientifically known to give up her life for her young, and that such a salvation would be despised and rejected by those needing salvation.

Today, let’s continue on with the intricate details of Psalm 22.

The Passage Unpackaged

Psalm 22:7-8 The Shame

“All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.”

This we see fulfilled in Matthew 27:39-44 (also accounts found in Mark 15 and Luke 23) in the account of Jesus’ crucifixion:

“And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.”

Psalm 22:11-13 The Sacrifice

“Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.”

“Many bulls have compassed me.” Does this mean actual bulls are standing at the base of the cross? Does this mean that the cows got out and herded around Jesus? We’ll get to who the bulls are in a minute.

To begin with, however, what does “compassed me” mean? When it says that they are compassing the Suffering One, this means (Hebrew: sabab, #5437) they are encircling Him, moving around Him in a circular, fluid motion, like as if He is a ritual sacrifice.

“Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.” When it says here that the Suffering One is “beset” the Hebrew word (katar, #3803) means that He is now being pressed upon as in a large crowd, the enemy is closing in on Him; His enemies are gathering closer and closer and waiting to pounce.

“They gaped upon me with their mouths.” The Hebrew word pasah (#6475) means “to open one’s mouth, to utter.” It is used of the earth opening its mouth for Abel’s innocent blood (Gen 4:11) and of the earth swallowing the wicked in an earthquake (Numbers 16:30, Deut 11:6), and also is used of one speaking accusations such as in Lam. 2:16 and 3:46. And this is done as a “ravening and roaring lion.” To raven means “to tear in pieces” (Hebrew: tarap # 2963). To “roar” is the Hebrew word saag (#7580), and it means to roar like a lion, to emit a sound like thunder, or like the shouts of an aggressive enemy. This roaring is done in either great distress or victory. In the context of this passage, it seems that the enemies of the Suffering One, are in a circular, ritualistic fashion closing in on Him, and are opening their mouths in order to devour with accusatory words and thunderous bombastic presumptuous shouts of victory.

Now, who are these bulls of Bashan that are tormenting the Suffering One of Psalm 22? To begin with, there is an actual area known as Bashan. It is to the Northeast of Israel, is on the eastern side of the Jordan river, and is the present day Golan Heights. It is an incredibly fertile area well-known for its oak trees and its cows. Even today, its land is excellent for cattle and is home to many dairy farmers.

But, there is a darker side to this beautiful, lush landscape. For indeed, “Bashan…had a terrifying reputation. In ancient literature outside the Bible, Bashan was known as “the place of the serpent”…Bashan was ground zero to demonic gods and the realm of the dead. The area was a leading center for the worship of Baal, symbolized by bulls and cows. “Bulls from the land of Bashan” is a reference to demons, the powers of darkness,”” (Heiser).

Some scholars believe that the Jewish leadership could have been playing out the part of the bulls of Bashan. After all, the scene that unfolds around the base of Jesus’ cross portrays the Jewish leadership parading themselves around Him, gawking up at Him, tormenting Him with their words and sneers. So, on one level, this may be true. After all, Satan loves to use people as his willing pawns and through them he could have dealt out vile vitriol and grim torment. But, on yet another level there is a very real spiritual realm that is very much active on their own and were fully capable of encircling Jesus on the cross, thinking they had defeated the darling of heaven. For truly, 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Psalm 22:14-15 An Excruciating Death

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.”

We see this scene unfold in John 19:28-29 which says, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”

In the gruesomeness of crucifixion, it is not surprising that all of His bones were out of joint, for that was common to those crucified. Furthermore, His heart melting like wax, Him drying up like a piece of pottery and His tongue sticking, meant He was quickly dying because of an extreme amount of fluid loss, His lungs collapsing, the thickening of His blood, and heart failure.

Psalm 22:16-18 They Pierced My Hands and Feet

“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

In Matthew 27:35 (as well as Mark 15 and Luke 23) we find the fulfillment of this scene, “And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there…” John 19:23-24 says, “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.”

The history of crucifixion began as far back as the Assyrians, followed by the Persians, the then the Greeks, specifically Antiochus Epiphanes who crucified Jews who would not bow the knee to Hellenism. But, what was begun by other empires, was said to have been perfected by the Romans. It was developed by the Romans to be a torturous death in which the crucified one suffered greatly. Crucifixion was known as one of the, if not the cruelest and most shameful forms of death.

“Some have questioned the historical accuracy of Jesus being nailed to the cross. An analysis of the recorded instances of nailing in regards to time and place provide some striking data.” In the three hundred years before Christ, only ten “nailings” as they are called, were recorded as taking place. This means, that the use of nails in crucifixion was only recorded to have been used ten times in three hundred years. However, by the first century A.D. it is recorded that nails were used in crucifixion twenty-one times. Thus, the use of nails in crucifixion had increased. Not only this, but after the first century A.D. the use of nails in crucifixion sharply declined. Furthermore, according to historical accounts, “there are six recorded instances [of nails used in crucifixion] in Greece, two in regard to Carthage, and thirty-nine in regard to Rome…this…does demonstrate that historically speaking the greatest use of nails, both in time and place, center around the time of Jesus,” (John C. Robison, “Crucifixion in the Roman World: The Use of Nails at the Time of Christ,” pg. 49, https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=studiaantiqua) and most definitely and more specifically center around the Romans in the first century A.D.

In the day of King David writer of Psalm 22, there was no such thing as crucifixion or the piercing of one’s hands and feet in such a manner. There is no way that David could have known on his own what he was writing about nearly 1000 years before Jesus’ horrific death on the cross.

Conclusion:

Just think, God predicted this torture scene, this death, this pain, this horror…this salvation. God loved us so much that He came down, took on human flesh, dwelt among the very people who would spit upon Him, reject, unjustly condemn, mercilessly beat and crucify Him. He foresaw the Roman dogs and the brutality of their form of crucifixion; He predicted the Satanic onslaught at the base of the cross both in the spiritual realm as well as through the Jewish leadership; He foreknew His own horrific suffering and exactly how He would die. The book of Hebrews chapter 12:1-3 says it well when it tells us to, “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

We are all enduring something. For some it is physical. For some it is emotional. For some it has to do with family or friends. But, we are all running a race while we are here on earth. But, the Lord wants us to remember what He endured, that He despised the shame of His own death, the false accusations of sinners against Him—the King of glory—BUT He did it because He knew the JOY that lay just beyond it, the eternal joy, the joy of being seated next to God. For, the cross was not the end for Jesus. And our trials are not the end for us. Even so, it says, that we who are going through great trials in this life must keep things in perspective, and must not become exhausted nor give up. Let us remember the words of Jesus in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Blessings this Passover and Resurrection Season,

Holy Light Ministries

https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/psalm-22s-detailed-crucifixion-prophecy-part-1-did-god-turn-his-face-away/

https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/psalm-22s-detailed-crucifixion-prophecy-part-2-the-incredible-tola-worm/

Sources:

Michael S. Heiser, Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches about the Unseen World—And Why It Matters, ed. David Lambert (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015), 92.

Holy Week: The Bulls of Bashan Surround Me, https://seerssee.com/holy-week-the-bulls-of-bashan-surround-me/#note-2580-3.

Caesarea Philippi and the Nephilim?, http://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2016/03/caesarea-philippi-nephilim/.

Baal and Ashera, http://www.christianfaith.com/resources/baal-and-asherah.

Golan Heights, Biblical Bashan, https://www.bibleplaces.com/golanheights/.

The Crucifixion of Jesus in Excruciating Detail, https://mudpreacher.org/tag/bulls-of-bashan/.

John C. Robison, “Crucifixion in the Roman World: The Use of Nails at the Time of Christ,” pg. 49, https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=studiaantiqua)

Jonathan Sacks, “Psalm 22,” http://www.hopeinmessiah.org/psalm-22/.

“Did God Really Forsake Jesus Christ on the Cross?” http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/did-god-really-forsake-jesus-christ-on-the-cross

Psalm 22’s Detailed Crucifixion Prophecy, part 2: The Incredible Tola Worm

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In the night season, Jehovah is salvation, Jesus' death, Laying down our life, Psalm 22, The Crucifixion, the tola worm

In Part 1 we talked about God being a God of prophecy, and that Jesus fulfilled over 300 words of prophecy all by Himself. Not only is that incredible, it is mathematically improbable and scientifically impossible. Though for just anyone to fulfill prophecy is absolutely unachievable, for Jesus it was not. After all, He is the Word made flesh who dwelt among us (John 1); He is the One who inspired the writing of every word of prophecy. Indeed, it says in Matthew 5:17-18, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” What this passage is saying is that even the smallest letter of the alphabet and the smallest punctuation mark must be fulfilled.

In Part 1 we turned to one verse of fulfilled prophecy, Psalm 22:1. We learned how from the cross Jesus quoted the first verse of Psalm 22, how the Jews would have known Psalm 22 by heart and that it was a Messianic psalm, and that God did not turn His face from Jesus on the cross.

In Part 2, we are going to take a look at a few more verses that have been fulfilled by Jesus: Psalm 22:2-6. I had absolutely no idea how to teach on the rest of this psalm. It is so jam-packed with prophecy, most of which go right over my head. At first I though, we can just move on to another psalm or another passage, but the Spirit directed otherwise. And what I found left me stunned and overwhelmed by the greatness of our God.

So, without further ado, let’s plunge in!

Psalm 22:2-5 The “Night Season” of the Cross

“O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.”

God throughout the history of Israel, had always protected and delivered His people. From the days of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to that of Moses and the exodus, to that of Joshua and the Judges, to that of the kings of Israel, and to the Babylonian captivity, God had preserved His people, and He inhabits/dwells/sits upon/is enthroned upon their praises. In other words, their praises are His abiding place. When they cried out to Him, He always answered with physical deliverance, political leadership, and national security.

The one dying in Psalm 22’s scene of great distress, is at that moment looking to God for the salvation that God has always provided. He is crying in the daytime, but does not feel heard; and he is also crying out in a season that is the blackest of night, and will not be silent.

We see this scene of Psalm 22 unfold in Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44–45, where it is said, “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

The ninth hour is 3pm in the afternoon, and is ordinarily a time of daylight. But, on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion 3pm looked and felt more like midnight. And so, as this Psalm states, “I cry in the daytime…and in the night season.” In the incredible scene of Jesus’ death, we see Him crying out to God in both the daytime and in the night season simultaneously.

Furthermore, the “night season” being experienced while Jesus was on the cross, was not merely physical darkness, but spiritual darkness as well.

The God who was always mighty to deliver His people from calamity and utter destruction, seemed strangely silent as Jesus hung there upon the cross with physical darkness shrouding the landscape and a heavy palpating spiritual darkness throbbing nearly tangibly all around. But, God who always saved, was indeed doing what He had always done. For, forgotten by many was the fact that there was a greater enemy than the physical and political. It had been Israel’s enemy a long time. Indeed, it had been humanity’s enemy an even longer time. It was what got Israel into trouble nearly every time, what led to enemy invasions, poor leadership, captivity, plagues, and famines, and eventually led Israel to repent and call upon God for salvation. The greatest enemy of Israel and humanity was SIN. No matter how often God rescued His people from physical enemies, their greatest enemy had not yet been defeated.

This is what leads us to Psalm 22:6.

Psalm 22:6: Let Me Introduce You To Tola

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.”

Now, what on earth is mentioned here about salvation, you might ask. Let me tell you the incredible story of a little worm named Tola.

First of all, when we think of a worm, we probably think of an earthworm, a lowly creature that is beneath the earth. In other words, the lowest of the low. The little worm mentioned in Psalm 22, however, lives above the ground, and looks more like a grub. The word for worm here is the Hebrew word, tola which can mean two things: “worm” and the color of “crimson, purple or scarlet.” The reason that it can have two meanings is because the worm produced the color of red that was used in much of the Tabernacle/Temple of Israel, in the cleansing ceremony for lepers, in the stitching of the Temple curtain that was torn in two from top to bottom, and it was also used as a dye in items of palaces and the clothing of royalty.

Indeed, this tola was no ordinary worm. It has been documented that when it is time for female tola to give birth, she attaches herself to a tree or a fence post, or anything wooden. She attaches herself so firmly that she cannot remove herself from it, and if one were to forcibly remove her, they would have to tear her in pieces to do it. It is then that she forms a hard, reddish shell. Beneath this shell she lays her eggs. When the babies are born, they remain beneath the protection of her crimson shell, and they begin to feed upon their mother. No, she does not give them milk. No, she does not feed them bugs. She feeds them herself. Little by little, she dies giving them life. And as she dies, she begins to ooze a reddish substance which stains the tree to which she is attached and stains the babies that she is giving life. They are marked by her blood for life and forever bear the stain of her death on their bodies. After only a few days, she fully dies, and her young are strong enough to be on their own. It is at this point that the reddish shell falls off, and within three days the blood stain on the tree left behind by the tola turns completely white and falls to the ground like snow.

Jehovah is Salvation

God always saves His people. Their history is dense with the miracles that God performed on their behalf. Psalm 22:2-5 affirms this. And God would continue to save His people. Psalm 22:6 confirms that. But, this time the salvation would be different; this time, God through David tells that His future salvation would be one of death, blood, and horrific, unjust suffering, and the people would be appalled, would be disgusted, and would despise and reject the One dying for their salvation. For who wants a bloody savior? Who wants a suffering savior? Who wants a savior who appears to be defeated? The people wanted a grand general who they could boast in; they wanted a sparkling prince who would make them look good; they desired great battles, incredible feats of strength, a Jewish superhero who would rush in and save the day. Not the one whom Isaiah 53:2-5 talks about as being “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” They did not want the Tola worm. They did not want Jesus who said that you must eat my flesh and drink my blood (Mat. 26:26-27 and Mark 14:22-24). Of course, this was not literal, but rather had to do with Jesus fulfilling Passover. He was the bread and the wine of the cup of redemption, establishing a New Covenant in His death and blood. But, they did want a dead savior, for they did not understand that their greatest need was salvation from that which had left them dead in their trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1-5), and that the only means for that salvation was through the shedding of blood. For early on, God told His people that “the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). For, “without [the] shedding of blood is no remission [of sins]” Hebrews 9:22.

Yet, knowing that the people would reject Him, Jesus, like the little Tola worm, still attached Himself to a wooden cross. Jesus like the Tola worm gave His life as a ransom for many. And like the little Tola, His shed blood has changed those of us who believe in Him forever, cleansed us forever, marked us forever, delivered us from the power of sin forever. We will never be the same because of Jesus’ blood, for it has made the stain of sin on us turn whiter than snow! Like it says in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Conclusion

There is no miracle so miraculous nor so amazing nor so divine as the voluntary death of Jesus on the wooden cross of Calvary, nor has there ever been a salvation so complete as that which we find in Jesus whose very name means, “God is Salvation”. This holiday season, as we recount how Jesus took the bread of Passover and broke it saying that it was His body given for us, and to eat it in remembrance of Him, let us recall this comparison to the Tola worm who gave her life that her young might have life.

Furthermore, let us remember that this life is not about us. It’s like what Paul said, that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). We are to take up our cross and live lives of self denial and selfless love (Matthew 16:24). We are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). We are to press on toward the goal for which we are called heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

Blessings this Passover and Resurrection Season,

Holy Light Ministries

https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/psalm-22s-detailed-crucifixion-prophecy-part-1-did-god-turn-his-face-away/

https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/psalm-22s-detailed-crucifixion-prophecy-part-3-enduring-the-cross-despising-the-shame/

Psalm 22’s Detailed Crucifixion Prophecy, part 1: Did God Turn His Face Away?

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300 Prophecies Jesus fulfilled, Biblical Prophecies, CBN Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus, Did God turn His face away?, Jesus and Bible Prophecy, Psalm 22, Psalm 22:1, The Crucifixion

Today we are going to examine some of the details and complexities of Psalm 22. It is a Psalm of David which is written about an unnamed “Sufferer” (Great Psalms, by Stanley M. Horton, pg 16) who is being executed and is enduring inexplicable pain. No one in David’s day had experienced such agony nor such a death. I cannot imagine what David must have thought or felt when he penned the words to this incredible psalm. What must he have asked God, and what did God tell him? Did he see it in a vision or a dream first? Or was David simply inspired with the words? However it happened, David was undeniably, mightily used by God to prophesy of the death and eventual triumph of the coming Messiah hundreds of years later.

Jesus and Bible Prophecy

According to many students of the Bible, including those at Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network,“The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death and resurrection. Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way: 1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157^th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!It is the magnificent detail of these prophecies that mark the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Only God could foreknow and accomplish all that was written about the Christ. This historical accuracy and reliability sets the Bible apart from any other book or record” (Article at CBN entitled, “Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus,” (http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/biblical-prophecies-fulfilled-by-jesus).

So, what are some of the things that this powerful psalm reveals? There is detail upon detail here, but let’s briefly take a closer look!

Psalm 22:1

“(To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.)“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

Many pastors, theologians, commentators, books, and even songs (including Michael Card’s “Love Crucified Arose”) state that the “Father turned His face away” from Jesus as Jesus cried out to Him in agony on the cross. They base their assumptions on the words found in Psalm 22, “why hast thou forsaken me?” Some even go so far as to say that God in His holiness cannot look upon sin (Habakkuk 1:13), and since Jesus became sin who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) God could not look at Him in that moment on the cross.

The Father Turned His Face Away?

To begin with, in spite of some misunderstandings regarding Habakkuk 1:13 where we read that God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity,” God is not blind to sin. Even in Habakkuk as one reads on, one sees that the passage means God does not condone evil. So, when it says that Jesus became sin, this does not mean that God could not look upon Him nor can it mean that God would turn His face from Him. And really, when it says that Jesus became sin, it meant that He bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24) not that He became a sinner. After all, He knew no sin.

Secondly, the word “forsaken” cannot lead one to the conclusion that the Father turned His face away. In the Hebrew language, forsaken could mean more literally, “Why have you left me unaided?” or “why have you let me remain in my sufferings so long?” For indeed, it is “an expression of yearning rather than of despair” (Great Psalms by Stanley M. Horton, pg 17). Furthermore, verse 24 states that the Father does not despise nor abhor the afflicted, “neither hath he hid His face from him; but when he cried unto Him, He heard.” In other words, verse 24 disproves the theory that God turned His face away from Jesus. For, the reader of Psalm 22 is thus informed that the Suffering One who was left to suffer so long was not unseen nor unheard, but God had heard and seen and did answer.

Messianic Trilogy

Furthermore, Psalm 22 is apart of a sort of “Messianic Trilogy,” and Psalm 22, 23 and 24 compose that trilogy. In Jesus’ day, the Jews would have memorized all three of these Psalms. When Jesus quoted the first part of Psalm 22 the rest of the Psalm would have played through their minds. It’s like when we hear the first line of a song. When I say, “On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross,” what words come next? When I say, “Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream,” we can complete the next line, can’t we.

Well it was the same in Jesus’ day with the quoting of Scriptures. So, when Jesus said, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me,” His audience knew exactly what He was quoting–Psalm 22—and that Psalm 22 was Messianic. Thus, on the cross Jesus was still informing them that what He was doing had been predicted and was now being fulfilled, even unfolding right in front of their very eyes. Just think about that for a second.

The Scene of the Crucifixion and the Scene of Psalm 22

Imagine you are there at the cross with Jesus hanging upon it, and Jesus quotes the first line of a very familiar Messianic psalm that you know word for word by heart. And as you stand there stunned by what is happening to Jesus, the words of that psalm play over and over through your mind. You hear people laughing at Jesus (vs 7); you see others shaking their heads (vs 7), see them staring at Him with evil delight (vs 17) and hear them say, “He trusted in the LORD that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, seeing that He delighted in Him” (Psalm 22:8, Matthew 27:43). You look over at the gentile Roman soldiers referred to as “dogs” by the Jews who are casting lots for Jesus’ clothing (vs 16,18). Then, tentatively and with great effort you look up at Jesus the one who had stirred your soul with such hope only days before but who is now fading; His strength is gone, He’s terribly thirsty (vs 14,15), and whose His hands and feet are pierced by rough, rugged nails (vs 16). It is then that your breath catches in your throat, for what the Jewish mockers are doing and saying, what the Roman dogs are doing and saying were written in the words of a Psalm of David hundreds of years prior, and it all is playing out in front of your vary eyes at that exact second as the words go round and round in your mind.

Reminder

Therefore, Jesus’ purpose for quoting this scripture was not just one of yearning, but was one of reminding. Even on the cross He was teaching the people. Even on the cross He was pointing the people to Himself as their Messiah. For as the people would think on Psalm 22 they would realize that it described the vary intricate details of the scene playing out right in front of them. In fact, Jesus was saying loud and clear, “I AM.” I am the fulfillment Psalm 22. I am the Messiah. I may die, but I am the victor! After all, the Psalm ends with “He hath done this,” or in Jesus’ words on the cross, “it is finished.”

Conclusion

As we enter this season of Passover and Resurrection, let us think on this incredible Psalm that describes Christ’s death with intricate precision but was written 1,000 years before the crucifixion. When David wrote it, there was no such thing as the horrific death of crucifixion. But God knew. And as Jesus hung suffocating on the cross, those who heard His words with spiritual ears would come to understand that Jesus was reminding them that this was in fulfillment of a prophecy of King David. This was not by accident. This was not out of control. He was not a victim. God had not been taken by surprise. Rather, this was planned in advance for the salvation of the world through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Let’s take comfort then today, in this COVID age, that no matter what evil is facing us, the God who prophesied through David regarding His own barbaric death on the shameful cross, is still in control and has never been out of control even once.

Let us also remember the GREAT suffering and shame that He went through for us. If He was willing to do that for miserable sinners like us, shouldn’t we also be willing to suffer for Him? Even as He took up His cross for us, let us take up our crosses and follow Him. Let us be found worthy (Luke 21:36).

Passover and Resurrection Blessings,

Holy Light Ministries

https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/psalm-22s-detailed-crucifixion-prophecy-part-2-the-incredible-tola-worm/

https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/2021/03/29/psalm-22s-detailed-crucifixion-prophecy-part-3-enduring-the-cross-despising-the-shame/

Sources for God Cannot Look Upon Sin:

Question and Answer by Steve Shirley at http://jesusalive.cc/ques326.htm

Sources for God Turning His Face:

“Did the Father Turn His Face Away?” https://bentrigg.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/did-the-father-turn-his-face-away/

“Did God Really Forsake Jesus On the Cross?” http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/did-god-really-forsake-jesus-christ-on-the-cross

Sources for Fulfillment of Bible Prophecies:

“Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus,” http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/biblical-prophecies-fulfilled-by-jesus

Other Sources:

Stanley M. Horton, Great Psalms, “The Complete Christ,” pgs 16-19.

The Jesus and Isaac Passover Connection

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How old was Isaac at Moriah, Jesus in the Temple as a boy, Jesus the Passover Lamb, Passover, Rabbi Zev Porat, Zev Porat

Pastor Zev Porat from Jerusalem, Israel relates an excellent message that connects the story of Isaac being offered as a sacrifice at Mount Moriah on what would be Passover, and Jesus going to the Temple for the first time on Passover. May the Lord bless you as you listen!

Have a blessed Passover and Resurrection Sunday,

Holy Light Ministries

Pray for Israel

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A Call to Prayer, Del Bigtree, End Times, Ilana Rachel Daniel, ISRAELI LADY ASKING FOR HELP, Last Days, pray for israel, The High Wire Show, WE ARE PRISONERS OF THE STATE - ISRAELI LADY ASKING FOR HELP, What is happening in Israel

free bing Pinterest pic

This is to alert anyone and everyone who comes to this link, that Israeli citizens are under great distress. No, the source of that distress is not from Iran nor Hezbollah nor Turkey nor Russia nor any other terrorist organization. Quite the contrary. They are under threat of their own government. Their freedom of choice has been taken away, and upwards to 4 million of them are under extreme duress. Unsure of what to do as their freedoms have suddenly evaporated, they are attempting to form a new political party, but are under attack from all sides: medically, politically, etc. Why? The vaccine. That’s right. It’s all about the vaccine. Upwards to half of Israelis (5 million) have been vaccinated at this point in time, but many of those were forced/coerced to do so for fear of losing their jobs and liberties and freedom of movement. Now about 2 million Israeli adults and 2 million children are the only ones left unvaccinated, and they are in the cross-hairs of their own police and their own government. There are even stores with signs that state only the vaccinated may enter.

Why am I writing to you about this? Because I love Israel. I love freedom. I hate evil. I hate corruption. And because I am calling you all to pray for these very desperate, even non-Christian Jews who are trapped in their own country. Some of you can relate to this. Some of you are in countries just like this. But Israel has not been like this up until now. It has been very free, and these people are in shock. I am also writing this to warn any so-called free nation because all of our freedoms are in jeopardy surrounding this vaccine.

So, I am calling on my fellow Christians worldwide to pray and pray hard.

If you are unsure why the vaccine is being rejected, please view this link for more information. Once you have viewed this link and if you agree with the contents of the link and are as appalled as I am, please spread the word. https://holylight4u.wordpress.com/watchman-on-the-wall/

Gravely Urgent,

Holy Light Ministeries

“A World Jabbed Into Submission,” May 27, 2021, https://aminutetomidnite.com/2021/05/27/a-world-jabbed-into-submission/ (at about the 3 minute mark, an important word is given from the Israeli People’s Committee‘s Chairman Dr. Pinky Feinstein, Psychiatrist, as he reports on the adverse events related to corona virus vaccine. This Committee is independent from the Israeli government. According to their numbers, during the vaccination period of January-March 2021, the age group 20-29 year olds has seen an increase of 30% in mortality compared to last year at the same time. Around 250,000 of the Israeli people did not show up to get the second dose of the vaccine.)

April 2021 (about the green passport, the vaccine, etc.)

“WE ARE PRISONERS OF THE STATE – ISRAELI LADY ASKING FOR HELP,” https://www.brighteon.com/0881d9c5-9dd4-402c-ba33-53e8376d6664

In the article from Israel below, note the second paragraph, quote: “The issue of how to “motivate” vaccine compliance has generated increasing interest, with commentators such as Mike Cernovich writing: “Government won’t force you to take vaccine. Amazon will. Airlines will. Banks will. You won’t be able to buy, sell, or trade without the vaccine.”” And indeed, they are doing exactly as they said they would do. Here is the article:
“‘We Won’t Force Vaccine; But Here’s What We Will Do’,”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/292039?fbclid=IwAR3RzrUrsMEIknUXnMLZHJFUWknTJriu_2pk7U9REOk4yJA1jGil-Cn6zL0

Ilana Rachel Daniel on The High Wire show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSuICxlKyhk