Signs of The Cross

 Thousands of years before Christ, God showed us the cross in the God ordered layout of the Hebrew encampment in the wilderness, and in the Cross nebula in the far reaches of the universe.

 

 

Second Book Begins Here

 HERE IT IS

> When I penned my book, "Evidence of God", it was meant to be followed by another. With the tragic onset of COVID, all plans for book signings, speaking engagements and publication was thwarted - even after Zondervan showed interest in publishing.

> "Evidence of God" was of a personal nature but I mean to follow that with an in depth writing of a book titled "From the Beginning" which has nothing to do with my life, finding my personal Jesus or finding my children after 50 years of separation.

> I am now prompted to do something with my writings and notes for this second book. 

> I am going to publish it right here - in parts. Whether I complete the entire volume or not, what I do have will be here for anyone to read who is interested in hermaneutics and/or apologetics in every day English, via Hebrew/Messianic interpretations.

> Hopefully, this will spur me to continue my research and actually complete this in-depth study.

> "In The Beginning" begins here.

> Dedication To Mary: My roll model. You are everything that I aspire to be. I love you, then, now and always

 

Book 2, "From The Beginning" 

Small book, Big story

Philemon: a very small book in the New Testament; a letter from Paul who is under house arrest in Rome.

> This is a lovely letter asking a Christian slave owner to forgive his run away slave.

> This is a perfect letter for us to remember when we are in a position to forgive - or not.

 

 

> In Rome, a runaway slave was in very, very serious trouble; he could loose his life.

> But . . . there is a wonderful underlying message from the book. It tells us of Jesus as our Mediator with God; the one who speaks for forgiveness on our behalf.

> Just as Paul is pleading for Onesimus, so does our Savior now plead for us when we do wrong.

> In the right circumstances and a poor heart, we could loose our salvation.

> Paul had a personal interest in Onesimus because he was instrumental in the slave's conversion to Christianity - just as Jesus has an interest in us after the suffering He did on our behalf.

> Paul was also very close to Philemon through their Christian brotherhood - just as Jesus is part of God.

> Got a minute? Take a look at this sweet letter and see Jesus in the place of Paul, Christians in place of Onesimus and God as Philemon. Read it with the deeper meaning to see the concern of our Mediator and how He offers to pay for what we owe.

> Postscript: The letter does not say if Philemon did forgive his slave BUT . . . the name "Onesimus" means "Useful" and the name "Philemon" means "He Who Shows Kindness". We can also relate these definitions to how God sees us and it reminds us of His kindness.

 

Song of Songs

 Song of Songs/Song of Solomon:

> This is a love letter between Jesus and His bride to be, the Church 

 

 

> 1:1 - 4, Love wants intimacy. Jesus wants a personal relationship with each believer.

> 1:7, This is the Good Shepherd tending His flock.

> 2:2, Jesus sees His church as believers among sinners/sheep among wolves

> 2:3b, His blessings

> 2:11 & 12, See Rev. 22:1-3

> 4:2, He sees His followers as pure, bright and perfect

> 4:3 line 3, He sees your thoughts as pure thru the blood.

> 4:3 line 4, Fruit of blessing; seeds of pure thought; God sees our thoughts as pure.

> 4:4 line 1, The neck refers to your will (the neck turns to right or left, good or evil)

> 4:4 line 2, Our will is submitted to the Lord

> 4:7, How God sees the church through the blood of His Son

> 4:16, Refers to God's people, believers in Christ.

> 5:1, Jesus saying He is among His followers and enjoys being with us.

> 5:2 Lines 4 thru 6, This is Jesus calling in desperation.

> 5:3, The church hesitates to answer His call.

> 5:6, States the chance of missing out on our calling to follow.

> 5:8, This is the right answer. Fall in love with your Savior.

> 5:10, The ruddy complexion references the blood running down His body.

> 5:11, Referencing His head as gold is referencing His mind as pure.

> 6:1, Because of the testimony of the church, others seek after Jesus.

> 6:2, This is Jesus on earth (the church) seeking after those who will follow.

> 6:11, He is on earth to add to the body of His bride, the church.

> 6:13, Last minute followers desperate for Jesus.

> 8:5, The wilderness is the world, "Who" is the church, Beloved is Jesus.

* Far fetched? I think not. Read through this short, beautiful and poetic book with new insight.

Crown of Thorns

Exodus 12 speaks of Passover. Among Jewish peoples Passover is considered the New Year for Kings. This is when kings were crowned.

In 1Kings 6:1 we learn Solomon began to build the Temple in the second month, Ziv, of his reign of four years. We can calculate that Solomon was crowned in the first month of the Hebrew calendar, Nisan.  Nisan is the month of Passover, the month of Redemption, the month of Salvation, the month of the Crucifixion and the month of the crowning of the Kings of Israel. 

Jesus came by the words of John the Baptist (the prophesied Ezekiel) who alerted people about the PRESENCE of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus was not publicly crowned, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is AT HAND!”, Mt. 3:2.
Jesus came to prove His right to His thrown on this earth by sacrificing Himself for His bride, the church (all believing Jews and Gentiles). He will return to claim both, soon.  Coming to prove Himself for His kingdom as the God-man, He would not leave unless crowned as King.  Therefore, He was crowned!

Judges 8:26 tells us that the kings of Midian wore purple robes; a royal color. AND, the color of cloth God instructed to cover the altar in the ‘Holy of Holies’, in the Tent of Meeting was to be purple, Nu. 4:13. The crucifixion was where God received the most important offering ever sacrificed.

The ignorant Roman soldiers did not understand their crowning was a REAL crowning, performed according to the ancient traditions of Israel.  They crowned Jesus on the day of the day of the crowning of Kings of Israel, with crown and purple robe.  God used these ignorant Roman soldiers to crown Jesus, the King Messiah - at the exact time appointed by Him for this purpose.

 
Note: The curse of the earth, “ cursed is the ground for your sake; . . . Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to you . . ,” Gen. 3:17 & 18.  The thorns in Jesus crown also removed the curse from off the earth.

Never doubt God is in control for the best possible outcome of any situation. Praise God and thank you, Jesus.