The Dawn of Dawns - The Bible (Genesis 1)

The Dawn of the Bible

The Bible opens with a description of the light of a dawn. Verses 1-2 describe a darkness before the dawn.  The heavens and earth exist, but "the earth was formless and empty, darkness over the surface of the deep".  Darkness is present and needs subjugation by "light".

Dawn breaks in when God said, "Let there be light" and the result - "there was light".  (Verse 3).

If we consider this as the "dawn" of the Bible, what would be the "sunset?".  Relatedly, how does this pattern work elsewhere in the Bible.

The Biblical text itself as well as the organizers of the Bible provide several answers.

A sunset over Israel: Malachi

Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament.  Historically, several centuries spanned between the life of the prophet Malachi and the birth of Jesus.  Thus, that makes it a "sunset".  

In Malachi, we see God' frustration with the people of Israel.  For instance, the sacrifices the priests use are crippled and diseased animals  (1:8).  Malachi points out that even by human standards, this is unacceptable.  ("Try offering them to your governor").  

Likewise, Malachi also emphasizes a coming day of immense action by God.  Granted, the emphasis is on the day of judgment, but also speaks of God in the temple.  (3:1)

A New Dawn:  The Birth of Jesus

The Gospels are the dawn of the new day.  They primarily do this by drawing elements from the Old Testament to show that this is the promised day.  But we also see reminders of Creation Week and the beginning of Man.  Here is what we have:

1.  Genealogies - a link to the prior days

• Matthew 1:2-16 - a genealogy of Jesus extending to Abraham (connection with the past, the prior days)
• Luke 3:23-38 - the genealogy connects Jesus with Adam, the first of man.  This literally connects Jesus with Genesis and the Dawn of Man.

2.  Light and stars

The Gospels also use the element of "light", which was a predominant focus in Creation Week.  This literally shows us a new light for a new day.

• Matthew 2:2-11 - a star in the east directs the magi to the home of Jesus
• John 1:5 - Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness

3.  "In the beginning" (John 1:1-5)

The literal text of John 1 explicitly links Jesus to Creation Week.  In fact, John 1 seems modeled after Genesis 1 with its verbatim use of "In the beginning".  Verses 2-3 state that Jesus not only was in the beginning with God, but also had a hand in the creation of everything else.  

4.  A messenger to prepare the way

We saw this in Malachi, the sunset of the Old Testament.  Here, the Gospels state that John the Baptist is the messenger predicted by the prophets.

• Matthew 3:1-12 - citing Isaiah 40:3
• Mark 1:1-8 - citing Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3
• Luke 3:1-6, citing Isaiah 40:3-5
• John 1:19-28, citing Isaiah 40

A Sunset:  The Book of Revelations

The Book of Revelations is the final book of the Bible.  It is the revelation to the last living apostle, the Apostle John.  He writes a letter to the seven churches of Asia detailing what he sees.  

The Book of Revelations provides a sunset to the overall Biblical narrative. It is the last revelation to the last apostle who knew Christ in the person.  Its placement as the final book highlights this finality.

Like the sunset of the Old Testament, Malachi, it looks forward to a future day.  According to Revelations, there will be a New Heaven, a New Earth, and a New Jerusalem.  (21:1-4).  The final words of Jesus in the Bible are recorded in the penultimate verse of Revelations, making it the penultimate verse of the entire Bible.  

At the sunset of the Bible, we look forward to a new dawn and a new day with these words:

"Yes, I am coming soon."

Yet, more links

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Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the third day, an angel descends from heaven and rolls away the large stone in front of the tomb of Jesus.  He then sits on the stone.  

This action caused a mighty earthquake.  The Roman guards stationed at the tomb shook and became like dead men.  Later, the guards tell the chief priests about this.  The priests give the guards money and to change their story to that the disciples stole the body.

Meanwhile, various disciples of Jesus come to the tomb and find it empty.  Each Gospel has a slightly different account of who came, but each one resulting in excitement, joy, and confusion.  Different people go and encounter something different.  

Figuring out the exact sequence of events is a little difficult, probably because the whole time the disciples were confused.  

Here are the summaries of the first appearances in the Gospels:

1.  John 20:1-18

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb while it is still dark.  She finds it empty and runs back to Simon Peter and Lazarus (the disciple Jesus loved).  Lazarus outruns Simon Peter and when they arrive at the tomb, it is empty.  Simon Peter and Lazarus leave and Mary stays behind and cries.  She then sees two angels sitting in the tomb.  Jesus then appears to her, but she cannot touch him because he has not returned to the Father.  

2.  Mark 16:1-11

Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary, and Salome buy spices after the Sabbath.  This might have been Saturday night.

They go to the tomb and find the stone rolled away.  Inside is an angel who tells them that Jesus has risen and the disciples will meet him at Galilee.

This appears to be a summary while Mark 16:9 does clarify that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene.  

3.  Matthew 28:1-10

Mary Magdalene and the "other Mary" go to the tomb.  The angel that rolled away the stone and sat it  talks to them.  The angel instructs them to go tell the disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.

They leave, hurried, afraid, but filled with joy.  Jesus meets them and they clasp his feet.  So, now Jesus has returned from the Father.

4.  Luke 24:1-12

The "women" go to the tomb and find the stone rolled away and the body was gone.  Suddenly, two men appear beside them and tell them that Jesus has risen.  They then return to the disciples.  

The "women" are later identified as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mother Mary, and the "others with them".

Simon Peter returns to the tomb and finds it empty except for the strips of linen lying by themselves.

What can we say what happened?  This seems to be clear:

The tomb was empty

Angels instructed those who came to the tomb about why it is empty

Mary Magdalene was probably the first to go check it out.  

Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene

Simon Peter returned to the tomb and did not see Jesus, nor see an angel telling him about what happened.

What is difficult to parse together is the role of the other people.  A simple way to harmonize the accounts is that perhaps multiple groups of women went at slightly different times and had slightly different, but similar experiences.  They then compiled their testimonies as a group before the other disciples.  

Another possible explanation of the discrepancies in the text of the Resurrection with regard to the angels is that angels do not appear to everyone within the same group.  For instance, one person might see an angel while the person next to him might see the angel, more angels, or none at all.  The appearance of angels in the Old Testament fits this pattern.

So, it is quite possible that in the witnesses to the empty tomb, one witness saw one angel (Roman soldiers) while another witness saw two angels (Mary Magdalene), or none at all (Simon Peter).

The same can be said about angels speaking.  One person might hear it, while another hears nothing.

Further, all these superficial details seemed to have been consolidated or overlooked at the expense of telling the more important part of the story - Jesus was alive!

Other appearances by Jesus

Jesus also makes a few other appearances.  He appears on the road to Emmaus to Cleopas and another unnamed disciple.  They do not recognize him and Jesus pretends to not know what happened in Jerusalem.  Jesus explains to them how the Old Testament prophecies fit together with Jesus as the Messiah.  They realize it is Jesus when he breaks bread with them and he immediately disappears.  (Luke 24:13-35)

On the evening of Resurrection Day, after the disciples had heard about the reports of the Resurrection, the disciples are hiding in a house with the door locked for fear of the Jews when Jesus appeared with them.  Thomas is not with them.  He will not believe unless he has seen the nail marks.

A week later, Jesus appears in the same house, this time Thomas is there.  Thomas sees the nail marks and puts his hand in Jesus' side.  He is amazed and believes.  Jesus also explains that ghosts do not have corporal bodies, so having a corporal body, he cannot be a ghost.

Jesus appears to them in Galilee.  The disciples are fishing and have nothing.  Jesus shouts from shore, calling them "friends", to throw a net over the right side.  The net brings in a haul of 153 fish fills the net.  Lazarus shouts, "it is the Lord!". 

They go back to the shore where Jesus recommissions Peter.  Jesus asks Peter three times if Peter loves him.  Peter is hurt by this, but I think this parallels the three denials by Peter.  With each answer, Jesus tells Peter to act as the shepherd of the flock.  Jesus also suggests that Peter will have a martyr's death because when he is old "someone will lead you to where you do not want to go".

Epilogue: 

The Apostles' stories will continue in the Book of Acts.  However, this concludes the Gospels themselves.

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark conclude with the great commission - go unto all the world, preach the Gospel, baptize disciples, and signs will accompany you.  The signs include healing the sick, casting out demons, and protection from poisonous drinks and poisonous snakes.

The Gospel of Luke concludes with the Ascension and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel of John concludes by saying that it is based on the testimony and eye witness of accounts of the disciple that Jesus loved.  As I pointed out, this seems to be Lazarus.  The also notes that there were a lot of other stories about Jesus that could not fit into the book.

Jesus dies on the cross (Matthew 27:32-66; Mark 15:21-47; Luke 23:26-55; John 19:16-42)

Time:  between 9 AM and noon (I will discuss the time discrepancies later)

Pilate has released Jesus to be crucified.

The Roman soldiers lead Jesus to an area known as Golgatha, which means the Place of the Skull.  There, he will be crucified.  The soldiers encounter a man en route named Simon of Cyrene.  They force him to carry the cross of Jesus.

Note, the Gospel of John states that Jesus carried his own cross with no mention of Simon helping out.  John could just be providing a general summary of the event, whereas the Synoptic Gospels are focusing on it with extra detail.  Likewise, both Simon and Jesus could be carrying the cross.  

Jesus is offered wine mixed with myrrh, but he refuses.  The general consensus is that it was offered to him in contemplation of the execution in order to dull the pain of the nails being driven through his hands.  Thus, by refusing it, his senses would be clear and he would be conscious of all this happening to him.

The Romans then crucified Jesus.  Jesus is hung up and says "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.".  In such extreme conditions, Jesus expresses love, forgiveness, and hope for the very people destroying his body.

The Roman soldiers cast lots to see who would get Jesus' garment.

They installed a sign on the cross that read "Jesus of Nazareth, The King Of The Jews".  The chief priests objected to this sign and told Pilate that it should read "he claimed to be the king of the Jews".  Pilate declines to change the sign and in fact, takes ownership and responsibility saying "what I have written, I have written".  

Again, this shows what an ambivalent character Pilate is.  Perhaps this gesture was in mock homage to either Jesus or the Jewish leaders.  Perhaps he was reasserting Roman control over the situation when the Jews had forced his hand.   Perhaps he even was asserting an ambivalent expression of faith in Jesus - on one hand, he felt forced to do this, but on the other, knew that there was something very special about Jesus.

Jesus is crucified in between two criminals.  One mocks Jesus while the other rebukes the mocker.  The same criminal then asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into his kingdom.

Jesus turns to the man and says "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise".  Then is popularly understood to refer to salvation and heaven.  However, there is a debate whether it means that the man will immediately go to heaven or from the soul sleep theorist, that from his perspective, his next conscious thought is that he will be in heaven.

Jesus sees his mother and the "disciple whom he loved".  This probably referred to Lazarus, thus making him and Mother Mary eyewitnesses to the crucifixion.  Jesus instructs the disciple with an important duty - look after his mother.

Jesus is thirsty and states this.  He also states "why have you forsaken me", citing Psalm 22, which is a psalm of lamenting the distance between God and man.

 The Roman soldiers a put a vinegar-soaked on a hyssop stalk and lift it near Jesus.  Jesus drinks and declares, "it is finished".

Between about noon and mid-afternoon, darkness fell on the land.  Finally, Jesus states "Father into your hands I commit my spirit".  This is only recorded in Luke, whereas the other Gospels suggest that this last utterance was unintelligible.  

After saying this, Jesus dies.  

Back in the city, there were two major miracles that coincided with Jesus' death.  First, the curtain in the temple is torn in two from top to bottom.  

Second, a major earthquake happens, which breaks open nearby tombs.  In a similar fashion to Lazarus coming back to life, dead people of faith emerge from their tombs and make appearances throughout the city.  We know nothing of who they were, were they patriarchs or were they people who had recently died.  However, we know the effect of this on the Roman soldiers in charge of guarding Jesus.  They declare:  "surely, this was a man of God".

Later, a Roman soldier comes around to break the legs of the condemned criminals to hasten their deaths.  He comes to Jesus and seeing that he is dead, stabs him with a spear to ensure that he is actually dead.  John 19:36 highlights that this fulfills a requirement in that the bones of the lamb were not to be broken.  

John 19 also states that when the side of Jesus was pierced, out came blood and water.  John 19 is silent as to why water came out, but it emphasizes in verse 35 that the man who saw it says it happened.  Thus suggests the man really was surprised by what came out and that it was literal water.

Stabbing Jesus with a spear is only recorded in John 19.  This chapter is also silent as to another famous legend - the Holy Grail.  There is no mention of a cup that contained the blood of Jesus as it flowed out.

After the death, Nicodemus (from John 3) and Joseph of Arimethea take away the body of Jesus.   Pilate is surprised that Jesus has already died.  It was the Jewish Day of Preparation, i.e., Friday, and sunset was drawing near.  So, they did not have a lot time to prepare the body for burial.  They did wrap Jesus in linens and spices.  According to the NIV translation, the spices were about 34 kilograms of myrrh and aloes. 

They put the body of Jesus in a tomb that had never been used before.  They then roll a large stone in front of the tomb.

The next day, the Jewish leaders request that an extra guard and seal be placed in the tomb.  This is because they knew that Jesus predicted his own resurrection and suspect that the disciples will steal the body of Jesus and claim that he was resurrected.  Pilate agrees and orders a guard and seal on the tomb.

One final note on the day and time of these events - we cannot read these accounts with our modern understanding and standards of time.  Otherwise, it is not make any sense at all.

John 19:14 states that Pilate finished interrogating Jesus at noon whereas Mark 15:25 states that Jesus was put on the cross at around 9 AM. Clearly, there is an irreconcilable difference.  However, I would state that these accounts are based on at least two different eye witnesses at a time when they did not have clocks.  

So, one person looking at the sun's position in the sky would say it is 9 AM whereas another might say it was noon.  Likewise, the accounts only used intervals of 3 hour.  So, a discrepancy of three hours is understandable since they are based on differing subjective estimates of what time it is.  This is similar issue whether the Roman soldiers gave him a purple or scarlet robe in mock homage.

Also, some people believe the events happened on Wednesday because Jesus was to be in the tomb for three days and three nights.  The issue being whether days were inclusive, regardless o the time of the day (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) or whether it represented 72 hours in the modern concept.  However, John 19 makes it clear that it was a Preparation Day, which was the weekly Sabbath routine, i.e., Friday.  Luke 23:56 also states that the Preparation was for the weekly Sabbath.

Jesus before Pilate (crucifixion day, between dawn and noon) (Mark 15:1-20; Matthew 27:11-31; Luke 23:1-24; John 18:28-19:16)

Jesus was handed over to Pilate by the Jewish leaders.  Pilate is the regional administrator of the Roman province of Judea.  According to Wikipedia, he was appointed in 26 AD, which is roughly 4-7 years before the crucifixion Jesus.  Pilate was recalled to Rome in 37 AD after violently suppressing a rebellion of the Samaritan.

Interesting people who have played Pilate in modern cinema include Michael Palin (Monty Python's Life of Brian, 1979), David Bowie (The Last Temptation of Christ, 1988) and Gary Oldman (Jesus, 1999).

The Jewish leaders could not enter the palace because this would have rendered them unclean for the Passover.  So, Pilate went out to meet with them.

The Jewish leaders claimed that Jesus was inciting a revolt, that he was a king, and urging discontinuing paying taxes to Caesar.  They also say that they do not have the power to kill anyone.  This may be true, but it did not stop them from wanting to kill the adulterous woman.

Jesus remains silent during these accusations and this silence amazes Pilate.  Pilate then takes Jesus away for a private conversation.  

Meanwhile, Pilate's wife tells Pilate not to have anything to do with this innocent man.  She had a dream the night before about Jesus and she was really spooked.

Pilate interrogates Jesus.  Jesus says a few things that might have sounded a little strange and religious, but he is otherwise innocent.  Pilate sees through the charges of the Jewish leaders and think that their motivation is envy. 

Pilate finds out that Jesus is from Galilee, which is an area under the jurisdiction of Herod.  Herod just so happens to be in town, probably because of the Feast and the Passover.  Pilate in turn sends Jesus to Herod.

Herod is happy about this because he had wanted to meet Jesus for a while.  He had thought that Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist and hoped Jesus would perform a miracle.  Herod interrogates Jesus, but not privately.  Instead, he allows the chief priests to listen in.  

Jesus remains silent and this seems to disappoint Herod, who starts mocking Jesus.  He then sends Jesus back to Pilate.

Pilate has Jesus beaten and flogged.  The soldiers make a crown of thorns put them on Jesus.  They also put a purple cloak on Jesus in mock homage of being a king.

Note, the Gospel of Matthew says that the robe was scarlet, while the Gospels of Mark and John say it was purple.  The Gospel of Luke says it was "elegant".  So, was the robe purple or scarlet? Both purple and scarlet are similar hues and there are some hues in between them that might appear purple to some people whereas might call the same hue scarlet.  It might have even been purplish-scarlet.  

Pilate has a custom to release one prisoner.  He thinks this might be his escape.  Unfortunately, he makes the mistake of asking the crowd who they want released.  If it were up to Pilate, he would have released Jesus.  He should not have asked the crowd.  But since the practice was to appease the crowd, asking the crowd what they want has logic.

The crowd is stirred up by the priests.  They begin to shout for Barrabas. Barrabasis a murderer who participated in a recent revolt and is awaiting execution.  Clearly, there are two separate and sufficient reasons to execute Barrabas whereas Jesus is innocent.

The crowd grows more rowdy and excited and Pilate feels he has no choice but to appease the crowd, lest a riot ensue.  Presumably, Pilate thought that having Jesus flogged and beaten would be enough to appease the crowd, but it is not.

He washes his hands over a water basin to symbolize that is the crowds to decision to kill Jesus, not his.

Around noon, Pilate sends Jesus off to be crucified.  

All four Gospels agree that Pilate was reluctant to execute Jesus.  But nevertheless, he agrees and orders it.  Does his reluctance exonerate him?  Jesus himself says to Pilate that those who gave Jesus to Pilate were guilty of a greater son.  (John 19:11).  But nevertheless, he failed to stand up to the crowd or even pursue other options.  Perhaps he could have imprisoned Jesus or delayed deciding what to do with Jesus until after Passover and when the crowds would have left.

Further, Jesus had made so many predictions that he was about to die.  If this was the ordained time, then one wonders if Pilate even had the free will to let Jesus go.

around 6 AM, execution day (Mark 15:1; Matthew 27:1-10; Luke 22:67-71)

At dawn, the religious leaders decide to hand Jesus over to Pilate and Herod.  On one hand, this is a little surprising because if they believed that Jesus is guilty of blasphemy, they probably do not need Roman approval to kill him.  For instance, religious leaders were ready to stone the adulterous woman.

However, they know they would need the Roman army to put down any riot that might result if they killed Jesus.  So, they need Roman cooperation and participation.  That said, Pilate and Herod have the power to release Jesus.

Regardless, this action serves an important religious symbolic function.  Both the Pharisees and the Romans will have ultimate responsibility for the death of Jesus.  In a very literal way, the death of Jesus will be at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles.

Meanwhile, Judas Iscariot feels tremendous guilt.  He returns the 30 pieces of silver.  The priests know this is blood money and they cannot directly take it.  So, they use the money to buy the "potter's field" which they use to bury foreigners.  

Judas Iscariot then hangs himself.

Looking ahead, Saul (Apostle Paul) will have doubts about Jesus because the Mosaic Law states that people hung from a tree are cursed.  Under that principle, Judas Iscariot is "cursed" because he is hung from a tree.

Jesus is beaten before the high priest (Matthew 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-72; Luke 22:54-61; John 18:12-27)

It is still late at night and the crowd takes Jesus to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest.  Then they take him to the high priest, Caiaphas.  Caiaphas wants Jesus dead.

People falsely testify about things Jesus said and did, but no two testimonies agree.  Under Jewish law, they need the testimony of two witnesses.  It is a little strange that they cannot even agree on their false charges.

Finally, two people somewhat agree that Jesus said that he could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days.  Jesus did say something very similar to this, but it was in reference to his own body.  Coming of the testimony of people wanting to kill him, I wonder if they had in their mind the text of the non-canonical Wisdom of Solomon, in which Solomon used demons to build the temple.

The high priest then just plainly asks Jesus if he is the Messiah.  Jesus says yes and that they will see the Son of Man next to the throne of God.  The high priest considers this to be enough testimony and people around Jesus start beating him with their fists.

Meanwhile, Simon Peter and an unnamed disciple are nearby.  The unnamed disciple actually makes it into the interrogation area while Peter must wait outside.  There, he is question by a servant girl and a man who saw him at the Mount of Olive if he knows Jesus and three times, he denies it.

A rooster crows and Simon Peter and Jesus make eye contact.  Simon Peter is humiliated and goes away to cry.

Things are only going to get worse for Jesus.  

As for the unnamed disciple by Jesus, the only thing we know about him is that he was familiar with the high priest.

Jesus is arrested (Matthew 26:36-55; Mark 14:32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-11)

Jesus takes the disciples to the Mount of Olives and then Gethsemane.  Jesus leaves the other disciples alone and takes Simon Peter, John, and James further off.  He orders them to stand watch for the betrayer and pray.  

Meanwhile, Jesus prays alone.  Jesus is in anguish.  He prays that God the Fathere would relieve him of this duty if it were all possible.  But Jesus asks that not his will, but God's will be done.  

This scene is very well remade in the Passion of the Christ in which the devil appears to Jesus as a snake.  At the end of the prayer, Jesus strikes the head of the snake with his heel, in reference to Genesis.

Jesus returns to the disciples standing guard.  They have fallen asleep.  He wakes them up and prays on his own.  They fall asleep two more times before a large crowd of soldiers, temple officials, and servants of the high priest appear.  They are led by Judas Iscariot.

Judas had arranged that he would kiss the person who is Jesus.  He does this and calls Jesus "Rabbi".

Simon Peter draws a sword and fights back.  This Was probably one of the swords that the group procured at the Last Supper.  Simon Peter cuts off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest.  Presumably, Simon Peter attempted to kill the man.

Jesus tells Jim to stand down and this was all in fulfillment of prophecy.  They are not to do armed resistance, but it still remains why Jesus wanted the two swords.

Jesus ends up healing the Malchus with a single touch.  This is a very powerful part of the arrest of Jesus.  Jesus demonstrates love and kindness to those sent to arrest him.  How could they not know that this man was kind, gentle, and not not deserving execution.

Jesus' disciples flee.  The Gospel of Mark includes a detail not found in the others.  One of the disciples is caught.  He escapes by struggling out of his clothes and flees naked.  One theory is that this totally random and misplaced detail shows the identity of the person who wrote this Gospel.  In other words, this naked fleeing man is Mark, the disciple.

The Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-35; Mark 14:12-31; Luke 22:7-38; John 13)

The Passover feast draws near and Jesus sends his disciples to make preparations for the Passover.

At the Passover, Jesus washes the feet of all his disciples.  He uses this to demonstrate the importance of service and love.  Meanwhile, Peter tells Jesus to not wash his feet, but then Jesus says if he does not, then Peter has no part with Jesus.  Peter then states that Jesus can wash his whole body.  This interaction shows that to be part of Jesus, we must let Jesus serve us.  Otherwise, if Jesus does not serve us, we are not a part of him.

Interestingly, this account is recorded in John 13, but not the other Gospels.  In fact, in Luke 22:24, a dispute arises among the disciples as to which disciple is greatest.

Again, Jesus is essentially preparing to die and is passing on the mission to his disciples, but they are concerned about their own self-importance.

Also, in John 13, we see the emergence of the "disciple whom Jesus loved".  Knowing what we know from the rest of John, this could refer to Lazarus.  Lazarus was referred to as someone Jesus loved when Lazarus died.

If this is the case, then it also means that there were more than 13 people at the Last Supper.  There would have to been at least Jesus, core Twelve, and Lazarus.  It is popularly conceptualized that there were only 13 people at the Last Supper, for instance the painting Last Supper.

Jesus also implements a new law, which is actually an old law, but Jesus gives it a new spin. The new law is that they are to love another.  The new spin is that this is how people will know they are his disciples, if they love another.

This appears in John, but it might be the clue to understanding the parable of the sheep and the goats, which is in Matthew.  In the parable, the defining difference between he sheep and the goats was the way they treated one another.  Here, Jesus is saying that this is that people know that one follows Jesus, by their love for one another.  Like I mention before, it is this kindness that is the indicator of Jesus' presence in one's life and ultimately, salvation.

What is not addressed here is the converse - are nice people automatically followers of Jesus and hence, automatically saved?  Again, this would be a works-based faith.

In Mark, Matthew, and Luke, Jesus also implements what comes to be known as Communion.  He had talked about people eating his buoy and drinking his blood, and here, he gives an action that people can do without actually resorting to cannibalism.  Out of remembrance for Christ, his followers are to drink wine and eat bread.

Meanwhile, Jesus starts talking about how one of the Twelve will betray him.  This confuses the disciples, but eventually singles out Judas Iscariot, telling him that whatever he was planning on doing, they do quickly.

Jesus also warns Peter that he will disown Jesus three times before the rooster crows at dawn.  Obviously, this denial of Jesus is not the same as the intention betrayal that Judas Iscariot is currently undergoing.  

The Gospel of Luke includes an interesting post-dinner detail.  Jesus tells them to buy some swords.  They find two swords and this enough.  We do not know what exactly Jesus has in mind for the swords, but armed resistance is not one of them, otherwise they should get enough swords for all the disciples.

After the meal, they sing a hymn and go to the Mount of Olives.  This is where Jesus went every night of the week to escape the crowd.  Judas knows where to find Jesus.

Aftermath of a week of Jesus in the temple (Matthew 26: 1-5, 14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 21:37-22:6; John 12:37-50)

Jesus has taught every day in the temple and spends the night on the Mount of Olives.  The crowds love him, but do not all believe in him as the Messiah.  

Some people, even leaders, believe in him as the Messiah, but know that expressing the faith would get them kicked out of the synagogue.  

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Pharisees have had enough.  Jesus has given them thinly-veiled parables in which they are the bad guys.

The head priest is Caiaphas.  They want to secretly arrest Jesus and kill Jesus, but they know that the crowds would defend him.  In some ways, that is reminiscent of when Jesus fed the 5,000 and it resulted in him having an army who was ready to die for him.  The army disbanded soon after when Jesus spoke of cannibalism.

Judas Iscariot has been embezzling funds from the common money pot.  Satan gives him an idea to make even more money - he could sell Jesus to the Pharisees for 30 pieces of silver.  He discusses this idea with Caiaphas and his cronies and they agree to arrest Jesus when the crowds are not around him.

The greatest commandments in action (Mark 12:28-40; Matthew 22:34-46; Luke 20:41-21:4)

One of the Pharisees asks Jesus what is the greatest of the commandments.  In Matthew, it seems like another question to test Jesus.   In Mark, the Pharisee seems genuinely curious.

Jesus responds with a modified Golden Rule.  Jesus says to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

In Mark, the Pharisee approves and says that these are more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.  To this, Jesus approves and states that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.

On other occasions, Jesus has indicated that the Sabbath was a sacrifice.  This shoes that these two commandments are more important than the Sabbath.

Likewise, it seems that this man is close to faith.

The Pharisees are otherwise intimidated by Jesus and stop asking him questions.  Jesus then asks the rhetorical question, how can the teachers of the law say he is the Son of David while David called him Lord?  The question remained unanswered other than the crowd listened to Jesus with delight.

Jesus then warns that the leaders of the law boast themselves, but mistreat widows.  In particular they devour widows houses, but make long prayers This seems to be a reference of the prior statement about the second of he greatest commandments.  I other words, the leaders of he law do not love their neighbors as themselves, which is more important than all the sacrifices.

Finally, Jesus watches the crowd put money in the offerings.  The rich put in a lot of money, but w widow put in two small copper coins.  Jesus notes that she had put in more than the others, not because of the absolute value of the coins, but that it was all this woman had.

Note, this is not an expectation that God wants us to give all our money to the church.  This amount was far in excess anything required in the law. Rather, God wants all our trust.  The woman is putting all her trust in God.  Likewise, the sacrifice we make will be viewed in proportion to what we have been given.

Til death do us part (Mark 12:18-27; Matthew 22:23-33; Luke 20:27-40)

The Sadducees approach Jesus with a question about the afterlife.  They do not believe in the resurrection.  So, the question may have been a trap or a genuine curiosity.  At face value, the question is appropriate.

They ask whether the marriage commitment extend to the afterlife.  They use an example of a man with six brothers each marrying the same woman after the death of each man.  The example is a little preposterous, which may indicate satire in the question.  However, the preposterous nature of the question does not offend me because law school uses them to illustrate precise principles.

Jesus says that in the resurrection, the men and women will not marry, but be the like angels.  Angels do not marry, so the humans in the resurrection will not.

Jesus goes one step further and addresses their skepticism of the resurrection.  He points out that God called himself the God of living while talking with Moses.  in particular, God said that he was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  So, in the context, Jesus is saying that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still alive, at least in some fashion.

The question remains is what exactly did Jesus mean that essentially these Patriarchs are still alive?  Note, this question is with regard to the "resurrection", which itself is a little hard to pin down.  Does mean that the souls Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive in the same manner as the way Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus?

It is also interesting that Abraham also showed up in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.  Perhaps Jesus was saying that the parable should be read more literally.

These questions remain.

Whether or not their motives were pure, the question asked by the Sadducees was a fair one and if I had been there, I would have asked Jesus what he was talking.

Taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26)

Jesus gave several thinly-veiled parables about the Pharisees rejecting God.  So, in turn, the Pharisees sent spies to Jesus.  These include some Pharisee disciples as well as Herodians.

They ask Jesus whether it is acceptable to pay taxes to Caesar.

On one hand, it is a fair question.  It asks what are the civic duties for people of faith?  Can people of faith live under a secular law and an ecclesiastical one?

However, the question was not motivated by curiosity, but it contextually was a trap.  At this time, Jerusalem lay under Roman occupation.  If Jesus said it was wrong to pay taxes to Rome, then this would anger the Romans and would be viewed as inciting rebellion.  On the other, if Jesus said it was OK to give taxes to Rome, then this would be viewed as saying that Roman authority supersedes their religious one.  In other words, that God (Yahweh) was less important than Rome.  Likewise, the Romans worshipped their emperors so to give taxes to Rome might be viewed as saying God (Yahweh) is less important than the Roman gods.

The question also seems to assume that there is a conflict between paying taxes to Rome as well as authority under God.

Will Jesus blaspheme God or incite rebellion against Rome?  That is the crux of the question.

Jesus knows that it is a trap.  He again lets them answer first, which he applies.  This practice he used in the parables.

Jesus asks to see a denarius coin, which is used to pay the tax.  He asks whose face is on it.  The answer was Caesar's.  Jesus then status that give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what is God's.

By asking for the denarius coin first, Jesus skirts the issue.  No one can argue that the coin belongs to the Roman authority.

This answer catches them off guard and the spies are amazed.

The context was a trap, but the greater principle is that people of faith live under both the law of God and the law of the secular authorities, at least where there is no conflict.  In this context, paying taxes does not present a conflict between religious and secular duties.

So, practically speaking, what does this mean?

(1) Pay taxes.
The government issued the money and requires taxes with the money it issued.  The government owns the tax money and it would be stealing to withhold it.

(2) Tithe to God.
Different churches have different tithing requirements, but usually involving ten percent.  Some churches might only require official members or leaders to tithe the full ten percent.  Some churches go even further and say do not tithe to the church if one has credit card debt.

Regardless, it is an ecclesiastical duty within the confines of the church and must be done separate and apart from the paying of taxes to the secular authorities.


(3) submit to the secular authorities
At least in the context of paying taxes.

The parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)

Jesus speaks another parable to the Pharisees.

A man builds a vineyard and rents it to tenants.  The owner sends servants to the tenants to collect some harvest as rent.  The tenants beat the owner's servants.  Eventually, the owner sends his own son, whom the tenants kill.

Jesus ask, what will the owner do with the tenants?

Again, the Pharisees agree with the principle of the parable - the owner will deal with the tenants harshly.

Meanwhile, the other people in the temple understand what Jesus is talking about they say "may this never be".  At this time, Jesus explains the parable and the Pharisees get mad because they know Jesus was talking about them.

Although the agreed with the principle of the parable, they still do not want to change.  In fact, they plan to fulfill the parable by killing the owner's son.

It is also interesting that many of Jesus parables involve vineyards.  This continues the theme of wine in Jesus' ministry - the first miracle and eventually communion wine.

Jesus is questioned (Mark 11:27-33; Matthew 21:23-28; Luke 20:1-8)

The Pharisees ask Jesus by what authority he teaches.  He turns the question around and asks them from where John the Baptist received his authority.  The Pharisees understand that if they say "from heaven", then they should have listened to John the Baptist and embraced Christ.  Likewise, if they said "from men", this would anger the crowd.  So, they say they did not know and Jesus responds that he will not tell them from where he gets his authority.

Most likely, the Pharisees were looking for a way to trap Jesus with the question.  They knew that Jesus preaches he gets his authority from heaven.

Jesus clears the temple (Mark 11:12-25; Matthew 21:12-22; Luke 19:45-48)

Jesus heads back to the temple.  En route, he sees a fig tree and goes up to it because he is hungry.  The tree is devoid of figs because it is not the season for figs.  Despite this, Jesus curses the fig tree, saying that no one should eat from it.

Jesus goes up to the temple and clears the temple of the money changers.  The account is similar to the one in John, which may have been much earlier during Jesus' ministry.  This time around  Jesus calls them "thieves".

This is famous anecdote, but it raises the question why did Jesus not do this the day before?  This made Jesus very angry so did Jesus not do it the day before as well?  Jesus did go to the temple, but it stated that by the time he arrived, it was already late, so perhaps the money changers had already left.

The rulers are angered by Jesus' action, however the crowd is amazed by Jesus' teaching.

Jesus returns to the fig tree and it is now withered and dead.  I think the fig tree incident was symbolic about the temple mount overall.  Jesus had referred to a fig tree in one of his parables which seemed to symbolize religious fruit.  Here, the fig tree straddles a discussion of going to the temple, which is devoid of good fruit.

Jesus also uses the occasion to discuss using prayer and faith to throw "this mountain" into the sea.  This likely refers to the temple mount.  Again, Jesus is ready to replace the temple with his own sacrifice.

Hosanna in the highest! (Mark 11:1-11; Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-36)

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is another account that is covered in all four Gospels.  This event has become the basis of Palm Sunday.

Jesus sends two disciples to go ahead and find a colt that no one has ever ridden.  Perhaps the colt is unusually stubborn and no one has been able to ride it.  The disciples untie it and bring it back to Jesus, but not before getting the owners' permission.

Jesus rides the donkey through the streets while the crowds lay down their cloaks and palm branches.  The Pharisees say tell Jesus to rebuke the crowd, but Jesus says that if he did that, the stones will cry out.

Jesus goes to the temple, but it is late, so he goes back to Bethany.  That sounds a little anticlimactic.

He also weeps fondly over Jerusalem and declares that its oncoming destruction will be because they rejected the Messiah.  Again, this is a prediction of the destruction by the Romans during the Jewish revolt.  

Here is a time to discuss Ezekiel 44:1-3, which discusses the eastern gate being closed and only the Prince of Peace can ride through it.  Many believe that Jesus would have entered the Temple Mount through the eastern gate.  The eastern gate was destroyed by the Romans, rebuilt, and then closed in the 1600s by the Muslims.  One theory is that the Muslims closed the eastern gate specifically to prevent the Jewish Messiah.

Some Christians think that the eastern gate will be reopened when Jesus returns so he can go through it again.

I think the prophecy of Ezekiel 44 has already come and past.  The Messiah did go through the eastern gate.  As for Ezekiel, much of his visions spanned both the literal world and the spiritual world.  I think this eastern gate reference was a blend of both.  Further, Ezekiel 44:1 states the gate was already closed.  Hence, it was to remain closed until the king should come, which happened.  Putting Ezekiel's vision with Christ, it emphasizes the unique nature of Christ as the only king.

I think it is misguided to obsess whether the eastern gate is closed or not because the original gate that stood when Ezekiel spoke and during the time of Christ is long gone.  Therefore, the eastern gate that currently exists in Jerusalem cannot be the gate that Ezekiel would have been referring to.  Finally, it cannot be taken too literally because many people would have passed through the literal gate in between Ezekiel's writing it was closed and before it was physically closed.

Back to the story, some Greeks attending Passover try to meet with Jesus.  They speak with Phillip, who speaks with Andrew, and together they speak with Jesus.  This prompts Jesus to speak about his future death.  A voice from heaven speaks; some of the crowd hear thunder while others hear what they think are angelic voices.  

Despite all this, the crowd questions Jesus because they believed the Messiah was to reign forever.  

At least they are finally figuring out that Jesus will die, and will die soon.  This seems to be the limit of their understanding.  We cannot blame them too much for this as the text states that even the core Twelve did not fully understand everything until afterwards.  In this story, they did not understand that they were acting in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 when they brought the colt to Jesus.

A further note on Zechariah 9:9, it refers to salvation, which is what Jesus was brought during Passion week.