What did Jesus mean by saying he would not eat and drink the Passover meal until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God? What is this new covenant in his blood all about?
The Kingdom of God was first announced by John the Baptist. “1 In due course John the Baptist appeared; he proclaimed this message in the desert of Judaea, 2 'Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand,'” Matthew 3:1-2 (NJB). The Kingdom of God arrived when JESUS began His ministry. “14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel,'” Mark 1:14-15 (NKJV).
The Kingdom of God is also a future event. “...I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God,” Luke 22:16; “18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes,” Luke 22:18 (NKJV).
How does the Kingdom of God come, what does it have to do with the Passover meal and the blood of this new covenant? The Passover Lamb in the OT (Exodus 12:21-23) caused the angel of death to pass by those who had its blood on their doorposts. JESUS is, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 (NKJV). His blood brings forgiveness, “28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins,” Matthew 26:28 NIV.
JESUS' return means that the Kingdom of God will be fulfilled. That Great Commission to, “...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ” Matthew 28:19 (NIV) results in Revelation 5:9-10.. “9 They sang a new hymn: You are worthy to take the scroll and to break its seals, because you were sacrificed, and with your blood you bought people for God of every race, language, people and nation 10 and made them a line of kings and priests for God, to rule the world,” Rev. 5:9-10 (NJB). The 'second death' (Revelation 2:11), passes us by because of JESUS' shed blood on the cross. “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 6:23 (NIV). We have to figuratively apply the blood to the doorposts of our heart by repenting and believing the saving work of JESUS CHRIST, The Lamb of God. “7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed,” 1 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV).
Join us next week as we dig into the OT & NT to explore the question, 'So why blood and sacrifice?'
*Online Bible tools: biblegateway.com, catholic.org/bible/ & bible.com*
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Talk Tuesday - The Jesus Series: Jesus The Lamb of God
Last week we laid the foundation for the Redemption Narrative by looking at The Fall of Mankind. Sin brought death, corruption and separation from God, but that was not the end. It was the beginning of God's great love story written just for us. So, why did JESUS come? We will start our series by exploring JESUS, The Lamb of God.
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we find John the Baptist proclaiming, "Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," John 1:29 (NJB). Why does he use that particular title to describe Jesus? The language and concepts of the New Testament (NT) are often grounded in the Old Testament (OT).
In the Book of Exodus (OT), the tenth plague where the angel of death takes the lives of every firstborn throughout Egypt, is what finally causes Pharaoh King of Egypt to let the enslaved Israelites go. "21 Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, 'Go and choose a lamb or kid for your families, and kill the Passover victim. 22 Then take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood from the basin, and with the blood from the basin touch the lintel and both door posts; then let none of you venture out of the house till morning. 23 Then, when Yahweh goes through Egypt to strike it, and sees the blood on the lintel and on both doorposts, he will pass over the door and not allow the Destroyer to enter your homes and strike,'" Exodus 12:21-23 (NJB).
In the Gospel of Luke (NT), Jesus says, “'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, 'Take this and divide it among yourselves;18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you,'" Luke 22:15-20 (NKJV).
What did Jesus mean by saying he would not eat and drink the Passover meal until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God? What is this new covenant in his blood all about? Join us next week as we continue the JESUS series!
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we find John the Baptist proclaiming, "Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," John 1:29 (NJB). Why does he use that particular title to describe Jesus? The language and concepts of the New Testament (NT) are often grounded in the Old Testament (OT).
In the Book of Exodus (OT), the tenth plague where the angel of death takes the lives of every firstborn throughout Egypt, is what finally causes Pharaoh King of Egypt to let the enslaved Israelites go. "21 Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, 'Go and choose a lamb or kid for your families, and kill the Passover victim. 22 Then take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood from the basin, and with the blood from the basin touch the lintel and both door posts; then let none of you venture out of the house till morning. 23 Then, when Yahweh goes through Egypt to strike it, and sees the blood on the lintel and on both doorposts, he will pass over the door and not allow the Destroyer to enter your homes and strike,'" Exodus 12:21-23 (NJB).
In the Gospel of Luke (NT), Jesus says, “'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, 'Take this and divide it among yourselves;18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you,'" Luke 22:15-20 (NKJV).
What did Jesus mean by saying he would not eat and drink the Passover meal until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God? What is this new covenant in his blood all about? Join us next week as we continue the JESUS series!
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Talk Tuesday-The JESUS Series: The Beginning
The story of Redemption begins with the Fall of Mankind. However, it is the Creation Narrative that provides the backdrop for the unfolding story. What is beautiful about this is that GOD, the Creator of the Universe, desires a relationship with us! We are created in His image and likeness. It is here, in the beginning, that we meet our Triune GOD-The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” Genesis 1:1-2 (New King James Version, NKJV).
“26 Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 (New International Version, NIV).
“1 In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him,” Gospel of John chapter 1, verses 1 to 3 (New Jerusalem Bible; NJB).
The Fall takes place in the Garden of Eden. “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die,'” Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV). The Serpent deceives Eve, “4 'You will not certainly die,' the serpent said to the woman. 5 'For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil,'” Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV). The serpent is described in Revelation 12:9 (NJB) as, “The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray...” Adam and Eve ate. Death, sorrow, heartache, pain and separation from GOD came as a result of deception and SIN. GOD said to the Serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,” Genesis 3:15 (NIV).
So why did JESUS come? Join us next week as we continue to explore both the Old and New Testaments to discover the One who John the Baptist describes as, “..the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,” John 1:29 (NJB).
*Online Bible tools: biblegateway.com, catholic.org/bible/ & bible.com*
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” Genesis 1:1-2 (New King James Version, NKJV).
“26 Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27 (New International Version, NIV).
“1 In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him,” Gospel of John chapter 1, verses 1 to 3 (New Jerusalem Bible; NJB).
The Fall takes place in the Garden of Eden. “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die,'” Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV). The Serpent deceives Eve, “4 'You will not certainly die,' the serpent said to the woman. 5 'For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil,'” Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV). The serpent is described in Revelation 12:9 (NJB) as, “The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray...” Adam and Eve ate. Death, sorrow, heartache, pain and separation from GOD came as a result of deception and SIN. GOD said to the Serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,” Genesis 3:15 (NIV).
So why did JESUS come? Join us next week as we continue to explore both the Old and New Testaments to discover the One who John the Baptist describes as, “..the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world,” John 1:29 (NJB).
*Online Bible tools: biblegateway.com, catholic.org/bible/ & bible.com*
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Talk Tuesday - Happy New Year 2016!
Hello and Happy New Year!!!!
This year at BGO we wanted to focus on knowing JESUS through 2016. Our Talk Tuesdays will focus on exploring the scripture, connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament, and hopefully gaining a deeper knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Every Friday there will be a scripture post featuring JESUS' WORDS. If you are a Facebook User, you can 'like' us on https://www.facebook.com/BibleGroupOnline/ for daily devotions.
This year at BGO we wanted to focus on knowing JESUS through 2016. Our Talk Tuesdays will focus on exploring the scripture, connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament, and hopefully gaining a deeper knowledge of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Every Friday there will be a scripture post featuring JESUS' WORDS. If you are a Facebook User, you can 'like' us on https://www.facebook.com/BibleGroupOnline/ for daily devotions.
We hope you will join us on this
journey. We will study from the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB), the New
International Version (NIV) and the New King James Version (NKJV). We
may sometimes cite external academic theological sources, but our
main point of reference will be the Word of God. Below we have listed
online tools that will enable you to access the Bible either on your
mobile device, laptop or computer, should you need to.
We look forward to hearing from and
leave you with the following scripture:
John 3:16-17 (NJB)
“16 For this is
how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life. 17 For God sent his Son into the world not to
judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.”
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