The  Messiah’s  Secret –  The Woman with the Alabaster Flask

Readings: Galatians  2: 15-21.  Luke 7: 36, 8: 3. 

Reading the Gospel in parts with the reading being mimed, acted out at the same time.  

We recalled that Jesus had been invited to join Simon and his friends for a meal at his house. Jesus was reclining at the table when a lady, described as a woman of the city a sinner, a prostitute, carrying a flask of ointment came in and interrupted their meal.        

She had heard that Jesus was at Simon’s house having a meal there, so she planned her visit. it would appear to be unannounced as Luke used the word, “And behold, a woman of the city . . . 

From the reading we read that this lady was under a strong conviction of her need to get right with God. Prior to this, some hours before, she may have listened to the message from Jesus or from a disciple, “Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” And this led her to come to Jesus in faith and repentance, as her contrition, her contrite, broken heart for her sin, would indicate. 

She had brought with her an alabaster flask of ointment  and stood behind Jesus weeping, as he sat reclined at the table, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 

Some Christian theologians suggest that she would have used similar perfumes in her trade as a woman of the city. This then was an anointing of the feet that carried a symbol of her trade, prostitution, and bore it on the cross.

Jesus forgave her sin.

Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but to redeem the world from sin so that whosoever believe in him are set from sin, so It is through faith in Jesus.

Faith – is not by sight but by the things hoped for, but not yet realised . 

Faith is like posting a letter we put the address and the stamp on the envelope and post it, believing that it will reach its destination and also we may expect a reply in due course.

The woman’s faith brought her to Jesus, the only person who was able to justify, declared not guilty by God, to vindicate, and absolve her sin.                                        

She showed her love for God and her love fulfilled the law.  

Also in the reading these aspects of love – The woman showing her love, in wanting to please God by coming to Jesus in repentance, saying sorry and in her gratitude and respect anointing his feet. 

God’s love - Jesus forgave her without hesitation in his love for her.  

When Simon watched the woman, his face must have shown his disgust.  
Simon thought that he was justified by the Jewish law and he was indignant towards Jesus and the woman. He thought that Jesus should not have allowed this woman to touch him.                                                                                                                    

Jesus told the parable to prove that Simon was not justified, declared not guilty before God by the law, Simon was still a sinner in God’s eyes. 

“A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed him 500 denarii, and the other 5o. When they could not pay he forgave them both. Now which one will love him the more?” Simon answered, “The one I suppose, to whom he forgave the more.” Jesus said, “You have judged rightly.”

Through the woman’s actions, Jesus pointed out to Simon his sin. 
He had failed to show Jesus the customary hospitality shown to a special guest. Jesus said to Simon, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. You gave me no kiss. You did not anoint my feet with oil. Therefore; he, who is forgiven little, loves little.”  

Simon’s sin coming from love of self: showed no remorse, no gratitude or respect for Jesus.  
The parable almost gives us a graf. 500 Danarii the greater, whereas, Simon’s 50 Danarii a big dip. The great outpouring of love and a trickle of love. 

Both had sinned and both were forgiven, both were debtors to God. 

We have another example in John’s Gospel were those present had varying degrees of sin: the woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8: 3- 11    

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus who was accused of committing adultery, which was punishable by stoning her to death. They wanted Jesus to make a judgement over her. Jesus' response he brought the scribes and Pharisees and all those present to account for their sin.  “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” When they heard these words, they went away, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. He forgave her sin and told her to sin no more.
Jesus had the authority to forgive the lady her sins.
Those sat at the table began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, forgave both their debts as both were debtors to God.

The Messiah’s Secret page 57 
Jesus had the authority to forgive sins without an offering been made at the temple or a ritual of washing. Jesus was God revealed in the flesh. Jesus proved that he had the authority to forgive sins by his healing ministry. The Jews believed that sin resulted in sickness and only God could forgive sin and as a result heal the person. Psalm 41: 4. Jesus therefore proved his authority by forgiveness of sin and healing the person. Mark 2: 1-12.  
Not every sickness is a result of sin John 9: 2, 3, 14.  

Peter Meadows & Joseph Steinberg in their book "Beyond Belief" page 50 They confirm this view concerning Jesus' authority to forgive sins in connection with his healing ministry. "To Jewish people, only God could forgive sins. So when Jesus told someone their sins were forgiven it was no different from saying 'I'm God'. And when he healed people of their disease or disfigurement he was putting out the same message. Jewish people believed physical suffering was caused by the person's sin. For a person to be healed meant that their sin had been dealt with - only God could do that."  

Jesus showed no partiality between the women, Simon the Pharisee and the scribes and other people present. By the same standards in the Parable they were all debtors to God, sin against God.  

It is through faith in Jesus we are freed from our debt, our sin against God. We can not justify ourselves.  
The law was a stumbling block to the Jews because they thought it would save them.
For us Gentiles because the Hebrew Scriptures prove through the prophesies that God had planned to send a Saviour we read their scriptures, and through those scriptures we become aware of sin against God, and were God put in place the law as a guide to what sin is.  But Christians are not under Jewish law.                                                                                                                                      

New Testament

Jesus taught that through faith in him who through his life laid down. We are justified by his blood that was the final sacrifice for sin and the forgiveness of sin.

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.” Hebrews 9: 14  

At the last supper Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 28  

The words ‘for many’ include the Gentiles, therefore, Jesus is the only one who is able to justify, and declare us not guilty and absolve us from our sin against God.  

When we like the woman recognise our need to get right with God, we will be convicted to seek God out.  

Some times Jesus meets a person as they cry out in desperation or it may be through hearing about Jesus from someone or even through reading the message on a board outside a church.   

For example: 

We feel like this kettle, empty, discontented with life.  When we accept  Jesus as our Saviour it is like filling the kettle with water, filling our empty space within. When we put the plug attached to the kettle into the socket on the wall, we switch it on and the current flows into the kettle and boils the water.  

Likewise, our faith connects us with Jesus, the current between us and God is his Spirit, and he shows his love and power to forgive us, absolving us from all our sin. As a result we have an amazing freedom and peace within, that the world cannot give. 

We are crucified with Christ, this is realised when we know that our sins against God have been forgiven and we feel how God feels about sin. When we do fall into sin, we are like the sheep that falls into the ditch and is not comfortable there.  
“But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1: 7.

The Devil attacks the holy love of God. 
He tries to pollute the love of God with the universal love that is tainted by sin due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But we like the woman in our reading we have turned away from sin, and we are justified, declared not guilty by the blood of Jesus that testifies to our new nature in Christ, God’s nature.

God shows no partiality between races and cultures across the world and he blesses only the truth about his Word Jesus. 
Paul in his letter to the Galatians. “And from those who were reputed to be something (what they are makes no difference to me: God shows no partiality.” Galatians 2: 6.  “Peter said, “Truly, I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right and acceptable to him.” Acts 10: 34                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The Messiah’s Secret – The Surging Crowds

Evening Lectionary Mark 3: 7-19  Genesis 4: 1-16.

The celebrities of today have huge following both on line and at gigs. They also have people around them who look after their well being, especially when the teenagers want more than a glimpse of their celebrity. They would like an autograph or something that belongs to them or just to touch them.

Jesus began his ministry in Galilee and we read that he had a tremendous healing ministry. As a result thousands of people followed him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Galilee, Tyre and Sidon and from beyond the Jordan. 

There were so many people Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the Sea of Galilee. Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that he would be kept safe from the swell of the crowd surging forward in order to touch him.  

“For he healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him.” Mark 3: 10. Luke 6: 17-19.  

Jesus instructed his recently chosen disciples to assist him by having a boat ready for him because of the crowd, in case they should crush him. Part of the disciples ministry was to protect Jesus from the enthusiastic crowd. 

Jesus used the boats that sailed on the Galilee to transport him from place to place.  

In Mark Chapter five Jesus went from there (Gerasenes) by boat and crossed over to the other side of the sea and as soon as he landed a great crown gathered around him. Jairus a ruler of the synagogue came to him and asked him if he would go with him and lay his hands on his dying daughter so that she would be made well and live.

                                                                                        

From among the crowds that were following Jesus on the way to Jairus' house, was a woman who had heard the reports about Jesus, so she came up behind him and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” We read that she was healed immediately. Jesus perceived that someone had touched him as he felt the power leave his body. He stopped and turning to the crowd he asked who had touched him. His disciples were surprised that he asked this question when there were so many people pressing up against him. The woman acknowledged that it was she who had touched him. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:21-34.   

The crowds wanted to touch Jesus. 

Whether it was as a result of this woman’s healing that the crowds wanted to touch Jesus or whether other people had been healed through touching his garments and she had heard about it and responded in faith seizing the opportunity.  

News Spread abroad  

The disciples were surprised when Jesus asked, “Who touched me.’ If a person had been healed on a previous occasion they perhaps would have reacted differently. But we read it did become a frequent occurrence, as we follow Jesus and his disciples on their journey from Bethsaida across the Sea of Galilee to Gennesaret. The news quickly spread that Jesus had arrived in their vicinity. When the people there heard he was about to come to a town or a city or country they brought out their sick on pallets and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment and as many touched it were made well. Mark 6: 53-56.   

On the fringe of his garment were prayer tassels, small knotting along the edge. Numbers 15: 37-41. Matthew 23: 5.                                             

From the security of the boat Jesus preached and healed many people.  
There were so many people wanting to be healed that the boat was an ideal platform to preach from, Jesus must have had a strong clear voice to be heard above the water lapping on the shore and the movement of children, The disciples were more than likely helping to control the flow of those who came forward for healing.

In Mark Chapter four Jesus preached from the boat the parable of ‘The Sower’. We see a connection with this parable with our reading in Genesis. Cain the eldest son of Adam and Eve was a tiller (worked on the land/gardener) of the ground, he was following in his father Adam’s footsteps.  

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it Genesis 2: 5, 15. 3: 23.   

Cain’s offering to God was the produce from the ground that had been cursed; as a result God was not pleased with his offering.  

Why was Cain’s offering of fruit not pleasing to God? 

Adam working in the garden was instructed by God not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 
Moses illustrated through this Adam's innocence had been compromised. To be obedient to God was good, and both Adam and Eve only had that knowledge. Disobedience - listening to the Devil took them into a place of understanding evil, as the Devil opposed God. (cast out of heaven)
Now they were separated from God and fell under the tempters power. Afterwards they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and the ground was cursed by God.  

Adam still worked on the land, only now his job was much harder as he toiled and sweated removing the thorns and the thistles that grew among the crops. Unless they were weeded out they would choke the crops.  

Parable of the ‘Sower.’ “Other seed fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain.”  (Under the curse)

Jesus interpreted the parable: the Sower sows the words of the kingdom of God. “The ones sown among the thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4: 7, 18. 

Cain’s younger brother Abel was a keeper of sheep; he gave the produce of his labour the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions which pleased God.  

Abel's innocent blood.
God used animal skins and made them into garments for Adam and Eve. Abel’s offering was prophetic in its association with the shedding of the blood of a lamb in order to cover the hereditary sins of Adam and Eve. 
The Passover lambs blood brought freedom for God’s people Israel from Egyptian slavery. Jesus the Son of God, the Lamb of God his blood shed brought freedom from the slavery of sin and death for all mankind. 
Judas Escariot when he took back the 30 pieces of silver and threw them down onto the temple floor he said that he had betrayed innocent blood, in reference to the innocent blood of Abel. (Also the Messiah)
Before Jesus made his way to Calvary, the Roman soldiers placed upon his head a platted, entangled, crown of thorns. Through Jesus' death on the cross he redeemed us from the curses that God placed upon Adam and Eve and their descendants and he redeemed the land. 

We can see why Cain’s offering was not pleasing to God, the produce was from the land that was cursed. His response we read that he was downcast and angry as a result he killed his younger brother Abel. God warned Cain that sin was couching at the door: its desire is for you, but you must master it.” He did not master the thoughts that led to his actions when he killed his brother. 

Cain had been given a verbal warning by God, the words were snatched away by Satan as Jesus described in the parable of the Sower. The seeds, the words of the kingdom sown along the path the birds came and ate them. These were those who heard the word, then Satan came and snatched the words away from them. Mark 4: 15. 

God questioned Cain about his brother Abel’s death, but he denied it. But we read that God could hear his brother’s blood cry out to him from the land. 
Jesus mentioned this when he was dining at a Pharisees home the Pharisee was astonished when Jesus did not wash before dinner, he spoke of their hypocrisy, “The blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah.” Luke 11: 50, 51. 2 Chronicles 24: 20, 21. 

The Israelites in their history turned against their prophets because the words of the prophets shed God’s light on their thoughts, words and deeds. 

In the previous verses in Chapter three the Pharisees and Herodians were displeased when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath Day, they plotted against Jesus wanting to see his demise.

Jesus continued to heal people even though the thoughts and spirit of the Pharisees and Herodians were against him and his disciples.   

I do not think that the crowd that surrounded Jesus were influenced by the Pharisees and Herodians. The crowd had no intention to cause Jesus any hurt. Through pressure of numbers and desperation to find a cure for their ailments they were understandably pushing forward to get their healing.            

The parable of the Sower concludes with a blessing to those who hear and receive the seeds the words of the kingdom will produce fruit  in abundance that is pleasing to God.

As Jesus and his disciples travelled from place to place by boat Jesus managed the crowds with the help of his disciples.  

Learning to sail with the Holy Spirit.

(The passages begin with words in bold that have been taken from ‘Learning to Sail’ Web Site)  
To learn to sail is to learn about what the terminology means and to put theory into practice and so it it for us to put what we believe and taught into practice.

It is a good idea to practice procedures on a calm day. Knowing how to right your boat is a necessary skill.

My brother and his colleague before they started the voyage crossing the Atlantic in his boat ‘Henry Wood’ they had to go through this safety procedure, ' rescuing a man overboard to save him from drowning. (he had to notify the relevant authorities beforehand.)          
Getting right with God, through faith in Jesus he will save us, rescuing us from certain eternal death, as a result entering into the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness. 

                                                                       

Adjust for the wind. Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind.  

Discerning the movement of the wind. A desirable change has taken place in our lives and we listen for the sound of the wind God’s Holy Spirit. When we first feel the movement of the Holy Spirit we are filled with joy and we are gently moved on: like sailing on a warm comfortable breeze and the new found calm of a fulfilled life in knowledge and in fellowship with God our Father.  

You will start tilting away from the wind. A heel of more than 20 degrees usually indicates that you are being overpowered. Releasing the mainsheet momentarily lessons the amount of heel, and you will return to a more comfortable sailing angle of 10 to 15 degrees of heel.    

A new Christian will find that Satan will try to regain his hold over us, but to no avail as we are upheld by the prayers of other Christians.     

Sail into the wind to a destination. Sail a heading that is as close to the wind as you can.  

Our destination is God’s eternal kingdom. As we are on a journey with many twists and turns along the way, it's necessary to keep close to Jesus, our eyes focused on him and on his word and listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance to do God's will. 

The wind may change direction; If anything changes, you have to adjust the sails in response.  

Constant vigilance on keeping our lives on track is not easy, it places demands on us to spend time in prayer and study.”As therefore your received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2: 6, 7.    

Close reach. Your sails are acting like the airfoil of an airplane: the wind is pulling the boat instead of pushing it.   

We can be moving in the wrong direction and therefore, we struggle trying to work out what the Lord has called us to do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Proverbs 3: 5. Do not lean on your own understanding. (King James Bible) 

Watch your wind indicators (telltales). If you see it change so that the wind is coming from a direction that is more behind you, you will be wasting energy. Let out the sail till it luffs, and tighten again till it stops. You will be doing this constantly; watching the sails, the telltales, and trimming sails if for no other reason than to see where you're at.  

The Lord calls his people to ‘Watch and Pray’ pray for discernment and wisdom. These gifts the Lord will give to us in abundance. James 1: 5. 

When running with the wind, you can sometimes you can pull the jib over to the other side of the boat where it will fill. This is called wing-on-wing, and you have to maintain a steady hand on the tiller to keep this sail configuration. Be sure to be vigilant of obstacles and other vessels, as having both sails in front of you blocks a significant portion of your view. 

James the Lord's brother refers to the tiller of the boat in connection with teachers of the word of God. "Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs." James 3: 4. The responsibility of the teacher to teach the truth, knowing that the truth sets a person free from the world's strong winds of unbelief in Jesus. 

Christ's body. This reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture that Jesus is the head of his world-wide Church.

Be careful—when the boat is running, the sails will be way off to the side, and because the wind is basically behind you the boom can change sides suddenly, coming across the cockpit with quite a bit of force. When this happens the boom can hit you with enough force to knock you unconscious and out of the boat (overboard). 

Many a time I seem to be stopped from entering into a problem of one kind or another. The Holy Spirit will bring scripture to mind that helps to make what turns out to have been the right decision.  I also believe in the ministry of angels.

Sail safely. Remember that your anchor and its cable are important pieces of safety gear and can be used to stop your boat from going aground or can even be used to get the vessel floating again should grounding occur.

St Paul on his way to Rome to stand trial, he traveled by boat. A storm blew up and four anchors were used to try and stop the boat going aground.
Very often when we pray, we receive the assurance of our prayer being answered, and on some occasions in the way that we have been led to pray. As a result overcoming the situation and we sail through the storms of life.  

When the wind is at your back and side, this is the most efficient point of sail as both sails are full of wind and pushing the boat at full force. 

Thank you, Lord, for your Holy Spirit's ministry among us in making Jesus known to us and directing our path to rescue with the guidance of the Holy Spirit those who are drowning in a sea of despondency,  fear, worry, pain and grief with no hope of life after death, for them and others to come to know Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

The Messiah’s Secret – Pentecost

Evening Lectionary: John 16: 4-15. Exodus 33: 7-20. Revised Standard Version Bible
Human beings can step into the fishes environment and swim with the fish. We can climb on board a space craft that is propelled into space by a rocket and step out of our air environment into space.

In both instants we cannot live in them permanently in our natural state, we need the air contained in cylinders and wet and space suits to protect our bodies.
Through the Holy Spirit being sent into the world at Pentecost, God has made it possible to enter into His eternal dimension through his indwelling presence within the Christian.

Visual Aid.  A play dough fish in a bowl of water.
At home we have a gold fish and it lives its life in the
water.

We live in a band of air that covers the globe.

In the Exodus reading  God met with man in a tent. 

Moses and the people of Israel were travelling through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. They lived gathered together within the camp area, but in order to meet with God they were told to go from the camp to the Tent of Meeting which Moses had pitched some distance away. In this designated place Moses and any person from the camp met with God on a one to one basis. Exodus 33: 7-11.                                                                                           

God our Father sent the Holy Spirit into the world to reveal Jesus to us in a personal way by dwelling within a person, on a one to one basis.

God’s love reaching out, our meeting place with God is at the cross of Jesus while we are still in our sin. Scripture says: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. Not only so, but we rejoice in God through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom we have received our reconciliation.” Romans 5: 8-10. 

The Holy Spirit was sent into the world at Pentecost and he reveals Jesus to us.

“The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness and judgement." John 16: 8. Dis - ease  or ill at ease . The TV Soaps are meant to portray ordinary people’s lives and the drama of it all is being worked out in each episode. In the stories we see the sins of the flesh causing pain and distress and were God is at a distance almost out of sight for many people.  The TV soaps only occasionally portray the way of life that brings love, joy and peace the Christian way. 

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we are now justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God."                                                           

Visual Aid.

A bowl with clean water, a few drops of red dye and a small quantity of bleach

Add a drop of red dye into the water, the red dye represents impurities in the water. (fallen nature and sin in our blood)

I then pour the bleach into the water and the red dye disappears. Representing  the cleansing of the impurities. (Our sin cancelled out) 

The blood of Jesus going into action when we turn to Jesus recognising our sin against God. It is also a picture of repentance and forgiveness. 

The Bible teaches us that life is in the blood, however, in our blood we carry the hereditary fallen nature of Adam and Eve. The application of Jesus’ blood blots out the hereditary sin of Adam and our sin of the past and present. Repentance on our part brings about forgiveness and reconciliation with God. “Repent therefore and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out  . . . . and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." Acts 3: 19, 20.  

Moody’s Stories   

"In Ireland some time ago a teacher asked a little boy if there was anything that God could not do. The little fellow said, “He can not see my sins through the blood of Christ.”                                            From the mouths of babes such profound words. 

As a result of us having faith in Jesus’ blood  we receive his promise. 

Jesus said, “If a man/women/child loves me, he will keep my word, and the Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 23

The promise of eternal life entering into the Lord our God’s kingdom. 

(Some Christians say you are not a Christian until you have the baptism of the Holy Spirit or until you speak in tongues. Paul's letter to the Romans 10:9 does not say that, he wrote: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. . . no one who believes in Jesus will be put to shame." A person will only confess that Jesus is Lord by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12: 3.)

Having received both God our Father and Jesus the Son of God  the Holy Spirit puts substance to our faith, through a variety of ways. 

Through someone praying for us. Paul praying for the members of the church at Ephesus, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1: 16.

The words of the Bible drop from our mind down into our heart. Continuing with the letter to the Ephesians, ”That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1: 17, 18. The enlightening of the eyes of our heart is were our head knowledge about Jesus, becomes heart knowledge. 

"All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said he (Holy Spirit) will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 16: 15.
The words of Jesus expresses God’s love for us and his words become alive, living words as they are acted upon by God’s Holy Spirit.                                                                                                                      

Move from being under law to being under grace. Paul’s letter to the Galatians he reminds them that he is justified by faith and not by the works of the law. Salvation is received as a free gift, we can not earn the gift by our own merit, we can only accept what Jesus has achieved for us by faith.  “ I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; the life I now live in my flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2: 20.   

When we understand we move forward in faith, receiving what Jesus has done for us on the cross. We depend upon God for his love and forgiveness. 

Laying on of hands. The people at Samaria had accepted Jesus as their Saviour and were baptised but they had not received the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Now when the Apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8: 14,15. 

What I have heard about Jesus, now I know it is true. I remember Miriam saying to me, “It was like scales falling from my eyes.” Hours before she told me she was going to see Rev Ron Freeman our Vicar (now with the Lord) she had some questions to ask him. I knew that after their discussion he would pray with her and using the gift that the Lord had given him which was for people to receive of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. Miriam received the precious gift.  

It was my own experience too through Ronald’s gift, the Lord has put substance to my faith, I know that Jesus is God made visible in the flesh and the Holy Spirit is still at work in the world. (Approx two years before I had been healed of a sickness through the laying on of hands at a Bible Study.)

Baptism My sister at her children's Baptism, (Anglican Church) the Lord added substance to her faith when she received the the Holy Spirit in power. Many people at their Baptism receive the Holy Spirit.

Humility.  For a number of Christians who have been brought up in the faith who have never had a 'Damascus Road' experience, but have received substance to their faith by the receiving of the Holy Spirit in a very unassuming way. 

Living in the Spirit of God’s Righteousness and Judgement.

It is like us, entering into the gold fish’s environment, we give the fish its food to sustain its life.  In order to sustain our life in God’s kingdom we need the spiritual food.
Jesus said, “My words are Spirit and life.” John 6: 63.

Christian Crackers by Phil Mason. "A lady was very nervous about her appointment with the dentist. Before leaving home she sought courage by reading the text for the day from her calendar. It was Psalm 81: 10:  "Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it."
                 

The word of God guides us to share what we have with others, “And let our people learn themselves to apply good deeds, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not to be unfruitful.” Titus 3: 14
Quite often the Lord calls us to response to the practical needs of people, who through no fault of their own find themselves unable to feed their family so that they can pay their bills. As a result they need short term help to get through the crisis. Collectively we can help by providing food stuffs for the Food Banks or through networking or sign posting we can enlist the help of the appropriate organisations to suit their need.  

Every so often the Goldfish bowl needs to be cleaned out. There is debris on the surface of the pebbles and algae on the glass.  

We look to the Word to remind us of the things that pertain to a life of godliness. 

In 2 Peter 1 verses 3 -8 Peter confirms this equal standing that we have with the disciples in our faith in Christ. We do not need to the look to the world to live a fulfilled life, we have the Lord’s precious and very great promises and his divine nature that enables us to live a godly life.  

"For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and with self-control with steadfastness, and with steadfastness godliness, and with godliness brotherly and sisterly affection, and with brotherly and sisterly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."  2 Peter 1: 1-8                                        

The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus continually as we are built up in through the study of the Bible.
The Holy Spirit will build us up in our faith through the study of the Bible, not through memorising scripture, although that is useful, but it's as he reveals through the study, understandings about Jesus, that he is God made visible in the flesh,  Jesus is the living Word and in our relationship with Jesus, we have been crucified with Jesus and that we are raised up with him in his resurrection etc.
For example: through the study of Matthew Chapters 5,6,7. The Sermon on the Mount. The Holy Spirit revealed to me in the Spirit that Jesus taught the perfect law of God as he was God himself.
Through the study of 1 John that Jesus is the living Word, he is the Word of God clothed in the flesh etc.

We are built up and strengthened in our faith, as the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us in the study of the word of God. The choice of the translation of the Bible from the Hebrew and Greek is very important to me because of the Holy Spirit's ministry in revealing Jesus through the study of both the Hebrew and the New Testaments.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

The Messiah’s Secret – Early Christians and the Essenes.

This blog is based on the study of Carsten Peter Theide’s book “The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Jewish origins of Christianity” Carsten was one of the world’s leading papyrologists on the history and texts of the first century. He was Professor of early Christian history at STH Basel Switzerland and a board member of the History Department at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beer- Sheva Israel.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were found contained in Jars, they were following Jeremiah’s words; ”Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take the deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time.” Jeremiah 32: 14. 

The Scrolls help us understand Judaism and its development during the centuries between the Hebrew Bible and the origins of Christianity.

Long before the Dead Sea Scrolls were re-discovered in caves in 1947 by three Bedouins the Ta’amireh tribe  A Jewish group called ‘Essenes’ settled near the Dead Sea. The settlement's ancient name is thought to be Secacah, situated on the ancient road which links Jericho with Mazda, En Gedi, Sodom and Eilat. It was not an isolated settlement; there was an oasis near bye. The modern Arabic name Qumran was given to it as late as 1953-56, during the Jordanian occupation of the region.

Pliny the elder documented the existence of the Essenes and he wrote about them after the destruction of Qumran in AD68.  

Pliny the Roman statesman and natural historian documented the region with its settlements mentioning the Essenes. He died during the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. 

Philo the Jewish philosopher and diplomat died in AD 50. He knew some of the Essenes’ teachings and knew of more than one settlement.   

Josephus a former Pharisee and priest, a Jewish general in the revolt against the Romans and finally an advisor and historian at the court of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, he knew the Essenes personally and their teachings. Josephus having spent time living with the Essenes, he records that there were 4,000 male Essenes dwelling in places all over the country. They had links with other communities; a fragment 4Q159 refers to the Essene link with the Therapeute movement active mainly in Egypt. 

Questions frequently asked:  

a) How much did the first Christians know about the Essene movement and visa versa how much did the Essenes know about Jesus and his disciples? 

b) Was John the Baptist an Essene? 

c) Was the first Christian Community based on the Essene model?  

Archaeological Evidence of the First Century.  

Josephus recorded a Jerusalem city gate named ‘Gate of the Essenes’ it was situated on the south- west hill. The disciples and Jesus would know of it and about the Essenes. In the late 1990’s a team of Archaeologists excavated near the gate and found Essene purifying baths and nearby latrines. Josephus having spent time living with them gave details of the rules that had to be observed by the Essene community. 

James and the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, like so many other Jews, knew about the writings and teachings of the Essenes, as they also knew about other groups of the time. And they not only knew the teachings, they probably knew the people themselves. They could have met them almost anywhere.  The Christians closer to the Pharisees than to the Essenes.  

Two Isaiah Scrolls were found in Cave 1 with varying style and vocabulary without interfering with the content of the Hebrew originals.
Cave 4. Carsten Theide writes that finding fragments of the Greek Bible (translation of the Hebrew Bible) the Septuagint at Qumran was a breakthrough. Greek the common language all over the Roman Empire and beyond, at least since the first century BC. Page 126/7 
The Greek Bible, which was the one almost exclusively used by the Christian Jews outside the Holy Land in New Testament times  -  and by the authors of the New Testament themselves.

Christian Hippolytus of the third century AD wrote of the Essene belief in the resurrection: “The doctrine of the resurrection has also derived support among them, for they acknowledge both that the flesh will rise again, and that it will be immortal, in the same manner as the soul is already imperishable. They maintain that when the soul has been separated from the body, it is now borne into one place, which is well ventilated and full of light, and there it rests until judgement.” 

Hippolytus was the first Christian to regard them explicitly as kindred spirits at least in some of the central areas of the Jewish heritage which Christians and Essenes had in common. Qumran fragment found in Cave 4 and numbered 4Q 521does deal with the question of the bodily resurrection, proving Hippolytus to be a trustworthy late classical source. It was one of those fascinating cases where similarities between Essene theology and the teaching of Jesus are visible, going back to the same Old Testament passages, against the tenets of the priestly Sadducees who rejected it. Mark 12: 18-27. 

Since the editing of these New Testament fragments in 1962 there has been great debate as to the likelihood of Christian scrolls being found at Qumran. In Cave 7 fragments 7Q5 and 7Q4: 1 Timothy 3: 16- 4: 1,3.  and Mark 6: 52, 53   

Carsten Theide writes, ”Between the first public proclamation of the Christian message at Shavuot/Pentecost in AD 30, and the ‘closure’ of Qumran in AD 68, some thirty eight years or almost one and a half generations went by. It goes without saying that the Qumran Essenes heard about the new, personified messianic message during those decades. After all, they even had an outpost in Jerusalem, on the south-west hill which today is called Mount Zion, not far from the local community centre of the followers of Jesus. To put it bluntly, if there is any place where we must expect to find the first writings of these Jesus people, it is the study library of that other vibrant messianic and eschatological movement, the Essenes.” Page 149   

The Essenes Scrolls reveal that they believed in two or even three Messiahs, a Messiah from the line of David and another from the priestly line of Aaron who was regarded in the Damascus Document as the eschatological one, “He will teach righteousness at the end of the days’ (Dead Sea Scrolls scholars are not unanimous) If a third Messiah can be identified, he is the so-called ‘Prophet.’ The Community Rule mentions him once. And specifies that he will come together with the Messiah Aaron. The Davidic Messiah was triumphant, he was victorious. He was the Messiah of Isaiah 11, of 4Q 161, 4Q 285, and perhaps even of the famous War Scroll 1QM. 

Carsten Theide does not mention that any of the fragments that have been looked at indicate of the second Messiah raising the first Messiah from the dead. (See blog Isaiah 53) 

b) Was John the Baptist an Essene?  

Carsten Theide is of the opinion that John the Baptist cannot be directly associated with the Qumran, his desert abode was five miles west of Hebron at a place called Ain el-Ma’ mudiyyeh (Spring of Baptism) John’s baptism a complete purification through an immersion by another person and does not bear resemblance to the Essene daily practice the ritual of self-purification. 1QS 3:9. CD 10: 11) The only connection was the use of water in its cleansing effect.  John was the first person in Jewish history that immersed fellow Jews in an act of repentance and purification. 

Also the Baptism formula proclaimed by Peter at Pentecost was quite unprecedented. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2: 38.

c) Was the first Christian Community based on the Essene model?  

 In AD 937 The Karaite historian Qirqisanic wrote: a certain David Merwan, had written about the sect the ‘cavemen’, so called because their writings were found in caves. The ‘cavemen’ and their texts are mentioned after the Sadducees and before Jesus and his followers – that new Jewish movement of the first century. 

The New Testament Gospels and letters that were written in the early stages of Christianity were circulated from one congregation to another.   

The disciples believed in the resurrection after they had witnessed seeing Jesus crucified and die on the cross and there were those who witnessed him being embalmed and sealed in the tomb. Within three days they saw Jesus in his risen body and had conversation with him in the house at Jerusalem where they touched his resurrected body and watched him eat the same food as they were eating. Afterwards he left them without going through a door or window; he disappeared in a moment from where he had been with them in the house. Paul records in his letter to the Corinthian Church that over 500 people witnessed to seeing Jesus risen from the dead.  

The Essene belief in two or three Messiah’s is contrary to the beliefs of Jesus and his disciples. Jesus taught and demonstrated that he was the Messiah fulfilling the Hebrew prophesies in his suffering and death, resurrection and ascension. He spoke of his return with the angels of God and that there were some standing listening to him say this would see the kingdom come in power. Mark 8:38 9:1.   

The Messiah’s Secret proves that the disciples fulfilled scripture in observing the requirements of Jewish law to form a community. 

The disciples and the followers of Jesus were Jews and they shared the same Hebrew Bible and it’s prophesies with the Essenes and other Jewish groups, the Pharisees, the Zealots and the Sadducees. 

The formation of a Jewish Christian community in Jerusalem has a similarity with the Essene community, but under the rules of the Mishnah in order to set up a community the number of officers required was twelve, one tenth of the whole community.  At that time there were eleven disciples, and there were one hundred and twenty gathered at the house in Jerusalem. Therefore they brought their number up to twelve to comply with the rules. More importantly, it was in response to the fulfillment of scripture, ‘His office let another take,’ Matthias became the twelfth disciple.   Acts 1: 15, 20, 23. Peakes Commentary page 778 Cf. Mishnah (Sanh.1 with a small six)

The disciples expected Jesus to return soon after Pentecost. Acts 3: 17 end. 
Jesus himself hoped to return within their life time. Mark 8 : 38. 9: 1. John 21: 21. Acts 1: 11.                                                          

The disciples were to be about their master’s until he returned. Mark 13: 32-37.  

Essenes and Christians were called sects by the Jewish authorities. The high priest and Jews at the trial of Paul before Felix referred to Paul as a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. Paul's response, "But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers."   Acts 24: 5, 14. 28: 22.

The Jewish Christian Community proclaimed Jesus to the members of the Jewish ruling council that Jesus was the nation’s Messiah and he that would return. Acts 3: 17 end. 4: 8-12. 5: 29-32. 
The disciples and followers broke bread in their homes whilst the temple sacrifices continued. The baptism spoken of by Peter continued and the Holy Spirit was received by thousands of people. The healing ministry of the disciples and followers continued as all still continues today.  

The delay in Jesus’ return 

The prophet Daniel prophesied that “And after sixty two weeks (of years) ‘the anointed one’ (the Messiah) would be cut off, and shall have nothing; and the people and the prince who is to come shall come and destroy the city.” Daniel 9: 26 
Jesus hoped to return soon after his ascension, but the response from Israel's leaders after Pentecost did not allow this to happen. But Jesus also knew that only God his Father knew of the day and of the hour of his return. Mark 13: 32  

Discovered in the 3^rd Century   

Origen in his writings mentioned that he used a scroll that came from a jar in a cave near Jericho. 
Ninth century a Nestrum bishop referred to such scrolls as a matter of course. This evidence of the existence of ancient scrolls was never acted upon by Archaeologists. 

Carsten Theide wrote that someday in the future some of the fragments found will be looked at again and the hundreds that had still to be analyzed will reveal their secrets.   

Answered Prayer
After the sermon/blog 'Isaiah 53' I asked the Lord to know more about the Essene period. On Thursday 2nd May my prayer was answered, my husband and I we visited Howarth (Bronte Sisters home town in Yorkshire) We go once every year and I like to look in the secondhand bookshops. There is one in particular that has a good Christian selection and  I was delighted when I found and bought Carsten Theides book. I humbly thank you, Lord.