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Obedient Unto Death (Sabbath Before Passover) - Fred R. Coulter—April 20, 2024 Greetings, brethren, welcome to the Sabbath before Passover. Here we are at another Passover time, the most important thing that we can do, and it is one of the things that Satan the devil tries to create as much confusion and so many lies against the true Passover. Thus, we have The Christian Passover book, which covers everything we need to know about the Passover.
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Obedient Unto Death (Sabbath Before Passover) - Fred R. Coulter—April 20, 2024 Greetings, brethren, welcome to the Sabbath before Passover. Here we are at another Passover time, the most important thing that we can do, and it is one of the things that Satan the devil tries to create as much confusion and so many lies against the true Passover. Thus, we have The Christian Passover book, which covers everything we need to know about the Passover.
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The speaker welcomes the audience to the Sabbath before Passover in 2024 and emphasizes the importance of understanding and keeping the true Passover. They mention a Passover book that covers all the necessary information and the need to follow Jesus' instructions for forgiveness of sins and access to God. The speaker relates the concept of sin entering the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience, leading to death for all mankind. They discuss Jesus' sacrifice as the perfect solution for sin and the need to develop the same mindset as Christ. They mention the importance of studying the Gospels and understanding Jesus' life and ministry. The speaker highlights the mystery of godliness and the significance of Jesus being manifested in the flesh. They stress the importance of repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit. The speaker concludes by referring to John the Baptist's proclamation of Jesus as the Lamb of God, connecting it to the Passover sacrifice. Greetings, brethren, welcome to the Sabbath before Passover 2024. And so here we are at another Passover time. The most important thing that we can do, and it is one of the things that Satan the devil tries to create as much confusion and so many lies against the true Passover, that we have the Passover book, which is complete, and that covers everything we need to know about the Passover. Now we have had it printed and delivered. And if you need any more copies, let us know, because this is the most important book that you can have. Because if you don't have the Passover correct, and if you don't do it the way that Jesus has instructed, you don't have forgiveness of sin the way that it needs to be, and you do not have access to God through Jesus Christ, if you do not keep the Passover exactly as Jesus conducted it in his last Passover, before he was crucified on the Passover day, the 14th day of the first month according to the calculated Hebrew calendar. Now this event was prophesied to Adam and Eve after they had sinned. And we find that in Genesis 3.15, that he prophesied that there would be the conflict between Satan the devil and Jesus Christ, and that Satan would bruise his heel, but Christ the Savior would obliterate or annul all the works of the devil, which all of those came down from Adam and Eve down through to the very last man and woman, because their sin brought into the world. Now let's read that in Romans the fifth chapter, because this is very important for us to understand. Romans 5 and verse 12. This is a key, comparing Adam as the first man and Christ as the Savior. Romans 5 and verse 12. Therefore is by one man sin entered into the world, the sin of Adam and Eve, and in God's judgment with them, they also received what Paul writes of in chapter seven of the book of Romans, the law of sin and death. Now what is that? That is the Bible's definition of human nature. And the law of sin and death follows eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and remember this, the good that comes from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not the goodness of God, but always ends in destruction. So by one man sin entered into the world, and by the means of sin came death. In this way, death passed into all mankind. Everyone dies, and as we heard recently some weeks ago from Russell Kemp, that every human being has a date with death, and the wages of sin is death, and no one can escape that without Jesus Christ. And we will see that's why he came, so that he could live a human life, have human nature, yet never sin, and become the perfect sacrifice, as we will see, for the sin of the whole world. All right? And it says death passed into all men and all mankind, and it is for this reason that all have sinned. So let's look at that for just a minute. Let's see exactly what it is that God did. Now we know in the Gospel of John chapter 1 it says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Then in verse 14 it says, and the Word was made flesh. Now how did God do that? Well, we know the account about how Mary was impregnated and so forth, but let's see exactly what God did to make this happen. Let's come to Philippians, the second chapter. Now this also tells us what kind of attitude and what kind of converted mind that we need to develop through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that is also connected with the Passover, because you see, the Passover renews the new covenant between us and God the Father and Jesus Christ every single year. That's what's important. Here in chapter 2 of Philippians, verse 5, we have this. This is the mind of God, because it says in John 3, 15 and 16 that everyone who believes in Him may have everlasting life. And God gave His only begotten Son that whosoever may believe in Him may not perish, but may have eternal life. So you think about all those mays that are in there, and that tells us that there's a lot of free moral agency that each one of us need to apply in our relationship with God. And we must choose to love God. We must choose to keep His commandments. We must choose to live by every word of God as Jesus said. So Jesus came. Let's see what it says here in Philippians, the second chapter in verse 5. Let this mind be in you which also was in Christ Jesus. What kind of mind was that? Based on love, based on truth, based on accepting the penalty of all human sin on Himself because He created man and woman, made in the likeness and image of God, and for the very purpose of entering into the family of God through the power of the resurrection. But it has to come through the mind of Christ, and we will see what this mind was and is, and what we need to develop in our relationship with God as well. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who, though He existed in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, like we just quoted John the first chapter, but emptied Himself. Now what does that mean? That means as God, He divested Himself of as much God as necessary to become the pinpoint of life, to be impregnated in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and to be born as a human being. Now this is possible because we're made in the image and likeness of God, and this was prophesied, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world, Revelation 13, 8. So here's the mind of Christ. Here is how God is looking at it. Here is what God is thinking about us who have the Holy Spirit of God, and what we need to do. And we need to understand and grasp everything that Jesus did to become that sacrifice. Now let's read on. But emptied Himself and was made in the likeness of men, the sameness. The Greek there is homoios, and means the sameness. He didn't take on a body, but He Himself never experienced anything living in a body as a spirit being. Now that's called theocetism, and that is not true. Now therefore, took on the form of a servant. Now the Greek there is doulos, which means a slave. He didn't take a high exalted position, though He was destined to become King of the world. He took the lowest position as a servant or slave. Verse 8, And being found in the manner of man, everything that we do is human beings. We live, we eat, we breathe, we have all of the bodily functions, we get tired, we sleep, we work, we do all of these things, and Jesus was exactly the same as we read in the Gospels. Now if you don't have the book, Harmony of the Gospels, you write for it. That will be after the Passover book, the next most important book for you to read, because it tells all about the prophecies, all about Jesus being born, all about His life, all about His ministry, paralleled in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And it shows when He was born and when He was crucified. And that was on Passover day in 30 AD. Now some churches still believe 31 AD, but that is not true, because that was put in by one Dr. Herman Hay to try and please one man called Herbert W. Armstrong. And 31 AD actually came from the seventh day Adventist. Notice, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death. And that's what we're going to look at today. Even the death of the cross. Now let's come to 1 Timothy 3 and verse 16. Interesting. Genesis 3 verses 15 and 16, John 3 verses 15 and 16, 1 Timothy 3 and verse 16. Now let's read it. And undeniably, in other words, there is no dispute at all whatsoever. Great is the mystery of godliness. Now let's understand that. Jesus told the disciples that it was given to the disciples, which means also to us, which we understand through the Sabbath and Holy Days, is the plan of God. The mystery of God. Because also with the penalty imposed upon Adam and Eve, that blinded them to the spiritual things which would later be revealed when Jesus finally came. So Paul writes, and undeniably, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh. Now we'll look at that. How is that referred to by God? And what does that mean to us? And what does that mean with the Passover? What justified in the spirit, because he completed his mission in the flesh and was crucified, we will see. And that death then justified or set the justification ready for all human beings. They can never fulfill the plan of God in their lives unless they come to the true Jesus Christ. Unless they come to yield to him, to repent of their sins, to be baptized, to receive the Holy Spirit, and grow in grace and knowledge. And that's where all of us are. Okay? Justified in the spirit was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the Gentiles, and the whole New Testament written down, so that today we have the complete Bible of God, from Genesis to Revelation. And in the Bible, the Holy Bible in its original order. And as we have mentioned recently, right in the middle is the logo which says, Your Word is the Truth, John 17, 17. Now that's quite a thing for us to remember. And everything we're going to read is in the truth. Okay? Was believed on in the world, was received up in glory. Now, let's continue on with this. Let's see what we need to cover here. Let's come to John, the first chapter. And let's see what John the Baptist, who was the one the messenger sent before Christ's coming, so that he could announce who Jesus was. Now let's come here to verse 29. John, the first chapter. Now, John also told all of the inquisitive Pharisees and Sadducees that came down to his baptism, they said, Who are you? And are you the Christ? He said, No, I'm not. Well, who are you? Are you that prophet? No, I'm not. That prophet was Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. So they said, Who are you? And he said, I'm the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Now, what did he cry out? Verse 29. On the next day, John sees Jesus coming to him and he says, Behold, the Lamb of God. Now, go clear back to the very first Passover in Exodus 12. And what did they offer for the sacrifice? A lamb, either from the sheep or the goat. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now, what is the sin of the world? Notice it's not plural. But sin includes everything about sin that we as human beings do. And what is that? That's the law of sin and death. Takes away the sin of the world. Okay. I said that also here in verse 35. Next day, John again standing there to his disciples came and as he gazed upon Jesus walking, he said, Behold, the Lamb of God. Oh, well, the disciples had some knowledge that there would be a Messiah coming. Now, let's look at the mind of Christ and how he looked at what he was going to go through and what he had to do. Because those who killed him were not just the ones who were guilty. Because as Creator God, he represents every human being ever produced, which is all of us, from Adam and Eve on down to the end of human reproduction. So, he takes away the sin of the world. He's called the Lamb of God. Now, let's come to John the 10th chapter and let's learn something about how Jesus approached this so that we know what we're doing, we understand why we're taking the Passover, that we come closer to God each year when we do. So, John the 10th chapter, let's read beginning in verse 1. Truly I say to you, the one who does not enter the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up some other way, that one is a thief and a robber. All right? There is one way, one truth, one faith, one salvation. It's defined by the Bible. And remember Jesus said, many, many would come in his name, and that means the vast majority of all those who profess anything to do with God and any kind of salvation and any kind of afterlife, regardless of whether it is Protestantism, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, whatever. Okay? But if anyone comes any other way, now what is the most prominent way with the Christians today? Sunday and the holidays, right? And they don't keep the Passover, and what they call the Eucharist or the Lord's Supper, is following the pattern of the pagan religions. Now the same way with the Jews. They don't keep a 14th Passover as we have seen. They keep a 15th Passover, which is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now isn't that interesting? And they do not keep Pentecost on the correct day, because they missed how to start counting. So isn't it interesting? The Jews reject Christ, and everything about Christ that he did through the Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost, they miss the point completely. And that's because they rejected Jesus. All right, let's go on. Verse 2, but the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Okay? That's Christ. Shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings the sheep out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. That is true. And the voice of God is recorded and written down, so we know exactly what he said. Come over here to verse 11, after comparing all of the false shepherds and all the thieves and robbers, and doesn't that tell you about all of the Orthodox Christian ministers today? Huh? They're nothing but after money and numbers and people and a gospel that's contrary to the Scriptures, which they claim they're following, but don't. All right? Verse 11, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd, notice, lays down his life for the sheep, voluntarily. And he came because God the Father loves us, and he loves us, and those who are going to be in the first resurrection, and that calling to that part of God's plan is going to be one of the most glorious things possible because of what Christ did. And this is why it's important that we keep the Passover the way that God wants. Now this year, the Passover will be on what we call Sunday night. And then Monday night is the night to be much observed. And then Tuesday in the day portion of that day is the 15th day of the first month, which then is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And we have a whole lot we're going to learn during the Feast of Unleavened Bread and what that means and what we need to do. Now he says here, comparing the hirelings, that's all of these false ministers, verse 12, here are the hirelings. But the one who is a hireling and is not the shepherd who's owned the sheep or not, sees the wolf coming, now the wolf is Satan the devil, and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf seizes the sheep and scatters them, that is those who followed those false hirelings. Now the hireling flees because he's a hireling and has no concern for the sheep. That is true. All they want is fame, numbers, and money. How many are willing to lay their lives down? How many are willing to do like Jesus said? That the one who is going to be the leader is the one who is serving. And the one who is serving is not the one who is ruling. Christ is the ruler. All of us as elders, we are servants. And we are to teach the brethren the Word of God. Because Jesus said that it's sufficient that the disciple, which is all of us, become as the teacher. And that's what God wants, all right? Verse 14. I am the good shepherd, and I know those who are mine, and am known of those who are mine. We know the voice of God. We know Jesus Christ. That's why we have prayer and study every day. That's why we yield to God, live by every word of God, okay? Now notice the comparison here. Just as the Father knows me, that is, while he was in the flesh there, I also know the Father, and I lay down willingly, voluntarily, without any sin, without anything that was wrong. I lay down my life for this sheep. Now think about that. Now let's apply that in a direct way here in just a minute, okay? Now he says, verse 16, And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they shall hear my voice. There shall be one flock and one shepherd. On account of this, the Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may receive it back again. He knew that if he accomplished his mission with no sin, that he would receive it back again. No one takes it from me, though they did kill him. But I lay it down of myself and have authority to lay it down and authority to receive it again. This commandment I received from my Father. So that was the mission statement for the whole ministry of Jesus Christ. Now let's come to Romans, the sixth chapter, and let's see about what all of this means to us. See, because the Passover pictures the new covenant as Jesus said, when he broke the bread, when he gave the wine, when he washed the feet. This is the new covenant in my blood. Now in the letter that we sent out, I did a complete study taken from the Passover book on the blood of Jesus Christ. And you will see how slightly, slightly, but ignoring almost all of the meaning of the sacrifice of Christ and his blood that the Protestants and Catholics have. They have virtually zero, except to mound the words. Now here's the covenant that we enter into. And here is what it is. And here is why Christ was crucified. And this is why he laid his life down. And this is how we have our sins forgiven. And this gives us access to God all the time, directly, directly through prayer and through study. No priest in between, no minister in between, no one in between, because you have direct access to God the Father. Now we'll see why that's possible and what it takes of us, all right? Verse 1, Romans 6. What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Well, really, that's virtually the motto of Protestantism and Catholicism. Paul says, may it never be. We who died to sin. Now how do we die to sin? Because we see that we still have sin we need to overcome. And that's the whole conundrum about human nature, but is solved through the feast of unleavened bread and its meaning, which we will see. How shall we live any longer therein? You are not to live in the way of sin. Now how do you guarantee that you don't do that? The Holy Spirit of God, which we receive at baptism, plus by keeping the covenant. Commandments of God, as Jesus said. Now let's understand one thing very important. It says there in verse 12 that we are not under law, but under grace. Okay, verse 14 rather. Now you need to understand this. If you are under law, that means you're not in covenant with God. If you keep the commandments of God, you are not under law, but you are within law. Because you are keeping the commandment. Because under law means you have the penalty of sin hanging over you. So if you get that and you understand that and realize that, okay. Now here's the key, verse 3, for baptism. Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into his death? We're going to look at that here in just a little bit. What he suffered, what he did, what he went through. Therefore, if we are buried with him through the baptism, only one baptism, right? Into the death, the death of Jesus Christ. So that just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father in the same manner, we should also walk in newness of life. And what is that newness of life? As we will see in the days of unleavened bread, the renewing of our mind, the converting of our thought, the changing of our actions. The whole thing there comes from God. Now notice what it means to be baptized into his death. And when we go into that baptismal water, we need to understand this. And then we need to understand it again every single Passover when we come around to it every single year. Verse five, for if we have been conjoined together in the likeness of his death, that's through baptism. So also shall we be in the likeness of his resurrection. That is the promise. 1 John 3, 4, we will see him as he is because we shall be like him. That's the end result of what God wants with us. See? So that's what's important. Now in the time that we have right now, we can grow in grace and knowledge and study and learn and pray and do all of these things. But we know for sure that the days are coming that are going to be so upset and everything upside down and backwards and sin everywhere that it's going to be virtually impossible to be doing the study that we need to do. So that is why we need to study now and pray now and stay close to God for the time of the days are coming that are going to be very dark, as we have covered in the sermons leading up to this time. We have been conjoined together in the likeness of his death. Now what does conjoined mean? I look at it this way, that as he died, shed his blood, then in baptism we are joined to that death. Because in baptism, by full immersion in water, if you are not brought up out of that water, you're dead. But we are spiritually conjoined to the death of Christ. In other words, his body, his stripes, his shed blood and everything that he did so that we could have forgiveness of sin is applied to us. See, that's why we are to no longer live in sin as we'll see in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now verse 6, knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified with him. See, every day. Okay, every day. In order that the body of sin might be destroyed, because it's a process, as we will see. We have thoughts and evil in our mind that have been there from childhood, deep in the recesses of our minds and hearts. And this is what God needs to cleanse from us through the washing of the water of the Word, through the renewing of our minds and writing the laws and commandments of God and the truth of God in our hearts and in our minds. That we think this way, we live this way, we act this way, right? That the body of sin might be destroyed so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin. Doesn't say we won't sin, but we're not enslaved to it. It doesn't rule over us. Rather, with the Spirit of God and the forgiveness of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can overcome that sin. And we can have continuous forgiveness by coming to God every day. And remember the model of prayer says, forgive us our debts or our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. So there's a two-way street with forgiveness. And this also tells us that if we want our sins forgiven by God, we need to forgive those who sin against us, right? Isn't that true? You think we can enter into the kingdom of God if we still hate someone in the church, a brother or sister in the church? See, God wants us to have peace among ourselves. Now in the world, we're going to have conflict. Verse 7, because the one who has died, that isn't a watery grave of baptism. The one who has died to sin had been justified from sin. Now, if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Knowing this, that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has any dominion over him. For when he died, he died unto sin once for all. For all. We'll circle that word all. That means each and every one. But we have to come to the knowledge of sin and come to the knowledge in our lives of what sin is in our lives and come to God in humble repentance for forgiveness. That's what it's all about. So here's what we are to do. Verse 11, in the same way also, you should indeed reckon, that is, calculate and understand yourselves to be dead to sin. In other words, sin is not going to rule over you. You will sin, but you will receive forgiveness. But alive to God through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Verse 12, here's the key, and that enters into unleavened bread. Therefore, do not let sin rule. That means exercise lordship over you over you and your mortal body by obeying it in the lust thereof. Now, we'll continue on with verse 13 when we get to the feast of unleavened bread, because that tells us what we need to do. Now then, let's see what Christ had to do. We saw that he was God manifested in the flesh. Let's come to 1 Peter, the second chapter, and let's see what he had to do. Now, there are many things here in epistles of Peter that are important for us to understand. And as we will see, especially in chapter one. Now then, 1 Peter 2 tells us that God manifested in the flesh, Christ coming to live a perfect life, to have a ministry, to show that he was the Messiah, to raise up his apostles, to raise up his church, to build his church, and what he had to do for that. So, let's come here to 1 Peter, the second chapter. Verse 21, for to this you were called because Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in his footsteps. And stop and think about this. How many were martyred? You look at the things that went on in the Middle Ages, the killing of Christians, the Waldensians, the Huguenots, those who were Sabbath keepers, hated by the Pope, hated by the Catholics, ordered by the Pope to have the civil authorities behead, burn, and torture. And because of the spirit of Christ that was in them, they did it with the knowledge that they would be resurrected. And they did it cheerfully, with humility, as a witness against those evil ones who were martyring them. Now, we know that's coming again. So, this is the reason we need to be prepared. Let's read it here. All right. Following his steps, verse 22, who committed no sin, not one, neither was guile found in his mouth, who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return, when suffering threatened not, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. Now, we'll see that's exactly what he did. Verse 24, who himself bore our sins within his own body, meaning he had to have the law of sin and death within him, just like all of us as human beings, all of us as human beings, and we are born with that. So, as he came in the likeness of human flesh, he had that law of sin and death within him. So, that's what makes his sacrifice so great and so perfect, because he was God manifested in the flesh. And he did all of these things willingly, lovingly, for the whole plan of God, so that we can enter into the family of God. That is a marvelous thing. And also, that beginning with the return of Christ, as we know, with the rest of the holy days and the millennium that is pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles on the last great day, that we will be party, part and parcel with Christ and the apostles and all of the other saints to bring in untold millions of people into the whole family of God. So, this is why he did what he did. This is the reason he was without sin. Who himself bore our sins within his own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin by baptism, may live under righteousness. And what is righteousness? The commandments of God, the laws of God, the ways of God, by whose stripes you were healed. And there are two healings. And there are two healings. A physical healing and a spiritual healing. So, that's what we need to look at. Let's go ahead and take a break and we'll come back. And then we will look at the prophecies that back up what we just read about what Christ would do. Now, let's continue on with the Sabbath before Passover. And let's look at the prophecies in the Old Testament. And when you examine all the prophecies that relate to Christ's first coming, and there are many, many, many, many. And as you find in the harmony of the Gospels, as well as in the Bible, as well as in the New Testament, the harmony of the Gospels, as well as in the Bible, as well as in the Passover book, 28 prophecies fulfilled in one day. That is the day of the crucifixion. So, when you get down to it, after Christ had come, and after he was crucified, put in the grave, and then raised the third day, then appeared to the disciples, the Jews of that generation had no excuse. Now, let's read here in Isaiah 53. And this is quite a chapter because it tells about why he came, and the reason for his crucifixion, and the reason for his suffering. Okay. Verse 1, who has believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground. He has no form nor comeliness that we should look upon him, nor beauty that we should desire him. Just an ordinary man. Now, notice verse 3, tells exactly what he was going to go through. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him. No, we didn't want to believe him. Think about all the thousands that Jesus healed, and fed, and preached to. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Now, notice this, as we read in 1 Peter 2, that he bore in his body our sins. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Ah, he deserved that. He was deceiving the people, that's what they were saying. Now, verse 5 answers the question. Now, I want you to think about this in relationship to your life, and in relationship with God, and prayer, and study, and all of this. But, he was wounded for our transgression. Wounded for our transgressions. Bore in him, within his body, our sins. And that means the sins, or sin, of the whole world. He was crushed for our iniquity. Now, crushed means that he was literally beaten to a pulp with the scourging. The chastisement of our peace was upon him, now that is. That's part of bearing our sins, so that when we repent and come to God, we can have peace with God. Now, look what God went through in order to bring that peace to us. So that we can come to God. Now, we'll talk about this during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And with his stripes, we ourselves are healed. And that's what we need to look to. We need to look to God to heal us. Now, yes, there are many things that can be done with herbs and natural methods. Natural methods, but a lot of the doctors and the physicians that we have today, they really don't know how to do what needs to be done. So we need to look to God in faith and in trust and understanding. Is anything too hard for God? No. So that's why we need to understand this in relationship to the Passover. And when we partake of the Passover and eat the broken bread, we're talking about his broken body, which was broken for us, crushed. Now, here's the reason. Gets back to the sheepfold that we talked about earlier. All we are like sheep, having gone astray, we have turned each one to his own way. Yes. Use our own human nature to think we can do it. We can work it out. We're smart enough. We know enough. And all of this sort of thing. But why is it that down the verge, when human beings are the most educated ever before, we are on the verge of destroying the whole world? Huh? Think on that. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. I want you to think about that when you take the Passover tomorrow night and what he went through. Verse 7. He was oppressed. He was afflicted. Yet, he opened not his mouth in resistance. That's what it means. He laid down his life for the sheep. He had brought us a lamb to the slaughter and his sheep before the shearers is done. So, he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. Every accusation against him was false. You talk about a mistrial. Isn't that interesting? Isn't that the way that Satan and sin always works? Yes, indeed. By oppression and judgment, he was taken away. And with his generation, who did consider that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people? He was stricken. Amazing. Yet, how many really understood it? Yet, how many really understood it? Well, even the apostles didn't understand it until after he was resurrected and came back and appeared to them and opened their minds. Where? In the law and the prophets and the Psalms. About everything he would go through. So, he probably showed him this, showed all of them this, in Isaiah 53. Okay. Verse 9. He made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Now, I want you to think about that. No deceit. And isn't that one of the big faults of human nature? Yes, indeed. The heart is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. And how do we get ourselves in trouble? By deceiving ourselves, by not coming to God. Okay. There it is right there. Verse 10. Yet the Lord willed. Now, look at that. It was the will of God and of Christ that he do this. Now, notice how much that he suffered prophesied right here. The Lord willed to crush him and put him to grief. You shall make his life an offering for sin. The only offering of sin that can truly take away the sins of a human being. The Creator manifested in the flesh, the Lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world. That's what the Passover is all about. And we are in covenant with God. Covenant with God through that for the first resurrection. Now, think of that. Think how great that calling is. And Christ made it all possible through what he did. Okay. You shall make his life an offering for sin. He shall see his seed. In other words, he's going to see all of those who are going to enter the kingdom of God, who have been begotten by the Father. He shall prolong his days. How? By the resurrection. And that the purpose of the Lord might prosper in his hand. The very purpose of God. So that we, and all those who come to him in repentance, can have forgiveness of sin, receive the Holy Spirit, and then we have the opportunity to grow in grace and knowledge and build the character that God wants us to have, which is pictured by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Okay. Okay. He shall see the travail of his soul. Yes, he did. And what did he say when he was on the cross? Ili, ili, lama sabachthani. Which is being interpreted, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Huh? Now, in everyone's life, I want you to think about this, how Christ, through that, identifies with every human being, because every human being comes to the point, why am I suffering what I am suffering? And why do I go through this? Huh? Well, Jesus had to suffer that so we could come to the Father. Now, notice why. He shall see the travail of his soul. He shall be fully satisfied by his knowledge. Shall my righteous servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities. Now, let's see what he did to do so. He did to do so. Okay. Let's see it right here. Come back just one page. Isaiah 50 and verse 6. Notice, Jesus prophesied this as the Lord God of the Old Testament. And he came as the Messiah, right? Verse 6. He gave his back to the smiters, the scourging, and my cheeks to them that pluck off the hair. In other words, they were tearing the hair right out of his beard. I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Now, we read in the New Testament that that's what he suffered, right? For the Lord God will help me, therefore, I have not been disgraced. On account of this, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. That's quite a thing. He had that in mind all the way through what he was enduring for the ordeal of the crucifixion. Okay. Now, let's come back here to Isaiah 53 and verse 11. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide to him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he has poured out his soul to death. Remember what it says in Ezekiel 18? The soul that sins shall die. Well, he died not because of his sin, but because of the sins that he bore within him, which represented the sins of the whole world. That's an amazing thing, brother. And he was counted among the transgressors, and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors. Now, what did he do for that? Now, that's not just talking about that we have access for forgiveness of sin, that's true. But what was one of the first things that he said when they hung him up on the cross? He said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. Because they were given over completely to Satan, the devil, to accomplish this, the sacrifice of God, to take away the sin of the world. Okay. Satan thought that if he could kill Christ, that would end it, and he would become God of this world. But since Christ did not sin, he was raised from the dead. Now, let's come here to Psalm 22. And here we see some of the very words of Jesus while he was on the cross. And while they were those around him, jeering him and saying, if you're the son of God, come down off the cross and save yourself, and then we will believe you. No, he couldn't do that, because he had to die. So, I already quoted these words, Psalm 22 and verse 1, and he had to come to this point. Had to come to this point. That's why darkness covered the land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour, okay, that is of the day, from noon to three o'clock. Darkness covered the land. And imagine what the people were thinking. What a day that happened there. And that when he died, that huge veil that was covering the face of the temple, which was about this thick, and that huge stone lentil that was up there 90 feet in the air, holding up this great veil. The earthquake hit, and bam, that lentil broke, and it tore the whole of that veil. Now it wasn't thin, it was thick, like this, right in two, as symbolically showing that the way to God was open through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Amazing. So, here we have Psalm 22, and this talks about the very feelings, the very suffering that he would go through, and remember Jesus is Lord God of the Old Testament, is the one who prophesied these words. So, he knew what was going to happen. Verse 1, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me? And from the words of my groaning. See, he had to do this all alone. That's why there was all that darkness. Verse 6, But I am a worm and no man. Is that something? Didn't say, look, Father, what they're doing to me. I'm your son. No. It's just like all human beings, you see. We're nothing but a speck of dust, as we have in the book, from a speck of dust to a son of God. Why were you born? Okay. I'm a worm and no man. I reproach of men and despise by the people. After all that he had done, think about that for a minute. Even those that he fed, that he preached to, that he healed. They ended up despising him. Why? Because of human nature. Now, notice, All who see me mock me, and they shoot out the lip and shake their head, saying, He trusted on the Lord. Let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, since he has delight in him. Well, the rescue came three days later with the resurrection. Verse 9, Who are he who took me out of my mother's womb? He was reflecting back on his very life, being born as a human being, causing me to trust on my mother's breast. I was cast upon you from birth. In other words, from the very impregnation and birth of Jesus Christ, all of this was set in motion to go in the time that God had determined. You are my God from my mother's womb. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bolts have encircled around me, strong bolts of passion having surrounded me. And what is that? That is referring because there was Satan and the demons there, just circling around, probably laughing and jeering and just stirring up the people to hate Jesus, and mocking him, the demons, and Satan the devil themselves. Because remember, Satan was there at the Passover night in the person of Judas Iscariot. So this was the pinnacle, the highest thing that God could do to provide a sacrifice for the sins of human beings. They open wide their mouths at me like ravening and roaring lions. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted in the midst of me. You know how it gets so weak, there's nothing left in you. See, because he had to shed all of his blood. And remember, one of the soldiers had a spear and came to make sure that he was dead, thrust it into his side, going clear up on the right side, and probably pierced his heart to make sure that every drop of blood was shed. Verse 15, my strength is right up like a potsherd. My tongue clings to my jaws. Dogs have surrounded me. A band of evildoers have encircled me. They have pierced my hands and my feet. How direct and how absolutely definitive are these prophecies concerning what Jesus was to go through. In the sacrifice. Amazing. And you have brought me into the dust of death. I can count all my bones. They look and gloat over me. He could look down and see his rib bones. They divided my garments among them and cast lots upon my vesture. And isn't that what it says? That's what happened. That's exactly every one of these things. You can go to the 27th chapter of the book of Matthew and read it. Then the parallel account in Mark and the parallel account in Luke and the parallel account in the gospel of John. So think of that. He had not two, not three, but four written witnesses of the truth and the identity of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, crucified for the sin of the world. Verse 19. But you, O Lord, be not far from me, O my strength, hasten to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth. And who was the lion? Satan goes around like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour. Yea, from the wild ox's horns you have answered me. I will declare your name to my brethren. And that's what he did after he was resurrected and came and appeared to the disciples and taught them for 40 days and 40 nights before he ascended into the heavens to go to the right hand of the Holy Father. I will declare your name to my brethren in the midst of the congregation. I will praise you. That's quite a thing, isn't it? Yes, indeed. How about that? That's how God works. See, now let's come to Psalm 16. This is a very interesting psalm in itself because this has to do also with the resurrection of Christ. And so when we get ready for the Passover, let's keep all of these things in mind so that we understand and know with great assurance, with love and truth what God has done and what He's doing and how He is doing it, see? And for all of those who come to Him, this is why. This is why. It is so marvelous that He did this, okay? And we can come to God and have that forgiveness and correct contact with God, okay? Psalm 16. Preserve me, O God, for in you do I take refuge. Now that's true of Christ and that's true of us. Every day when we pray, we're taking refuge in God. I've said to the Lord, You are my Lord. I have no goodness apart from You. And that's the whole lesson of why we keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We come to the understanding that within ourselves, we have no goodness that is like the goodness of God within us. Now, we can have some goodness once we receive the Spirit of God, but that comes from God. But apart from God, there is no goodness in us, see? And Jesus brought that out. As for the saints of the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. Now, think of that. God delights in everyone that has His Spirit, see? The children of God. Of God, the Father. Let's go on, okay? Their sorrows shall be multiplied who run after another God. I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, and I will not take their names upon my lips. Paul also warns of this about what the Gentiles sacrifice with their sacrifice, because there was a counterfeit bread and wine service that the pagan religions had. And Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10 that they sacrificed unto demons, see? No, this is to God, and we have no part in that, see? So verse 5 shows, while rejecting all of that, verse 5, the Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. And that's the cup of the Passover. You shall uphold my lot. The lions have fallen to me in pleasant places, yea, I have a beautiful inheritance. In other words, he's describing how our minds are opened up to the beauty and wonder of God's Word and the inheritance that God has for us to be in the family of God. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My heart also instructs me in the nights. I have set the Lord always before me. Now that's what Jesus did, and this is what we are to do, see? This is why we have the opportunity to grow, to overcome, to change, and all of those things, okay? Because he set my right hand, I shall not be moved. That's what he was trusting in God the Father, that he would endure all of this and not be moved and not be ashamed in spite of the fact that God willed to crush him. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices. My flesh shall rest in safety, and you will not abandon my soul in the grave, neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption. That's exactly what it was with Christ. And isn't that what Peter talked about in Acts the third chapter? And in Acts the second chapter? Yes, that he was raised from the dead. And you shall make known to me the paths of life, and in your presence is fullness of joy, going forward to the fulfillment of entering into the kingdom of God, and of course of Jesus Christ, receiving back to himself the eternal life that he divested himself up when he came here as a human being, okay? Now, let's come to Psalm 23. Psalm 23. Now, this is one of the psalms that many of those in fake Christianity repeat over and over and over again by rote, and yet they don't even have a clue how this might apply to Christ and his resurrection and what he went through. Verse one, Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Now, the first time I ever read that, I thought, why would they not want the Lord? Well, it doesn't mean they didn't want him. That means they shall not lack anything, okay? Did Christ lack anything? No, indeed. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides the still waters. He restores my soul. How? Through the power of the resurrection. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Everything that he did, God led him. He prayed to God day and night, had the Spirit of God, God in the flesh, serving the people, healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry. Verse four. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, which he did, he walked right through death. Had to be put in the tomb and raised from the dead. I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and staff shall comfort me. Always trusting in God, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of how devastating and how deadly it would become. Verse five. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. That is true. Did not that happen? Was not his head anointed before the Passover took place, in preparation for his burial? Yes, we find that in the Gospels, don't we? Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Everything he did when he was a human being, and then after resurrected, for the rest of eternity. Now notice, how this psalm shows what we need to do as well. We need to keep our eyes on the goal. That's what's important. Nothing else in this world is more important than this next statement in our lives. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That is New Jerusalem. Think of that. Let's see what happened. Let's see what happened at the resurrection. Let's see what took place when Jesus came, after being raised, to present himself to God the Father, and to tell God the Father face to face. It is finished. I have done what we need to do. Imagine that. So, here's what happened in heaven when he was raised to come to God the Father. Verse 7, Psalm 24, and we will finish with this. Lift up your heads, O you gates, and be lifted up, O you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. May come in. Then they asked the question, who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty. The Lord, mighty in battle. And wasn't that a mighty battle that took place between Jesus Christ and Satan the devil? Yet he won, even though it looked like he lost. Mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates, and lift them up, O you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Verse 10, who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts. He is the King of glory. Selah. So, there we have what we need to know on the Sabbath before Passover. So, you look forward to it, prepare for it, and that will be tomorrow night. So, have a wonderful Passover, and we'll continue with the messages to bring on the Passover, and the night to be much observed, and then the first day of the Feast of the Lord. And then the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, all in one package, and then the whole Feast of Unleavened Bread, so that we can continue to grow in grace and knowledge, and overcome, and attain to the kingdom of God. Amen.
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