Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal

Before Jesus went to the Olive Garden where he would be taken prisoner by the Roman soldiers, Jesus had come together with his disciples in an upper room somewhere in Jerusalem, the city of David.

The son of man, born in Bethlehem and brought up in Nazareth, had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover with his disciples. 14 Nisan, Thursday evening, March 31, 33 C.E., and a full moon very likely adorned the skies above Jerusalem. Jesus Christ and his apostles had just concluded the Passover celebration when he took some other bread and a cup of wine.

Gospel writer Matthew wrote

 “Jesus took a loaf and, after saying a blessing, he broke it and, giving it to the disciples, he said:

‘Take, eat. This means my body.’

Also, he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying:

‘Drink out of it, all of you; for this means my “blood of the covenant,” which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28) 

For the master teacher this was not going to be "a one-time event". He requested his pupils to remember that night and to come to break bread in the future as a memory of what Jesus has done, having given himself as a lamb of God, shedding his blood for the forgiveness of sins.

The step that Jesus Christ took on the night of Nisan 14, 33 C.E., was much more than a passing incident in his life. The apostle Paul discussed it when writing to anointed Christians in Corinth, where the pattern was still being followed over 20 years later. Although Paul was not with Jesus and the 11 apostles in 33 C.E., he surely learned from some of the apostles what happened on that occasion. Furthermore, Paul evidently got confirmation of aspects of that event by inspired revelation. Said Paul:

 “I received from the Lord that which I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf and, after giving thanks, he broke it and said: ‘This means my body which is in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’ He did likewise respecting the cup also, after he had the evening meal, saying: ‘This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood. Keep doing this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’”​—1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

In this day and age we too have to remember this act of Jesus. Like he had an evening meal with his close friends we should have too. Though this year we shall be limited in such act, because we have to keep us to the restrictions of travelling and gathering as well as social distancing.

The present lockdown does not have to mean we can not have a memorial meal, nor should it have to mean we can not express our unity with other brothers and sisters in Christ.

We may not allow this unseen enemy get us away from our obligation to come together, even when it might be virtual, or to take our memorial meal.

The Gospel writer Luke confirms that Jesus commanded:

 “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

 These words have also been rendered:

 “Do this in memory of me” (Today’s English Version) and “Do this as a memorial of me.” (The Jerusalem Bible)

 In fact, this observance is often referred to as the Memorial of Christ’s death. Paul also calls it the Lord’s Evening Meal​ — an appropriate designation, since this was instituted at night. (1 Corinthians 11:20)
 Christians are commanded to observe the Lord’s Evening Meal.

that meal should us remember how Jesus put his own will aside to do the will of God and being prepared to give his flesh and blood he died as an upholder of his heavenly Father’s sovereignty and brought salvation unto mankind.

Jesus ‘gave his soul a ransom in exchange for many.’ (Matthew 20:28)   By having once a year a special evening to remember this we show our thankfulness. that is the least we can do. Observance of the Lord’s Evening Meal reminds us of the great love shown by both Jehovah and his Son in connection with Jesus’ sacrificial death. How we should appreciate that love!

Regarding the Lord’s Evening Meal, Paul said:

 “As often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

 Individual anointed Christians would partake of the Memorial emblems (breaking the bread and drinking the wine) until their death. Thus, before Jehovah God and the world, they would repeatedly proclaim their faith in God’s provision of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice.

The Passover was held only once a year, on the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan. (Exodus 12:1-6; Leviticus 23:5)Wednesday the 8th of April 2020 is the day all lovers of God all over the world shall remember that exodus from Egypt, the liberation from human slavery of the People of God. Christians also shall remember how all mankind can come under the grace of salvation by the sacrificial offer of Jesus and therefore shall also remember that night when Jesus took that bread and wine as a symbol for a New Covenant.

Let us be blessed and be happy that we can remember those memorable nights when salvation came over mankind.

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Find to read

1. The unseen enemy
2. Using fears of the deadly coronavirus
3. Not able to see Jesus working wonders
4. Thinking about fear for the Loving God and an Invitation for 14 Nisan
5. Death and Resurrection of Christ
6. When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name
7. Worthy partakers of the body of Christ
8. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
9. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
10. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
11. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
12. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
13. High Holidays not only for Israel
14. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
15. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
16. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
17. Observance of a day to Remember
18. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
19. Jesus memorial
20. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
21. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
22. One Passover tradition asking to provide the less fortunate with foods and help
23. In a time when we must remain in our place

 

 

Not daring to show a connection

For several sorts of Christians Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11).

Palm Sunday is the day that they celebrate Jesus in his humble glory riding a donkey into the city of David, as the crowds and children cry out,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9; ESV).

 At that time lots of people gathered to shout and to welcome Jesus as their special guest. The Vip of his time got the crowds throwing palm branches on the path before him to celebrate him as their approaching King (Matthew 21:8), who came to bring lasting peace and gracious justice.

Peace and justice still did not come to the world. A few days later many of those welcoming that king could have also been in the crowd shouting to kill that Nazarene man. Glory often is just for a short time. Thankfulness is also not for a long time. We can wonder where all those people were at that moment Jesus was presented to the public as a big criminal. Jesus ad helped so many people. Jesus also had inspired so many and had shown to all around him that he was a man of peace and not of war.

Suddenly not many seemed to remember what he had done. Many also out of fear, even a close disciple as Peter did not dare to let others know that he knew Christ or was for that man.

Also today there are lots of people who not dare the outer world to show they have an interest in that Nazarene teacher or that they believe in the same God as that Jewish man worshipped. Jesus did not worship himself (what he would have done when he is God) but worshipped the God of Israel, Who is a Singular eternal all-knowing Spirit Being.

These coming days are again days that God requests to show faithfulness to Him and His commandments. One of those requirements is to come together and to remember the exodus from Egypt and the other is to remember Jesus commemorating that event and installing a new exodus, namely the exit of the curse of death. In the upper room in Jerusalem Jesus came together with his disciples and installed the New Covenant. He asked to remember that night and that is what we should do. It is also a sign of willingness to be under that New Covenant.

Though we may not mix with a lot of people and are requested to stay home, that should not hinder us to feel united even though it is via an internet connection.

I sincerely hope we shall be able to find many brethren and sisters uniting and sharing their Memorial Meeting with others around the world.

In case we have contact by internet, via Face Time or other means, do not hesitate to mention this coming Wednesday as a special day. Keep witnessing along the virtual way, now we can not do it with direct human contact.

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Find also to read:

1. Only once and with consequences
2. When Belonging to the escaped ones gathering in Jesus name
3. Dark times looking like death is around the corner – but Light given to us
5. In a time when we must remain in our place
6. First time since Nazi time no public gathering
7. No idea yet for 14 Nisan or April the 8th in 2020 Corona crisis time
8. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
9. A meal as a mitzvah so that every generation would remember
10. A Passover for unity in God’s community
11. A virtual Seder this Wednesday, April 8 from 6.30 p.m.
12. To turn the world into a “vessel” receptive of God
13. The Application of the New Covenant 

Mogelijkheid om God rechtstreeks toe te spreken

Vandaag gaan wij op weg naar 14 Nisan
en nemen in herinnering dat Jezus het pad naar God effende en de relatie tussen zijn hemelse Vader en ons herstelde.
Dank zij de offergave van Jezus kunnen wij nu rechtstreeks tot God komen en Hem toespreken (in ons gebed).
Wij wensen niet deel uit te maken van de wereld en hun tradities hoog houden, maar ontdoen ons van hun heidense feesten en gebruiken, zoals het paasei zoeken en verering van beelden.
Enkel de Enige Ware God willen wij dienen,
Welke wij dankzij de zoon van God nu rechtstreeks mogen toe spreken.

In ieder geval zullen ik en mijn familie de Heer dienen (Jozua 24 vers 15

Vader,
vandaag breng ik mijn gezin opnieuw in gebed bij U.
Leid ieder van hen op een weg die naar verlossing, vrede en dienstbaarheid voert.
Bewaar hen voor ongelukken en ziekten
en hou hen op uw pad van gerechtigheid.
Ik vertrouw ze U in geloof toe,
in de wetenschap dat wij met elkaar U dienen!
Amen.

De avond dat Jeshua zijn talmidim opdroeg dat de Pascha Seder vanaf die tijd zal worden gevierd ter zijner nagedachtenis

Vanavond zullen Christenen over de hele wereld Goede Vrijdag eren terwijl andere Christenen bijeen zullen komen om naast Jezus laatste avondmaal ook zijn dood en het gevolg van zijn overgave aan de Romeinen zullen herdenken.

Tegelijkertijd met hen zullen het Joodse volk en de Messiaanse gelovigen de Pascha Seder vieren en vertellen hoe de Engel des Dood de huizen van de Israëlieten en al degenen die het bloed van het Paaslam op hun deurposten toepasten in Egypte passeerde.
 Bijna tweeduizend jaar geleden werden 12 mannen die het Pascha Seder in Jeruzalem vierden verteld door hun rabbijn en meester, Jeshua (Jezus), dat dit hun laatste Seder samen zou zijn. Hij verklaarde ook de profetische betekenis ervan.

"Toen het uur aanbrak, leunden Yeshua en zijn apostelen achterover. En Hij zei tegen hen: 'Ik heb met verlangen gewild dit Pascha met u te eten voordat ik lijd. Ik zeg je, ik zal het niet opnieuw eten totdat het vervulling vindt in het koninkrijk van God. '"(Lukas 22: 14-16)

Ondanks deze laatste keer dat ongezuurd brood werd gebroken en de wijn werd gedeeld, liet Jeshua hen niet zonder hoop achter.  Hij benadrukte de fysieke komst van het Koninkrijk van God:

"Na het nemen van de beker, dankte Hij en zei:" Neem dit en deel het onder u. Want ik zeg je dat ik niet meer zal drinken van de vrucht van de wijnstok totdat het koninkrijk van God komt. '

"En hij nam brood, dankte en verbrak het en gaf het hun, zeggende:" Dit is mijn lichaam dat voor u is gegeven; doe dit ter herinnering aan Mij. "Op dezelfde manier nam Hij na het avondmaal de beker en zei: 'Deze beker is het nieuwe verbond in Mijn bloed, dat voor u wordt uitgestort'" (Lukas 22: 17-20) )

Voor slechts een korte tijd had de zoon van de vakman Jozef rond getrokken en gesproken over het Woord van God en over hoe hij de Weg naar God is en hoe dat Koninkrijk van God zou komen. Tijdens die bijeenkomst in een bovenkamer in Jeruzalem onderwees Jeshua zijn talmidim (discipelen) dat de Pascha Seder vanaf die tijd zal worden gevierd ter nagedachtenis aan het offer dat hij van zichzelf zou gaan maken om een ​​verzoening voor de zonden van de hele mensheid te worden.

Vanavond begint dan ook de achtdaagse viering van het Pascha bij zonsondergang.
Terwijl het Joodse volk het begin van deze profetische vakantie markeert, zullen velen hier in België hun paasvakantie gaan nemen terwijl weinigen daar van nog even zullen stilstaan rond het gebeuren van Christus. Meerderen zullen meer aandacht schenken aan paaseieren en paashaasjes in plaats van de herinnering hoog te houden van Jezus dood en verrijzenis.

Laat ons door die heidense feestgebeurtenis echter niet misleid zijn. Dit jaar valt het samen, wat velen ook in feeststemming zal brengen rond de zelfde tijd. Maar laat het er u niet van afhouden om over die belangrijke gebeurtenissen, zoals de bevrijding van het Joodse Volk uit Egypte en de bevrijding van de vloek des doods, door het zoenoffer van Jezus.

Vanavond gedenken wij wat een voorafschaduwing is van de redding die voor de hele mensheid is verricht door de Nazareense leermeester Jeshua, met een ceremoniële maaltijd genaamd de Seder, waarin het verhaal van bevrijding uit de slavernij in Egypte wordt verteld alsook waar het verhaal wordt verteld van de laatste levensuren van Jeshua en hoe dat voor ons de weg opent naar een hoop tot een beter leven.

Foto van het centrale deel van een mozaïek in de kerk van het Heilig Graf in Jeruzalem, op de buitenmuur van de Catholicon achter de steen der unie. Het mozaïek beeldt af dat Jezus van het kruis wordt genomen en dat zijn lichaam wordt gezalfd voordat het in het graf wordt geplaatst.

Celebrations pointing to events of ultimate meaning

Although other holidays sometimes get more attention, Passover and Easter/Pascha are truly the most important times of remembrance and reflection in the corresponding Jewish and Christian faiths. These celebrations point to events of ultimate meaning and call for observers not only to reflect but to prepare.

The name “Easter” is not biblical, so we better let us get that out of the way first, because the Divine Creator wants us to worship Him properly and has given us orders and a set of feasts we should celebrate. We do not to use other day and certainly not days which are connected with false gods.

Easter bunnies and Easter-eggs have nothing to do with Jesus and most of all also nothing to do with God. Easter/Estra “ostara” or “eostre“ comes from the goddess of fertility Eostra, Estra or Esdra and Ishtar the pagan Babylonian and Assyrian deity of fertility and sexuality, later adopted by the Romans, and formally introduced into Christianity by Emperor Constantine. The goddess of fertility was celebrated with elements that showed the fertility and that’s why there are “Easter eggs”, to represent new life.  Instead of the eggs, let’s focus on the real new life.

Little lambs may also present new life, but here the lambs have come in the picture by the event of warning for the Peple of Israel, who had to stroke the blood of the lambs on their doorposts to make sure the wrath of god would not come in their house.

Those who loved the only one God where asked to select lambs and to bring them in the house on the 10th of Nisan for inspection and to slaughter it the afternoon of the 14th of Nisan to roast it, and have it for dinner. When the animal would be stricken in the neck to kill it and to let the blood run out of it, it had to be collected and applied to the wooden doorposts of their houses, using a hyssop branch to apply the blood.  That evening all lovers of God had to stay indoors until God had finished smiting all the firstborn males of any household where there was no lamb’s blood applied, causing the Destroyer to Pass Over those houses.  This is the reason for the name of “Passover”.  That blood was absolutely necessary for the protection of the household.

According to the famous historian, Josephus, the day that Jeshua (Jesus Christ) was put on the stake, there were 250,000 lambs brought into the temple to be sacrificed.  At the conclusion of all the sacrifices, the high priest yelled out “It is finished.”  According to the historical record, it was 3:00 pm.  At that precise moment, Jeshua also yelled out “It is finished”, and died.

After the Egyptian shedding of blood the Pharaoh at last gave in to let the Israelites leave Egypt. Three days the Israelites travelled to the Sea of Reeds, being led to their escape on the third day. And when we look at Christ he was laid in a tomb for three days, and on the third day, he arose from the dead.  In fact, he was seen alive by thousands of eyewitnesses over the next forty days.

When the Exodus happened, God told Moses that the Israelites were to commemorate this Passover event every year, for all generations, and that includes our generation.  We are supposed to commemorate this event — that we are protected from the Destroyer by the blood of the sacrificed Lamb!
Scripture also says that anyone who is not an Israelite, but is a follower of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, must gather together on this day to commemorate the event of Passover.  In fact, this is so important to the heart of God that He commanded that anyone who misses Passover on Nisan 14 must have their commemorative gathering one month later, on the 14th of the next month!

Jesus and his disciples also came together in the upper-room to celebrate Passover. It was there that Jesus took the bread and broke it as a sign of the new covenant and asked his friends to remember that moment. Each follower of Jesus therefore should also remember that special moment and have such memorial meal.

Not all of us may have their own Christian community which celebrate on the by god given days. But today there are more Biblestudents around  and more groups can be found who know about the days of God.

I strongly encourage any one of you who is reading this article to attend a Passover gathering near you, to enjoy the blessings of God that come from participating in this holy celebration.
If you are unable to attend someone else’s hosted gathering, then be sure to gather together as a family, with friends, in your own home, and read the Passover story that begins with Exodus 12.

The Bible does not call Passover a “feast of the Jews” — it is called a “feast of the LORD.” GOD is the host of the party. Be sure to attend HIS party!

This year, Nisan 14 falls on Friday evening, March 30.  If you don’t have a group to celebrate with, consider joining the co-meeting of the Belgian Christadelphians, Belgian Biblestudents and International Biblestudents, their gathering in Mons showing their unity as members of the Body of Christ.
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Find to read:

1. 9 Adar and bickering or loving followers of the Torah preparing for Pesach
2. Preparing for 14 Nisan
3. Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
4. Most important weekend of the year 2016
5. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
6. Peter Cottontail and a Bunny laying Eastereggs
7. Making sure we express kedusha for 14-16 Nisan
8. The flood, floods and mythic flood stories 2 Mythic theme 1 God or gods warning
9. After darkness a moment of life renewal
10. Objects around the birth and death of Jesus
11. After the Sabbath after Passover, the resurrection of Jesus Christ

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In Dutch 

1. Neem afstand van heidense vastenperiodes
2. 13 Adar opening naar 14 Nisan
3. Vrijdag 3 april 2015 een dag voor verenigde samenkomst ter herinnering
4. Belangrijkste weekend van het jaar 2016
5. Zeven Feesten van God de belangrijkste feesten van de hele Bijbel
6. Fragiliteit en actie #14 Plagen van God
7. Verwaarloosde geboortedag en sterfplaats 1 Rabbijn Jeshua en Romeinse weerstand
8. 2017 Nisan 10, uitkijkend naar 14 Nisan
9. Messiaans Pesach 2017 en verharde harten
10. Na de sabbat na Pesach, de verrijzenis van Jezus Christus

Most important day in Christian year

The Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is the most important day in the Christian year? 
Ask the average person in the United States and chances are you will hear

Christmas.

But in the early centuries of the church, first they remembered the Last Supper and the gathering for the remembrance of the exodus out of Egypt. In later years several Christians started to put the accent on the day of the resurrection, finding that more important than the Egyptian exodus.

Some may think that

From its earliest days, the church annually celebrated the anniversary of Jesus' resurrection, often calling the holiday the Christian Passover. (The Greek name for Passover was Pasch, so Easter is sometimes called Paschal; Easter is an English word... Read More

but that was not at all the case. Eostre feast or Easter was the pagan Spring festival, very popular in the West of Israel, and the Roman Empire.

The real followers of rabbi Jeshua, very well knew that God had ordered to yearly remember the exodus of God's people out of Egypt. They kept to the same Jewish remembrance day as the Jews, for years, until there came division by those who agreed to go with the Roman requirement to integrate the Roman pagan gods in their religion, starting the trinitarian Catholic Church.

Though not all members of "the Way", like the Jewish sect was often called, agreed to accept that human doctrine of a three-headed god and to let their holy days to coincide with the Greek-Roman pagan festivals. The true Christians kept celebrating the by God given holidays, which where the Jewish religious holidays and festivals.

Today nothing should be different. We too should celebrate those special or set apart (holy) days which where ordered by God for man to remember or to keep special in their heart.
as such the 14th to 22th Nisan should be a special time, where on the 14th of Nisan we take more time to remember what Christ Jesus has done for mankind.

Coming April the 10th it shall be that special remembrance day when real Christians come together to think about the Gift which is given to mankind., the Grace of Salvation, which is given for free, but which each individual has to accept and take the responsibility for himself or herself concerning the faith in Jesus, the Way to God.

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Please read also

1. 1691 years ago on June the 20th in 325
2. Altered to fit a Trinity
3. Who Celebrates Easter as Religious Holiday
4. High Holidays not only for Israel
5. Eostre, Easter, White god, chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies and metaphorical resurrection
6. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
7. Seven days of Passover
8. Peter Cottontail and a Bunny laying Eastereggs
9. Fraternal week-end at Easter in Paris
10. Risen With Him

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Additional reading

1. Spring playing hide and seek
2. Family happiness and little things we do
3. Christian values, traditions, real or false stories, pure and upright belief
4. Looking for answers on the question Is there a God #2 Pantheon of gods and celebrations
5. Who Gets to Say What the Bible Says?
6. Being Religious and Spiritual 8 Spiritual, Mystic and not or well religious
7. Necessity of a revelation of creation 2 Organisation of a system of things
8. Holidays, holy days and traditions
9. Seven Bible Feasts of JHWH
10. Easter holiday, fun and rejoicing
11. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
12. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
13. A Messiah to die
14. Not bounded by labels but liberated in Christ
15. The Weekend that changed the world
16. Pesach and a lot of brokenness in the world
17. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
18. Welcome to Easter 2014
19. Easter: Origins in a pagan Christ
20. Exodus 9: Liar Liar
21. Hanukkahgiving or Thanksgivvukah
22. Irminsul, dies natalis solis invicti, birthday of light, Christmas and Saturnalia
23. Christmas in Ancient Rome (AKA Saturnalia)
24. Different approach in organisation of services #1
25. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
26. For ever changed by spiritual experience
27. White Privilege Conference (WPC) wanting to keep the press out for obvious reasons

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Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart

The people of God heard the words Moses brought to them from the Adonai and they were willing to listen and to take them at heart.

Without a willing mind, costly offerings would be abhorred. With it, the smallest will be accepted. Our hearts are willing, when we cheerfully assist in promoting the truth both by giving our money and our time and our labour. It is up to each individual to decide what he is going to do for God and how much time and money he or she is willing to invest in this God's work. The command, and its fulfilment, was not based on wealth. Nor was the determination of the donation — be it of gold, fabrics or skills — based on what the mind thought would be “appropriate” charity. It was based on each person becoming aware of their spirit and their heart and acting on that awareness.  Thus anyone who attends to his work in the faith and fear of God, may be as wise, for his place, as anyone else, and be equally accepted of the Lord. Our wisdom and duty consist in giving God the glory and use of our talents, be they many or few:

 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1Corinthians 10:31).

Exo 35:20-29 MKJV  And all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.  (21)  And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom His spirit made willing. They brought Jehovah's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all His service, and for the holy garments.  (22)  And the men came in together with the women, as many as were willing-hearted, bringing bracelets and earrings, and rings and ornaments, all jewels of gold. And everyone who offered waved a wave offering of gold to Jehovah.  (23)  And everyone with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and bleached linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.  (24)  Everyone lifting up an offering of silver and bronze brought Jehovah's offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia-wood for any work of the service, brought it.  (25)  And every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands. And they brought spun yarn, blue, and purple, scarlet, and bleached linen.  (26)  And all the women whose hearts were lifted up in wisdom spun goats' hair.  (27)  And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod and for the breast-pocket.  (28)  And they brought spice and oil, for the light and for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense.  (29)  The sons of Israel brought a willing offering to Jehovah, every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all kinds of work which Jehovah had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

The inhabitants of this world have to choose which world they want to belong to. Each person also has to chose on whose side he or she wants to stand and where to look for wisdom and truth. To come to wisdom and insight there has to be an open mind, willing to look further then the length of the nose and looking beyond the man made dogmas and teachings. That last part is the most difficult. Most people are afraid to set aside the dogmatic teachings, like the teaching of the Holy Trinity.
Most often they want to silence themselves such a tri-une godhead is too difficult to understand for man so it shall only be understood when the Holy Spirit is on man.

As such many Christians keep blinding themselves, not willing to accept the words like they are written down in the Bible. They forget that God commanded each person to search for the truth and to seriously study His Word, being prepared to put aside man's word. Each person has to become aware of their spirit and their heart and acting on that awareness, and God shall consider each person himself or herself responsible for the (man)made choices.

Rabbi Michael Barclay reminds us that in the past each gift was not judged by its financial value, but valued because it was a gift of the heart, a unique expression of that person. According to Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum:

 “The various different physical materials that different men and women had in their possession and contributed for the construction of the Sanctuary correspond to the unique personal attributes and powers possessed by each and every individual.

These days we look at the Book Exodus and at the Book of Proverbs trying to see how God's Wisdom is given free to share with many and enabling to free our minds and souls. coming closer to 14 Nisan we remember the Exodus of God's People. With them we find the story of a journey into freedom, but with freedom comes responsibilities.

We can not ignore how even the People of God once liberated form slavery by Him, dared to doubt Him and even went astray at several moments in their life. From the book Exodus we should hear the clear teaching:

 Each individual must choose to give from the deepest part within themselves in order to achieve God’s goals and obey God’s instructions. There are no statements that one person’s gift is better than another’s, just an instruction that the gifts must be heartfelt. {Building a community on individual effort}

When we look at what happened in Ancient Egypt and later in Jerusalem when the Nazarene Jew Jeshua offered himself as a lamb for the liberation of many,we can see the generosity of two people, one the Most High Divine creator, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, and second His only begotten son, who is called son of man but also son of God.
That man only did what his heavenly Father wanted. He managed to keep doing the Wishes of the Most High. He told people he could do not anything without that God Who is much higher than him.

Joh 14:27-31 MKJV  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (28)  You have heard how I said to you, I go away and I am coming to you again. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I go to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.  (29)  And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens you might believe.  (30)  I shall no longer speak many things with you, for the ruler of this world comes, and he has nothing in Me.  (31)  But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father has given Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go away from here.

Today there are still lots of Christians who do not want to believe the words of Christ Jesus and his heavenly Father, what they say about each other, but prefer to keep to the idea of a tri-une god.
They should come to understand that this Jew who said he can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing is the one promised in the Garden of Eden and the one who was tempted, though God can not be tempted, and really died, whilst God can not die.

It is that period of the last hours we are going to 'celebrate' these days and in particular next Friday and Saturday. We do believe that the Nazarene Jeshua, is the one provided by the Elohim to bring a solution against the curse of death. The son of man who is also the son of David and son of Abraham could do only the things he did because God allowed him to do it and gave him the power to do it. For those around Jeshua and for us it should be the sign that God the Father loves this son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that we will be amazed.

We shall read the coming days in the books of the New Testament how Jesus prepared himself to the agony and death he was expecting. We also shall read how he ended up in hell for three days and afterwards was taken up from the dead by his heavenly Father, who made him higher than angels. In that action taken place some 1985 years ago we can see how God raises the dead and gives them life and how in the same manner now life has come over us who want to accept Jesus as the son of God.

We all should also be fully aware how God now has assigned all judgement to the Son, so that all people will honour the son just as they honour the Father. We also should know that the one who does not honour the son does not honour the Father who sent him.

 Joh 5:18-27 MKJV  Then, because of this, the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but also said that God was His father, making Himself equal with God.  (19)  Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever things He does, these also the Son does likewise.  (20)  For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all the things that He Himself does. And He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may marvel.  (21)  For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son of Man makes alive whomever He wills.  (22)  For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son,  (23)  so that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  (24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.  (25)  Truly, truly, I say to you, The hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they who hear shall live.  (26)  For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son to have life within Himself,  (27)  and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

Jesus honoured his Father and honoured God His commandments, asking us to do likewise.

Our generosity, especially toward honouring God’s commands, must be determined by what our hearts say, not our minds (which are often concerned with growing assets and eliminating financial debts). All too often, we think about and even “want to” donate something but hesitate because we are scared that ultimately we will “not have enough.” Our minds, busy worrying about the future, often get in the way of what our hearts know is truly righteous. {Building a community on individual effort}

We can hear the words of Jesus and prefer them to place them in the tri-une god dogmatic teaching or can place them like God wants us to see them in the light of the Only One Godship. Having to make the choice to stay popular by man or to become popular by God, honouring the right people in the right concept, worshipping only One True God.

The people who got guided out of Egypt also had to make the right choices and many of them had difficulties to worship the true God all the time.  They who felt the Hand of Salvation by God, even had a moment they came to worship a golden calf.

We, in our generation have not felt the Hand of God like the Jews had felt it. This perhaps makes it more difficult for many to see that Hand of God. Though god has given His Word where in wisdom can be found. We only have to take it up and study it. Reading the words we should come to hear the words and  then we shall have to make the right choices.

In reality, every choice is one between faith and fear, and while our hearts may know that it is right to give of ourselves, our minds sometimes get caught in that fear, and so we don’t follow the deeper parts of ourselves. The teaching in our portion (Exodus 35:21) reminds us to follow our hearts and to give fully … knowing in faith that we are in partnership with God and that our well-being is always in God’s hands. {Building a community on individual effort}

Ben Azzai in Pirkei Avot 4:3 says:

“Do not regard anyone with contempt, and do not reject anything, for there is no man who does not have his hour and nothing which does not have its place.”

The portion, as well as the words of Ben Azzai, also reminds us to honour the honest gift of each person.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all judged each other with the same standards that God demonstrates in this part of the Torah? If, rather than glorifying someone who gives a lot of money to their temple and degrading someone who gives less — or worse, trying to shame them into giving more — we chose to look at whether the gift was a reflection of the person’s spirit and heart. If we valued the volunteer who helps set up and take down services and does it from their heart, as highly as we valued the financial donor? If we followed this simple instruction of respecting and treasuring each person and their individual gifts, how much more full would our communities be?  {Building a community on individual effort}

The month Nisan is the first of the Judaic religious year and should also be our first month of the year were we think to start a new or make some good intentions again. It is a point were we should reconsider how we treated everybody last year and how we should treat everybody in the future.

How much more welcoming and healthy would our communities be if we truly honoured each person for their own uniqueness, special qualities and expressions? {Building a community on individual effort}

Freedom itself is a Divine gift. This week’s portion reminds us to truly open our hearts and let our actions be a reflection of that openness — to respect each individual for their unique gifts and to embrace the results of more participation in all ways. {Building a community on individual effort}

Open hearts, action and true respect. Isn’t that what defines a healthy community?

May we all be blessed to build our own communities with the same integrity and passion as our ancestors, and to reap the blessings God provides as a result. {Building a community on individual effort}

Jesus asked us to become part of his body. With him we should all gather in unity trying to exhort each other and helping each-other to get more insight and wisdom.

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Find also to read:

1. Hearing words to accept
2. Looking for wisdom not departing from God’s Word
3. Increased in wisdom in favour with God
4. Fools despise wisdom and instruction
5. We may not be ignorant to get wisdom

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Solution for Willing hearts filled with gifts

Getting closer to the 14th of Nisan, the most important day of the year in which we celebrate our salvation, we think about freedom or liberty.

Many people may be caught in chains but not aware of it. Many may be bounded to this world, but not aware of it. Lots of people can  not find true wisdom because they are not really interested in the reality and truth. For lots of people what is important is that hey enjoy life as much as they can. But they forget that lots of problems they get in life are just because they have not liberated their thoughts from the binding with this world.

In ancient times we can find the Israelites giving ear to their leader Moshe (Moses) and bringing a freewill offering to the Most High Elohim Hashem Jehovah. They were not yet so bounded to the material goods like many present inhabitants of this world. At that time every man and woman whose heart was willing to bring materials for all the work that God through Moses had commanded them to do, were prepared to take time for God and to bring offerings. Moses told them who God had chosen to fill them with His Power, giving them skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and in all kinds of work. The men of God got all sorts of skills,  to design artistic designs, to work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,  and in cutting stones for their setting, and in cutting wood, to do work in every artistic craft.

Though He not only gave them skill and wisdom just for themselves, but also to put the things in their heart to teach.

Exo 35:29-35 MKJV  The sons of Israel brought a willing offering to Jehovah, every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all kinds of work which Jehovah had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.  (30)  And Moses said to the sons of Israel, See, Jehovah has called the son of Uri the son of Hur, by the name Bezaleel, of the tribe of Judah.  (31)  And He has filled him with the spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of work,  (32)  and to devise designs, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,  (33)  and in the cutting of stones to set, and in carving of wood, to make any kind of skillful work.  (34)  And He has put in his heart that he may teach, he and Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.  (35)  He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of work; of the smith, and of the skillful worker, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in bleached linen, and of the weaver, of those who do any work, and of those who work out artful work.

These days we think about the many challenges the People of God received.

Exodus 1:1-22 had portrayed in graphic detail the suffering which Pharaoh had inflicted upon the Israelites. Exodus 2:1-25 shows us what God wanted do about it. God's solution consists not in some phenomenal miracle or in the promotion of a mighty Israelite leader who was already alive (either of which we might have expected, had we not already known the story). God's solution consists instead in the birth of a son.

This provides both a pattern for the future and a salutary lesson. One day God would again send a son -- this time His Own -- to deliver a people from slavery. Again He would prepare the child from birth, bringing it safely from the womb and nourishing and developing it for the immense task that lay ahead. the Old Testament shows us how a begin was made to create a people and in the New Testament we can find again an other people was finding a creation with a creation of a New Word, Jesus Christ becoming the firstborn of that creation.

In the 4th chapter of Exodus we do find signs showing God's control over life and death, how inanimate objects can become alive; living things can become dead!
In the 5th chapter we find God not requesting His people's freedom, but Him demanding it!

God requires actions from Moses, Pharaoh and form those men and women who say they want to worship the Only One True God. God is willing to hear their moaning and is willing to come close to them and to liberate them form slavery.

The world was going to see what the Adonai Creator of heaven and earth was going to do to Pharaoh, for compelled by His strong Hand Jehovah will release His People, and by His strong Hand He drove them out of the land of Egypt.
All people had come to know that This Liberator is the Most High Saviour, like there is no other.   God spoke to Moses and declared Who He is and Who the people should come to know Who He is.

The Great One Who appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, had to become known by His Holy Name. In ancient Egypt God was not yet known by the people over there. Though He gave them His Name and established His covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as resident foreigners. He also heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians were enslaving, and He had remembered His covenant.  Therefore Moses had to tell the Israelites that He, Jehovah is the Most High LORD Who would bring them out from their enslavement to the Egyptians. It is this Most High Adonai Who will rescue us from the hard labor we are imposes. The Judaic people received the assurance that God will redeem them with an outstretched arm and with great judgments and will take them to Himself for a people, and He will be their God.  Then also they will know that He is the LORD their God, who brought them out from their enslavement to the Egyptians.
Then Jehovah also promised them again that He will bring them to the land He swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob — and He will give it to them as a possession because He is the Lord over all the lords, the God of gods.

Exo 6:1-8 MKJV  And Jehovah said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he shall let them go, and with a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land.  (2)  And God spoke to Moses, and said to him, I am Jehovah.  (3)  And I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty. But I was not known to them by the name JEHOVAH.  (4)  And I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they traveled.  (5)  And I have also heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, those whom the Egyptians are keeping in bondage. And I have remembered My covenant.  (6)  Therefore say to the sons of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rescue you out of their bondage. And I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judgments.  (7)  And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God. And you shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.  (8)  And I will bring you in to the land concerning which I lifted up My hand to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And I will give it to you for a heritage. I am Jehovah!

Knowing the Only One True God, God's people has to come together to worship this Adonai but also to remember what happened in ancient Egypt.  therefore all over the world millions of believers will gather after sunset on the 3rd of April to remember the liberation of God's People and the provision for those who want to follow the send one from God.

Please be welcome at the remembrance services Friday night April 3, 2015

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Find also to read:

1. Death of Christ on the day of preparation
2. Imprisonment and execution of Jesus Christ
3. For the Will of Him who is greater than Jesus
4. On the first day for matzah
5. Servant for the truth of God
6. The Anointed One and the first day of No Fermentation
7. Vayikra after its opening word וַיִּקְרָא, which means and He called
8. Slave for people and God 
9. Servant of his Father 
10. Self inflicted misery #3 A man given to suffer for us 
11. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
12. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
13. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
14. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
15. 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
16. 14-15 Nisan and Easter
17. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
18. A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life
19. High Holidays not only for Israel
20. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
21. Timely Growth
22. A Messiah to die
23. Impaled until death overtook him
24. Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross
25. Why 20 Nations Are Defending the Crucifix in Europe
26. Christ having glory
27. Kingdom Visions of a Man, Throne and Great crowd
28. Salvation, trust and action in Jesus #3 as a Christian
29. Self inflicted misery #6 Paying by death
30. After the Sabbath after Passover, the resurrection of Jesus Christ
31. Vrijdag 3 april 2015 een dag voor verenigde samenkomst ter herinnering

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