August 23-27, 2010

Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap;

Luke 21:34 NASB

As we continue our journey this week, we become well aware that Jesus was not concerned with pandering those who were in authority. His words to and concerning the religious leaders of the day were anything but pacifying. Jesus warned His disciples, as well as the crowds, to do as the leaders say, and not as they do. Is it any wonder that those in leadership will incur a stricter judgment? How sad it is to hear preachers declare the word of God on Sunday, they look the part, they sound the part, but if you hang with them on Monday, you aren’t sure you are with the same person. They say all the right things, but don’t practice the very principles they preach. Jesus found it easier to be among those who were sinners and knew it, than the self-sanctified who lived lives of hypocrisy. Seven times Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” and once He said, “Woe to you, blind guides.” “Woe” is a very potent word! It is used for the severe, sudden pain that comes from a fracture, from being stabbed, or from being burned. The intensity of the pain causes such physical distress that it results in great mental anguish. It is used to express the deepest suffering which results from the greatest losses, such as the pain felt when one loses a beloved child. Jesus used this word when He spoke of the rich man who was in hell and was in great agony and torment. There are only three woes spoken in the book of Revelation when God pours out the last of His indignation. He spoke seven woes to the self-righteous who sees himself as above God’s words of correction.

These religious leaders didn’t lack zeal!!! Jesus said that they would go to any length to make a convert, and then make them into twice the son of hell that they are! They were the kind of givers most pastors long to have in their congregation. They calculated their tithe with a micrometer!!! It wasn’t their tithing that Jesus spoke against, for He went on to say, “…, but these things you should have done…” The judgment Jesus spoke over them resulted from their inability to rightly discern the weightier provisions of the Law such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Tithing made them look spiritual while they held on to their self-centered ways. Jesus clearly tells us that the most important points of the Law instruct us in justice, mercy, and faithfulness. All too often, Christianity at large looks at the Law as though it is some kind of written evil that we are to avoid. Countless times I have heard people say that they don’t read the Old Testament because it isn’t for today. They only read the New Testament. And yet Jesus said that the Law would give us the principles that will result in justice, mercy, and faithfulness. America is a prime example of what happens when you put aside God’s Law. At the beginning of this great nation, our country was founded on the values contained in the Old Covenant Law. The farther we have moved from those guidelines, the less justice we see, the less compassion for the people, and the less moral conviction resulting in steadfastness. Jesus clearly told them to keep tithing, but to put the priorities of the Law in right order.

You may find it helpful to take each “woe” and boil it down to a short statement of what it represents. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

Woe #1 – “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”

Represents – Unbelief

Woe #2 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers;

Represents – Heartless, sanctimonious prayers, void of relationship with God

We have been walking with Jesus through the week of Passion. We stopped for a break over the weekend, but today we will pick up where we left off.

MONDAY - continued

As Jesus continues His journey to the cross, He also continues to prepare His disciples for the days that lay before them. As they left the Temple on Monday, one of the disciples admired the structure of the Temple. Jesus’ response let them know that dark days were ahead and the destruction of the Temple would be a major part of that moment in time. Obviously, these words plagued the minds of His disciples. It was Jesus’ custom to leave Jerusalem and go to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

And He came out and proceeded, as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives; (Luke 22:39)

It was here that Jesus could have private conversations with His close followers. It was in this quiet place His disciples could ask their questions that had arisen during the day when Jesus spoke to the crowds. During this debriefing session, the disciples questioned Him concerning His obscure statement about the Temple. I have a feeling that Matthew’s account lumps several of the disciples questions into one inquiry, dividing it into three parts.

1. When will these things be?

2. What will be the sign of Your coming?

3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

If we are going to understand what Jesus says next, we must recognize that each of His statements will fall into one of these categories. And, just as it was with some of the prophecies of the Old Testament, one statement could have some relevance to all three. A good example of that phenomenon is found in Malachi 4:6.

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

We know that the spirit of Elijah was on John the Baptist who prepared the coming of Jesus to this earth when He came as a baby born of a woman. Few would disagree that Elijah is one of the witnesses in Revelation 11:3-11. Once again, the spirit of Elijah will prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. It is my persuasion that much of the interpretations of these passages on end-times are erroneous because they are assigned to the wrong event. For example, the first question asked was, “When will these things be?” What “things” were they asking about? This question was in relationship to what Jesus spoke when they were leaving the Temple. He told them that not one stone of the Temple would be left on another. Jesus paints a bleak picture and then tells them that this is merely the beginning of the end. But we must ask ourselves the question, “The end of what?!?” If we don’t have the right definition, then there is a good chance we will misinterpret the answer. I believe Luke defines this for us.

“and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

The apostle Paul also mentions this age.

For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; (Romans 11:24)

It is my belief that Jesus is describing the fall of the Temple that occurred in 70 AD, and this event ushered in the age of the Gentiles. Jerusalem would remain under Gentile rule until the end of the Gentile age. In our day we have seen the “branch of the fig tree become tender, and put forth leaves,” but Jerusalem is still being trodden under foot. The ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION still stands in the Holy Place!!! To thoroughly address all that is in this passage would take writing a book, not a blog, but it is my persuasion that as long as the Mosque of Omar, also known as the Dome of the Rock, sits on the site of the Holy Place, on the very location where the Prince of Peace will one day rule, the age of the Gentiles has not been fulfilled. For many reasons, I am persuaded that much of Daniel’s prophecy is in respect to the close of the Jewish age and the beginning of the Gentile age and, at times it refers to both.

As Jesus shares His answers concerning their questions, there is one theme that stands out above all the rest. HE WILL RETURN and HE EXPECTS THEM TO BE READY AND WAITING!!! Jesus warns them to guard their hearts against being “weighted down.” It would be easy for a Christian who doesn’t drink alcohol to think they are free from “dissipation and drunkenness”, but there are a lot of sober people whose hearts are intoxicated. Intoxication dulls the senses as the alcohol takes control. A Christian’s heart can become intoxicated with money, houses, toys, and things. Their heart can strain under the burden, and yet, like the alcoholic, they are incapable of letting their heavy burden go; they must have more! Dissipation and drunkenness were activities of the night. The culture of Rome which permeated even the cities of Israel at that time, looked at each evening as a time of eating and drinking. Banqueting nightly was the norm. Time after time, Jesus warned them to “be sober!” Don’t allow your heart and mind become dull and unaware of what is really going on in this world. Don’t live like the world, embracing its values and lifestyle in order to enjoy and impress the people of this age. Stay alert! For one thing is for certain - when you least expect it, JESUS WILL RETURN!!!

August 16-20, 2010

Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it, and bring it here. And if anyone askes you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it ' " Luke 19:30-31

Monday did you find yourself giving a bit of an exasperated sigh as you walked with Jesus and His disciples as they headed for Jerusalem? Jesus is doing all He can to prepare His disciples for the horror that lays ahead. “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed, sentenced to die, mocked, crucified and then He will rise on the third day.” What is it about betrayal, condemned, mocked, crucified and rising from the dead that they didn’t get? It’s got to be another parable because the Son of Man is going to set up His kingdom; at least that’s what they thought. We know that by what James and John request from Jesus. “Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and the other on Your left.” They even got their mother involved to add a little more persuasion. I mean, who could resist such a request from a sweet Jewish mother whose sons had sacrificed everything to follow the Master? Of course they could drink of the cup that the Lord was about to drink!?!?! It’s easy to think you are able to pay the price when you don’t have the foggiest notion of what you are buying into! Although they were all walking the same road together, Jesus was on a different journey then everyone else. Jesus had put the roadmap in their hands, but they were so sure they knew where this road was going, that they failed to look at it. I’d like to point fingers at them, but I’m afraid that I’ve misinterpreted what Jesus has said to me on more than one occasion. I’ve heard His words and interpreted them according to how I wanted it to be, and not by what He had planned. So I find myself sighing a deeper sigh as I look at it from my own life.

Jesus followed the normal route of the pilgrims. If you’ve been to Israel, you are already familiar with the fact that Jericho was the normal route taken on your way up to Jerusalem. You also quickly learn that no matter which direction you take to Jerusalem, your journey will be “up” to get there. No matter where Jesus went, He left a path of healing and restoration in His wake. Blind men found mercy, and outcasts found acceptance. And by this time in Jesus ministry, His presence always drew a crowd.

As Jesus neared Jerusalem, he began to tell a very interesting story about ten servants. Aware of what His disciples were thinking concerning their desire to see the Kingdom immediately established, Jesus teaches a story of the Kingdom. There is more to this story than meets the preconceived eye! Jesus makes it clear that there’s going to be time between the nobleman’s going away, and his return. He also lets them know that the nobleman who was going away to be crowned king was leaving with expectations of them. Did you notice the three categories of servants when he returns? 1. You have those who didn’t want him to be their king and were considered his enemies. 2. You have those who accepted him as their king and use wisely what he has entrusted them with. 3. And you have those who want him to be their king, but do nothing with what they were given. That part of the story is not too difficult to put together, but each category receives a different outcome when they were called to give an account. What did Jesus say to each one? What does that really mean when someday we have to stand and give an account? What does Jesus mean when He says, “Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds”? In eternity, what will it matter if one ends up with no pounds and the other ends up with eleven? What is taken away from the man who accepted the king, but did nothing with what he received? Thankfully, he didn’t get the same judgment as the ones who refused to accept Him as their king and were considered the His enemies. Do we have a tendency to just hear the words without understanding their meaning? Perhaps we are more like the disciples who heard Jesus’ words, and when they failed to understand them, they simply attached their own logical preconceived explanations. Sigh!!!

At the beginning of the week of Passion, we find ourselves back in Bethany at the home of Simon who had been a leper. As we piece together the different accounts, we quickly find that Simon was a close friend with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Martha is busy doing what Martha does so well – serving everyone. Mary is focused on what she is always focused on – serving the Master. And Lazarus is just enjoying being alive! Each of their lives has been made richer. Martha serves without complaint, Mary gives the best that she has, and Lazarus testifies of the power of the Lord with every breath he takes! Did Mary understand what she was doing or did Jesus’ words take on meaning only after He was crucified? Whatever the case may have been, that event began an incredible, Scripture fulfilling week!

SUNDAY

Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem riding on a donkey that day? Why did the procession end at the Temple, and why did Jesus throw the merchants out of the Temple – AGAIN? This was not just any normal Sunday. This was the Sunday before Passover! This was the day when the fathers went and brought the lamb into the house that, in just a few days, would become the Passover sacrifice. This was the day the Father of all fathers brought His Lamb into His house knowing that He would become the sacrifice for His household! During the days before Passover, one of the preparations was to clean out all leaven in the house. Every corner, dish, nook and cranny had to be washed and cleansed. The Father’s house was no exception; it was also being cleansed!

While Jesus stood in the Temple teaching and healing, the people hung on every word. The scribes and Pharisees’ challenges only demonstrated to the people that Jesus spoke with an authority they didn’t have. And while Jesus was in the Temple speaking words of life, the priests were hiding behind close doors, plotting His death.

MONDAY

Jesus got up in the morning, and before He had breakfast, He headed back to His Father’s house. If He had been in Galilee, He’d have headed down to the beach and cooked up some nice fish, but since He was in Jerusalem, He was hoping to have some nice fresh figs. Although it was a bit early for figs to ripen, the tree had the appearance of fruitfulness. When Jesus looked at the fig tree, was He reminded of Hosea 9:10?

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit on the fig tree in its first season. BUT they came to Baa-peor and devoted themselves to shame. And they became as detestable as that which they loved.

Did He think about the parable He had taught concerning the fig tree that the man planted in his vineyard? For three years he came looking for fruit, but there wasn’t any. At this time, Jesus had been ministering for about three years? Did the tree remind Him of the religious leaders in Jerusalem – they looked like they should be bearing fruit, but instead they were barren. Obviously, the fig tree weighed heavily on His mind because later in the Temple He tells the people to learn the parable of the fig tree:

When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; even so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (Matthew 24:32-33)

Just coincidence? Certainly not!!! What was Jesus telling them? Israel as a nation was about to quickly wither and die. It had taken on the appearance of fruitfulness, but they had become as unbelieving as their forefathers and devoted themselves to shame. But there would come a day near the end of time when the fig tree would once again become tender and green. Jesus encouraged them to recognize this event and know that when you see this happen, He is getting ready to return!!! We have had the amazing privilege of seeing the fig tree’s branch become tender. What an exciting day to be alive. May we listen carefully to the Master as He teaches us throughout this week. His words during the week of Passion were meant for us today. God, help us not to walk with the same lack of understanding as the disciples who walked with Him. These are crucial days and we need to walk in discernment of what Jesus is saying. He is standing at the door and I don’t want to miss a thing!!!!!

August 8-12,2010

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die, Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

In April I was hiking with a dear friend around Mount Maunganui in New Zealand. The walk took twice as long as was normal for my friend because, at every turn, I had to stop and take a picture. I was seeing things through eyes of wonder and enjoying every little path, tree, and rock formation; things that Kate had taken for granted because she’d passed them so many times before. Our trip around the “mountain” reminded Kate to take time to look at the small things that had escaped her notice. That’s what this week’s journey is like. We are visiting homes and walking paths that many of us have journeyed for years. The danger is that we can get so familiar with these places that we fail to find a different viewpoint and miss some very revealing Kodak moments!

Our week begins with some rather perplexing words from Jesus. If taken out of context, they could really wreak havoc in a marriage or family.

If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:2)6

Whoa! Does Jesus really mean that for me to become a disciple I have to hate my family? Surely the word “hate” must mean something other than “hate!” I’d encourage you to check it out. When you do, you will find that the word literally means “to despise,” “to hate.” Not only are we to hate father, mother, wife, children, sister, and brother, we are told to even hate ourselves!

We begin to find the clues to unravel this word puzzle when we see another place Jesus used this word.

No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

There is a common thread that runs through both of these references; both speak about what rules you. Notice that it says that you will “love” the one that is your master, but you will “hate” and “despise” the one that isn’t. Jesus used two different words, “hate” and “despise.” We’ve looked at the word “hate,” but let’s examine the word “despise.” Literally it means “to disparage” (i.e. to refer disapprovingly to someone or something), or “to treat with disinterest.” If we put this principal in everyday life, I believe we will see exactly what Jesus was saying. Let’s say you are a person who really loves his job. You find fulfillment in the work you do and the pay that comes as a result. You also are someone who loves your spouse and family and you enjoy spending time together. You look forward to home projects, and helping your kids learn and mature. For a time, you are able to balance both, but when the job starts demanding long hours and starts cutting into your family time, you begin to despise what you once loved. It’s not that you actually hate the job, but you hate the demand and control that it places on your life. You’d much rather be serving your family. If this were to continue with no let up in sight, you would have to reevaluate which one would take precedence. When two influences fight for the same right of control in our hearts, one will have to give way to the other, and the one we love most will win. If the job wins out, it won’t be long before conflict begins in the home, and what you once loved is now despised. If the love of the family is greater, you can be sure your boss will notice that you treat the job with disinterest and his demands will cause you to hate the job.

When we examine Jesus’ words concerning the family from this concept, we quickly see the point Jesus was making. Jesus was defining for the multitudes what it really meant to be His disciple. A disciple is one who willingly gives up EVERYTHING to follow Him. If Jesus calls someone to follow and his parents, spouse, brother or sister, or his children protested, whose demands rule his heart? Would their family’s disapproval have about as much influence as someone who hated his guts? It’s one thing when someone you love disagrees with your actions; it’s another when it’s your enemy! When Peter rebuked Jesus for saying He was going to carry out the Father’s will by dying, Jesus responded to him as His enemy saying, “Get behind Me satan! You’ve set your desires on man’s interest and not God’s!” Did Jesus hate Peter? Of course not! But when it came to doing the Father’s will, Jesus made it very clear who was in control of His heart!!! Anything that opposed God’s desires was from His enemy!

Jesus also understood the dynamics that would result in their choice to follow Him against the wishes and opinions of close family. Often parents and family feel personally rejected; they can feel as though they are hated, or treated with disinterest. They wonder how one could be so insensitive to their feelings. Like Peter, their minds are set on the interest of man, not on God’s plans. Just ask many parents who have had children move away for the sake of the ministry and they will tell you of the sense of rejection they dealt with.

It is not just the control of others that must be put aside; Jesus says that we are to even hate our own “life.” This Greek word “psuche” takes in the mind, will, and emotions. It is not only the thoughts and opinions of others that must bow to the Master, we must be willing to bow our own hearts in surrender and treat our own desires with contempt if they set themselves against God’s will.

As we continue our journey, we find ourselves once again in Bethany. Lazarus has died and his two sisters are grieving. It is interesting to hear Jesus’ comments to the Pharisees shortly before He made His journey to Bethany. Jesus told them the story of a Rich man and a poor man whose name was Lazarus. I’d like to propose my personal theory. It is my belief that Jesus was not giving an account of something that had already happened, but something that was about to happen. It says that the Pharisees loved money, and so it is obvious who the rich man represents. Jesus doesn’t tell us the name of the rich man; therefore it could have been any Pharisee’s relative. Jesus tells us that Lazarus was a poor man. This would be in harmony with what we learned last week. Lazarus was from Bethany, “House of Poverty!!!” In the account, Abraham tells the rich man that even if Lazarus were raised from the dead, his brothers wouldn’t believe. I believe Jesus was prophesying what the Pharisees would do after Lazarus’ resurrection. As you will discover next week, the miracle Jesus preformed when He raised Lazarus from the dead only fueled their fire to plot His death. Truly the story came to pass just as Jesus had spoken it; even if Lazarus was raised from the dead, they would not believe!

The record of the events of Lazarus’ death and resurrection also gives us greater insight into this family that meant so much to Jesus. The Scriptures say that, “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” So often Martha is treated with a bit of mild contempt. After all, didn’t Mary choose the better portion when she chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn, while Martha manned the kitchen? And yet when it speaks about Jesus’ love for the threesome, Martha is mentioned first and by name. In the midst of her grief, it was Martha who left everyone to run to Jesus when she heard that He was coming. It was Martha’s confession of faith that Jesus was Messiah, the Son of God, which Jesus built on that day. It was her declaration that He encouraged when she questioned whether moving the stone was a good idea. We really can’t fault with Martha’s response to Jesus when He told her that Lazarus would rise again. Why shouldn’t she think that He was just comforting her with the promise of the resurrection of the dead? Aren’t those the words we’ve been told to comfort each other with?

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming o the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:14-18)

It doesn’t surprise me that Martha’s faith needed an extra boost from the Lord.

“Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God? (John 11:40)

Did you notice the word “if”? Obviously she believed because she certainly saw the glory of God!!! How exciting!!! Can’t you just feel her heart begin to beat with excitement as she realizes what Jesus is about to do?!?!? What encouragement to know that if we have even the smallest amount of faith, Jesus knows how to blow on the ember until the fire is ablaze. Thanks Martha for being an example and showing us what can happen with faith as small as a mustard seed. You gotta love this lady!!! Can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for next week!!!

August 2-6, 2010

Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Luke 13:24

This week we continue our journey with the Rabbi and His disciples. Last week we observed Jesus as He separated the twelve apostles from His numerous disciples. This week we hear Jesus give similar instructions to 70 or 72 of His disciples, depending on which ancient manuscript is used. Although we are not given the names of all those commissioned that day, there is one name we know for certain, besides the names of the twelve apostles. Let’s see how many of you can figure out who he was and how we know for sure he was there.

Previously we had the pleasure of meeting some of the women who traveled with Jesus. This week we are introduced to a family of three and are welcomed into their home. He frequently stayed with them when He came to Jerusalem. I’m sure you have met them in times past, but maybe it was a quick introduction and you never REALLY visited their home or their village. There is a tendency to introduce them as Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, but it would be more proper to present them as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. The home belonged to Martha. As the head of the house, she invited Jesus into her home. In all instances in the Bible except one, Martha is always mentioned before Mary and Lazarus. Even when we are told of Jesus love for this precious family, it says:

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. (John 11:5 NASB)

As the head of the house, Martha would have borne the responsibilities that come along with showing hospitality and making sure that her guests were well cared for. Their house would have been quite considerable. When Jesus came to town, He always brought a troop with Him. We know that Jesus had quite a following and they didn’t all stay in the same home, but you can be certain that several of them did. When you count just the apostles and the women who traveled with him, you’ve already got close to 20 house guests!!!

Although we don’t have any knowledge of what happened to the parents of this generous threesome, we can learn a bit about who they were when we become acquainted with the village they lived in. There has been great debate concerning the name of the village of Bethany. The name “House of Figs” has been commonly accepted, but for several year this has been challenged. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls brought even great light to this translation mystery. The Essenes who lived in Qumran and who penned the Dead Sea Scrolls were a sect of Judaism. They were of the strictest order of Essenes; forbidding to marry as well as any physical pleasures. But not all Essenes lived by such a strict code. Although the Essenes of Qumran took a vow of chastity, there were others who married. Overall, Essenes believed in poverty by choice and in the sense of community, with all things being shared equally. They did not believe in owning slaves, but felt that they had been called to serve each other. They refused to accept the priesthood of the Temple, believing that it was corrupt. Therefore they did not believe in the sacrifices of the Temple, since the Law required they be offered by a legitimate priesthood. As descendants of Zadok who was of the lineage of Aaron, they saw themselves as the true priesthood. They believed in the coming of one who would be prophet, priest, and king and whose coming would restore the Temple and the priesthood. They devoted themselves to the study of Torah, the first five books of Moses, and also to their own writings. One of these writings which they held sacred was called The Temple Scroll. This scroll was believed to be an added Torah and was considered to be equal to the Torah. Amongst the many instructions written in it was:

“You shall make three places, to the East of the city (Jerusalem), separated from each other, to which shall come the lepers, and to those afflicted with a discharge and the men who have had an emission of semen… And the city which I shall sanctify to make dwell My name and My Temple within it shall be holy and shall be clean from any case of whatever impurity with which they could be defiled.” IIQTemple 46:16-47:5

The location of Bethany would certainly fall into the area and description of one of these cities. When the Galilean pilgrims came for the three pilgrimage feasts, they would have traveled from Jericho to Jerusalem on the last leg of their journey. Bethany would have been the last village before cresting the Mount of Olives where one would get their first glimpse of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Because of the people who dwelt in this village, it’s location was just out of sight of the Temple Mount so that nothing that could bring defilement could be seen. Since this would have been an Essene establishment, the name of the city would certainly not have been derived from Greek, but from Hebrew/Aramaic. In which case it would no longer be recognized as “House of Figs,” but “House of the Poor.”

As we continue on our journey, I believe we will find that this is the true basis for this village. In a short time we will visit the house of Simon the leper who lived in Bethany. Obviously, lepers were a part of this city since Simon owned a house there. We will hear Jesus speak to those who were with Him in Bethany, telling them that “the poor you will always have with you.” This statement would not have been condescending in a city that was filled with people who chose poverty as a righteous way of life. We will also understand why there was such disapproval when Mary took her alabaster vial of costly perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet, and why they thought it could have been better used to help the poor. Although Jesus was not an Essene, we find that He was welcomed among them. As a matter of fact, the closer Jesus came to the time of His death, the more He associated with the Essene community and the farther He pulled away from the Pharisees and scribes.

It is also interesting to discover that in the first few centuries of Christianity, Jewish Christians were often found among the Essene communities. In 325 AD the Roman Emperor Constantine called for the Council of Nicea in Bithynia (what is now Iznik in Turkey) and several decisions were made to universally govern Christianity. They changed the name of the Day of Resurrection to Easter, the name of the goddess of fertility, who was also known as Ashtaroth, the consort of Baal. They moved the date from the time of Passover to the celebration of Easter, thus removing it from its Jewish roots. Unlike some have claimed, this council did NOT establish the deity of Christ. It concluded that Jesus was adopted by God at His baptism, and therefore He was an adopted Son of God, but not God in the flesh. The Jewish Christians could not, and would not embrace the decisions of the council, holding fast that Jesus truly was Emmanuel, God with us, and thus were labeled heretics. Evidence has been found placing this rejected Christian Jewish population within the Essene Gate in Jerusalem.

We’ve got much to learn about this division of Jews, and there is enough written about them to give us a greater understanding. They obviously played an important part in the life of Jesus, as well as the New Testament Jewish believers. Hopefully, as we continue on our journey, the times we spend in this Jewish Essen village called Bethany will shed more light on the steps of Jesus’ as He journeys to the cross.