Like Joseph’s coat of many colors, the Bible is filled with an array of colors. Scriptures employ the colors of the rainbow in their various shades. But is there any significance to these colors?
While there may be some level of insight gained or helped from understanding a poetic or symbolic meaning of a color, it is not essential to the faith.
In Isaiah 1:18 we also see red as a symbol of sin that is contrasted with the purity of white. Red is connected with the life blood of people and animals (Genesis 9:4-6) as well as fiery passion. Because of the blood of Christ, this color also has become a color of redemption.
Many of the associations which we have with colors today were also held in biblical times. Often, they are more poetic than carrying some hidden meaning. Green is often used as a symbol of life and vigor. Grass, trees, etc. come to life with a vibrant green in the spring. As with green, so also purple carried some of the same associations we have today. Purple is the color of royalty and majesty. As such it is often associated with YHWH. And shades of blue/purple were woven into the priestly garments.
Color plays a significant role in providing the context of worship. Here are a few of these.
Colors are all throughout the Bible. They do carry some level of symbolic meaning, but not such that should be pressed too far. Colors can be emotive and carry associations with them. For this reason, the colors of a liturgical calendar can hold powerful reminders of the biblical truths which they represent.
Here are a few examples of the colors used in the Bible.
1. Red
Isaiah 1:18 - "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."
2. White
Revelation 7:14 - "I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' And he said to me, 'These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'"
3. Purple
Acts 16:14 - "One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul."
4. Blue
Exodus 25:4 - "Blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair."
5. Green
Psalm 23:2 - "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters."
6. Gold
Exodus 25:11 - "You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it."
7. Black
Isaiah 50:3 – “I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.”
8. Silver
Proverbs 25:11 - "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver."
9. Bronze
Exodus 27:2 - "And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze."
10. Rainbow
Revelation 4:3 - "And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald."
The story of the flood is told in Genesis chapters six through nine. This passage starts with a strange description of the sons of God and daughters of men seemingly producing the Nephilim. Mixed in with this is God’s response to the wickedness of the world and His determination to destroy it all. Following this was God’s instruction to Noah to build a large boat and take on board pairs of all the animals. God was going to be sending a massive flood that would destroy all life not on board the ark.
So, Noah built the boat and loaded the animals that God brought to him. No sooner was this done than the rain began, and the springs erupted. It rained for 40 days, and the ground was flooded for over a year. Finally, the waters subsided enough for everyone to come out of the ark. Noah offered a sacrifice and God responded by committing Himself to never again destroy the earth by flood.
The most obvious answer to the question of why God flooded the world is the one given twice in the first few verses. Genesis 6:5-7 tells us that the Lord saw how wicked humanity had become, that every inclination of our hearts was to do evil. And He determined to wipe us from the face of the earth. Genesis 6:11-13 says essentially the same thing, going on to give instructions to Noah about saving a remnant of life on earth. So, it would seem like humanity had reached a point where, if God had not intervened, they would likely have destroyed themselves. And so God stepped in and put an end to the wickedness of those days.
Genesis 6:1-4 is a very puzzling passage. And one that we often just scratch our heads over and go on. In these first 4 verses there are three specific groups mentioned: the sons of God; the daughters of humans; and the Nephilim. Who are these three groups? One common response is to identify the sons of God as the descendants of Seth, and those who call on the name of the Lord (Gen. 4:26). The daughters of humans would then be the descendants of Cain and the Nephilim would simply be their offspring.
I believe a more likely explanation identifies the sons of God as being the same group mentioned in Job 1:6 and Job 2:1. In Job, the NIV translates sons of God as angels. But it is the same expression as used in Genesis 6:1, 4. That would mean this passage then describes a sexual union between angels and humans. And their offspring were the Nephilim.
This less obvious alternative to why God sent the flood is not really an alternative. Rather it provides additional information leading to God’s decision. At least a part of the reason for the rampant human wickedness had to do with the fall of this group of angels and their influence on humanity. God sent a flood to cleanse the physical earth. And he bound the fallen angels in chains awaiting a future judgement.
One final thought as to why God flooded the earth comes from 2 Peter 2:4-6 and 1 Corinthians 10:1-11. These passages both look at historical events described in the Scripture. These were times when God had punished the sinful activities of humanity. And both passages describe this punishment as being an example to us. The 2 Peter reference specifically identifies the fallen angels and the flood of Noah’s days as being an example of what will happen to the ungodly.
Clearly God does not immediately execute judgement and punishment on every transgression of humanity. But He has given us plenty of examples of what will happen to sinful humanity. Our punishment may be delayed, but it is just as certain as the flood.
I believe we can find two distinct reasons for the flood. The first, and most obvious reason, is because of the sinfulness of humanity. A sinfulness that seemed to have reached an all-time peak, potentially aided by a group of fallen angels.
A second and more significant reason for the flood is the example that it provides for us. God takes the sinfulness of humanity seriously. Even though the flood was a one-time event, it does remind us that judgement awaits those who persist in living in rebellion against our creator.
In 1 Corinthians 15:52, Paul tells us that at the resurrection, when the last trumpet sounds, “We will be changed.” What does this actually mean? Will we get new bodies? Does the Bible say we will have glorified bodies in heaven? The answer is yes, though it’s not actually new bodies we’ll be getting but transformed ones.
We know that those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior “shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:6). As Jesus continues in John 6:40, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
When we who believe get to heaven, we will be assured of a glorious, joyful existence, a reward gifted to us in God’s great mercy for our faith and obedience. There, Jesus said, we will live in His “Father’s house,” which has many rooms (John 14:2). Heaven is not an idea or a figment of imagination but a reality, a place we can count on.
It’s also our new home. In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul reminds us that our true citizenship is there, in heaven, where the Lord Jesus “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.”
Paul also notes that Jesus will do this “by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control” (v. 21). He’ll take our current bodies, then, and transform them into a body “like His.”
In 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Paul elaborates, sharing, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’”
Paul also notes in verse 49 that just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, “So shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.” It’s a change we will experience, taking what we are now and perfecting it so we will be like Jesus — glorious.
The Bible doesn’t offer much detail about what our bodies will look like or even what kind of body this will be. But like the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, we can trust that it will be wonderful — perfectly determined by God, powerful, and imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:38-44). Our earthly bodies are decaying from the moment we are born, experiencing sickness, frailty, and disease.
The New Testament was written in Greek, so we must understand that all English versions of the Bible are translations from the original language. In Philippians 3:21, when Paul writes that Jesus “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body,” the original Greek for “transform” is metaschēmatizō, which translates to transfigure, disguise, transfer, or transform.
Consider the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a mountaintop, where he was “transfigured” — or “transformed” — before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.
The original Greek for “glorious” is doxa, meaning glory, splendor, and brilliance. The NIV Exhaustive Concordance says the word comes from the base meaning of the awesome light that radiates from God’s presence.
Reading the full verse, that we’ll “be like” his glorious body, the original Greek for “be like” is symmorphos, meaning conformed or similar in form. Symmorphos is the same word used in Romans 8:29, which also speaks to how we will “be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
The bottom line here is that, when we get to heaven, we’ll look and actually be similar to Jesus — glorified, splendorous, and brilliant — reflecting the awesome light of God. What a gift and a blessing.
Our old bodies bear the scars of sin. They are subject to sin as well as death; they are weak and prone to pain. They falter with age and succumb to illness and decay, from deteriorated bones to thickened arteries to our overall immune system decline. We’re also prone to spiritual attack, emotional ailments, mood swings, and other body-mind issues. These bodies aren’t fit for the glory of heaven.
As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
Consider what Jesus taught about putting new wine in new wineskins (Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, and Luke 5:37-39). While the crux of the teaching points to the futility of trying to fit the transformative gospel into old, outdated ways of thinking, it also parallels the notion that our old bodies are meant for earth, while for heaven we’ll have newly transformed bodies suited in every way for our new home.
We don’t have to know exactly what our bodies will look like or what heaven will be like. Some things are yet a mystery. But we do know that we who believe are guaranteed a home forever in heaven. And when we get there, we’ll have glorious bodies to go along with our new glorious home. What a sight that will be!
Judas Iscariot was one of the 12 followers that Jesus anointed to be in His inner circle, later known as the apostles. Judas traveled with Jesus for three years, and apparently didn’t create many waves in the group.
Jesus and His disciples were staying with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. Mary took a jar of expensive perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping the perfume with her hair. Judas rebuked her for wasting the perfume when she could have sold it and given the money to the poor, although he didn’t actually care about the poor. He cared about the money because he was in charge of the group’s finances and would help himself to the bag (John 12:6). Jesus responded by telling Judas to leave Mary alone.
After this, Judas went to meet the religious leaders who were plotting to kill Jesus, and Lazarus as well since Jesus had raised him from the dead. He asked how much they would pay him to betray Jesus and got 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:1-6). Whether Judas did this meeting immediately after Jesus rebuked him or several days later is hard to say. Traditional church calendars commemorate the event happening on Spy Wednesday, the fourth day of Holy Week.
After the Last Supper, Judas brought some men to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, identifying Jesus by greeting Him with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-56, Mark 14:43-50, John 18:3-12). After this Jesus was arrested and condemned to die, which apparently surprised Judas. Matthew 27:3-10 states that Judas felt convicted, threw the bribe money back at the religious leaders, and hanged himself. Acts 1:15-18 claims that he used the money to buy a field and died in it, falling headfirst on the ground while his intestines burst.
We know that Judas Iscariot is mentioned in Mark 3:9’s list of all 12 disciples, and it’s generally believed that “Iscariot” specified where Judas came from: it meant “man of Kerioth.”
The disciples continue following Jesus, and He warned them that although He chose all 12 of them, “one of you is a devil!” (John 6:70).
So, Jesus knew even before reaching Jerusalem (possibly right from the start) who would betray Him. Jesus also hinted that Judas didn’t believe in His mission from the start and described Judas’ unbelief as showing how “no one can come to Me unless it is granted Him by the Father” (John 6:65).
Why precisely Judas Iscariot chose to betray Jesus is not entirely clear.
Based on Jesus’ comment that Judas didn’t believe in Him, it seems that he joined Jesus’ group for selfish reasons.
We do know that Judas decided to betray Jesus after his greed was called out, so he may have worried that Jesus knew about him embezzling funds and wanted to avoid being caught. We also know that Mark 27 says Judas was convicted after learning that Jesus was condemned to die.
Judas thought Jesus would be arrested but not killed. However, he may not have expected Jesus to die by crucifixion (a brutal execution method normally reserved for the worst criminals). Therefore, it’s at least a little bit possible that Judas hadn’t considered the full consequences of his actions.
The question of how much Judas Iscariot chose of his free will to betray Jesus, and how much he was influenced by outside forces, is hard to say. Luke is the one Gospel that gives an explicit reason for Judas’ behavior, stating that once Jesus and His group had arrived in Jerusalem, “Satan entered into Judas Iscariot… and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them” (Luke 22:3-5).
it’s hard to say whether Judas was tempted by demons and took the bait or was possessed by demons. It is interesting that at the Last Supper, Jesus talks about Judas in a way that suggests some free will, a possibility to turn back. After telling His disciples that one will betray Him, Jesus adds, “the Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born” (Mark 14:21). Jesus telling the whole room how bad things for His betrayer could have been a public warning, giving Judas a chance to reconsider.
The second prophecy describes how another would take Judas’ office (Psalms 109:8), which happened when Matthias took his spot among the apostles.
Given all this information, it’s possible that Judas did have a choice about whether he betrayed Jesus, a possibility to reject Satan’s suggestions. We won’t fully know this side of eternity the extent to which free will and God’s will played in his situation.
Without the resurrection, Christianity means nothing. Paul makes this argument in 1 Corinthians 15. In this chapter, he speaks about both Christ’s resurrection and ours at the end of the age. They are connected. Jesus rising from the dead and living now means that one day, for those who follow and live in Him, we will also be resurrected in a new body for eternity.
Every Christian should trust in the resurrection event 2,000 years ago. Because Jesus rose from the dead, it made it possible for us to live an eternal life with Jesus.
And yet Jesus wasn’t the only person who was raised from the dead. The Old Testament has several accounts where people came alive again after death. And resurrections happened in the New Testament, as well.
How many people were resurrected in the Bible? And what does that mean for us today?
The first recorded resurrection happens in 1 Kings 17:17-24 when the prophet Elijah raises the son of a widow in Zarephath. The boy had gotten sick and died. Elijah takes the boy’s body to the upper room where he stayed, puts him on the bed, and prays to God. Through the prophet’s prayer, God revives the child, and Elijah returns him to his mother. This event gave evidence to God’s power and Elijah’s call. “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (1 Kings 17:24).
Elijah’s successor, Elisha, performs a very similar miracle in 2 Kings 4:18-37. A Shunammite woman’s son dies suddenly. The woman seeks Elisha’s help. Elisha prays to God and lies on the boy. After doing this a few times, the boy sneezes seven times and opens his eyes. The son’s resurrection not only gives the mother joy and faith but also affirms Elisha’s ministry. God further revealed his compassionate love.
Finally, a strange resurrection occurs in 2 Kings 13:20-21. After Elisha’s death, a group of men place a corpse in Elisha’s grave. Raiders had arrived, and they threw the dead man in and ran. When the dead man’s body touches Elisha’s bones, he comes back to life and stands on his feet. The Old Testament records this to support the great spiritual anointing Elisha had, even in his bones.
God raised several people from the dead in the New Testament, both before and after Jesus’ resurrection.
In one instance, Jesus raises the son of a widow in Nain (Luke 7:11-17), somewhat reminiscent of Elijah and Elisha. As a funeral procession passes by, Jesus becomes moved by compassion. He touches the coffin and commands the young man to rise. The dead man sits up and starts to talk, stunning the crowd, who glorifies God.
In Mark 5:21-43, Jesus brings Jairus’ daughter back to life. Jairus is a synagogue leader, a local position of religious power, and he asks Jesus to heal his sick daughter. By the time they arrive, they get news the daughter is dead. However, Jesus enters the house, saying she only sleeps. People mock Christ, and He puts most of them out of the room and house before taking the girl by the hand. He says, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” Immediately, the girl gets up and walks, filling the people with awe.
In the Gospels, John 11:1-44 gives the most detail and drama of the story of Lazarus, Jesus’ close friend. The brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus becomes ill and dies before Jesus arrives in Bethany. When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Jesus expresses great grief, showing how much He loved him, and then Jesus tells the grieving crowd to move the stone from the grave. Christ prays to His Father then commands the dead man, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus walks out of the tomb, still wrapped in burial clothes. Jesus tells the crowd to remove the wrappings.
After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter raises Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9:36-42. A much beloved disciple in Joppa, Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) died. The disciples there ask for Peter to help her. He prays and commands her to rise. She opens her eyes and sits up.
Later, in Acts 20:7-12, Paul is preaching a sermon when a young man, Eutychus goes to sleep and falls from a third-story window, dying. Paul goes down to the street, hugs him, and declares him alive. Eutychus gets up, alive again. The church returns to the upstairs room, and Paul continues teaching.
God held power over life and death even before Jesus. Christ’s death and resurrection accomplished a great work because He was the Messiah, fully God and fully man, and He was sinless. But the idea of resurrection predates the New Testament. It wouldn’t have been beyond Jewish religious thought to believe a person could rise from the dead. The Old Testament stories show how God controls both the giving of life and death.
Second, these accounts reveal faith always made miracles possible. Jesus taught the power of faith, and He could easily reference narratives like when Elisha restored the widow’s son. The woman didn’t give into despair and sorrow. Instead, she calls for the prophet, an act of faith. Elisha also believed in God’s power. Their example reveals how we can have faith in seemingly impossible situations.
Third, God’s miracles reach out to those in need. Especially in the instances with Elijah and Elisha with the boys, God responds to people in grief. The widow had suffered loss already – that of her husband – and now the boy she loved. The Shunammite woman also lost her son, one God gave her after being barren many years. God cares deeply for people and those in need, showing he isn’t some distant God without any compassion.
Fourth, God’s miracles revealed his special servants. Particularly with the dead man who lived again after touching Elisha’s bones, the Old Testament makes the point that God empowered his prophets and servants to accomplish great things and give him glory. Additionally, we see the lesson of persistent prayer with Elisha, how he didn’t give up when the intercession seemed to fail the first time. Both prophets continually called upon God.
Again, even before his own resurrection, Jesus demonstrated His authority over life and death – more than once. To show how the Kingdom of God was in the process of coming to earth, He cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead. Christ’s supernatural activity in these areas fought the curse of death from the Fall, whose source was the Devil’s deception. Jesus held power over all aspects of this world (including nature when he calmed the storm), and when He raised people from the dead, He gave evidence of His identity – the Son of God.
Just as in the Old Testament, the Gospels point out how faith proves central in each instance. Jairus asks for Jesus specifically, despite the grim outlook. Jesus references people’s faith often when responding with a miracle. With Lazarus, Jesus teaches how resurrection isn’t something apart from Himself. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).
God continued to express His love and compassion through the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus promised His disciples would do His same work, and even more, with the Holy Spirit (John 14:12). Acts records for us how the Spirit fulfilled this promise through Peter and Paul. Along with God’s continued love and care, these stories after Jesus’ resurrection reveal how God’s power and the supernatural still affirm His followers.
Other than Jesus, each resurrection holds one similarity: God used a person to resurrect the dead. Yet no one came to Jesus’ tomb and raised Him, not one of His disciples or anyone else. God Himself raised Jesus, completing the work all alone. This sets Jesus’ resurrection apart, and even more importantly, it fulfills his statement, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Every resurrection leads to Christ’s saving work on the cross. He paid the penalty for sin, and his resurrection proved His sacrifice sufficient for the task. Paul teaches that if Christ hadn’t been raised, faith is futile and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). Jesus’ resurrection secures our salvation by grace through faith, and not of ourselves but in Him. This enables us to live in power over sin and death now through the Spirit and in the future as we are raised after death to new bodies as Jesus had. “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead … we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4).
Jesus’ resurrection now includes our own, in which the power of sin and all consequences were defeated. Death itself is conquered and left powerless. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
In preaching the cross and resurrection of Jesus, teaching the stories of raising people from the dead in the Bible, and hearing testimonies of how God still does so today, we have hope in our future resurrection and can call others to that same hope.
Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday, six days before the crucifixion, Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Both the Old Testament prophecy and Jesus’s fulfillment are chronicled in all four Gospels (Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19).
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:1-9)
Holy Monday
In the morning, Jesus cursed the out-of-season fig tree for having no figs. That was really symbolic. In the Old Testament, figs represented the nation of Israel. Jesus was declaring that the nation of Israel had become spiritually bankrupt. Israel was dead out of season (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14):
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12-14)
Then, in the afternoon, Jesus entered Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple. The temple courts had devolved into a marketplace for the buying and selling of animals to be sacrificed on the Temple altar. There, moneychangers plied their cheating trade. What was once a sacred place had become a disaster.
Jesus was incensed: “This is My Father’s house and you have made it a den of thieves” (Luke 19:45-46, also see Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19;).
Holy Tuesday
Tuesday was a busy day.
Jesus spent all day in Jerusalem sparring with religious leaders, teaching parables, and healing the sick.
He taught the Parables of the Great Supper, the Good and Wicked Servants, the Ten Virgins, the Two Sons, The Owner of the Vineyard, The Wedding Banquet, and the Ten Talents (Matthew 21:23-39; Mark 11:20-12:44; Luke 20:1-21:4; John 12:20-50).
Jesus also declared the Greatest Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37).
He pronounced woes upon the Scribes and Pharisees:
“Woe to you” he said, “you don’t practice what you preach; you tie heavy loads upon the people’s shoulders, but you are unwilling to lift a finger to move them; you travel over land and sea to make one proselyte and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are; you hypocrites; snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?; etc.!” (Matthew 23:13-39, paraphrased)
But then, Jesus commended the Widow’s Mite when the widow placed all she had left into the Temple offering plate:
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
When the Pharisees tried to trap him with an economic issue about Roman taxes, Jesus said, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17; Luke 20:20-26). He so astounded the Jewish leaders with His wisdom that they never tried to entrap Him again.
Secretly, to His disciples, Jesus once again predicted His coming death and resurrection. But the disciples had no idea what He was talking about As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. (Matthew 24).
Jesus spent the rest of the evening teaching the signs and wonders surrounding His second coming. This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus Himself shared His understanding of the end times (Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-38).
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
Spy Wednesday
The highlight of the day occurred during the evening. Jesus was anointed by Mary in Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8).
In 36 hours, Jesus would be on the cross—and the only person who figured out the crucifixion and coming resurrection was Mary. The disciples had no idea what was going on! Later that night, immediately after supper, Judas arranged to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16):
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Maundy Thursday
Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover and the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room (Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-30; John 13:1-30).
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, He said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.” They were very sad and began to say to Him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. ”Then Judas, the one who would betray Him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.
”While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“Take and eat; this is My body. ”Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:20-29)
Luke tells us that immediately after sharing the bread and wine, the disciples began arguing over which of them was the greatest (Luke 22:31-38). Jesus was giving His life away, and they were arguing about who was the best!
Then Jesus predicted Peter’s denial, and Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same (Matthew 26:31-35).
But Jesus knew. He knew they would run. That evening, Jesus gave His farewell comments to the Disciples: “All men will know that you are My disciples by your love for one another” (John 13:35). (Also see Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-38; John 13:31-John 16:33).
Jesus shared that He was going away. The disciples were quite dismayed. Philip said, “You can’t leave now! We don’t know where You are going, and we don’t know how to get there, and besides, we don’t even know who You are!” Jesus said, “Philip, you still don’t know who I am?”
Finally, before leaving the Upper Room, Jesus prayed His intercessory prayer for His disciples in John 17.
Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. While He prayed in agony, begging God to avoid the cup of suffering, He asked them to pray for Him. Because He was fully human (as well as fully God), He actually needed their comfort and support. But they fell asleep and left Him all alone. Jesus said: “Could you not pray for Me one hour?” The disciples failed, so God sent angels to comfort Jesus (Matthew 26:30, 36-46; Mark 14:26, 32-42; Luke 22:39-46).
Now Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”“ Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.“ I am He,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again He asked them, “Who is it you want?”“ Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He. If you are looking for Me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave Me.” (John 18:2-9)
Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Annas and then to Caiaphas the high priest early Friday morning.
Good Friday
Filled with deep remorse, Judas hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-11; Acts 1:18).
According to Jesus, Judas was predestined to betray Him. No matter how we try to analyze predestination with free will, Judas could have returned to Jesus, repented, and asked for forgiveness. You know that Christ would have forgiven him. Jesus died for him, too.
Jesus was arrested and taken to the home of Annas and Caiaphas for an illegal trial by the Jewish leaders, who were making plans to have Jesus executed (Matthew 27:2).
The Jews dragged Him to Pilate and then to Herod where He was mocked, ridiculed, and crowned with thorns. Herod sent him back to Pilate. Neither ruler wanted to kill Him. But the people shouted to release Barabbas instead of Jesus (Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:18-John 19:16).
Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in Him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore, I will have Him punished and then release Him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that He be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. (Luke 23:20-25)
While Jesus was being tossed around among Caiaphas, Pilate, and King Herod, Peter denied His Lord three times (Matthew 26:57-Matthew 27:10; Mark 14:53-72; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:12-27).
Jesus and Pilate talked about truth. Pilate then condemned Jesus to die, had Him scourged, and sent Him to the cross. Pilate washed his hands of being the cause of Jesus’s death (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11).
Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27:32-61; Mark 15:21-47; Luke 23:26-56; John 19:17-47);
“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals—one on His right, the other on His left” (Luke 23:33).
Jesus’ last words from the cross were:
1. Matthew 27:46 tells us that about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
2. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
3. “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
4. “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
5. “Dear Woman, here is your son!” and “Here is your mother!” (John 19:26-27).
6. “I am thirsty” (John 19:28).
7. “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
That night, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. He and Nicodemus wrapped the body with spices and linen, per Jewish customs. Then they laid Him in the tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers (John 19:38-42).
Holy Saturday
Jesus was in the tomb. He preached to the spirits in prison.
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; which He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey when God’s patience waited. (2 Peter 3:18-20)
There is a lot of discussion about what Christ may or may not have done on Saturday. Some use this verse to Others teach that He went down into hell and experienced the horrors and suffering there. Maybe He just stayed in the tomb. We just don’t know for certain what He was doing on Saturday.
Resurrection Sunday
This is the Resurrection!
And the angel said to the women, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, He was crucified. He has risen. He is not here; see the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:5-6)
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen clothes lying, and the napkin, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple [John] who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed. (John 20:3-8)
What led John to believe?
Jesus was prepared for burial with layer after layer of linen burial cloths encircling His body, with spices distributed within its folds.
When Jesus rose from the dead, through the grave clothes and the wrappings, which then fell down intact where His body used to be.
Our salvation was completed in this Holy Week by our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Jesus is Alive!
Open Arms Christian Ministries
Will We See Adam and Eve in Heaven?
Adam and Eve. These were the first two people God created and, as you know, he gave them one command about a tree and some fruit that unfortunately they could not keep. When Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden, we know they walked with God. After their sin, God kicked them out of the garden. As you read through the Bible, there is not much mentioned about Adam once you get past Genesis 5.
For the two people who introduced sin into the world by their disobedience, what is their eternal fate? Will we see Adam and Eve in heaven?
1. Adam and Eve Had a Relationship with God That We Have Never Had
Adam and Eve, for however long they were in the garden, enjoyed perfect fellowship with the Lord. They experienced him in a manner in which we never have. You may have had wonderful encounters in God’s presence, but you have never experienced God in a condition of perfection where you walked with him in a sinless state. Adam and Eve had this type of relationship with God when they were in the garden.It is safe to make the assumption they never forgot that experience and they longed to return to it. For this reason, I believe it is reasonable to speculate they remained true to their allegiance to God once they were out of the garden, because they desired to get back there.
2. Adam and Eve Maintained Their Relationship after They Left the GardenEvery sign from Genesis speaks to Adam and Eve maintaining their relationship with God after the garden. When Eve gave birth to their first son, she acknowledged God in it.“Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man’” (Genesis 4:1).3. Adam Passed on a Tradition of Faith to His ChildrenThe first two children Adam and Eve had were Cain and Abel. When you read about them in Genesis 4, it is safe to make an assertion that Adam and Eve passed on their belief in God to their children.“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering — fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast” (Genesis 4:2-5).From this passage, you see Cain and Abel deciding to bring an offering to the Lord. They had to learn this from somewhere, and it is logical to assume their parents taught them to do this.
“Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, ‘God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.’ Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:25-26).
When Adam was 130 years old, Seth was born. The Bible tells us in Genesis 5 that Adam lived 800 years after Seth was born. It was during this period of 800 years that people began to call on the name of the Lord.
By comparison, consider his son Cain. In Genesis 4, after bringing their offerings, God accepts Abel’s offering but rejects Cain’s offering. Cain was angry over this and eventually ended up killing his brother. However, there is something interesting God told Cain.
By what God told Cain, we can deduce that Cain knew what the right thing to do was and if he did it, God would accept him. Yet we know Cain gave into his sin and did not do the right thing. From this inference, we can also assume that Adam and Eve knew what the right thing to do was. When you search the Scriptures after the garden, there is no mention of Adam or Eve doing the wrong thing or of God rejecting them after they left the garden.
all that happened after the garden, I believe you can conclude that we will see Adam and Eve in heaven.
Since Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, we can look for Adam and Eve together.