2 Priests

~ Luke’s Gospel Opens and Ends with a Priest ~

The Gospel of Luke opens with an earthly priest at the altar of incense on earth. The people are worshipping outside the temple in doubt and fear (Luke 1:8-21).

Luke closes his account with the Great High Priest entering into the heavenly temple with His saints as they worship with great joy and certainty (the very last verses of Luke’s Gospel – Luke 24:50-53) .

The Start of Luke’s Gospel  ~  “So it was, that while he [Zacharias] was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’  

“And Zacharias said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.’ And the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.’ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple” (Luke 1:8-21).

The End of Luke’s Gospel  ~  Luke closes his Gospel with an account of the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. “And He [Jesus Christ] led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:50-53).  

So, what is your reaction? Do you have a personal relationship with the Great High Priest? Will you one day be with Christ in heaven with great joy?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Jesus Christ in Deuteronomy

~ Jesus Christ Is a Prophet Like Moses and More ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Moses Foreshadowed Jesus Christ  ~  Moses himself said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to Him” (18:15).  Through the rest of the Old Testament, God did raise up many prophets, but none were like Moses. “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10). 

Jesus Christ Was The Mightiest Prophet  ~  Moses led twelve tribes—The Messiah led twelve disciples. Moses gave parting instructions to his followers (see Deuteronomy 33).  The Messiah also gave parting instructions to His followers, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Moses Gave The Law—Jesus Christ Fulfilled The Law  ~  When the Messiah came to earth He came to fulfill the Law. Jesus Christ said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-19). 

Jesus Christ’s Response to Satan  ~ What was Christ's response to Satan's temptation? He referred Satan to the Scriptures, specifically the book of Deuteronomy: “He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). His response is enlightening. He responded by quoting Scripture—keep in mind that the first book of the New Testament would not be written for about another 15 years.

the key:  The important thing to note is that mankind was not then, and is not now, to live by physical food alone but by spiritual food from above: “He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’” (Matthew 4:4).

the pattern:  As Satan continued his efforts to tempt Jesus, His response remained consistent (quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, 13; 10:20). The authority of God’s Word gives victory. “Take the helmet of salvation [our protection], and the sword of the Spirit [our weapon], which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in Deuteronomy. Much more could be said about each of the previous examples.

For Further Study  ~  Compare the following passages from Scripture:

Deuteronomy 5:16 with Matthew 15:4 and Mark 7:10

Deuteronomy 6:4 with Mark 12:29

Deuteronomy 6:5 with Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27   

Deuteronomy 6:13 with Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8

Deuteronomy 6:16 with Matthew 4:7 and Luke 4:12  

Deuteronomy 8:3 with Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4   

Deuteronomy 10:12 with Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27

Deuteronomy 10:20 with Matthew 4:10 and Luke 4:8  

Deuteronomy 19:15 with Matthew 18:16  

Deuteronomy 30:6 with Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27  

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 95

~ Messiah Would Die In His Prime, 1 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“The days of His youth You have shortened; You have covered Him with shame” (Psalm 89:45). 

The Messiah  

ALN NOTE:  According to the Scriptural account Jesus Christ, the Messiah, lived about 33 years before being crucified.

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

“A Simple But Intelligent Analysis”

~ Book Review of One Precious Pearl by Foreword Reviews ~

Reproduced immediately below is one of the many positive reviews the book “One Precious Pearl” has received.

ForeWord Clarion Review   (Diane Taylor) 

RELIGION

One Precious Pearl: God's Design for His Church

Robert Lloyd Russell

Infinity Publishing

978-0-7414-6232-9

5 Stars (out of 5)

A book-length exposition on just two verses of the New Testament, One Precious Pearl offers the reader an in-depth analysis of Jesus’ parable of the merchant seeking goodly pearls.

Turning to Matthew 13, where seven parables of Jesus are recorded, Russell (Thy Will Be Done on Earth, 2008) focuses his attention on the two verses (13:45 and 46) containing the parable of the merchant.  The merchant finds one especially valuable pearl and sells everything he has in order to possess that single precious gem.  According to Russell, compared to the other parables—especially that of the sower, the mustard seed, the weeds among the wheat, the yeast, and the hidden treasure in the field—this elusive idea about a merchant searching for a pearl has not received the full explication that it deserves. Russell fears that even those theologians who have studied this parable have overlooked some of its more salient points.  In writing this book, Russell aims to give these two verses their full due and thereby make the parable of the pearl as central to the Christian imagination as is the parable of the mustard seed and the sower.

That Russell's explication is exhaustive there can be little doubt.  Asserting that the one precious pearl is analogous to God's universal Church, Russell explores everything from the chemical composition of a natural pearl to its perceived value throughout history to describe in detail how each and every aspect of a pearl correlates to the creation of God's Church.  From an oyster's point of view, for example, Russell sees the development of a pearl as a result of the oyster's suffering.  A foreign object (i.e., a grain of sand) enters into the oyster's environment, and it is the oyster's reaction to that intrusion that ultimately results in the creation of a lustrous gem.  Given the proper environment, what originally starts as an irritant can become something wondrous to behold.

Though Russell's parsing of the pearl analogy is extensive, the book remains solidly grounded in the land of the laity, making it accessible to virtually anyone who picks it up.  

One does not have to be a biblical scholar to grasp Russell's claim that a pearl is the result of a living creature, as the universal Church is the result of a living savior.  Nor does one have to be versed in Hebrew to share Russell's idea that the spherical shape of a pearl symbolizes the unity of God's Church, which cannot be divided without destroying it.  Nor does one even have to attend services regularly to follow Russell's contention that the perfection of a natural pearl, like the universal Church, is unattainable through manmade interventions.  The ideas may be profound, but Russell's delivery is not.  

A simple but intelligent analysis of an often overlooked parable in the New Testament, One Precious Pearl can be appreciated by a wide range of readers, none of whom will ever look at a pearl quite the same again.

~ ForeWord Reviews

“ONE PRECIOUS PEARL: God’s Design for His Church” has received many accolades including being named

“2011 Book-Of-The-Year” (Religion: Eastern/Western) by Reader Views Literary Awards,

“2011 Runner-up” (Religion: Christianity) by the International Book Awards, and

“2011 Winner” (Book: Biblical Studies) by The Word Guild. 

“2011 Finalist” (Religion: Christianity) by The USA “Best Books of 2011” Awards

“2011 Gold” (Literary Excellence – 1 of 3 Gold Awards across all genres) by the World Book Awards

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

There is more information about One Precious Pearl at the author’s website. 

You may order directly from Amazon or from Infinity Publishing. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW