Forsaken, but not Forgotten
Author: Pat Aman
2012rev.2023

As a child I remember watching Billy Graham on TV with my parents. But my favorite part of his Crusades was when Ethel Waters would sing, “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” I have always loved this song, and I have always loved Miss Waters singing. Now she is singing with the Angels and I can just see her smiling and praising God, because she knew what it was like to be touched by God and have her life turned around. She knew of the bad, good and ugly.

But, as she sings this great anthem of praise, we can see, feel and know
that she never looked away from her Father God. Even when things got
rough, she knew that as God was watching the Sparrow, that He was keeping his eyes on His daughter, His child.

Ms. Waters had a life of ups and downs. Waters first married in 1910 at the age of 13, but her husband was abusive, and she soon left the marriage and became a maid in a Philadelphia hotel, working for $4.75 per week. Her career began when she on her 17th birthday, she attended a costume party at a nightclub on Juniper Street. She was persuaded to sing two songs and impressed the audience so much that she was offered professional work at the Lincoln Theatre in Baltimore. She recalled that she earned the rich sum of $10 per week, but her managers cheated her out of the tips her admirers threw on the stage.

Psalm 37:23,24 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He
delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.”

Do you ever feel that God has forsaken you? Do you feel like there are perpetual clouds above your head, that the Lord has hidden His face from you, or that He has turned His back on you? Can you say that the “God of all comfort,” (2 Corinthians 1:3) seems like He lives in another time zone?

Well, so did many in the Bible. It has been the common experience and condition, that even the best saints have seemingly been deserted by
God in the Bible. Let’s look at just two briefly.

“Behold, I go forward but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot
perceive Him; when He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him. He turns on
the right, I cannot see Him.” Job 23:8,9. These are the words of Job, and while we all know the story of Job, have you ever considered the despair echoed in these words? Job is seeking the Lord in the midst of His
struggles, and he cannot find Him. He is not seeking God haphazardly, or only putting forth a sham effort, but rather He has gone forward and
backward, to the right and the left, and he cannot find God. He feels like
God has deserted him.

“Now as for me, I said in my prosperity, I will never be moved. Oh Lord, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong. Thou didst hide Thy face; I was dismayed.” Psalm 30:6,7. This is an interesting passage from David, a man who God greatly loved and favored. Here David goes on about how great things have gone with Him. He had it good. He even knows that having it good is not due to anything he deserved, but he acknowledges God
for His benefactor. It is God who made David strong, and David both knows it and thanks God for it. So what a surprise to read the next line, that God hid His face from him. But here we see that David knew both the favor of God and also felt, at times, that God had deserted him. “Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.” Psalm 88:6.

In looking at these two examples, we see that even the best of Christians
may feel that God has hidden his favor from them. However, both these
examples also show that us that even if God has hidden his face for a
while, his forsaking is always only partial, and is never total. God knows
what we are able to endure. God may seemly forsake his people in His
comforting presence, and it may feel like all around us is falling down,
but God never forsakes His children in His supporting presence. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Lastly, consider that God may forsake His people for their good. He may be preparing them for greater manifestations of His blessings and grace. This was the case with Job. Job was greatly afflicted, but in the end, the Lord blessed him with more than he had before He allowed him to be afflicted.

Afflictions should also drive us to Christ. God may forsake us, that we
may not forsake Him. A true child of God will be driven to pray, hope and
trust God all the more, when the roof of life seems to be caving in upon
them. If God hides His favor from us, we will naturally seek to cleave
closer to Him when His favor returns. God may have hidden his face from
David for a while, but David says, “O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek
Thee earnestly; my soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee, in a
dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1. David says that
he seeks God earnestly and yearns for Him, even in a place of desolation.
Can we say that of ourselves? Would others say that of us?

The application from these two examples of Job and David is simple. If we feel deserted by God, or feel that we cannot find His favor – though we look forward and backward, right or left, we still must seek His face more. We still must rest in His mercy to a greater extent. We still must come before Him, humbly, and plead with Him for His restored favor. We have here two encouraging examples in Scripture (there are others also) where God was gracious to His servants, and let this be an encouragement to us, to follow their example.

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2023 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life”

Sin Will Take You Further…
Author: Pat Aman
Sermon Preached – 2004/2014

“Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.” Quote Author: Unknown

The following incident won the runner-up prize in the 1999 Darwin Awards:

A Vermont native, Ronald Demuth, found himself in a difficult position.

While touring the Eagle’s Rock African Safari (Zoo) with a group of thespians from St. Petersburg, Russia, Mr. Demuth went overboard to show them one of America’s many marvels. He demonstrated the effectiveness of “Crazy Glue”… the hard way.

Apparently, Mr. Demuth wanted to demonstrate just how good the adhesive was, so he put about 3 ounces of the adhesive in the palms of his hands, and jokingly placed them on the buttocks of a passing rhino. The rhino, a resident of the zoo for the past thirteen years, was not initially startled as it has been part of the petting exhibit since its arrival as a baby.

However, once it became aware of its being involuntarily stuck to Mr.Demuth, it began to panic and ran around the petting area wildly making Mr. Demuth an unintended passenger.

“Sally [the rhino] hasn’t been feeling well lately. She had been very constipated. We had just given her a laxative and some depressants to relax her bowels, when Mr. Demuth played his juvenile prank,” said James Douglass, caretaker. During Sally’s tirade two fences were destroyed, a shed wall was gored, and a number of small animals escaped. Also, during the stampede, three pygmy goats and one duck were stomped to death.

As for Demuth, it took a team of medics and zoo caretakers’ to remove his hands from her buttocks. First, the animal had to be captured and calmed down.. However, during this process the laxatives began to take hold and Mr. Demuth was repeatedly showered with over 30 gallons of rhino diarrhea.

“It was tricky. We had to calm her down, while at the same time shield ourfaces from being pelted with rhino dung. I guess you could say that Mr. Demuth was into it up to his neck. Once she was under control, we had three people with shovels working to keep an air passage open for Mr. Demuth. We were able to tranquilize her and apply a solvent to remove his hands from her rear,” said Douglass. “I don’t think he’ll be playing with Crazy Glue for a while.”

What in the world was Mr. Demuth thinking???? I believe it is safe to say that he wasn’t thinking at all! Lest I be too harsh and critical, though,

I have to remember all the times in my life when I have “attached” myself to something sinful. The results were just as disastrous, and I have often found myself wondering, “What was I thinking?” The truth is, I really wasn’t thinking at all.

That’s the very nature of sin. We “attach” ourselves, thinking we can-always quit whenever we want to. We don’t even consider what the consequences will be. I appreciate this quote by an unknown author: “Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.

“But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15

Devotion Written By: Pastor Pat Aman Book © 1996/2023 “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals” “Coffee With A Little Spice Of Life” and Westbow Press a division of © Thomas Nelson and Library of Congress Control Number: 2018910976……….
http://coffeewithpat.com

Easter Sunday – April 9, 2023
Day 10 – Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: David Anson Brown

The Resurrection of Jesus – The Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:11) – 18th of Nisan
The Resurrection of Jesus, the Feast of First Fruits is fulfilled as Jesus gives the First Fruits of the Holy Spirit to His disciples.

He arose, He arose, Hallelujah, Christ arose.

“that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭

In the end of the [Saturday] Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward [Sunday] the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary [wife of Cleophas] to see the tomb. ~ Matthew 28:1

Personal Reflection #10 – Resurrection Day “The Re-birth of Life”
Jesus demonstrates His Authority of Life over death.

Life, our meaning and purpose in it have now been answered once and for all in this the very Resurrection Life of Jesus. We now know that there is a God, that He has power to remove sins and to then give life over death, that He Loves us and that we are made alive to be friends with Him forever in His Eternal Resurrection Kingdom of Heaven.

How can we ever comprehend this joyous event, Life in Jesus, but comprehend it we must as it is the only way to eternal Life.
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: ~ Romans 1:4

Light shines! And with it Life! Jesus is the True Light! Jesus is the Life! God is not dead, God is Alive! Now we too are alive when Jesus breaths His Resurrection Spirit Life into us. Alive and united with the Holy God inside of us, that is Eternal Life!
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended [lit. understood] it not. ~ John 1:3-4

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies

And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, All of you have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD has not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. ~ Deuteronomy 29:2-4

And He (Jesus) said unto them (Disciples), These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding [they became Born Again Christians], that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it was essential for Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all Nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And all of you are witnesses of these things. ~ Luke 24:44-48

And make one cherub (angel) on the one end, and the other cherub (angel) on the other end: even of the mercy seat (upon the Ark of the Covenant) shall all of you make the cherubims (angels) on the two ends thereof. ~ Exodus 25:19

But Mary [Magdalene] stood outside at the tomb weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the tomb, And sees two angels (cherubs) in white sitting, the one (cherub) at the head, and the other (cherub) at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ~ John 20:11-12
John 20:27 Then saith He (Jesus) to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.

But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? ~ John 12:37-3

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a New Spirit [Holy Spirit] within you; and I will take the stony [unrepentant] heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: ~ Ezekiel 11:19

And when He (Jesus) had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost (Spirit). ~ John 20:22

And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scripture … After that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:4-6

Conclusions

Final thoughts about the Ministry, the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

After spending ten glorious days with Jesus, we can see that Jesus came to fulfill His plan and in doing so He acted deliberately and decisively. Jesus has a plan and a purpose for mankind and Jesus came to fulfill His plan and is continuing His purpose. Jesus did not meander around like a lost wondering poet nor did He allow the events and passions of the day to dictate His schedule but He remained true and accomplished “All that He came to do.” Jesus is God with full knowledge of mankind and of all events.
As we reflect on our visit with Jesus Christ and the disciples, remembering our gaze at the sight of Jesus on the cross and the astonishment of the empty tomb and our joy in meeting the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ, we realize that the Gospel is larger than life and that certainly the Gospel is larger than death. We also realize that the Gospel is much bloodier and even more holy than we can currently comprehend. We do realize that we have a God that loves us very much. We begin to see that the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from death to life is more glorious and more stunning than anything we can currently understand yet we also realize that in Jesus Christ mankind has a chance, a lifelong opportunity to receive an eternity in heaven that is secure, fulfilling and everlasting.

Saturday – April 8th Day 9– Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: David Anson Brown

The Tomb of Jesus Remains Sealed – Sabbath Day – 17th of Nisan
[Thursday][Crucifixion day] This man, Joseph of Arimathaea, went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down [from the cross] and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher (tomb) that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation [preparation for the evening Sabbath of Unleavened Bread], and the Sabbath [Unleavened Bread, evening Sabbath curfew] drew on. And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld (observed) the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned (home) and [Friday] [normal Day] prepared (worked & labored) spices and ointments; and **rested the [Saturday] Sabbath Day according to the commandment [the 4th of the 10 commandments, the weekly Saturday Sabbath]. Now upon the first day of the week [Sunday][Resurrection Day], very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. ~ Luke 23:52-24:1

Personal Reflection #9 – Getting Through the Darkness

It’s dark in there; it’s a dark and lonely place in those deep dark tombs. Death is dark, and it’s dark when we look death in the face. Will the light shine? Will there be life? Will life live and conquer the darkness; the loneliness, the despair, the finality of death? We as humans have to know. We have to know if there is any hope, any permanent existence, any purpose, any reason to life and our existence or if our brief existence here on earth is only a byproduct of some random collision of molecules. Only God – Jesus can answer this question for us and it can only be answered in the Resurrection Life of Jesus as only life can hold the answers to the problems that face mankind.

God has given to us, a long time ago, the answer and His promise in each new day.
In the beginning of creation God created the Physical Light. He created light as a representation for us to see that indeed His true Spirit light of life shines and it does indeed remove the darkness of death. Every time life gets dark just remember the New Day the Sunrise the Resurrection Sunshine from on high as the Sun represents to us the True Son Light, Jesus. God made it that way! The Sun is our daily and momentary reminder of God, of His Son Jesus, of His light, His warmth, His promises, His Life, His Love and His Eternal Resurrection Life for us.

This I recall in my mind, therefore I have hope. It is the Lord’s Mercies that we are not consumed, because His Compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy Faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:21-23

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. ~ Jonah 1:17

For as [the Prophet] Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ~ Matthew 12:40

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.” Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭19‬

Friday – April 7, 2023
Day 8 – Walking With Jesus – Easter

The Tomb of Jesus is Sealed by the Romans – 16th of Nisan

The tomb of Jesus is sealed by the Romans, spices and ointments are purchased and prepared and to further anoint the body of Jesus.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation [for the Feast of Unleavened Bread], the Chief Priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the tomb be made sure until the third day, lest His Disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He has risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, All of you have a watch [guards]: go your way, make it as sure [secure] as all of you can. So they went, and made the tomb sure [inventory of the tomb contents], sealing the stone, and setting a watch. ~ Matthew 27:62-66

Personal Reflection #8 – Man Puts his Seal of Approval on God’s Death

So they went, and made the tomb sure [inventory of the tomb contents], sealing the stone, and setting a watch. ~ Matthew 27:62-66

With the death of Jesus comes the Seal of Approval from mankind. You can be certain that Jesus died on the cross and you can be just as certain that the dead body of Jesus was in the tomb on this the next day when the tomb was closed and the seal was placed on it. Certain because mankind would have it no other way than that God, would be declared dead, null, and void.

Oh, they sealed the right tomb of death alright but they sealed the wrong object. What they should have placed their seal on is on the death of sin, the sin that has separated mankind from the Holy God for all of these years as God knows and as the Christian knows it is sin that has been declared dead, null, and void and not God.
As we reflect on the death of sin, that the penalty for sin has been removed from us by Jesus, do we really understand that the worst that can possibly happen to us is death from sin? But that Jesus died for us so the worst thing that can happen to us has happened to Jesus as He took our penalty for us. Now with the worst behind us thanks to Jesus, we now have the best and a new opportunity as a new relationship with God is now before us.

Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God. ~ Hebrews 12:2

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke unto the sons of Heth, saying, I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty Prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchers bury your dead; none of us shall withhold from you his tomb, but that you may bury your dead. And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and implore for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he has, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace among you. ~ Genesis 23:3-9

And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, No, my lord, hear me: the field give I you, and the cave that is therein, I give it you; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it you: bury your dead. And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. And he spoke unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if you will give it, I pray you, hear me: I will give you money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver [a first barter price – very high]; what is that between me and you? bury therefore your dead. And Abraham hearkened [agreed – didn’t barter] unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. ~ Genesis 23:10-16

And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. ~ Genesis 23:17-20

Note: Abraham understood the high cost of death and Abraham also understood that death can’t be bargained with. Abraham, like Jesus Christ paid the price of death, the full undisputed price.

Thursday – April 6, 2023
Day 7 – Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: © David Anson Brown

Cross of Jesus – Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6) – 15th of Nisan

The agony in the Garden of Gethsemane is an episode in the life of Jesus, which occurred after the Last Supper and before his betrayal and arrest, all part of the Passion of Jesus leading to his crucifixion and death. This episode is described in the three Synoptic Gospels in the New Testament.

The arrest of Jesus was a pivotal event in Christianity recorded in the canonical gospels. It occurred shortly after the Last Supper, and immediately after the kiss of Judas, which is traditionally said to have been an act of betrayal since Judas made a deal with the chief priests to arrest Jesus. Crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross, providing removal of our sins, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is fulfilled.
When the morning was come, all the Chief Priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: And when they had bound Him, they led him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the Governor. ~ Matthew 27:1-2

Personal Reflection #7 – The Cross – A Place of No Compromise

Jesus reached out to us – all the way and without compromise. He didn’t compromise as He took on the appearance of a human and entered into our physical realm so that He could interact with us on our level. He entered into our physical level because we are separated from the Holy God on His Spiritual level. We are separated from Him by our sins and it is impossible for God to bring us and the sin that accompanies us into His direct presence, so God in Jesus, came to us in our existence.

In reaching out to us Jesus didn’t compromise. He reached out with both arms open and fully extended all the way, even to the cross. Mankind in return didn’t compromise as mankind rejected God. Mankind then reaching back with a hammer, nailed both of His open and extended arms onto a wooden cross.

Today it is still our opportunity and our turn to reach out and touch Jesus even though we do not see Him as He is in the Spirit realm like we see one another in the physical realm. We can still come to that place of no compromise and touch Jesus in that no compromising place called faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies
And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed (Antichrist) and her Seed (Jesus); it (Jesus Christ) shall bruise your head [lit. skull], and you shall bruise His heel. ~ Genesis 3:15

Note: This was literally fulfilled as Jesus had His heel bruised as He supported His weight on His heel suspended on the cross in order to heal us.

And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: ~ John 19:17

Note: skull is Golgotha in Hebrew, in Latin a skull is called Calvary (Calvaria), in Old English a skull is called a Cranium. The Cross of Jesus is the Victory of Jesus over the head [skull] of Satan, Sin and Death. Since the cross of Jesus in His victory now Satan, Sin and Death no longer have any authority [headship – skull] over humans who choose to acknowledge the victory of Jesus and enter into in a relationship with Jesus.

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; ~ Colossians 2:14

And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in Heaven. ~ Colossians 1:20

Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the Spirit. And, behold, the veil [partition] of the Temple was rent [opened] in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; ~ Matthew 27:50-51

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest [Heaven] by the blood of Jesus, By a New and Living Way, which He has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; ~ Hebrews 10:17-20

And after threescore and two weeks (Jewish 7 year decades) [434 years] shall Messiah (Christ) be cut off (Executed – destroyed, 3772) but, not for Himself [for our sins]: and the people of the [Roman] prince that shall come shall destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [Temple – in 70 AD]; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. ~ Daniel 9:26

And it was the preparation of the Passover [Feast of Unleavened Bread], and about the sixth hour: and he [Pilate] says unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him. Pilate says unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The Chief Priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away. ~ John 19:14-16

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua (lit. Jesus) the son of Josedech, the High Priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of Hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH [lit. Living Branch (Nazareth) i.e. the Christ – Matthew 2:23]; and He shall grow up out of His place (village of Nazareth), and He shall build the [Royal Priesthood] Temple of the LORD: ~ Zechariah 6:11-12

Note: Joshua is the Old Testament, Hebrew name of the same New Testament, Greek name Jesus.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the Crown of Thorns [the Genesis curse of mankind], and the purple [Royal] robe. And Pilate says unto them, Behold the Man! ~ John 19:5

Wherefore say unto the Children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: ~ Exodus 6:6

For they shall hear of your great Name, and of your strong hand, and of your stretched out arm; when he [anyone] shall come and pray toward this House (Solomon’s Temple); ~ 1 Kings 8:42

But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, Him shall all of you fear, and Him shall all of you Worship, and to Him shall all of you do sacrifice. ~ 2 Kings 17:36

Ah Lord GOD! behold, You have made the heaven (sky) and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for You: ~ Jeremiah 32:17
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him [He stretched out both His arms], and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. ~ Luke 23:33

For dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture. ~ Psalms 22:16-18

And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara (bitter): for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full and the LORD has brought me home again empty: why then call all of you me Naomi, seeing the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me? So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to [town of] Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest [about the time of Pentecost]. ~ Ruth 1:20-22

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother (Mary – bitter), and His mother’s [unnamed] sister, Mary (bitter) the wife of Cleophas, and Mary (bitter) Magdalene. ~ John 19:25

And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which has not left you this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto you a restorer of your life, and a nourisher of your old age: for your daughter in law [Ruth], which loves you, which is better to you than seven sons, has born him [Obed]. And Naomi took the child [Obed], and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of [King] David. ~ Ruth 4:14-17

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the [King] Son of God. And many women were there beholding far off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him: The burial of Jesus Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees sons. ~ Matthew 27:54-56

But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him: That the saying of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the Arm [strenght] of the Lord been revealed? ~ John 12:37-38

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off [lit. executed] out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken. ~ Isaiah 53:8

And it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: ~ Amos 8:9

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ~ Luke 23:44

Wednesday – April 5, 2023
Day 6 – Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: © David Anson Brown

The New Covenant – Feast of Passover (Leviticus 23:5) – 14th of Nisan
The New Covenant of Jesus Christ, God agrees to die for our sins; therefore death has “Passed us Over” the Feast of the Lord’s Passover is fulfilled.

Now the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Passover] the Disciples came to Jesus, saying unto Him, Where will You that we prepare for You to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city [Jerusalem] to such a man, and say unto him, The Master says, My Time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. And the Disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Now when the evening was come, He sat down with the Twelve. ~ Matthew 26:17-20

Personal Reflection #6 – New Covenant Reflection The New Covenant – God has agreed to take on the appearance of a Human, to come for us and to die in our place for our sins so that we can Live anew in a new Spiritual relationship with God. God in His Love for us has taken our penalty of death so that we can live in His life of love. With the New Covenant and our New Spiritual Life “All things have become New”.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, All things are become New. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Are we allowing ourselves to live in our newfound Relationship with God and are we allowing ourselves the New Freedom that this relationship has to offer? When Jesus took His Communion cup and offered it to His followers Jesus gave with it the instruction and the invitation to “Drink all of it”. Amen – and drink all of it we will.

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel, and with the House of Judah: Not according to the [Moses – Mt. Sinai] covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My [Old] Covenant they brake, although I was an Husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel [Governed by God]; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put My [Royal – Spiritual] law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the LORD: for they shall all Know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, says the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. ~ Jeremiah 31:31-34

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the Disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of you all of it; For this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ~ Matthew 26:26-28
As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit (hell) wherein is no water. ~ Zechariah 9:11

Sunday

Sunday – April 2, 2023
Day 3- Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: © David Anson Brown

Jesus Cleanses the Temple – 11th of Nisan

And on the next day, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: And seeing a fig tree far off having leaves, He came, if lest by any means he might find anything thereon: and when He came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And His Disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the Temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the Temple. And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written (1 Kings 8:38-39), My House shall be called of all Nations the House of Prayer? but all of you have made it a den of thieves. ~ Mark 11:12-17

Personal Reflection #3 – Unfruitfulness in
Our Own Life
Jesus recognized unfruitfulness and He took action to remove it. Every one of us (unlike Jesus) has an unfruitful aspect in our own life. We too can be bold like Jesus, in that when we see unfruitfulness we can declare it as unacceptable to God and recognize it as a cursed item, not a blessing. In cursing it, curse it at its root so that it will immediately wither and dry up no longer sustaining an appearance of being potentially fruitful but being what it truly is, something that does not give pleasure to God.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ~ Matthew 3:10

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies
… and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ~ Genesis 3:7
And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. ~ Matthew 21:19

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. ~ Genesis 3:21

And he bought fine linen, and took Him down [from the cross], and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the tomb. ~ Mark 15:46

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife (Church) has made herself ready. And to Her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. ~ Revelation 19:7-8

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified. ~ Isaiah 61:3

For all of you are all the Sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on [become clothed in] Christ. ~ Galatians 3:26-27

– April 2, 2023
Day 3- Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: © David Anson Brown

Jesus Cleanses the Temple – 11th of Nisan

And on the next day, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: And seeing a fig tree far off having leaves, He came, if lest by any means he might find anything thereon: and when He came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And His Disciples heard it. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the Temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the Temple. And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written (1 Kings 8:38-39), My House shall be called of all Nations the House of Prayer? but all of you have made it a den of thieves. ~ Mark 11:12-17

Personal Reflection #3 – Unfruitfulness in
Our Own Life
Jesus recognized unfruitfulness and He took action to remove it. Every one of us (unlike Jesus) has an unfruitful aspect in our own life. We too can be bold like Jesus, in that when we see unfruitfulness we can declare it as unacceptable to God and recognize it as a cursed item, not a blessing. In cursing it, curse it at its root so that it will immediately wither and dry up no longer sustaining an appearance of being potentially fruitful but being what it truly is, something that does not give pleasure to God.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ~ Matthew 3:10

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies
… and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ~ Genesis 3:7
And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. ~ Matthew 21:19

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. ~ Genesis 3:21

And he bought fine linen, and took Him down [from the cross], and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid Him in a tomb which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the tomb. ~ Mark 15:46

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife (Church) has made herself ready. And to Her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. ~ Revelation 19:7-8

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified. ~ Isaiah 61:3

For all of you are all the Sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on [become clothed in] Christ. ~ Galatians 3:26-27

Monday – April 3, 2023
Day 4 – Walking With Jesus – Easter
Author: © David Anson Brown

The Pharisees Dispute the Authority of Jesus – 12th of Nisan – The Mt. Olivet Discourse

And in the morning [the next day], as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance says unto Him, Master, behold, the fig tree which You cursed is withered away. And Jesus answering says unto them, Have faith in God [Jesus]. ~ Mark 11:20-22

And as He went out of the Temple, one of His Disciples says unto Him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, See you these great [Temple] buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives opposite to the Temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Tell us, when shall these [Kingdom] things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? ~ Mark 13:1-4

Personal Reflection #4 – Our Ministry of Reconciliation

What is our part in Reconciliation? Jesus came to Reconcile. The very Ministry of Jesus is Reconciliation, reconciling man back into a relationship with God and also reconciling us humans into a relationship with one another.

And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us (Christians) the Ministry of reconciliation; To know, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

*The word reconciliation is called the Gospel, the “Good News” of our Life in Jesus as opposed to the sour fact of our death in this earthly world.

The ministry of Jesus is the embodiment of the Cross that Jesus would be crucified on as on the cross Jesus is lifted up – suspended, between Heaven (the dwelling of God) and Earth (the dwelling of man). The vertical post of the cross represents reconciliation between God and Man while at the same time the outstretched – reaching out arms of Jesus and the horizontal beam of the cross represent the reconciliation of one to another.

Reconciliation is accomplished only in and by Jesus. There is no other hope for mankind but in Jesus, His Cross and His Resurrection.

Saturday – April 1, 2023
Day 2 – Walking With Jesus
Author: © David Anson Brown

Triumphal Entry – Selection of the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:3) – 10th of Nisan

Palm Saturday the Triumphal Entry of King Jesus into Jerusalem, the Feast of Sabbath is fulfilled.

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and scattered them in The Way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that comes in the Name of the Lord: Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that comes in the Name of the Lord: Hosanna in the Highest. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the Temple [only to look around – as the Passover Lamb of God in the House (Temple) of God “a lamb for an house” Exodus 12:3]:

And when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide [lit. close of this Saturday Sabbath day] was come, He went out unto Bethany with the Twelve. ~ Mark 11:7-11

Personal Reflection #2 – Jesus our Savior, our King, our Friend, our Rest

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork. ~ Psalms 19:1

We too would like to join in with the rocks of Jerusalem and indeed all of creation and declare the glory of our God and King in Christ Jesus and as we do declare the Deity and Honor of Jesus we declare that we to can now rest in His rule and in His Authority.

We rest in Jesus, resting physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is a wonderful accomplishment to be able to cease from worry, fear and anxiety. Few are they that enter into it but blessed are those who do as rest is something to be entered into, it is an achievement, an accomplishment.
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. ~ Hebrews 4:11

Old & New Testament Holy Week Prophecies

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion; shout, O Daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes unto you: He is Just, and having Salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey. ~ Zechariah 9:9

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, saying, Tell all of you the Daughter of Zion, Behold, your King comes unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass (donkey), and a colt the foal of an donkey. ~ Matthew 21:4-5

This is the Day [Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem] which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save [Salvation] now, I plead to you, O LORD: O LORD, I plead to you, send now prosperity. Blessed be He that comes in the Name of the LORD: we have blessed You out of the House of the LORD. ~ Psalm 118:24-26

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest. ~ Matthew 21:9