From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/11:

Cornelius, a Gentile commander of the Roman army who is “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always”, receives a vision from the Lord, telling him to send men to Joppa where Peter is staying.

The next day, Peter also receives a vision from the Lord. In his vision are all sorts of animals which the Lord instructs Peter to kill and eat. Peter responds, “Not so Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” But God responds, “‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This was done three times.”

According to the ESV Study Bible, “God was overturning the old clean/unclean distinctions and dietary laws in general, along with all other ‘ceremonial’ laws in the Mosaic covenant (including laws about sacrifices, festivals and special days, and circumcision). Nothing like this was to get in the way of fellowship with Gentiles, as Galatians 2 also shows.”

Therefore, when Cornelius’ men arrive and ask Peter to come to the home of a Gentile, Peter goes. When Peter arrives, Cornelius falls to his feet to worship him. Peter responds, “‘Stand up; I myself am also a man.’ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. Then he said to them, ‘You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.’”

Peter goes on to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. ”While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also… And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

“Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, ‘You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!’” Peter explains to his brethren what happened and concludes saying, “‘If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?’ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.’”

The church in Jerusalem receives news of the great number of people, both Jews and Gentiles, who were coming to faith in Antioch. So they send Barnabas to Antioch where he encourages “them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.”

“Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

However, many hate the Christians and Herod knows this. So for his own personal and political gain he kills “James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also.”

Although Herod is killing Christians, and is trying to stop the growth of the church and the spread of the word of God for self-serving political purposes, nothing can stop the plans of the Lord. Tomorrow we will see the Lord’s plans prevail. Keep reading.

(Acts 10:1-12:5)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/10:

“At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”

So the Lord uses persecution to scatter his disciples and to further the spread of the gospel. Philip, one of the seven selected to serve in the church in Jerusalem, goes to Samaria where he preaches Christ to them. Multitudes receive Christ and are baptized resulting in great joy in the city. When Peter and John hear the good news, they come to Samaria to pray over the people that they may receive the Holy Spirit. One man, Simon a sorcerer, offers them cash for the Holy Spirit. Peter rebukes him saying, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.” So Simon asks Peter to pray for him.

Then an angel tells Philip to go south on a road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip, prompted by the Holy Spirit, leaves the masses who are coming to Christ and goes out into the desert for a divine appointment with an individual. There Philip encounters an Ethiopian eunuch returning from worshipping in Jerusalem. When Philip comes near his chariot, he finds the man reading the words of Isaiah and he asks him if he understands. The Ethiopian responds, “‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’… Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.” The Ethiopian eunuch goes on to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and is baptized by Philip.

While all these wonderful things in the name of Jesus are happening, Saul is still “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” That is until he encounters Jesus on a road to Damascus. Jesus calls out, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” Then Saul asks two important questions: 1) “Who are you Lord?” 2) “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then Jesus gives Saul the next step. He says, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Jesus blinds him for three days. “And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

The Lord appears to Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, and tells him to go to Saul and lay hands on him so that he may receive his sight. However, this disciple is afraid because he has heard reports of Saul persecuting Christians. “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.’”

Ananias obeys the Lord, and Saul receives his sight, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and is baptized. Once Saul receives food and is strengthened, “Immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” And when the Jews try to kill Saul for preaching Jesus, his new brothers in Christ hide him.

Saul flees to Jerusalem where he meets Barnabas and the apostles. Saul shares his story with them and begins preaching Jesus in Jerusalem. “And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.” Saul will remain in his hometown of Tarsus for about ten years before Barnabas will go and get him to join him in ministry.

Tomorrow Peter receives a vision from the Lord, resulting in more Gentiles joining the kingdom of God. Keep reading.

(Acts 8:1b-9:43)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/9:

Today a complaint arises about widows in the church being neglected. So the disciples select seven men to oversee the care of the widows, allowing the twelve disciples to stay focused on prayer and ministry of the word of God. Stephen, a man of faith and full of the Holy Spirit, and who did great wonders and signs among the people, is selected as one of the seven. Philip is also selected and we will hear more on him tomorrow.

There arose men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen who argued with Stephen. “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’” So Stephen is brought before the Jewish council where his face shines like an angel. When Stephen is asked to defend himself, he explains who Jesus is the same way Jesus revealed Himself to the men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35); he tells the story of the Bible. Stephen begins with the forefathers:

Patriarch Era:

God called and promised land and descendants to Abraham. The promises were passed down to Issac and Jacob, who begot the twelve patriarchs.
Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave into Egypt. The Lord elevated Joseph in Egypt as a ruler who saved the nations from famine.
Jacob and his family of seventy-five moved to Egypt.
Jacob’s family grew so much that they became a threat to Pharaoh; so Pharaoh oppressed them and killed their babies.

Exodus Era:

God saved Moses and raised him up to deliver His people. – “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’”
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years where God gave them the law which they did not obey.

Conquest Era:

Joshua brought them into the promised land.

Kindgdom Era:

God found favor with King David, but Solomon, David’s son, built the house for the Lord.

Then Stephen turns his attention to the council – “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

When they hear the story of Jesus, their hearts burn too, like the hearts of the men on the road to Emmaus. However, instead of burning in love and hope, their hearts burn in anger because people either love Jesus or hate Him; and depending on how your heart burns for Jesus you will either receive eternal salvation or condemnation – “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

“Now Saul was consenting to his death.”

Tomorrow, Saul has a change of heart when he personally encounters Jesus. Keep reading.

(Acts 6:1-8:1a)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/8:

Today Peter and John go to the temple and Peter heals a lame man, who lay each day at the gate of the temple. When the people see that the man is healed, they are filled with wonder and amazement.

Peter responds to the crowd asking why they marvel. He tells them that this man wasn’t healed by their power but by the power of Jesus Christ, the man they killed. Paul says, “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

But the Jewish leaders aren’t too fond of this message, so they grab Peter and John and put them in custody. “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

When Peter and John stand before the Jewish Council, Peter tells them that the lame man was healed by the power of Jesus Christ. He goes on to say, ”Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” However, the Jewish leaders do not want this message to spread among the people. Therefore they tell Peter and John not to teach anymore about Jesus Christ. But Peter and John respond saying, “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

When Peter and John are released, they report back to their companions all that happened. Then they all pray – “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” This is when we meet Barnabas, Paul’s future missionary partner. He sells all of his land and gives the money to the apostles to distribute. Then we also meet Ananias and his wife Sapphira, who say they too sold all of their possessions to give to the church. However, they were lying to receive public glory from man and God knew it, as God knows all things. So instead of receiving respect from the church, they are rebuked by Peter and the Lord strikes them dead. The Lord is not going to allow anything to taint the purity of the newly formed church. “So great fear came upon the church and upon all who heard these things.”

The apostles continue doing many signs and wonders and the church continues to grow. “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.’”

When the Jewish leaders find them in the temple, they question why they are teaching about Jesus Christ when they were told to stop. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”

The leaders now want to kill the apostles. So Gamaliel, a Pharisee, intervenes saying, “Keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

Tomorrow the first disciple is martyred. Keep reading.

(Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-2:47)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/7:

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus blesses His disciples and then is taken up to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God, bringing an end to the Gospel Era and launching us into the Church and Missions Eras.

Before Jesus went to be with His Father, He commanded His disciples not to depart from Jerusalem “but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’”

So the disciples return to Jerusalem and go into the upper room where they are staying. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Peter organizes the selection of another disciple to replace Judas the betrayer. “And they prayed and said, ‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.’ And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

Ten days after Jesus’ ascension, on the day of Pentecost, “suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” The people say, “we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” But some mock them by saying they are drunk.

Peter addresses the crowd, telling them that they are not drunk but that the Scriptures which were spoken by the prophet Joel have been fulfilled. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:28,32).

Peter goes on to tell them that God has raised Jesus, whom they crucified, from the grave and has given His people the power of the Holy Spirit as He promised. These words cut to the heart of the people and they ask what they must do. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’”

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them…So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

So now we have the formation of the church, which will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. However, many are going to oppose the growth of the church as we will begin to see tomorrow, so keep reading.

(Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-2:47)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

14 Eras:

Creation Era (Gen 1:1-11:26)✅

Patriarch Era (Gen 11:27-50:26 and Job)✅

Exodus Era (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) ✅

Conquest Era (Joshua) ✅

Judges Era (Judges, Ruth) ✅

Kingdom Era (1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 1-9, 1 Kings 1-11, various Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) ✅

Divided Kingdom Era (2 Chronicles 10-36, 1 Kings 11-22, 2 Kings, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, and some of Jeremiah) ✅

Captivity Era (the rest of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel) ✅

Return Era (Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi) ✅

Silent Era (Inter-Testament period) ✅

Gospel Era (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) ✅

Church and Missions Eras (Acts, the Epistles, Hebrews), up now!

Era to follow:

End Times/New Beginnings

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/6:

The same day as Jesus’ resurrection, two men are walking to a village called Emmaus when Jesus appears to them and asks them why they are sad. The men’s eyes are restrained, so they don’t recognize Jesus. Therefore, they tell Jesus all that has happened the last couple of days regarding His crucifixion and the report of His resurrection by the women.

“Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” So we see how Jesus gives hope to the hopeless! He reveals who He is and what he came to do by sharing His story, the story of the Bible!

Later the men say, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” This is what happens when people hear the story of Jesus, who came on a rescue mission to save the hopeless; hearts are set on fire. So the men, with burning hearts, go and tell the other disciples, who were hiding in fear of the Jews, that Jesus is alive. While they are sharing the Good News, Jesus appears and says, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

Since doubting Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared, he says he will not believe unless he sees and touches Jesus’ wounds for himself. Eight days later, Jesus gives Thomas what he thinks he needs in order to believe. Then Jesus says, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus is saying, blessed are the ones who hear an eye witness of the risen Christ and believe. That is why John writes, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Jesus appears again to a few disciples that have been unsuccessfully fishing all night. Jesus tells them to cast the net again, and when they do the net becomes so full of fish that they can’t even drag it into their boat. Then John recognizes it is Jesus and says, “It is the Lord!” When Peter realizes it is Jesus, he jumps out of the boat and swims to shore to be reunited with his friend and his Savior whom he previously denied three times. However, Jesus still loves Peter despite any past or future failures. So Jesus restores Peter and commissions him to care for His people. Then Jesus tells Peter what it is going to cost to love Him and care for His people – “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’”

Peter will never again deny Jesus as Lord and Savior. He will spend the rest of His life sharing the story of Jesus with the world, even until they crucify him upside down since Peter will deem himself unworthy of dying the same death as Jesus Christ.

But you gotta love Peter. Because after the news of his certain persecution, Peter responds regarding John, “But Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus tells Peter not to worry about John and the plans He has for him. Jesus has specific plans for John, like He has specific plans for Peter, and like He has specific plans for all those who follow Him. Paul will later explain this in a letter the Ephesians – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

However, there is one thing all Christ followers are called to do, and that is to make disciples. Jesus says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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.”

Then He instructs His disciples to wait in Jerusalem to receive the “Promise of My Father upon you”, which is the Holy Spirit. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that the disciples will be emboldened to go and make disciples of all the nations, fulfilling the commandment given by Jesus.

Tomorrow, the Gospel Era ends, leading us into the Church and Missions Eras. Keep reading.

(Luke 24:13-43, Mark 16:12-13, John 20:19-23, Mark 16:14, John 20:24-21:25, Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:44-49)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/5:

That evening, the day before the Sabbath, a prominent man named Joseph asks Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph and Nicodemus (the Pharisee who visited Jesus at night (John 3:1-22)) prepare Jesus’ body for burial and place Him in an empty tomb. “And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.” The chief priests and Pharisees place guards out front of the tomb to secure the stone at the entrance of the tomb and to stand watch so no one will steal Jesus’ body and claim that He has risen.

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.” There they find the stone rolled away, the guards frozen like dead men, and the tomb empty. Then an angel asks the women, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

“And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest… And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” But Peter and John race to the tomb (with John winning the race, as he makes sure to note) and all they find are linen cloths and the handkerchief that was on Jesus’ head folded together in a place by itself. Then they believe and return home.

Mary stays outside the tomb weeping and Jesus appears to her, calling her by name and says, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” So Mary, commissioned by Jesus to deliver the news of His resurrection to the disciples, goes and tells them that she has seen the resurrected Christ and all the words He had spoken.

Meanwhile, the chief priests pay some soldiers to lie and say that His disciples took Jesus’ body during the night. “So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

Tomorrow Jesus appears to the disciples. Keep reading.

(Mark 15:42-47, Matthew 27:57-61, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42, Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:1-7, Luke 24:1-12, Mark 16:9-11, John 20:1-18, Matthew 28:8-15)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/4:

Jesus, being so badly wounded during the scourging, is unable to carry the cross for His crucifixion. So the Roman officers grab a man named Simon from Cyrene in North Africa who is visiting Jerusalem for the Passover, and force him to pick up Jesus’ cross and carry it as the crowds watch. Jesus tells the women weeping not to weep for Him but for themselves, knowing the fate that was to come upon Jerusalem and ultimately all who reject Him. When they arrive at Golgotha, they hang Jesus on the cross between two thieves and place a sign over His head that says, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

The officers divide His garments and cast lots for them, fulfilling Scripture (Psalm 22:18). And while Jesus is hanging on the cross, insults after insults are hurled at Him, but Jesus responds, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

One of the thieves being crucified taunts Jesus by saying, “‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” And just like that one of the criminals receives eternal salvation by grace through faith just moments before his death.

Before Jesus dies He ensures that His mother, probably widowed, will be cared for by His beloved disciple, John. “And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” As the elder son, Jesus entrusts his mother to John because His brothers were not believers at this time nor were they present at His crucifixion.

”Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’”

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

”Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, ‘Truly this Man was the Son of God!’” The Lord tearing the veil of the temple signifies that man now has direct access to the throne of God through the works of Jesus Christ as the final sacrificial Lamb. Jesus bore the full weight of our sins on that cross, providing a way for man to be restored into a right relationship with His Father, where we are deemed righteous based on faith in His Son.

”And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”

“Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken’ (Psalm 34:20, Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12). And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced’” (Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7).

Tomorrow, Jesus rises from the dead. Keep reading.

(Mark 15:21-24, Matthew 27:32-34, Luke 23:26-31, John 19:17-18, Mark 15:25-32, Matthew 27:35-44, Luke 23:32-43, John 19:19-27, Mark 15:33-41, Matthew 27:45-56, Luke 23:44-49, John 19:28-37)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/3:

While Jesus is standing before Pilate, His fourth trial, He is accused of many things such as perverting the nation, forbidding to pay taxes, and saying that He is Christ, a King; however, Jesus remains silent except to confirm that He is King of the Jews. “So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no fault in this Man.’ But they were the more fierce, saying, ‘He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.’”

“When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.” Jesus, standing on trial for a fifth time in front of Herod, does not respond to the many false accusations that are hurled at Him. “Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate. That very day Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for previously they had been at enmity with each other.”

Now Jesus is on trial for a sixth and final time. “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.” These hypocritical Jews have no problem lying, scheming, rejecting the Messiah, and plotting the murder of an innocent Man; however, they don’t want to defile themselves by entering the headquarters of Pilate.

Pilate tells the Jews to judge Jesus according to their law, but the Jews respond, “‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,’ that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.” Jesus has already said that He was going to be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14).

So Pilate questions Jesus again by asking if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus responds, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here… You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

After talking with Jesus, Pilate goes out to the Jews and says he finds no fault in Jesus, neither did Herod. “‘But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’ Then they all cried again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber… Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.” So the crowds are demanding the release of a guilty criminal in place of the innocent Christ.

“Pilate answered them, saying, ‘Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’ For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.”

“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.’ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ They said, ‘Barabbas!’ Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’”

“When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’ And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.’ Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.”

”Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”

Tomorrow Jesus, the final sacrificial Lamb, is led to the slaughter, to His crucifixion. But the story doesn’t end there, so keep reading.

(Mark 15:2-5, Matthew 27:11-14, Luke 23:1-12, John 18:28-40, Mark 15:6-15, Matthew 27:15-26, Luke 23:13-25, John 19:1-16, Mark 15:16-20, Matthew 27:27-31, Luke 22:63-65)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching

From today’s reading in Tyndale’s One Year Chronological Bible dated 11/2:

Today Jesus faces His second trial as He is brought before Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and elders are assembled. They try to get false testimony against Jesus but find none, for the false witnesses’ testimonies did not agree.

“And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ Jesus said, ‘I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?’ And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, ‘Prophesy!’ And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.”

Meanwhile, Peter, out in the courtyard, continues to deny belonging to Christ. While he was denying Him a third time, a rooster crowed. “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So Peter went out and wept bitterly.”

The next morning Jesus faces His third hearing before the Sanhedrin where they ask Jesus if He is the Son of God. Jesus responds,”You rightly say that I am.” The religious leaders are still plotting to put Jesus to death, and since they don’t have the authority to kill Him, “they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.”

Judas, overwhelmed with guilt for betraying Jesus, brings the silver back to the priests and elders saying, “‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’.. Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.’ And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.’” (There are several possibilities on why Matthew said Jeremiah instead of Zechariah (11:12-13): translation issue, Jeremiah spoke the prophecy but Zechariah recorded it, or Matthew is referring to the scrolls of Jeremiah which include the Book of Zechariah. – from Blue Letter Bible)

Tomorrow Jesus endures His fourth trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor over Judea. Keep reading.

(Mark 14:53-65, Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:66-72, Matthew 26:69-75, Luke 22:54-62, John 18:25-27, Mark 15:1, Matthew 27:1-2, Luke 22:66-71, Matthew 27:3-10)

#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching