Jesus and Chanukah - a message from the 1st Century to the 21st Century

My re-postings on Chanukah (see links below) are, I pray, of interest and a blessing to my readers. However, the Word of God is ever new and here is fresh insight - to me - from John 10:22 - 23.

I also wish to write a little on how my wife and I celebrate Chanukah, as well as the difficulty of getting a Chanukah card for some Jewish colleagues of my wife.

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22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon (ESVUK)

In these strange days, we are often told many lies, most often about Jesus, Israel, Judaism and Christianity.

For example: 

Jesus was a Palestinian Arab.  I know, but some people say it. If you must, Google it.

There was never a Temple in Jerusalem. As above, but some Muslim scholars assert that the Qur'an recognises the Temple in Jerusalem as Jewish. Sadly, they are not being heard.

Christianity has replaced Judaism. This is much harder to deal with briefly, but Paul in the Letter to the Romans is clear. The Gentile believers have been grafted into Israel (Personified in Yeshua Ha Moshiach). Some Jews have been removed, but the Gentile Church must beware of getting above itself. He got that one right.

So...

What was Jesus doing celebrating Chanukah?  In case you think that this might be some other feast, John states that it was winter. None of the Seven Feasts/Fasts appointed by God occur in winter. It is only the late-comer Chanukah that is a winter feast. Jesus hallowed it with His presence in the Temple and His incarnation. (See my other posts on Chanukah.)

John specifically mentions that it was winter. Commentators have speculated that the weather was particularly wintry because Dedication takes place in Kislev (December) so why else mention it? I think the Holy Spirit wrote that for us and not for them. He knew that there would be a time when the existence of both Temples would be denied. John is leaving us in no doubt that this was Chanukah. A Jewish festival, in Jerusalem - again why mention that? Where else would the Temple be? Again, it was not for them but for us. In effect, these facts have been double-underlined.

He is in the Temple and John records the link with Solomon's Temple.  He states that Jesus was in Jerusalem. It follows that the First and Second Temples were in Jerusalem and had been a places of worship for nearly a thousand years, at that time

If Christianity replaces Judaism, what was the Jew Jesus doing celebrating the inter-testamental feast of Chanukah? There is no law requiring Him to do this. He was celebrating the re-dedication of His Father's House. He was being a Jew. The Jew into which every Gentile believer is grafted. The Jew who fulfilled the Law so that we don't have to - but we do have to Holy like Him.

In two verses;

Jesus was and is a Jew.

There was a Temple in Jerusalem.

Judaism and Christianity stand together.

It's as if God planned it that way. How did John know that we would need answers to these lies? 

From the First century comes a Cruise missile aimed squarely at those who would deceive us with lies. Two thousand years later it doesn't miss the target. Beat that for accuracy. And they say that there is no God.

There is. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, The God of Israel and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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I searched Birmingham for a Chanukah card. Nothing at Tesco's in West Bromwich. Nothing at W.H. Smith's. Nothing at Clintons - even though their website says that they stock them. Nothing at Card Factory or Unit 7 ( who used to have them). It tells its own story, doesn't it? It was too late to contact the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the far side of Birmingham from us.  So we made our own, and not for the first time. 

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When my wife and I first decided to celebrate Chanukah it was partly because we knew that it was His Incarnation (See here) and because God had begun to show us some of the secrets of the Chanukah menorah - see my assorted postings on Chanukah. (Search my blog - not Google+, it's easier!).

When we first lit the candles, exactly as the Jews do, we were struck by a palpable sense of Peace and of His Presence. We use the time of the burning of the candles as a time of prayer and , like the Jews, praying for miracles.

Since the revelation of the Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah) structure hidden in the Gospel of John, we pray and meditate on each one, in sequence, on each day. We remember the Father's gift of His Son at the Incarnation and we are sure that there is much more that we will learn as we pray and meditate on the Scriptures.

We find that it gives us a scriptural antidote to the crass commercialism that has overtaken Christmas. It is a welcome space from the craziness of what is Saturnalia in all but name.

About half an hour of peace and quite mediating on His Word and praying for miracles for others and ourselves, especially the Peace of Jerusalem.

What's not to like?

Shalom, Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord.

 

Chanukah in John Pt.5 - The Third Light

It seems odd to ignore some major stories in John, but we are looking for a clear and positive confession by a person or persons in their encounter with Jesus. Nicodemus does not do this and nor is there a clear confession at Cana, even the Samaritan woman (Woman at the Well)  asks the question,"Can this be the Christ?" after her encounter with Jesus. 

It is only at the end of the Samaritan Woman's story that we get a clear statement of belief about who Jesus is. It is unequivocal and it asserts that these Samaritans had come to believe that the Jew, Jesus, was the Jewish Messiah and the promised Saviour of the World.

John 4:39-42

English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

³⁹ Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ And many more believed because of his word. ⁴² They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.”

 This is a brief but remarkable statement by people who were generally regarded, with some justification, as being hostile to all things Jewish. It must have been an interesting encounter for the disciples as it would run contrary to all that they had been taught or had experienced.

Jesus is able to reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable when we believe and trust in Him. Most of all he reconciled God and the sinner by His death on the Cross.

Copyright G. I. Goodson 2013

As you can see, these really are Chanukah lights and we remember the Incarnation and these amazing witnesses in John at this season.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Chanukah in John Pt.4. The Second Light.

Now I'm catching up with myself. Another re-posting from a year ago. Be blessed.

This is a passage packed with revelation.

The Second Light reveals three of the Titles of Jesus. To wit, Son of God, King of Israel and Son of Man. Two of them are revealed to Nathaniel by the Holy Spirit ( Direct Revelation) and then Jesus increases the blessing with the third. Not bad going for a man sitting under a fig tree.

John 1:43-51

English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

 Why was Nathaniel so privileged? According to Rabbinic teaching, a fig tree is a good place to read and meditate on the scriptures. Jesus told Nathaniel what Nathaniel had been reading. If you read Genesis 28:10 - 17 and compare it with the above passages you will see the references. Jacob was known, not entirely fairly, for his guile. Israel was his covenant name and the name of redemption. Jesus pays Nathaniel a great compliment by calling him a true Israelite. He then goes on to identify Himself with Jacob's vision. In short, Jesus is the LORD of Israel.

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Another secret of the Chanukah menorah. The candles are placed from left to right, but are lit from right to left. This is to show that no one day is more important than another. I also take this to signify that no one witness is more important than another. God blesses and uses all His people. I also take it to mean that the Jew, who reads from left to right, and the Gentile, mostly right to left, will all be enlightened by the Messiah.

Copyright G.I.Goodson 2013.

Hanukkah is a time of miracles. The great miracle of God's provision at the Temple and the greater miracle of God's provision of the Messiah at the Incarnation. I hope and pray that you will be emboldened to seek a miracle of God's provision in your life. Not a 'name it and claim it' greedy prayer but a prayer of faith, humbly seeking more of God's grace to revealed to you as He may choose.

The LORD bless you.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Chanukah in John Pt. 3. First Light

It was while pondering the scriptures and Chanukah, that I received a revelation. The Lord asked me if there was an Chanukiah in John. Why? Because John had said that the light that enlightens every man is coming into the world. Did he provide proof?

After that, I had to search. But what was I looking for? Someone had to confess Jesus as Lord, God, Messiah or some such.

There had to be understanding and confession (illumination and witness).

 Compare Romans 10:9 – 10

Reading through  the gospel of John, I came to the conclusion that there were, indeed, eight lights that had been lit by the Servant. Eight occasions where someone witnessed as to who Jesus was.

This is the First Light.

 John 1: 29 - 34 ESV

²⁹ The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming towards him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³² And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

The Chanukah menorah is placed in the window so that the eight lights will be a witness to the miracle of God's provision at the rededication of the Temple.

Similarly, our menorah is placed as a witness to the greater miracle that happened at Chanukah.

For us, it provides a time of peace in which we can pray, celebrate communion and/or meditate on all that God has provided for us through Jesus the Christ/ Yeshua  Ha Moshiach. 

Part One
Part Two

Chanukah in John Pt.2 The Servant Candle, Light of the World.

The Chanukiah differs from the standard menorah as it has eight branches instead of seven. Yes, I know, it has nine but the ninth doesn't count. How did that happen? It all has meaning.

Copyright G.I.Goodson 2013

And now for the meaning:

The Servant Candle (Shamash) is separate from the others. It does not recall the miracle of provision ( See part one, link below). It can be used as an every day light and to light other things.

Some Chanukiah (Hanukkah menorah) put the servant candle to one side.

There are many designs for Chanukiah. Google them and see. It is all very creative.


The Servant Candle is two things.
Firstly, it does not count - despised and rejected, anyone? Isaiah 53.
Secondly, it provides light for the world. John 8:1

Jesus call Himself "the Light of the World" at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles (see John 7:37 ff).

The story of the woman caught in adultery ( John 7:53 ff) interrupts the narrative. Nevertheless, it shows clearly, why Jesus came into the world, to save sinners and not to condemn them. John 3:16 - 21. If you read the text, you will see that in verse 19 Jesus refers to Himself as the Light.

 As Jesus was born at Tabernacles, it follows that the Incarnation took place at Chanukah.

You may find the following links of interest:

http://thealmondrod.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/when-was-jesus-born-its-all-in-daniel.html

http://thealmondrod.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/chag-sameach-and-merry-christmas.html

http://thealmondrod.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/when-was-jesus-born.html


I will also be posting more on the birth of Jesus in the near future.

As Mary was remembering the rededication of the Temple, and possibly lighting the Chanukah lights, the Angel Gabriel appeared to her. Luke 1:26 - 38

As she dedicated herself to God's service, she became, for nine months, the dwelling place of the the Second Person of the Trinity, in other words, a living Temple.

Have you noticed that an Chanukiah has nine lights?

Copyright G.I.Goodson 2013

The Chanukiah has some more secrets to reveal, of which more later. Tomorrow, the first light of John's Chanukah menorah.
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Part One

Chanukah in the Gospel of John - Part One

My second re-posting, so this time I am a little behind but I will catch up.

It is my intent over the next couple of days, and during Hanukkah, to post on the the feast of Chanukah in the gospel of John. John is full of structures. The seven signs (and elsewhere) and the seven 'I AM' sayings are well documented (The links here are just to make the point. I hold no brief for them and there may be better ones lower in Google's listings). I hope to show that there is also another structure in John. and it is a Chanukah menorah, an Chanukiah of revelation about Jesus the Christ (Yeshua ha Moshiach).

Below is a picture of an Chanukiah. It is not in a window because none of the candles have been lit and thus it is not a witness to the world.

Copyright G.I.Goodson 2013

The Chanukiah differs from the standard menorah as it has eight branches instead of seven. Yes, I know, it has nine but the ninth doesn't count. How did that happen? It all has meaning.

For Jews, Chanukah remembers the rededication of the Temple after Judas Maccabeus had , temporarily, freed Israel from foreign rule. The Syrians had been overthrown, but the Romans were soon to follow.

Chanukah celebrates a miracle of provision and not a victory. When rededicating the defiled Temple, there was only enough oil for one day, but it lasted the full eight days needed for rededication, see here.

The gospel of John records sayings of Jesus during a celebration of Chanukah. Please note that the term " The Jews" refers to the Jewish Authorities of the time and should not be used as an excuse to persecute modern-day Jews. It is a similar usage to our "The Yanks" or "The Brits" etc.

John 10: 22 - 42

At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.

He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.

 Jesus makes some very big claims on this day, but that is hardly surprising as it is the day of His Incarnation - of which, more tomorrow.

I am a Maccabee...

Well, according to the narrators and producers of the following superb video, I am.

This is the first of several re-postings from a year ago in the hope that I can reach a wider audience and that you will be blessed and encouraged.

Watch this re-enactment of Chanukah and note the return of the Enemy. The glorification of Man, the hatred of circumcision ( Christians don't hate it - or shouldn't - we just don't need it for religious reasons) and  the rage against God.

Chanukah is not one of the LORD's appointments as set out in the Torah, but it is not without significance. When we get to Chanukah, I will tell you why it means so much to my wife and me, and also why it has tremendous Christian significance. I will show you the Chanukah lights in the New Testament. The lights are there because the New Testament is a collection of Jewish writings.

My take on Chanukah will be controversial, both to Jews and Christians, but I hope you will find it interesting and challenging.

In the meantime, enjoy this:


And this:

More on the hidden ministry of Christ.

Recently, I studied the Tabernacle for a sermon series. I became intrigued by the character of Bezalel as a type of Christ.

We are used to the pictures of Jesus as :

• A prophet like Moses,
• A king like David,
• A priest like Joshua and Melchizedek,

and

• The Suffering Servant of Isaiah.

However, large parts of His life and ministry are not covered by these types. Jesus was a prophet for three years. His priestly ministry started in Gethsemane and continues in Heaven. He was the Suffering Servant on the Cross and in the way He lived. He will return as King.

Bezalel, covers the hidden years as a builder in Nazareth  and Capernaum, but also His hidden ministry, via the Holy Spirit, of building the Church.

Whenever, you learn something really new to yourself and key to the scriptures, it begins to change the way you look at the whole of scripture.

For example, The Feasts of the Lord, are a major prophetic key and change  our understanding of prophetic events. They also help in dating His life.

You get sensitised to scriptures that relate to the new insight - as long as it is Biblical and of the Lord.

Bezalel is a craftsman. We should expect to see this in the work of Christ, but just during His earthly ministry.

Let us see Christ dealing with sinful Adam. It can't have been the Father, for no man has seen him and Adam would have been destroyed. Once Manhood was taken into Godhead then Jesus is a bit like Dr. Who's Tardis. He's bigger on the inside and He can go anywhere in time and space.

The so-called 'pre-existent Christ' is still Jesus. His body, like the Tabernacle and the Temple, protects from the consequences of an encounter with God.

In Genesis 3:21, God makes clothes for Adam and Eve. The more rational commentators, Jewish and Christian, point to this as the origin of the concept of sacrifice. The Pulpit Commentary, if you follow the previous link, is very helpful.

Suddenly, I could see Jesus giving lessons to Adam and Eve in the preparation of skins, making of tools and threads of sinew, gut  and leather; and then sewing the garments they now needed. 

They would not be crude affairs as imagined and attributed by many to early man. See below a still from One million Years BC. Wrong on so many levels. God was covering nakedness.

I can't see God doing crude and shoddy work. What I see is a loving Father clothing His aberrant children. He will fix what they have broken in His good time. There are consequences to their actions. The universe will no longer function as it was designed to. In the meantime, He clothes them.

Since then, the Lamb of God has died, we are justified by His Blood and we put on His clothing which, currently, is the whole Armour of God.

There, as they are cast out of Eden, I saw a revelation of His love for us. So often we miss this, but the Bezalel ministry of Christ was being revealed making things better.

Jews, Christians , Muslims and others - unite! Well, sort of... the devil

According to Archbishop Cranmer:

"It is announced from Lambeth Palace that the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was joined by Pope Francis and other Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish leaders in a joint declaration to bring an end to the curse of modern slavery. The ground-breaking Global Freedom Network, which was launched with the support of the Archbishop and Pope in March 2014, brought together global faith leaders in a commitment to eradicate modern slavery by 2020 – throughout the world and for all time. It is estimated that over 36 million people around the globe (and at least 13,000 in the UK) live under the yoke of slavery, most commonly coerced prostitution or forced labour."

"The Joint Declaration emphasises that modern slavery – in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking, and any relationship that fails to respect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have the same freedom and dignity – is a crime against humanity, and must be recognised as such by everyone and by all nations."

All the following were signatories to the Declaration:

Pope Francis (pp Roman Catholicism)
Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (pp Hinduism)
Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) (pp Buddhism, represented by Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong)
The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia (pp Buddhism)
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka (pp Judaism)
Chief Rabbi David Rosen, KSG, CBE (pp Judaism)
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (pp Orthodoxy, represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France)
Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (pp Sunni Islam, represented by Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif)
Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi (pp Shi’a Islam)
Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi (pp Twelver Shi’a Islam, represented by Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, Special advisor of Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Omar Abboud (pp Shi’a Islam)
Most Revd and Right Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury (pp Anglicanism)

'All this is good, very good', to quote Cranmer. Quoting older sources, "The Devil is in the detail".

So what is the detail here?

Apparently, there was a caveat, "of sorts".

Take a look at the declaration:

We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative to inspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people of good will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020 and for all time.

In the eyes of God*, each human being is a free person, whether girl, boy, woman or man, and is destined to exist for the good of all in equality and fraternity. Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking, and any relationship that fails to respect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have the same freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity.

We pledge ourselves here today to do all in our power, within our faith communities and beyond, to work together for the freedom of all those who are enslaved and trafficked so that their future may be restored. Today we have the opportunity, awareness, wisdom, innovation and technology to achieve this human and moral imperative.

*The Grand Imam of Al Azhar uses the word “religions”.

Note the little asterisk - my highlighting.

This is his, 'Get out of Jail Free' card. You can read the "Archbishop's" justified fulminations and conclusions here.

So no real unity then?

What is also interesting is another detail, and according to an even older quote, "Le bon Dieu est dans le détail" (the good God is in the detail). Certainly, any Bible expositor, Jewish or Christian, knows the truth of this. The quote is attributed to someone who was unlikely to have experienced the moment of realisation or revelation that comes from a new insight into scripture.

This detail is also in the above declaration.

In the eyes of God, each human being is a free person, whether girl, boy, woman or man, and is destined to exist for the good of all in equality and fraternity.

This seems to me to be a reasonable summary of Judeo-Christian teaching. I doubt that you would find it anywhere else. 

It would seem that we have persuaded most of them to accept a Biblical perspective. This is what it means to be a light to the nations. They will accept your teaching but not accept you or your God.

 

The Tabernacle Part Two. The hidden ministry of Christ

In this presentation I  do a whistle-stop tour of the meanings of the various materials of The Tabernacle  and introduce you to the builder of The Tabernacle. He is called Bezalel and he is a picture of the hidden ministry of Christ. Just as the Messiah would be a Shepherd-King like David, a prophet like Moses, a Priest like Joshua (Ezra 3) or Melchizedek (Priest-king) and the Suffering Servant so He would also be a builder like Bezalel. The Greek word 'tekton' can mean carpenter, but it can also mean 'builder'.  In Hebrews 3:3 Jesus is called a builder and in Hebrews 11:10 God is called an 'architect and builder'.

I also include a recording of the sermon, but I am unable to synchronise it with the presentation.

Even the Qur'an admits that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jews

It's true!

 I've checked in two different translations of that tendentious book.  The seventh Sura(h), also called 'Al Araf', in verse137 promises the land to the East and West of the River to Israel. The Surah is mostly a précis of Exodus with other bits. From the context, the river must be Jordan. This is also confirmed in Surah 5:21/23 depending on the translation. This much I have checked and verified for myself.

I understand that there are other Surahs on similar lines.

Israel Today has published an article on the subject.

The Koran promises the Land to the children of Israel because they suffered in Egypt, according to Nissim Dana, an Israeli expert on Islam who spoke with Israel Today reporter Olga Zenkova.

It is behind a subscription wall but I have read the article in the printed magazine. Some Muslims try to wriggle out of these verses but others are more open. Sadly, the article does not list all the verses.

Many Muslims are completely unaware of these verses as they do not read the Qur'an. They are told that translations are not accurate and that they need to learn Arabic. Even the Arab Muslims do not read the Qur'an.

All of which begs the question, "What are they fighting Israel for?" The answer is that they want to keep what they have conquered in the past and that they want the world for Islam.

Arab sheik receiving a Jewish visitor.

 

The Tabernacle - Part One - God's rescue plan for Israel and the Church - the best place in Heaven and Earth.

We are still preaching our way through Exodus at the church I attend. This is a very visual presentation on the Tabernacle - lots of pictures, few words and I hope no copyright infringements.

It is how God brings us from sin to the mercy-seat. The is the throne of Christ. The same throne upon which the Bride is seated with Christ in heavenly places. 

Some people say that the gospel is not about bums on seats (In the UK 'bum' is OK). In fact, it is. It's about getting those bums out there on that seat up there! (This quip is mine.)

Enjoy a walk through the Tabernacle to the Mercy-Seat.; a journey to the best place in Heaven and Earth.

Every blessing,

Ian G.

Strange how it's always Jews and Christians that get targeted

Regulations designed to protect schools from jihadist takeover have ended up targeting Jews and Christians. More on the 'Trojan Horse' scandal here and here.

Are we surprised?

No.

Archbishop Cranmer has expanded his operation in recent weeks. There is an interesting post on the new blog by a Gillan Scott who is Cranmer's deputy editor. It appears that faith schools have been told the following:

• That representatives of other faiths should be invited to lead assemblies and lessons in order for the school to demonstrate compliance with the Standards;
• That evidence needed to be provided, including within the curriculum, that the school “actively promoted other faiths”;
• That the school should actively promote the principles of the Equality Act 2010, that pupils must learn about people with protected characteristics and that the school must not give a viewpoint that certain lifestyles are wrong. Nor should the school promote a particular lifestyle; and
• That the promotion of a principle, namely the Christian principle that all people are equal before God and have inherent dignity as human beings, was not enough to demonstrate sufficient  respect for other people, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.

Translation: teach that religions other than your own are equally valid; teach that  lifestyles once called immoral are now to be accepted even encouraged.

Quoting from the blog of Adrian Warnock  at Patheos.com

Mr Jonathan Rabson, Executive Director of NAJOS (The National Association of Jewish Orthodox Schools) said: “This confrontational approach by inspectors is a worrying trend that has never been seen before in the history of the UK Jewish community and we fear that this suggests a shift in policy towards faith schools . . . Ofsted inspectors have asked hugely inappropriate questions and bullied the pupils into answering insensitive and anti-religious questions.”  (Source: Press Release NAJOS 8 October 2014.)

It seems that if these reports are accurate, the inspectors paid no regard to the fact that these orthodox Jewish children were being raised in a very conservative manner, to not interact with those of opposite gender, and to not have TVs or Internet devices. The idea that a young child from such a sheltered background should be asked whether they had a boyfriend or girlfriend by a stranger is preposterous, and frankly bordering on being abusive towards such young children.

NAJOS claims “30% of maintained Jewish secondary schools have received unannounced visits from Ofsted, and many of our independent orthodox Jewish schools have also received no-notice inspections.”  This seems like clear evidence of discriminatory targeting which, unless there really was good cause, surely breaks the very Equality Act these regulations were designed to protect!

It is unsurprising in such circumstances that the Jewish community fear anti-Semitism may have played a part in these decisions. (Source: NAJOS Letter to Nicky Morgan re inspections – 24 September 2014.) The 30% figure is disputed by Ofsted. (Source: Full Response from Ofsted re letter to DfE.)

A Guardian report , not known for their support of Jewish causes, is equally damning.

The Christian Institute is reporting on Jewish and Christian schools affected by the new regime. (See also here).

According to Christian Concern the guidelines have been shelved, note, not scrapped just shelved.

Why should we be worried by this semantic difference? The LibDems, coalition partners with the Tories, have voted to scrap Christian Assemblies. They may never govern in their own right, but they are a seed-bed for secular liberal ideology.  That very small, but vocal, group, "The national Secular Society" just loves it (here)

Christians and Jews need to be alert. The secularists will use Islamic terrorism and the accusation of Islamophobia to drive the God of Abraham out of schools.

When did you last hear a sermon on Helpers and Administrators?

Thought so. Me neither.

At church we are currently working our way through Exodus in the evening service. It fell to me to preach on Exodus 17: 8 - 18:27. I have preached on the Exodus 17 verses before and you can find that here. It's all about prayer triplets (also here). But the Word of God is a never-ending well-spring of blessing and riches. This time, I was shown the seeds of what would become a nation of priests, a royal priesthood.

There is a direct parallel to Exodus 18 in  Acts 6. Factor in what constitutes priesthood and kingship, examine the ministries of the Holy Spirit (see here) and a sermon on Helpers and Administrators was born.

The overall theme of the series is "The God who rescues." Here we see Israel beginning to grow into maturity. The lessons are key to Christian maturity as well.

I forgot to record the sound, but the PowerPoint is fairly comprehensive.