BI

BLEKNOWLEDGE
FORM THREEWORK
(NEW SYLLABUS-
(FORM 3-4)
I
ntr
oduct
iontotheconceptofBi
ble
Thewor dBI BLEcomesf r
om TWOl anguages:Lat inandGreek.
InGreekt hewor dBibleisinpluralt
,‘abibl
ia’whichmeanst hebooks.Whent hi
swor dwast akenover
i
ntoLat ini twasinsi ngul
arterm,Bibl
osorBi ble.Thismeanst hattheBibl
ei snotasi nglebookbuta
coll
ectionofdi ff
erentwor ks/bookswrit
tenbydi ffer
entpeople.Hence, theBiblecontainsmanybooks
puttoget herint
oonebi gbook.TheBibl
eisasacr edbookt ot heJewsandt ot heChrist
ians.
Defi
nit
ionoft heBibl
e
Thereforet heBiblecanbedef nedasacol
i l
ectionofbookscont aini
ngt hewor dofGod,wr i
tt
enby
dif
ferentpeopl ethroughinspi
rati
onofGodf oroursal vat
ion.

1.Collectionofbooks- i
nsidetheBi bl
e,wewi l
lf indmanybookscol lectedt oget
her.Suchbooks
i
ncludeTheBookofGenesi s,theBookofJoshua,TheBookoft hePr ophetIsai
ah,theBook
ofRut h, theGospelaccor dingt oLukee. t.
c, hence, itisal i
braryofbooks.TheBi blecontains
66books.
2.Cont ai
ni ngt hewor dsofGod- t
heBi bleist hewor dofGodsetdowni nwr i
ti
ng.Becauseof
thi
s, i
tisal socal ledtheHol yScr i
ptureorSacr edscr ipture.
3.Wr i
ttenbydi fferentpeople-Thebooksoft heBi blewer ewr i
ttenbymanydi ff
erentaut hor
s, i
n
dif
ferentpl acesandi ndiff
erentt i
mes.I ngener althebooksoft heBi blebegant obewr i
tten
around900BCt o100AD.Someoft hepl aceswher ethesebookswer ewr i
tteni ncl
ude,
Palestine,Baby lon,Egypt,Rome,Cor int
he. t.c.Mostoft hepeopl ewhowr otethesebooks
wereJews,whi leot hersarenotknown.Somebooksar enamedaf termenandsomear e
namedaf terwomen.Forexampl e,Mosesi sbel ievedt ohav ewr i
ttenthef i
rstfi
vebooksof
theBi bleofOl dTest ament .Booksl i
keRut h,Est her ,Judit
har enamedaf t
erwomen.Paul
wrot emanybookswhi chareal soletter
s.Exampl esi ncl
udet helettertotheCor i
nthians,the
l
ettertot heRomanse. t.
c.
NB:
mostbooksoft heOTwer ewritteninHebr ewl anguage.NTwaswr i
tteninGr eek.
4.Thr
oughGod’
sinspi
rat
ion:
TheBi
bleast
hei
nspir
edwor dofGod(
Bibl
i
cal
orscr
ipt
ural
inspi
rat
ion)
Bibli
calInspirationr eferstothespir
it
ualinfl
uenceoftheHolySpiri
tthatcameupont hewri
ter
soft he
1
sacredscr i
pt ureenabl ingthem t
orecordGod’ smessagewithcompleteaccur
acy .I
nthephenomenon
ofinspirati
on,t woagent sareinvol
ved,Godandman.Bot haretheauthorsoftheBibl
ebutGodi sthe
primarypr i
nci pl
eaut horandMani sonlyhisinstr
ument.I
nthissense,t
hewordsanddeedsofGodar e
accuratelyrecor ded.
Inotherwor ds,differentpeoplewhowr otethesebooksoftheBi bl
ewer egui
dedbyt heHol
ySpi r
itso
thatwhatt heywer ewr i
ti
ngbewhatGodwant edtocommuni cat
etopeople.Inspi
rat
ionsi
gni
fiesthe
divi
neor igi
noft heBi ble.

ThebooksoftheBibl
earecall
ed‘
sacr
ed’becauset
heyareregar
dedasinspi
redbyGodandar enot
si
mplythepr
oductofor
dinar
yhumancr
eati
vi
tyandeff
ort
.Hence,t
heBi
blei
sdivinel
yinspi
red.

1
Spi
rit
uali
nfl
uencet
hatal
l
owsaper
sont
othi
nk,
speak,
oracti
nawayt
hatt
ranscendsor
dinar
yhuman
abi
li
ti
es.

Page1of1
FortheBi bl
et obeasi sittoday,i
twentthroughthepr ocessofcanoni zat
ion.Thi
sistheprocessof
coll
ecti
ngaut hori
tativ
ebooks.I notherwordsitwaspr ocessofcol l
ectingvari
ousbooksinusewer e
recognizedasi nspiredbyGod.Thi swasdonef ir
statthecounci lofHi
ppoi n393AD.Thecouncildrew
up thel istorcannonoft heinspi
red books. Theacknowl edged booksoft heBibleweret hen,
considered‘ canonical’becausetheyareont helistor‘ canon’andalsot hattheywereregar
dedas
i
nspired.

Nowt osum up,bysayi

ngthattheBibl
eisthei
nspir
edwordofGod,wemeant hatGodwaswi t
ht he
author
swhowr otet
hesebooksandalsowit
hthosewhoselect
edthesebookst
obeintheBi
ble.I
tisin
thi
ssensethattheBibl
eisalsocal
ledsacr
edscript
ure(
becauseGodwhoi ssacr
edandhol yi
st he
author
).

SincetheBi
bleisbeli
ev edtobeinspir
edbyGod,ithasanauthorit
yequal
edbynoot herwri
ttensource.
I
thasnoer ror(completeinfal
li
bil
i
ty)andi
tisabsolut
esuff
iciency.Theunder
standingoftheBibleas
havingaut
hori
tyisrootedinitsi
nspir
edchar
acter
.

NB: Thegr eatpr

oofofi
nspir
ati
onoft heBibleisthor
oughtheprophecies.Pr
opheci
eswerewhi
ch
wereutt
eredcametobeful
fi
ll
edseveralhundredsofyear
s.Forexample,
Isaiah7:
14predi
ctst
hebi
rt
h
ofspeci
alchi
l
dwhichweseeful
fil
l
edinMat t
hew1: 18—25.

NB:Wehav etorememberthatthesesacredaut horspr esent

edt hei
rmessageinway sthepeopleof
thei
rtimecouldunderst
and.Sosometimest hei
ri deasofphy sicsorast r
onomyseem outdat
edt ous
(tounderst
andwhattheymeanttosaywehav et
ounder standt hewayt heysawtheworld)
.Butthereal
trut
hthatGodwant edust olearnispresentedwi thouter r
or. Now,j ustbecause,i
twaswr itt
enin
humanl anguage,i
tispossibl
etounder st
andt heBi ble.Howev er,underst
andi
ngitrequi
resspecial
prepar
ati
on.

5.Foroursalvat
ion-t
heBi bl
ewaswr
it
tenf
orust
oat
tai
nsal
vat
ionaswear
ereadi
ng,medi
tat
ingand
dowhatGodt ell
sus.
2
(C.
f.I
ITi
mot hy3:16-
17) .

NB:Bot ht heJewsandChr i
sti
ansuset heBi ble,butt heorderaswel lasthenumberofbooksdi ffers
betweent heJewi shBibleandChr isti
anBi ble.TheJewshav e24booksi ntheirBi bl
e.Ev enamongt he
Christianst heorderandthenumberdi ffers.Thi smeanst heProtestantBibleandRomanCat hol
icBible
di
ffers.Cat hol
icshave73Bookswhi lePr otestantshav e66books.Cat holi
cv ersi
onincl udesbooks
whichar eal socalled‘deuter
ocanoni ca’l(‘
Apocr ypha’)from aGr eek“ secondcanon. ”Thesei nclude:
Tobit,Judi th,Wisdom,Sirach(Ecclesi
ast i
cus) ,IMaccabees,I IMaccabees,par t sofDani elandpar tsof
Esther .(thewor dapocr yphal comesf rom t heGr eekwor d,apokr y
ptein,“tohi deaway ”),inbibli
cal
l
it
erat ure,i tmeanswor ksout si
deanaccept edcanonofscr i
ptur
e.Thehi storyoft het erm'susage
i
ndicat est hatitrefer
redt oabodyofesot ericwr iti
ngst hatwereatf i
rstprized,latert olerat
ed,and
fi
nallyex cluded.
Impor t
antinformat i
on

2
Everyscri
ptur
eisi
nspi
redbyGodandusef
ulf
ort
eachi
ng,
forr
epr
oof
,forcor
rect
ion,
andf
ort
rai
ningi
n
r
ighteousness.

Page2of2
 1.Sept uagint-atranslationoft heOl dTestamentbooksf r
om variousHebr ewt exts,along
withfragmentsi nAr amai c,int
oGr eek.ThisBi
bleincl
udesanumberofwor ks
2.later,non-Hell
enisticJewi shschol arshi
pattheCouncilofJamni a( AD90)i denti
fiedas
beingoutsidetheaut henticHebr ewcanon.
3. I
n382PopeDamasuscommi ssi
onedJer ome,theleadi
ngbiblicalscholarofhisday ,
to
produceanaccept ableLat inversionoftheBibl
ef r
om theorigi
nal HebrewBi ble.A
processthathecompl et
edabout405.Thi sBibl
ewascal ledtheVul gate-.Therefore,the
VulgateistheLat i
nBi bleusedbyt heRomanCat hol
icChurch.ThisBibleincludeda
numberofwor ks.

4. OnApr
il8,
1546,
theCounci
lofTr
entdecl
aredt
hecanoni
cit
yofnear
lyt
heent
ir
eVul
gat
e

BOOKSTHATARECONSI DEREDASDeut
erocanoni
cal
1.baruch
2.l
etterofjer
emiah
3.prayerofazar
iah
4.susanna
5.belandthedragon
6.prayerofmanasseh
7.Psalm 151
8.Tobit
9.Judith
10.Wisdom ofsolomon
11.eccl
esiast
icus(wi
sdom ofj
esust
hesonofsi
rach)
.
12.Maccabees

Usesoft
heBi
ble
TheBi bleisver
yimpor tantdocumentandt hatitisuseddiffer
entlyindi
fferentsect or
sofl i
fe.I
t
i
sr egardedasanaut horitativeandoneoft heoldestbooksi nhumanexi stence.Ithasser ved
i
tsdi f
ferentpurposesformanygener at
ionsofmanki nd.Someoft heusesoft heBibleareas
fol
lows:
Wor shippi
ng.Wor shipist heshowi ngofpassi onatereli
giousdev oti
ont oone’ sGod.Many
denomi nati
onsuset heBi l
edur i
ngt hei
rwor shi
pofpr ayers.Theyusedi fferentpassagesand
versest oemphasi zedifferentpoi ntsonmat t
ersofmor alsorwhenemphasi zi
ngt hatGodi s
supremeandwear ehiscr eatures.Thisisdonet hroughpr eachingandt eachi ng.Incl
udedin
worshi
paredif
fer
entact
ssuchasspokenorunspokenpr
ayer
s,si
l
ence,t
heassumpt
ionofpar
ti
cul
ar
postur
es,
rit
ual
actsandgest
ures.

Medi tati
on.I nmeditati
on,i
ndi
vi
dualsreadtheBibleandrefl
ectdeepl
yont hepassager ead.
Duri
ngmedi tati
on,oneputasidet heotherthi
ngsandf ocusesonGodaccor di
ngt ot he
scr
ipt ureread. Insomecasesindi
v i
dual
swithdr
awf r
om t
hecommuni tyandgot oalonel
yor
sol
itaryar eaf ormediat
ion.Forexample,Michi
ruHil
linBlanty
reandr esur
recti
ongardeni n
Keny a.Ot hersoptt ocli
mbmount ainswhen.Thiswayofmeet ingGodi scall
edsolit
udeor
qui
ett i
me.

Page3of3
Gui danceandcounsel ing.Thi sr eferst oapr ocessofassi stingandgi vi
ngadv i
cet osomeone.
Dur inggui danceandcounsel ing,Bi bli
calpassagesar er eadsot hatpeopl ecangetadv iceon
i
ssuest hataf fectt heirli
ves.TheBi bleisal sousedwhencomf ort
ingt hesick.Forexampl e
Prov er bs20: 1adv i
sepeopl eont hedangerofdr inki
ngt oomuchal cohol .
Dur ingswear i
ng.TheBi bleisal sousedbygov ernmentdur ingswear ingi nceremoni es.During
cour tsessi ont heBi bl
ei susedasawayt hatpeopl ewi l
lnotusef al sei nfor
mat i
onr egarding
thecase.Agai n,whenonehasbeenappoi ntedt ohi ghof ficesuchaspr esidentt heBi bl
ei s
usedt oassur et hatt hesepeopl ewi l
ladmi nisterjusti
cedur i
ngt heirser vi
ces.
Academi cs.TheBi bleisalsousedf oracademi cpur pose.I ti sst udiesi nBi bleKnowl edge,
Theol ogy ,andHi story.
Sour ceofheal i
ng.Somesi ckpeopl eseekdi v
ineheal ingf r
om t heiri l
lnesses.Somebel ievers
believ ei nchar ismat icgift
st opr ovideheal ingf ordi seasesanddel iv
er ancef rom demoni ac
attack.Themi nistercanusehol ywat er.
Weddi ngcer emoni es.Whenpeopl eareget tingmar ried,t heBi bleisused.Thepast ororpr i
est
readst hescr i
pt uref rom theBi bl ethatspeaksaboutmar r
iageandt hepassagest hatadv ise
mar ri
edcoupl esandwhatGodexpect sfrom t hem asmar riedpeopl e( ICorinthians7: 1-
15).
Agai n, theBi bl ei susedt obl esst hem ast heyar estartingt hei rnewl ife.
Otherusesi ncl ude:
Funer alr ites.Whensomeonehasdi ed,ther elat
ivesar ehear tbrokenandt heyl osehope
especi allywhent hedeceasedwasabr eadwi nner.Dur ingt hecer emony ,t
hepast orort he
priestusest heBi bli
calpassagest ocomf or tandi nstil
lhopet ot her elativesandf riendsoft he
deceased.
Singi ng.Ther ear esomebookst hatar eusedassongs.Manypeopl ehav ecomposedsongs
usingt heBi ble.Forexampl e,thebookofPsal msi susedt ocomposesongs.Suchsongscan
beusedi nchur chesorot hertheat r
esf orentertainment .
GODINTHEOLDTESTAMENT
THEBOOKOFTHEPROPHETISAI
AH
INTRODUCTI ON
ThebookofI saiahhas66chapt ersandi sdivi
dedintothr
eepart
s.Thisissobecauset heev ent
sint he
wholebookoccur redindif
fer
entper i
odscov er
ingover200year
s.
Chapters1-39
Wr i
tenby1stI
t saiah/Jer
usalem Isaiah/Pr otoIsai
ah/pre-
exi
li
cI sai
aharound765-680B. C.Thi s
Isai
ah li
vedandwor kedinJerusalem.Thi swasthetimewhenAssy r
iaunderTiglat
hPi leserII
I(also
knownasPul )wasawor l
dpower .Theki ngswhor ul
edJudahduringthisti
meofI saiahofJer usalem
were:Uzziah,Jotham,AhazandHezeki ah.Themai nmessageis“Sinanddisobediencet oGodl eadt o
punishment”

Chapter
s40-55
Writenby2ndorDeut
t eroI
saiah,orexi
li
cIsai
ah(
Isai
ahofBaby
lon)
.Hewasact ivetowar
dst
heendof
theexil
einBabyl
onaround538B. C.whenBabyl
onwasawor l
dpower .Thi
swasal sothet
imewhen
Cyruswasexpandi
nghisPer
sianEmpi r
e.Themai
nmessageofthi
sIsai
ahis“hope.”

Page4of4
NB:Jer
usal
em (
Prot
o)I
sai
ahgat
her
eda'
School
'ofdi
sci
ples,
whor
ecal
l
edhi
swor
ds,
studi
edt
hem,
put
them inwriti
ngoredi
tedthem.The2nd I
saiahwhowasact i
veinBaby londuringthet
imeoftheexil
e
probablycamefrom t
his'School
'oft
radi
tion.Aft
erther
eturnf
rom exile,ther
earoseanot
herpr
ophet,
rd st
the3 I sai
ahwhoprophesi
edinthetr
adit
ionwhichwasstar
tedby1 I saiah.rs56-66

Writenby3r
t dIsaiahorTr i
toIsaiah,orpost–exi l
icIsaiah.Hewasact i
v ei
nJer usalem (Judah)when
theJewshadr eturnedf rom exi
leinBaby lon.Thiswast hetimewhenPer si
a,underCy r
us, wasawor l
d
power..Themai nmessageoft hisIsaiahi s“God’
sr eassurancetoful
fi
llhi
spromi ses”.Godpr omi
sed
torebui
ldJerusal
em Ci tyandwi l
l f
ulfi
llHispr omise
Reasonsthatshowt hatthesethreepar t
swer ewr i
tt
enbydi ffer
entpr
ophets
1. Thevocabul aryandt hestylear ediff
erent
2. TherearedifferencesinideasaboutGod
3. Thei
rmessagesappl ytodifferenttimes.
WHOWERETHEPROPHETS/ PROHETESS?
Meani
ngoft
het
erm pr
ophet
Thewor dprophetori
ginat
edf rom aGr
eekter
m‘pr
ophētēs(pr
ofetes),’
whichmeansadv ocate(aperson
whospeaks/ support
sinfav .TheHebr
ourofsomeone) ewwor df orprophetisnav i
ʾ,whi chmeans“ to
procl
aim,ment i
on,call
,uterorsummon.
t ”I
nthi
ssenseitreferst oani nspi
redper sonwhobel i
eves
thathehasbeensentbyhi sgodwithamessaget otel
lthecommuni ty. Heis,int hissense,the
mouthpieceofhi sgodort heonewhospeaksonGod’ sbehalf.Inabr oadersense,t hewor dprophet
canrefertoany bodywhout t
ersthewil
lofadei
ty,of
tenascertainedthroughv i
sions,dr eams,orthe
casti
ngoflots.

Apr i
marycharacteri
sti
cofprophet
icself-
consci
ousnessisanawar enessofacall,whichisr
egardedas
theprophet'
slegiti
mizati
on.Thi
scallisv i
ewedasul t
imatel
ycomi ngf r
om adeityandbymeansofa
dream,av i
sion,anauditi
on,orthr
ought hemediati
onofanot herprophet.TheOldTest amentprophet
Jeremiah'
scallwasi ntheform ofav i
sion,i
nwhichYahweh( theGodofI srael
)toldhimt hathehad
alr
eadybeenchosent obeapr ophetbeforehewasbor n(
Jer.1:5).

Prophetswer eoftenorgani
zedint
oguids3i
l nwhichtheyrecei
vedthei
rtr
aini
ng.Theguil
dswer eledby
aprophetmast er
,andt hei
rmemberscouldbedist
ingui
shedfrom ot
hermember softheirsoci
etyby
thei
rgar b(suchasaspeci almantl
e)orbyphysi
calmarksorgrooming(suchasbaldness,amar kon
theforehead,orscarsofself
-l
acer
ati
on)
.

WHATI SAPROPHECYORANORACLE?
Thisi
saproclamati
on/messagemadebyapr ophetonbehalfofGodtotheconcer
nedpeopl
e of
ten
andusual
l
yi ntr
oducedbyaphr TheLor
ase;‘ dsay s’Or‘
TheLordSpoketome.’Oritendswit
h…says
theLor
d.Theprocessofgi
vi
ngthemessagetotheconcernedpeopl
eiscal
l
edprophesy
ing.

Whati
saprophet
icv
isi
on?-Somet
hingthepr
ophetseesorhear
shi
smi
nd,v
isi
on,i
nadr
eam.Thi
sis
t
hewayinwhi
chGodconveysamessagetoaprophet
.

3
associat
ionofper
sonswhohavesi
milari
nter
est
sinacraf
t,busi
ness,
orpr
ofessi
on;
t
hepur poseoftheassoci
ati
oni
smutualai
dandprot
ect
ion.

Page5of5
 Typesofpr opheci
esormessagescommoni nOldTestament
 Messageofchal l
enge( Woepr ophecy)–thismessagecamewhenpeopl eweredoingev i
l.
Therefor
e,itwast hereto announceev i
l,suf
feri
ng,punishment.Inotherwor ditthereto
announceany t
hingbadupont hepeople.
 Messageofcomf ortorencouragement( WealProphecy)–suchmessagecamewhenpeopl e
weredoi ngt hegoodt hi
ngs.Thereforeitwasamessaget hatannouncesblessi
ngs,peace,
prosperi
ty,
freedom / anyt
hinggoodt opeopl
e.
NB:
int
heBible,
Abraham wast hefir
stpersontobecall
edapr ophet(Genesi
s20:6-7)

TheOl dTest amental sospeaksaboutf alsepr ophetswhoencour agedpeopl etosin(Jeremiah23:13-

14) .Inthi ssense,falsepr ophet sar et hosewhodel i
berat
elyprovi
dewr ongt eachingsandwoul dwant
peopl et ofoll
owt heirwr ingt eachi ngs.
ROLES/ DUTI ESOFTHETRUEPROPHETS
-tospeaki ngthewor dsandwi l
lofGodt opeopl e.I.
e.JonahandNahum spokeGod’ swi l
ltot he
Assy r
iansandObadi ahdecl aredt hewi llofGodt othepeopl eofEdom.
-tor evealthenatureandat tri
but eofGod.
-bri
ngi ngbackpeopl et ot heobedi enceofGod’ sLaws.
-toobser vethesocial,pol it
icalandr eligioussi t
uationsandsaywhatGodt hi
nksaboutt hem.
-theyf oretel
lGod’ sf utureev ent s(Isaiahf oret
oldt hebirt
hofJesus9: 6/7: 14).
Jeremiahalsof or
etold
ther eturningoftheexi l
ebackt oJudah.
-foretell
ingwhatGodwoul ddo.
-Guiding t he l
eader ship oft he nat ions.i.eI n ancientIsrael
,prophetshad a pr operoffi
ce int he
gov ernanceoft heki ng.Theywer et her etocounsel andprov i
deguidancet ot heking.Forexample,King
Jehoshaphatconsul tedt hewi llofGodf r
om pr ophetMi cai
ah( Ki
ngs22:1- 28)
-Rebuki ngpeopl eandannounci ngt hej udgmentofGod.i .eprophetNat hanrebukedKi ngDav i
df or
commi t
tingadulter
ywi thBat hshebat hewi feofUriah.
Rel
i
giousl
eader
sthathav
etakent
her
oleoft
heanci
entpr
ophet
s
-
Rev
erends/
bishops/
past
ors/
evangel
i
sts/
apost
les/
preacher
s
Hi
stor
ical
back-
grounddur
ingt
het
imeofI
sai
ah
Duri
ngthisti
me,Assyri
awasasuper -
powerandt hi
scountrydesir
edtoconquercountr
iesthatwere
4
betweenAssyri
aandEgy pt(middl
e-eastcountri
es)
,incl
udi
ngJudah.Assyri
awant edtocontrolt
rade
rout
e,wantedtocont
rolEgyptandMedi ter
raneanSeacost,hence,
accumul
ati
ngwealth.Assy
riawasa

superpowerf
oral
most100hundr
edy s5.Theki
ear ngwhomadeAssy
riat
ori
seasasuperpowerwas

Page6of6
Ti
glat
hPi
l
eserII
I(Pul
)(r
eignedfr
om 745BC-727BC).
TheMapabov eshowstheplanofAssy
riat
owar
dst
heMi
ddl
eEastcount
ri
es.

Manycount r
iestri
edt of orm all
iancesinat t
emptt obl ockt heplanofAssy ri
ai.e.st
oppingherf rom
expansion.Duri
ngt histi
meJudahunderUzzi ahwasr i
chcount ryanditfel
tsafeandsecur ebecauseof
herweal thHowev er,thisweal thmadeherpeopl et obesi nners:drunkennesswascommon,mor al
corrupti
on,oppressionofpoorwast heorderoftheday .Inshortt
herewaswhati scal
led,‘
socialevil
s’.
Isaiahsawt hatther ealthreatofJudahwasnotAssy riabutthesinsoft he peopleandt hei
rlackof
trustinGod.Thesesoci alev i
l
s,ledt olossofpol it
icalpoweri nJudah,becauset hepeoplebegant o
wor shi
pi dol
s,bel i
efi n superstit
ious pract
ices such as t emple prosti
tut
ion,mount ai
n sacrif
ices
accompani edbydances, sacri
fi
ceofhumanchi l
dren.In735BC, whenAhazbecameki ng,idol
atrywas
promot ed.

NB:ki
ngsofAssyri
adur
ingIsai
ah’
stime:
Tigl
ath-Pi
l
eserI
II(
Pul
)--ShamanaserV-
--
Sar
gonI
I-
-Sennacher
- ib.

FI
RSTORPROTOORJERUSALEM I
SAI
AHORPRE-
EXI
LICI
SAI
AH
TheI sai
ahTraditi
on
Whati sknownaboutJer usal
em I sai
ah?/factsaboutJer usalem Isai
ah/whowasI sai
ah?
-Wast hesonofAmoz, meani ng,HisfatherwasAmoz.
-HelivedinJerusalem (
Judah)bet ween765and680B. C.
-Hewasaci tyman, wel
leducat edandi nf
or medoft hepolit
icalsit
uation(hewasast at
esman) .
-Hehadaccesst othekingandwaspol iti
callyacti
ve.
-Hebecameapr ophetaf t
erseeingav isioni natemplei n742BC,t hatis,i
nthey earthatKingUzzi
ah
died.Bythen,hewas20y ear
sol d.
-Wasamar r
iedmanandhadt wosonswhi chhadsy mbolicnames:
 ShearJashub–‘ af ewwi l
lcomeback’ /‘
theremnant sshallretur
n,’
 Maher -shalahhashbaz-‘ Quick-Loot-FastPl under’ /
(theswor dthathastens)
-hisprophet
iccareerlastedforabout40y earsthroughther gnsofJot
ei ham, Ahaz,Hezekiahand
Manasseh.

NB:t her ei
gnsoft hesef ourkingsofJudahcov eredmor eorlessthanhundredyears(from 788-
687B. C.
)
NB:Jer usalem I
saiahdi edasamar t
yrdur i
ngther ei
gnofManasseh.
MEANI NGSOFTHENAMESFOUNDI NFIRSTISAIAH
‘
Isaiah"means" Godi ssal v
ation"
.I thast hesamemeani ngasJoshuaorJesus.Iti
sparti
cularl
ysuited
tosuchaper sonwhopr act
icedst rongfaithinGod.
"Uzziah"means" Myst rengthisinGod"( 788-742B. C.)
"Jotham"means" Godi sperfect"
.Hewasmader egentkingin750B.C.andrul
edonl
yforfi
v eyears.
"Ahazmeans" Godgr aspsmyhand"( 735- 716B.C. )
“Hezekiah"means" Godi smyst r
engt h"(716-687B. C.)
ISAIAH'SVI SIONANDCALL( 6:
1-13)
-Thev i
siontookpl acei nt hetempl eofJer usalem in742BCwhenKi ngUzziahdi
ed.Thist i
met here
was ei t
heranoccasi onoft hef eastcel ebrati
ngGod' skingshi
porwhenpeopl ewereenthroni
ngKi ng
Jotham.

Page7of7
-Isaiahsaw Godseat edonhi sthronehighupandr oundhi mflamingcr
eatureseachwithsixwi ngs,
God’sr obethatfi
ll
edt hewhol etemple;Smoket hatf
il
ledthetemple(smoke-symboli
zesthepresence
ofGod)
-
Thecr eat
ureshidtheirfaces.
-
Theywer ecall
ingt oeachot her‘holy
,holy,holy
!TheLor dAlmight
yisholy.Hisglor
yfil
l
st hewor l
d.’
(Thisshortsongreflectsthename, natur
eandt hepowerofGod.)
-
Thet empleshookatt heirsound.
-
Thet emplewasf i
l
ledwi thsmokesy mbolizi
ngGod'spresence.

NB: ThesinsofIsai
ahwer eforgi
venwi tht
hetouchingofli
pswithabur ningcoal.IntheBible,
fir
eis
oftenasignofpur i
fi
cat
ion.I
nt hepresenceofGod'sholi
ness,puri
ty,
gr eatnessandper f
ecti
on,Isai
ah
reali
zesthatheisonlyasinneraswel lasthepeopl
ewi t
hwhom hel ives.Thet houghtsoftheheartonl
y
comeoutt hroughthemout hthat'
sifthehearti
ssinful
,soshallt
helips.

-
Isaiah,t
hen, volunteeredt obeapr ophetaf t
erhear i
ngGodaski ng,Whom shal
“ lIsend?Whowi
l
lbeour
messenger ?”
Whatmessagedi dGodsendI saiaht otellthepeopl eofJudah?
nomat
- t
erhowmuchy oul i
sten, youwi llnotunder st
and.
-
nomat t
erhowmuchy oul ook, youwi l
lnotknowwhati shappening
-
maket hemi ndsoft hesepeopl edull,theirear sdeaf,andtheireyesbl
i
nd.
-
sot hattheycannotseeorhearorunder stand
-
Iftheydid,theymi ghtt urntomeandbeheal ed.
NB:insummar yIsaiahwasor dered:
i. Tomaket hemi ndsoft hepeopl edul l
i
i. Tomaket heey esoft hepeopl ebl i
nd
ii
i. Tomakepeopl e’sear s’deaf
Forhowl ongwi llthemessagebedel iv
er ed?
i
. Unt i
ltheci ti
esar eruinedandempt y
ii
. Unt i
lthehousesar einhabi t
ed
i
ii
. Unt i
lthel andisadesol ate

Whatwast heactual meaningofthemessage?

-Goddoesnothar dentheheartsofhispeopl e.
-theyref
uset hemselvestolist
en.
-sothemeani ngis:goonhear ingandseei ngwithoutunder
standi
ngbecauseyoudon’twantt
o.
Whyt hedeathofUzzi ahwasacr isi
st oJudah?
-becausei twasbel i
evedthattheblessingsofGodcamet opeopl
ethroughtheki
ng.
-Jotham (Uzziah’
sson)wasaweakki ng.
-itwasat i
mewhendangerl oomedf r
om Assy r
ia(fr
om theEast)i
.e.Tigl
athPi
leserwasplanni
ngt
o
attackJudah.

Themesf
rom t
hev
isi
onofI
sai
ah(
theset
hemesr
unt
hroughoutt
hewhol
eBookofI
sai
ah.
)
1.Godi
sholy
-
Godisnotl
ikeman,buttot
allydi
ff
erentf
rom man.
-
Godisnotpartofhi
screat
ion;hei
sseparat
e.

Page8of8
-Godi shol y,"holy ,hol y!holy!TheLor dAl mi ghtyi shol y ”
-Menhav enor i
ghtt oquest i
onGod.
-Menmustnott rytocont r
ol God; t
hroughmagi c,chi ldsacr i
f i
cesetc.
-Ther eisnof aul tinGod; not raceofev i
l.
2.Si nfulnessandr epent ance
BecauseGodi sHol y ,inhi spr esence, manr ealizeshi sSi nf ul
nessandoner epents.i.
e.Isai
ahr eacted"
ther eisnohopef orme, Idoomed, Iam amanofuncl eanl ips,Ili
veamongapeopl ewhoseev eryword
i
ssi nful( I
sai ah6: 5) .Si milarly,Pet err eactedbef oreJesus" Goawayf rom meLor df orIam asi nful
man"( LK5: 8)
3.GodCont rolsHi st ory /
hei ski ng
-Hei stheLor dOfhi st ory
-I
ti sHeandnott her ulerswhocont rol history.
-Thegr iefov ert hedeat hofUzzi ahshoul dnotbeexagger atedasi fthef ateofthepeopl edependedon
himr athert hani nGod.
-Ev engent i
l
eki ngsar ei ntheser viceofGodwhor ulessupr eme.
-Usual lyGodusedgent il
eki ngst opuni shhi speopl ebutheusedCy r
ust osav ethem.Ther efore,God
canuseany thingt oachi ev ehi spur pose.
4.TheRemnantandhope
Di saster swhi chbef ellJudahwer enothopel essl eadi ngt or ui
nanddoom.Theywer enotmeantt o
dest royt henat i
onbutt opur if
yi tsot hatGod' speopl eshoul dbegr antedbet t
ertimes.
Af terthedest ruct i
on, Godwi l
lmakesur ethatt her ear esur vi
vorsoff ami ne,warsandexi l
e, whowoul d
tocar ryouthi spl anofuni v ersalsal vation.Thephr ase,‘ Ther emainingpeopl eintheci t
ywi llbeli
kea
‘
st ump’ ofanoakt reet hathasbeencutdown. ’Thest umpsy mbol i
zest hedestructi
onbutal sohopef or
thesur vivalofsomeoft hepeopl eofJudah( remnant ),since, ‘From ther emnantwi l
lcomet heMessi ah,’
theanoi ntedonet ol eadt hepeopl eint heway sofGod.
Whywast hereal way shopef ort hepeopl eofJudahaf terdestr
uction?
-throught hespar edJewsGodwoul df ul
fil
lthepr omi set hatAbr aham woul dbeabl essi
ngt omany
nat ions.
-throught hespar edJewsGodwoul df ulfil
lthepr omi set hatDav i
d’sdy nastywouldlastforev er
NB:Thr oughoutt heBi bleaf terdi sastersandpuni shmentt her eisusual l
yhopeatt heendi .e. Adam and
Ev e, t
hef looddur ingt het i
meofNoah.

5.Judgment/punishment
Godpunishespeopl ebecauseoft heirsi
nsusingTwoways:
Throughnatural
calami tysuchasdr ought.
Throughpoli
ti
calinstabil
it
ysuchaswar s.
NB:Thej udgmentwi llcomeuntiltheci t
iesar
eempty
.Isai
ahaskst d,
heLor Howl
‘ ongwi
l
litbel
i
ke
t
hisLor
d?’
Godanswer
ed:
Unt
- i
ltheci t
iesar erui
nedandempt y.
-
unti
lthehousesar einhabit
ed.
-
unti
lthelandi sadesol at
ewast e
-
Iwil
lsendt hepeopl efarawayandmaket hewhol el
anddesolate.
-
evenifoneper sonoutoftenwi l
lremainintheland,
hetoowillbedestr
oyed…
6.Thegl ori
ousofGod
-
Glor
yi sforGod, manshouldnotthinkheisgreatest
-
Hisrobeandt hesmokef i
l
lthetemplejustli
kethecloudfi
l
lstheworld.
-
Hisgloryisseenwhensuf feri
ngandoppr essi
oncease/end.

Page9of9
 Chapt
er1
SOCI
AL,
RELI
GIOUSANDPOLI
TICALSI
NSOFI
SRAEL
Rebell
i
ousI srael:t
hesinsoft hepeopleofJudahandJerusal
em (
1:2-6)
Sinistr
espassordi sobey i
ngGod‘ swillorlaw.
Thisversei sthebegi nni
ngofanor acle,adivinemessage.Godcal l
st heskyandtheearth(God'
s
angelsi
nheav enandal li
nhabitantsoftheear t
h)Why ?
1)Aswi tnessest othi
schar ge,Sot heheav ensandtheeart
harehiswit
nesstoGod’scompl
aint
s
2) Theor acl
eisv eryseri
ous.

"Chil
dr en"-t hesearet hepeopl eofI srael,Godhadsot enderlyandpat ientl
yreared(broughtup)t o
becomehi speopl e.Butt heyhav erepaidal lhi
scarebybr eakingoffrelationshi
pwi t
hhim." Rebell
ed"
means,i ngratit
ude,unfaithful
ness,sinset c.Hesay sanimalsl i
kecat t
leanddonkey saremuchbet ter
thanIsr aelitesbecauset heseani malsknowt heirmasterbuttheI sr
aeli
teshav eforgot
tenGod,donot
understandGod." Youarecov eredwi t
hwoundsf rom headtofoot ,
”Thewhol enat
ionwasf ul
lofsinners,
from theki ng( t
hehead)t otheleast( t
hef oot).Thi
smeanst herewast otaldecayineveryaspectof
thei
rli
fee. g.polit
ical
,social,r
eli
giousli
fe.

I
nsummar y,Godsay sIsraeli
sadoomednat i
on,corr
uptandev
ilbecause:
-
Thei
rsinspreventedt hem from doi
ngGod’swil
l
.Thesesinsar
e:
 Cor rupti
on
 I njusti
ce
 Mur der
 Oppr essionoft hepoor.
-
TheyhaverejectedGod.
-
Theyhadturnedt heirbacksonhi mi.e.St
oppedli
steni
ngtohi
m.
-
Theyhaverebel l
edagai nsthim.

PicturesofIsr
aelafterpunishment :I
sraeli
sabandoned/derel
ict(1:7-9)
Jerusalem i
sdescribedas:
-devastat
edcountry.
-Acount r
ywi t
hdestroyedci t
ies.
-Acount r
ytakenoverbyf oreignersandi nr
uins.
-Acount r
ywi t
hJerusalem aloneleftundersiegeandGodl i
kenedt heci t
ytoa“ defenselesswat
chman’
s
huti nav i
neyardorashedi nacucumberf i
eld.
”Thi
spassager eferstot hetimewhenSennacher i
b
i
nv adedJudah,dur ingthet imeofHezeki ah,andtook46ci t
iesanddepor ted200, 000Jewst ohi
s
capitalNineveh.Onl yJerusalem wasst i
llfreebutdefenseless.( Itwasweakandnotsaf easa
wat chman’shut/defenseless).ThishappenedwhenHezeki ahrebelledagainstSennacher i
bin701BC.

Condemnat i
onofr eli
gioushy pocri
sy(1:
10-17)
Worshi
pinJudahduri
ngr el
igiousceremonies
-
Theypuri
fi
edthemselvesthroughrit
ualwashingandabl ut
ion
-
Theyboughtri
tual
l
ycleanani malsforsacr
ifi
ces
-
Theysaidpr
ayerswit
hhandswi thhandsstret
chedoutandpal msup
-
Theyburnti
ncenseasasy mbol ofthei
rprayersgoinguptoGod
-
Theysungpsalmsandhy mnswi t
hinstr
ument sl
ikelyr
es,harpsanddreams.

Inthi
spassage,Jer
usal
em i
scomparedtoSodom andGomorr
ahbecausehersi
nsarel
ikenedt
othe
sinsofr
uler
sandthepeopl
eofSodom andGomor
rah.Thi
sremi
ndsusofcomplet
esi
nful
ness.

Page10of10
(VI
1)Godat tacksther el
igioushypocr
isyoftheJewswhosesi nsandrefusalt
or epentr
endertheir
sacr
if
icesunacceptabletoGod.Lav i
shsacri
fi
ceswit
houtri
ght
eousconductcannotpleaseGod.Godis
fedupwiththepurelyexternalwor
ship,
prayer
sandsacri
fi ewhoar
cesofpeopl eunjusti
nthei
rdail
yli
fe.

Theirreli
gionwashy pocrit
icalandempt ybecause:
1)Theyexpl oitedthepoor ,orphanandwi dows,whoar eGod’sfavour
ites.
2)Theycont inuedt osinagai nstGod, yettheypr
et endtoworshipGod.Theirr
eli
giondidnotexpress
thedeepi nter i
oroff ai
th.
Threer el
igiouscer emoni escondemnedbyGodar e:
6
1.(VI3)"Newmoon"-adayofr estatthebeginningofeachmont hwhent heJewswer etoldtohav ea
holyconv ocat ionandof f
ersacr ifi
ces( Numbers28: 11-15)
.Itwasheldont hefi
rstdayofthenew
moon.
7
2."
Sabbat h" ;thesev enthdayoft heweeki ntheHebr ewcalendari
sthedayofr estandprayers(Exodus
20:8-10) .
3.“Annual religiousgatherings“ -greatfeastday
se. g.JewishNewYear ;DayofAt onement,andthe
feastofTaber naclesandpass- over.

ReasonswhytheJewsoffer
edsacri
fi
cestoGod
i
. Forador at
ion(
payinghomagetoGod)
i
i
. Expi at
ionofof
fences(r
econci
li
ati
on)

i
i
i. Fort
hanksgi
vi
ng

i
v. Forpet
it
ionst
ober
ecei
ved

NB:Godhat
esallt
heseandwi ll
notli
stentotheirpray
ersGodaskedt
hem t
odot
hef
oll
owi
ng:
washt
- hemsel
vesclean(changethei
rheart
s)
-
stopdoi
ngevi
lofinj
usti
ce,andoppressi
onoft hepoor.
-
helpt
hosewhoareoppressedsuchaswi dows, thestr
anger
s.

Thesi
nful
cit
y:Lamentov
erJer
usal
em ci
ty(
1:21-23)
(Jesusal sol ament edov erJer usalem- LK 13: 34-35).ThiswassobecauseJer usalem wasoncea
fai
thfulcit
ybutnowi tisnot .Isaiahdescr i
best hesi nful
nessoft hecityinthreepictures.
Awhor e-manypr ophet sdescr ibet her el
at i
onshi pbet weenGodandhi speopleast hatofamanand
his wife( I
sr aelist aken as a wi fe and God as a husband) .So har lotry means i nf
idelit
y;the
unfait
hfulnessoft hewi fewhosi nswi thot hermenandbecomesapr osti
tute.Jerusalem'sinfidel
it
yis
hersinsofi njusti
ce,di shonest yt owar dsGod;agai n,shehasr ebell
edagai nstGod.I sr
aelwasonce
fi
ll
edwi thrighteouspeopl e,butnow, onlymur der er
sr emain.
I
mpur esi l
ver( V22)-Jer usalem' sf ormerpur i
ty,fait
hfulness,obedienceandj usti
ce( aspuresilverwhich
hadgr eatv alue)arenow mi xedwi thal lsor t
sofsi ns,especiall
yt hesinsofi njusticeofthel eaders,
hence,wor thless(dross) ,useless
Winemi xedwi thwat er( V22)–atf i
rstitwasl ikepur ewinewi t
hv aluebutnowi thasbeenmi xedwith
water,hence, l
essv aluesi nce,itisnotpur ewine.

Theleader
shadbecomer ebel
ledandcompani
onsoft
hiev
esi
nst
eadofj
ust
iceandr
ight
eousness,
ther
ewasinjust
iceandunr
ight
eousness.
6
Jewsv i
sit
edt heTempleofJer
usalem f
oraspeci
alsacri
fi
ce,
heldafamil
ycelebr
ati
on,
andgener
all
y
abst
ainedfrom busi
nessandwor k.
7
Dayofholinessandrestobser
vedbyJewsfrom sunsetonFr
idayt
onightf
all
ofthefol
l
owingday
.

Page11of11
I
saiahment i
onsthecr imesagainsttheleader
sofJerusal
em.
-
Righteousnessisreplacedbymur der.
-
Ther ul
ersarethieves;theyacceptbri
besandgif
ts.
-
Thehel pl
essorphansandwi dowsdon'tgetafai
rheari
ngincour
t.

Judgmentov ert heci t

y( 1:
24-28)
Jerusalem wi l
l bepur i
fiedbysuf fer
ingt hr
oughwar .Ther esultoft hi
ssuf f
eringi
st hat
:
-Goodl eaderswi llbeputi nchar ge(leaderswhowi llbejustandr i
ghteous).
-theupr i
ghtwi l
lbesepar atedf rom thewi cked(thosewhowi l
lrepentwi l
lfeelsorr
yf orworshi
ppi
ng
i
dol s)
.
-Thewi ckedwi llbedest r
oyed( r
ebelsandsi nners)
CHAPTER3
ISAIAH3: 1-
26, 4:1
POORLEADERSHI P:CHAOSANDEVI LINJERUSALEM ( 3:1-12)
I
sai ahdescr i
best hecomi ngchaos.I tistheendofl aw,or der,decentandr esponsi
bleleadershi
p.
Topuni sht hepeopl e, Godt akesawayt hings&peopl eonwhom t heydepend.
1. St aplefood- food,wat er
2.Var ioustypesofl eader s( t
hesewi llbekill
edinwar )
-heroesandsol diers(mi l
it
aryl eaders)
-civ
ili
anleader s,statesmen, poli
tici
ans
-j
udgesandpr ophet s( forlawandor der )
-everyonewhousesmagi c
3.Mat eri
althings-v eil
s,hat s,ri
ngst heywearont heirfingers,noses,finerobes,gowns, l
i
nen
handker chi
efs, scarves

NB:Thepr
esenceofpaganpr
acti
onersamongtheJewsisev
idencethatt
hepeopl
ehadf or
sakenGod
andl
ackoffai
thi
srepl
acedbysuper
sti
ti
onfost
eredbydi
vi
ner
s,for
tune-
tel
l
ersandmagi
cians.

Resul tsoftakingawayal l t
hel eaders
-Ther ewoul dbebr eakdownofl awandor der,anarchyandchaos.
-ever yonewoul dtakeadv antageoft heother.
-peopl ewi llrunawayf rom r esponsi bi
li
ty/l
eadership.Why? Becauset heyknow t
hatinthatstateof
conf usi on,theywi l
lfailandbebl amed, hence,allref
useresponsibi
li
tyevent
hosethatar
ewelldressed
andl ookpr esentable.
-i
mmat ureboy swi l
lbel eader s.Societydepr i
v edoft r
uel eaders;wi
llberuledbyambi t
iousand
i
nex per i
encedpeopl e." Boy s"mi ghtbear ef
erencet oKingAhazwhowasonl y20yearswhenhebegan
tor ule( 2Kings16: 2).
-TheAssy ri
answi llcomeandr uinthecount r
y.
Whatwoul dhappent ot hef oll
owi nggr oupsofpeopl e?
Ther ighteous
-theywoul dbehappy
-theywoul dbeenj oy i
ngwhatt heyhadwor kedfor
Ev i
l peopl e
-theywer edoomed.
-whatt heyhaddonet oot herswoul dnowbedonet othem.
THEFI NELADI ESOFJERUSALEM ( 3:
16-4:1)

Page12of12
Ther ich,
idleandi mmodestwomenofJer usalem l
ivi
nginandf orluxuryareal soguil
tyalongwi
ththeir
husbands,t henat ionalleaders.Thesewomenpl ayedapar tinthei nj
usticest hatwerehappening.
I
nst eadofcor rect
ingt hesit
uation,
theywer ebusywi t
htheiroutwardappear ances.
Thewomenar eaccusedof :-
-Beingpride/showof fwhichmadet hem despisethepoor .(
Concur r
ingwi t
ht heirhusbandstorobt he
poor )
.
-Arrogancei.e.hol
di ngthei
rheadshi ghwiththeirnosesintheair.
-Theyseducedmen/ t
empt i
ngment hr
oughgl anci
ngwant only
,hence, f
li
rt
ing.
-Excessiveloveofl uxuri
esattheexpenseoft hepoor .

Theirpuni shment s:
-Allwhatt heyar eproudofwi llbetakenaway .I
.e.Lossofornaments
-Theywi llbedi sgracedandhumbl ed.I.
e.Baldness,Shame( t
hroughraping)
,Badsmell(f
rom thei
r
bodies) ,Lossoff reedom
-Havingnohusbands( since,theirhusbandswoul dhavedi edi
nt hewar),hence,t
heywi
llsuf
ferthe
disgraceofbei ngchildl
essandbei ngwi dows.
NB: thiswi llmake7womengethol dofoneman.
Whyi si tgoodt opunishevildoers?
-i
tcancel st hewr ongdone
-i
treformst hewr ongdoerf orthegoodoft hesociety
-i
tdet ersot herpeoplefrom doingwr ong
-i
teliminat esthewr ongdoeri ncaseofcapi t
alpunishment

Si
nshighli
ghtedinchapter
s3-4:
1
Thepeopleopenlyi
nsultGod
Themoneyl ender
soppressthepeopl
e
Moneylenderscheatpeople.
Chapt
er5
Thepar abl
e( song)ofthev i
neyard( 5:
1-7)
Apar ablecanbedef i
nedas:
1. Astorytakenfrom everydayl i
fethatteachesoneaspiri
tuall
essonoramoralt
ruth.
2. Anear t
hlyst
orywi t
haheav enlymeani ng.
I
not herwor dsapar ableisaf icti
ti
ousst ory,usual
lytakenf
rom dail
ylif
eofpeopl
e,yetunrecogni
zed,
deal
ingwi ththingspeopleknowsv erywell.
Usually,aparablehasonet eachingort hemeorl esson.

WhyIsaiahusedpar abl
eswhenput ti
ngacrosshi
smessage?
-
toavoiddebate.
-
tomaket helessoni nt
eresti
ng.
-
todrawpeopl e’
sattenti
on.
-
forpeopletoremembereasi l
y.
I
saiahsangt hissongi ntheheari
ngoft heJewsonthei
rwaytothetemplef orthef
eastofhar
vest-
t
hanksgivi
ng.I nthi
ssongI saiahr
emindstheJewst
hatGodchosethem outofall
thenat
ionsonear
th:

Whatdi
dthefarmerdowhencari
nghisgar
den?
-
hehadav i
neyar
donav er
yfer
ti
lehi
l
l.

Page13of13
-
hedugthesoilandclear editofstones.
-
hepl
antedthefinestv i
nes.
-
hebui
ltatowertoguar dt hem againstani
malsandt
hiev
es.
-
hedugapitfortreadingt hegrapes.
-
hewait
edforthegr apest oripenbuteverygr
apewassour.

Whatwouldthefarmerdot ot hev i
ney ar
dforit
sbadresul
tsorbady iel
d?
-
hewil
ltakeawayt hehedgear oundi t
.
-
hewil
lbreakthewal l
thatprot ect
si t.
-
hewil
lletwil
danimalseati tandt rampleitdown.
-
wewill
letitbeovergrownwi thweeds.
-
hewil
lnotprunethev inesorhoest hegroundbuthewil
lletbr
iarsandthor
nscov
eri
t.
-
hewouldforbi
dthecl oudstol etrainfal
lonit(
ther
ewouldbedr ought)
.

All
egor i
calmeani ngsoft hetermsusedinapar abl
e
1. Fr
iendofIsaiahreferst oGod( whoi sthefarmer ).Godcar
edf ortheJews:
Howdi dGodshowt hislov etot
hepeopl eofJudah?
-Hechoset hem outofal lnationsonear thsot hatt heyshoul
dbelighttoallnat
ions(
makingt
hename
oftheLordknown) .
-hefreedthem f
rom Egy pti
ansl avery
.
-gavethem theferti
lel
andofCanaan: t
hel andof'mi lkand honey
'.
-hegav ethem law andt hepr ophet
st oguidet hem.( Shehadthel eadersneededint
imesofcri
sis
(Joseph,Moses, Joshua,thejudges, Kings,prophetsetc.)

NB: Hav ingi nv est edal otoftime, moneyandcar einthev i

neyard, theownerexpect edtoharvestfi
ne
gr apeswhi chwoul dpr oducegoodwi ne.Andy eti nspi teofallthese, Israelwasdi sobedi
entand
unf aithfult ot hecov enantwi t
hGod( producedsourgr apes).
Pr i
vilegest hatJewsenj oyedf orbeingt hechosenpeopl eofGod
i
. Theknowl edgeofGod
i
i. Theknowl edget hatGodt hecr eat
orlov edt hem asf atherl oveshi schildren
i
ii
.Theknowl edgeoft heLawwhi chwast hewayofl if
echosenbyGodf orHi speopl
e
i
v.Thechoi ceofI sraeltotechot hernationst het ruthaboutGodandsal vation.
2. Vi ney ardr efer stoIsr
ael
3. Vi nesr efer st opeopleofI srael
Whati sYahwehgoi ngt odoasapuni shmentt ohi speopl eforthei rdisobedience?
-Godwi l
lal lowt henat i
onstoi nvadeanddest royt hel andofHi schosenpeopl e;hencetheywillsuf
fer
thr oughl ossofi ndependenceandt heexile.(Hispr otect i
onwi l
lber emov ed).
-thel andwi llturni ntoabush.
-ther ewi l
l bedr ought( Godwillnotal l
owr ainfalltof al
l onit)
THEMESSI AHANDNEW JERUSALEM
JERUSALEM I NDAYSTOCOME:Je rusalem wi l
lbecomet hecent reofpeaceoft hewhol ewor l
d
(2:1-4)
Thewor dMessi ahmeanscomesf r
om aHebr ew wor dandi tmeans‘ anointedone.’TheJewswer e
wai t
ingf ort hemessi ahwhowi llrescuet hem f rom pol iti
caloppr essionoft hecol oni
almastersofother
power ful kingdoms.
Thi spassageexpr essesaMessi anichopewhi chconcer nst heNew Jer usalem,whent heci t
ywi l
l

Page14of14
becomet heci t
yofGodf orpeopl eofal lnations.Atf i
rst
,thewor shipofGodwasl imit
edtot he
Isr
aeli
tes, butlater,itwi l
lbeext endedt oal lnati
onsandGodwoul dbet hejudgeforallandtherewil
lbe
peace.
Threepr edicti
onsaboutt hemount ainwher ethetemplestand
-itwi l
lbet hehi ghestoneofal l.
-itwi l
lbet ower ingov erallhill
s.
-manynat ionswi ll
comest reami ngt om it
.
Whyst reami ngt oMt .Zion?
-t
obet aughtwhatGodwant sthem t odo.
-t
olear ntowal ki nt hepatht hatGodhadchosen.
-
toacceptYahweht heGodofI sraelast heonlyGod.( t
hewor shi
pofYahwehwasf ortheJewsonly,
butthi
st i
me, i
twi llbeext endedt oal lpeopl e)
Result
sofl earni
ngt heway sofGod( Yahweh)
-war swi l
lceaseandnat ionswi llli
veinpeace.
-weaponsofwar swi l
lbechangedi ntoagr i
cult
urali
nstr
ument s;hence;nati
onswi l
lneverpr
epare
forbattl
eagai n.
NB:becauseoft hi
sr estor
ation,thel andwi l
lproducegoodcr ops,itwil
lbepr otect
edandi twil
lbea
safeplace.

CHAPTER9:
2–7
THEPRI NCEOFPEACE
PerhapsI saiahsangt hi
ssongi nthetempleont heoccasionofent hronementoft hefutur
eki
ng.i.
e.
Hezekiah( 716B.C.)Itwasf orthi
sreasont hatthepr i
nceofpeacewasl aterrefer
redtoasafutur
e,
i
deal ki
ngt ocome.
Thetwot ri
bes,ZebulunandNaphtali(
wer eindarkness)willbenefi
torwi l
lseel i
ghtduri
ngther
eignof
thi
s‘pri
nceofpeace, ’because
 Thepr i
ncewillbr
eaktherodthatburdenedt hem andbeattheirshoulders.
 Hewoul ddefeatthenati
onsthatoppressedt hem.
Twogr oupsofpeopl e,t
hepoorandhelplesswillbenefi
tduet ohisj
ustice
Char
act
eri
sti
csoft
hisf
utur
eki
ng
-
OneofDav i
d’sdescendants.
-
inspi
redbyt hespir
itofGod.
-
wise,justandknowledgeable.
-
Onewhowi llbr
inguniver
salpeace.

Ti
tl
esorot
hernamesoft
hechi
l
dwhowasaboutt
obor
n
-"
Wonder fulCounsel
or"Someonewhoi scapabl
eofpr ovi
dinggoodadv i
ce(onehavi
ngsupernatural
wisdom) .
-"
EternalFather
"-akindrul
erwhowi ll
careforandlov
ehi speopl
easGoddoes.
-"
PrinceofPeace"-underhi
skingship,ther
ewouldbecompl etepeace,
harmonyandgeneralwellbei
ng
forallt
hepeople.
-MightyGod-hewi l
lbeli
kegodher o,(havi
ngdivi
nenature)agreatwarri
orwhocannotbedefeatedby
hisenemi es.

Gi
ftsoft
hisideal
king
wi
- sdom andunderst
andi
ng:hewi
l
lbeabl
etodi
scer
nandunder
standt
hedi
ff
erencebet
weent
rut
hand

Page15of15
f
alsehood.
counselandmi
- ght
:theabi
l
ityt
ogi
vewi
seadv
iseandt
hepowert
odowhati
sri
ght
.

CHAPTER11:
1-9
Thepeacef ulki
ngdom: thej ustrei
gnofaf utur
eandani dealking
Thispassagedescr i
best hepeacef ulKi ngdom whoseki ngwi llcomef rom thedy nast
yofDav id.This
willbethet i
mewhent hecommuni tyofI sraelwillbeanewcommuni tywhi chisref
erredtoast ot he
‘New br anchessproutingf r
om ast ump. ’Sincet heti
meofDav id,t
heJewshav ewaiti
ngf orani deal
kingwhowoul ddeliv
ert hem f rom thei renemi es,cr
eatesbor dersandbr ingpeaceandpr osper i
ty.This
futurekingwouldbecal ledt hemessi ah(inHebr ew)ORChr ist(inGreek)=anointed.The"br anch"that
willgrowf r
om that"stump"i st heidealki ng,theMessi ahthel oyall
ineofDav idiscompar edt oat ree
thathasbeencutdownt omeant hat:
a)Anewki ngwillcome/r isefrom Dav id’
sdescendant s.
b)Anewki ngwillhaveahumbl ebegi nning.

Howwoul
dthenewkingjudgeandrulehispeopl
e?
-
hewoul
dnotjudgebyappear
anceorhear say
.
-
hewoul
ddefendtheri
ght
softhehelpless

Thi
smessi
ahwoul dhavechari
smati
cgifts(gi
ft
soft heHol
ySpi
ri
t)whi
chshow t
hepowerofGod
act
ingi
nman.Thesegi
ft
sorhischar
acter
ist
icsi
nclude:

-Wi sdom andunder standing-

thekingwi llhavetheabi l
i
tytoknow andunder st
andt hediffer
ence
bet weent ruthandf alsehood.Hewi l
ljudgepeoplenotbyappear ancesorpositi
onbuthewi llseet he
truthandj ustice.
-Knowl edgeoft heLor d-t
heki ngwil
lknow t hewil
loftheLordwi llobeyhim.Hewi lldowhati sright
bef oretheLor d.
Pr operjudgment -theki ngwi l
lnotf
avourany one.Hewi l
lprov
idejudgmentaccordingly.Hewil
ldefend
thepoorpeopl e.
-Just i
ceandi nt egri
ty-theruleofthekingwi l
lbecharact
eri
zedbyrighteousnessandfait
hful
ness.
-Peace- Duringhi sreign,therewouldbepeaceamongt hepeople.

Descripti
onoft hepeaceandhar monyt hatwoul dbeestabli
shed
-peaceandhar monyamongani mal s:wol vesandsheepwoul dli
vetogetherinpeace,leopardswi l
lli
e
downwi thyounggoat s,li
onswi l
l eatst rawascat t
ledo.
-peaceandhar monybet weenpeopl eandani mals:l
it
tlechildrenwouldtakecar eoft hem;ababywi ll
notbehar medifitplaysnearapoi sonoussnake.
-Peaceamongpeopl e-t
hispeacewi l
lstartinJudahandwi llspreadtothewhol eworld.Thiswillhappen
becauset heking wi llhelp peopl et o know thewi l
loft heGod and peopl ewi llbeobey ing t
he
Commandment sofGod.
NB:t hi
smessianicexpect ati
ongr ewst rongdur i
ngthet i
meofJesus,howev er
,manyJews,r efusedto
acceptJesussinceJesuswasasuf feri
ngmessi ahnotagl oriousmessiah.
CHAPTER7
KI NGAHAZANDPROPHETI SAIAH
THESYRO-EPHRAI MITECRI SIS:YAHWEHSENDSI SAIAHTOAHAZ: AWARNI NGTO AHAZ( 7:1-9)
“WhenKi ngAhaz...
ruledJudah, warbr okeout .
..
”
Eventsthatl
edt otheout breakoft hewar
1.By745BC,Ti glat
h-Pi l
eserIII(Pul ),ofAssy r
iawantedtoconquerEgy ptandt hecoast alar
easoft he

Page16of16
Medi t
er r
aneanSea, soast ogai ncont roloft hetraderoutetoEgypt.
2.Thewayt oEgy ptl edthroughSy ri
a, I
srael andJudahand46ci ti
esofJudahwer ei
ndanger.
3.Ki ngsofSy ri
a,Rezi nandofI srael,Pekahmadeanal l
ianceandaskedKingofJudah,Ahaztojoi
n
them sot hatt heybr oket hepl anofAssy ria.
4.Ahazr efused.Thi sprovokedSy ri
aandI sraeltoatt
ackJudah.Theirpl
anwast orepl
aceAhazwitha
forei
gner( thesonofacer t
ainTabeel ).
NB: Thepur pose/aimsofRezi nandPekahwer e:
t
-oat t
ackonJer usalem
-t
of orceAhazt oj ointhem r esisttheAssy ri
ans
-t
odeposeAhazandr eplacehi m wi t
hasonofacer tai
nTabeel(V5-6).
ReactionofAhazandhi speopl et othei mpendi ngwar
-heandal l peoplewer eterri
fied.
-theytrembl edliket reesshaki ngi nthewi nd.
-Terri
fi
ed, Ahazdeci dedt oaskAssy r
ianst ohel phim.(IIkings16:
7-8)
-heburnedhi ssonasasacr i
fice.
-hewentt oi nspectt hewat ersuppl yofJer usalem inpreparat
ionofthei
mpedi ngsi
ege.

WhyAhazmadeanal l
iancewi t
hAssy ria?
-hel ackedf aith,het r
ust edmennotGod.
-hewasaf raidoft hecombi nedf orceofI sr
ael andSy ri
a.
-het houghtt hatAssy r
iawoul dpr otecthi m.
-hebel ievedt hatAssy riadidnoti nt
endt oat t
ackJudahasi twassomehowout sidet her outetoEgy pt.
NB:i ngener al,het houghtt hatbykeepi ngawayf rom ther evoltorall
iance,hewoul descapeAssy ri
an
attack.
TheLor dsendsI saiahwi thhisson( hisc ompani on)whosenamewas“ shear-Jashub”t omeetAhaz
(7:3-
9)
Thr eepeopl e( I
saiah,shear–Jashub,andAhaz)metont he‘ roadwher et heclothmaker swor katt he
endoft hedi tcht hatbr ingswat erfrom t heupperpool ’
.IsaiahtoldAhazt hefoll
owi ngmessage:
-keepal ert
.
-Staycal m.
-donotbef ri
ght enedordi sturbed.Rezi nandPekahar enotdanger ous.Thei rangeri snomor et han
smokef r
om t wosmol der i
ngst i
cks( thismeanst heywer eweakandsoonwoul dbedef eatedby
Assy r
ia).NB: Sticksoff irewoodar enotdanger ousany mor e.Theyareasi gnofaf iret hatisaboutt obe
"def eatedbyAssy ria"(fallofDamascusi n732B. C.andSamar iain722B. C.)
-hav etrusti nGod
Howdi dIsai aht ryt owar nAhaz?
Thewar ningwasi nt hename,‘ Shear-Jashub’ .ShearJashubmeans‘ af ew wil
lr eturn’:thesear ethe
peopl ewhosur v ivedt hedest r
uct i
on( ort hosewhor eturnedf r
om exile).Thismeans,t herewoul dbe
dest ructioni nJudahi fAhazwi llnotlistent oIsaiahandmanywoul ddi ei nabat t
leandt hatonlyaf ew
woul dcomeback/ surviv eort her emnantshal lretur
n.‘Thati swhyI saiahsai dthat ,‘i
fy ourfait
hi snot
endur ing, youwi llnotendur e”(7:9b) .

Thef
ir
stsi
gn:THESI
GNOFI
MMANUEL(
7:10-17)
-Asignitissomethi
ngr epresenti
ngorindi
cat
ingar eal
it
yORi ti
sanev entthroughwhi chmanis
assuredofGod’
sint
ervent
ionORi tisasuper
nat
uralmanif
estat
ionconf
ir
mingthetruthofprophecy
.
GodtoldAhaztoaskforasignf r
om Godhimsel
f Thesi
.‘ gnshouldcomefrom anywhere.I
tcanbefrom
deepintheworl
dofthedeadorf rom hi
ghupinheaven"
.

Page17of17
-Ahazpr endednott
et oputt heLordtothet estandsoheref
usedtoaskf
orasi gn,becausehehad
alr
eadymadeuphismindt omakeanall
iancewithAssy
ria
-Ahazthenwasgiv
enasi gnbyGodhimself.Thissi
gnwasachid,I
l mmanuel,whowoul dbebornt
oa
youngwomanofmar r
iageabl
eage.(
Isai
ah7:14).

Whoi sEmmanuel ?
-
Asont obebornt oKingAhaz.Thiswasthef
utur
eHezeki
ah.
-
thefutureki
ngt hr
oughwhom Godwoul dmakehispr
omisescomet r
ue;theMessi
ah(
ThePr i
nceof
Peace'.
)
-
Thef ir
stChr
ist
ians(theJews)identi
fi
edImmanuelwi
thJesusbecause:(
Jesuswasofthehouseof
Davi
dandhadhi mselfdecl
aredthathewasKing.
)

Si
gni
fi
canceoft
henameI
mmanuel
-I
tssigni
fi
cancewast hatGodwouldpr otectJudahfr
om Syr
iaandIsrael(Si
nceGodi switht
hem).
Beforethechi
ldcouldbegintodist
inguishri
ghtfrom wr
ong,t
het hr
eatofSy r
iaandIsrael
wouldhav
e
beenweakened.
NB: Ahazdidnotaccepthisadvi
ceandcoul dnotbeencouraged.Heev enrefusedasign.

gn:Si
Thesecondsi gnofQui
ck-Loot-Fast
-Pl
under-
(8:
1-4)
I
saiahthen,gaveAhazt
hesecondsign.Godt ol
dIsai
aht
owri
tet
heword‘Qui
cklootf
astpl
under
’,
and
t
wopeopl eactedaswit
nessestot
hewr it
ing.Thesewer
eUr
iah(
thepr
iest
)andZechari
ah(
Ahaz'
s
f
ather-i
n-law).

Thesigni
ficanceoft hename‘ Quick-Loot-Fast-Plunder’i
sthat:
Syri
aandI sraelwouldbedest roy edbyAssyri
abef orethischil
disabletosay‘ mummy ’and‘daddy’
(bef
orethechi l
dcoul dstartsayingsensibl
ethings).ThisisthesecondsonofI sai
ahandthename
conveysamessaget hattheweal thofDamascus( Sy r
ia)andallt
hel ootofSamar i
a(I
srael
)willbe
carr
iedoffbyt heKingofAssy ri
a.AndJudahwi l
lbeliberat
edfrom thewar( orwouldbeprotected)
.

WhatmessagedidGodgiveIsai
ahwhenhi ssecondsonwasborn?
-
tonamehissonQuick-Loot-Fast
-Plunder
’
-
befor
etheboyisol
denought osay‘mummy ’and‘daddy
’al
ltheweal
thofDamascusandal
lthel
ootof
Samari
awouldbecarri
edoffbytheKingofAssyri
a.

NB:ThesignsofI
mmanuelandQuick-Loot-Fast-Pl
underweremeanttopersuadeAhaztot
rustGod
andnotfearhumanbei
ngsli
kePekahorResinwhowoul dbesoondef
eated.However,
Ahazbecause
ofhi
sfearjoi
nedAssyr
iai
nseeki
ngtheprotect
ion,hence,dei
fyi
ngt
headviceofIsai
ah

I
saiah’
sreactionorpropheci estoAhaz’sunbelieforpoli
cies.(
7:18-
25)
1.I
saiahpredicat
eddisast ers(oracl
es)whichwoul dfal
luponJudah:
I. TheLor dwillbringday softr
oublethroughtheKingofAssy ri
a
II
.TheLor dwillwhistlefortheEgy pt
iansandAssy r
ianstocoverthewholel
and.
II
I.TheLor dwi llhireabar berfrom acr osstheEuphr at
es( Assy
rianEmperor
)andshav
eof
f
beardsandhai rsoft heirheadandbodi es.
IV.Thel andwil
l bedeser ted.
V.Wondr ousli
fewi llcomeback.
-
Egyptwil
l comelikef l
i
esonJudah.

Page18of18
 -Assy r
ianswi l
lcomel i
kebeest oJudah.
NB: Theirar
mi eswi llmeetinJudahwhi chwillcausedestructionanddev astat
ion.
2- Byaski nghel pfrom Tiglat
hPi l
eser,Ahaz' hir
ed'abar bertodef endhimselfanddef eathis
enemi es.Meani ng,Assy r
iawi ldemandmucht
l ri
butef r
om Ahazandt hatJudahwi llbehumi l
iat
ed.
Agai n,Ahazandhi speopleadopt edmanypagancust omscont rar
ytoGod'swi l
lsuchast heworshipof
i
dol s,divi
nati
on, sorceryandmagi c.
3- Thedest ructionofJudahwoul dcausei tsdest r
uctionwhi chwi l
lmaket hecountrytohav e
plentyofpast uresf orthecowsandt hi
swouldcauset heabundanceofmi l
k.Forexampl eamanwi l
lbe
keptal i
vewitht hemi l
kofonecowandt wogoat sonly(Vv21-22) .
4- Thef ert
ilelandwi llbechangedt oacount rywher eonl yhunter
swoul dcomeandcat tl
ewoul d
graze.Thi swi llhappenbecauset hewar swi l
lmakeagr icultur
allandnott obecul t
ivat
ed,hence,
animal swill
begr azingandt hor
nbusheswi l
l gr
owf reel
yagai n.Thiswil
ll
aterfacil
i
tatefamine.

Howwerethesepropheciesfulfi
l
led?
-
Judahhadtopayheav ytri
butetoAssy r
ia,hence,shewashumi l
iat
ed.
-
Isr
aelwasdestr
oyedint wost ages:in734BCandf inal
l
yi n722BC.Then,Syr
iawasdest
roy
edi
n732
BC.Thi
sful
fi
ll
edtheweaknessoft hesetwonat i
ons.
-
Judahwasatfir
stdestroyedin701BCbySennacher i
bofAssy r
ia.
-
In586BCJudahandhercapi t
al ci
ty,
Jerusalem wasdestroyedbytheBaby
loni
ans.

ConsequencesofAhaz’ sacti
on( poli
cy)tothelandofJudah/ whyIsai
ahwasagainstJudah’
sal
l
iance
wi
thAssy ri
a
-Ahazstart
edtrusti
ngmennotpeopl e:hef or
gott hatGodisincontrol
ofhist
ory
.
-Judahlosti
tsindependenceandbecameav assal st
ateofAssyri
a.
-i
dolworshipfr
om Assy ri
awasi ntr
oducedi nJudah.
-Judahpaidaheav ytr
ibutetoAssy r
ia.
-Judahbecamemor ecorruptwithAssyri
ancont act.
-Assyr
iancult
urewasi ntr
oducedi .
e.sacredprosti
t ut
ionandconsult
ingfor
tunetel
l
ers.
-Judahbecameabat tl
efieldf
orAssy ri
ansandEgy pti
ans.

I
SAI
AH(
8:16-
22;
9:1)
I
SAI AH'STEMPORALWI THDRAWALFROM PUBLI CMI NISTRY
I
saiahwi thdrewfrom hi
spubli
cmi nistr
ybecause:
-hi
spr ophet i
cwor kcouldnotbef ruitf
ulasthef ait
hlesskingmadei
timpossi
blef
orhi
mtoi
nfluence
publicaffairs.
-peopleofJudahdi dnottakehiswor dsseriously.
-Hewant edGodt oactbyf ul
fi
ll
ingt hepropheci eshehadmade.
-Hewant edt opaymor eatt
entiontohi sdiscipl
esandspendmor et
imewitht
hem.Thi
swastheorigi
n
oftheI saianTraditi
on(ortheIsaianSchoolofdi sci
ples)

Warni
ngagainstconsult
ingthedead
I
nthisperi
odofwi t
hdrawhimt oldhi
sdi sci
plest
hef ol
lowing:
Hetoldt
hem t oguar
dandpr eservethemessage/propheciesthatGodhadgi
venhim.
Peopl
ewoul dseekmediumswhi chtheyhavetodiscourage,si
nce,medi
umscannotkeept
roubl
eaway
.
I
ntheirt
roublepeopl
ewoul dcursethekingandGod.

Page19of19
Histwosonsar eli
vi
ngmessagest
ot hepeopl
eofJerusalem/li
vi
ngsi
gnsofhi
spropheci
es.
NB:Isaiahanti
cipatedtr
oubl
eduri
nghisabsence.Hi sabsencewillmakepeopl
et opressur
izehis
disci
pletoconsultt
hedead.Godconti
nuedtouseIsaiah’schi
ldr
ent
or emi
ndAhazandt hepeopleof
themessageofGod8: 18).
CHAPTER36:
1-22
I
SAI
AHANDKI
NGHEZEKI
AH
THEASSYRI ANSTHREATENJERUSALEM: SENNACHERI BSENTHI SCHI
EFOFFICI
ALTOHEZEKI AH
Intr
oducti
on
In715BC,Hezeki ahsucceededAhazasaki ngofJudah8.HewasasonofAhaz,andt he13t
h
successorofDav idaskingofJudahatJer usalem.Thedat esofhi
srei
gnareof
tengiv
enasabout715
toabout686BC.
Hezekiahwasamanoff aithwhoembar kedonr efor
mingJudahsuchas:
-removingthealt
arst oAssyri
anGodst hatAhazhadputint hetempl
etopl
easet
heAssy r
ianempir
e
-hemadeJer usalem thecentreofworshipagain.
-hestoppedpay i
ngt ri
but
et otheAssy
r i
a.
-HeconstructedaSi l
oam tunnelt
ober eadyforsiegebyAssyri
anarmy.
NB: Becauseofhisf ai
thI
saiahcamebackt ohi spubli
cminist
ry.

Hezekiahr eignedatat i
mewhent heAssy ri
anempi rewasconsol i
dati
ngit
scontr
olofPal est
ineand
Syri
a.
Politi
calSit
uationcontinued.
-Sennacheribdef eat
edBabylonia,Phoenici
a,Phili
stia,andinvadedJudahanddestroyed46ci t
ies9.He
thendeport ed200,000Judeans.
-HewithdrewwhenHezeki ahpaidheav ytri
bute.ThismeansJer usal
em wasfr
eebutdefensel
ess.
-Aft
erhav i
ngdef eatedtheEgy pti
anarmi esatEkr on,Sennacher i
bdeci
dedtooccupyJerusalem sohe
senthisofficialt
oacceptthecity'
ssurrender.
-Sennacheribhimselfcoul
dnotbepr esentatt hesiegeashewashel dupatLachi
shwher ehehadt o

8
Hezeki ahr eignedatat imewhent heAssy rianempi r
ewasconsol idatingi tscont r
olofPal estineand
Syria.Hi sf atherhadpl acedJudahunderAssy riansuzer aintyin735BC.Hezeki ahmayhav etakenpar tin
ar ebel l
ionagai nstKi ngSar gonI IofAssy ri
a( reigned721–705BC) ,whi cht heAssy ri
ansappar ent l
y
crushedi nt hey ear710.Att heaccessi onofSennacher i
b( 705–681BC) ,f urt
herr ebelli
onsbr okeoutal l
overt heAssy ri
anempi re.Hezekiahmayhav ebeent heleaderoft her ebelli
oni nPal est i
ne,whi chincluded
theci ty-statesofAscal onandEkr onandgai nedt hesuppor tofEgy pt.Inpr epar ingfort hei nev i
table
Assy riancampai gnt or etakePal esti
ne,Hezeki ahst r
engthenedt hedef ensesofhi scapital,Jerusal em,
anddugoutt hef amousSi loam tunnel(2Ki ngs20: 20, 2Chronicl es32: 30), whichbr oughtt hewat eroft he
Gihonspr i
ngst oar eser voirinsi
det heci t
ywal l
.Sennacher ibf inall
yputdownt her ebell
ioni n701BC,
over r
unni ngJudah, taking46ofi tswal l
edcities, andpl acingmuchconquer edJudaeant erri
toryundert he
cont r
olofnei ghbouri
ngst ates.Whi l
eSennacher i
bwasbesi egingt heci t
yofLachi sh,Hezeki ahsoughtt o
spar eJer usal em it
selff rom capturebypay ingaheav ytri
buteofgol dandsi lvertot heAssy ri
anki ng,who
nev erthelessdemandedt heci ty'
suncondi t
ionalsur r
ender.Att hispoi ntJer usal em wassav edbya
miracul ouspl aguet hatdeci matedt heAssy rianar my .Thisev entgav er iset ot hebel iefinJudaht hat
Jerusal em wasi nviolable,abel i
eft hatlast edunt i
ltheci tyf ellt ot heBaby loni ansacent uryl ater
.
Cont radictorydat esf orSennacher i
b'sinvasionar egi venint heBookofKi ngs,andhemaypossi blyhav e
i
nv adedJudahasecondt i
meneart hecloseofHezeki ah'sreign.

9
Thi
shappenedwhenHezeki
ahhadr
uledf
or14y
ear
s.

Page20of20
 10
fi
ghtTirhakah .Sennacher
ibal
sosentenvoy(Rabshakeh)wit
halett
ertoHezekiah.I
nithewast ol
dto
surr
ender.ThreeJudeanscameoutt omeetRabshakeh:Eliaki
m,inchargeofthepalace;Shebna-t
he
courtsecret
ary;
Joah-inchargeoft
herecords.
I
SAI
AH36:
1-22
THEMESSAGEOFSENNACHERI BTHROUGHRABSHEKEH: ASSYRI ADEMANDSTHESURRENDEROF
JERUSALEM
TheAssy rianof ficialmadesev enpoi nt sinhi sspeech.Somear emi lit
ary(orpol i
ti
cal)argument swhi l
e
ot hersar er eli
gi ous ar gument s:hewant ed t o under minet hepeopl e’
sconf i
dence( hewant ed to
discour agef urtherr esistance) .
1.Youmaybegoodatt alkingbuty oul ackpower -( Mili
tary)–hepoi ntedoutt hatmer ewor dscannot
subst it
ut emi l
it
ar yskillandpower .
2.Youral lyEgy pthasbeendef eatedsoy oucannotr elyont hatPower -(Mili
tar
y )
.–hei ndicatedt hatto
thepeopl et hatt heyshoul dnotr elyonEgy ptbecauseshei sweakandcannothel pthem.
3.Youcannotr elyony ourGodei t
hersi ncey ourownki nghasdoneawaywi thGod, Yourki ng/ deceives
youwhenhet ellsy out or elyony ourGod-( Rel i
gious) .Hedest royedt heconf i
denceoft hepeopl ei nGod
bymi srepr esent i
ngwhatHez ekiahhaddonei ndest royingal lt
hepl acesofheat henwor shi pinJudah.
4.Yourar myi snomat chf orourAssy ri
anar my -(
Mi lit
ary )-
herev ealedhi sknowl edgeoft heweakness
ofJudah’ smi li
tarybyof feringt opr ov ide2000mor esol diers.
5.I tist heLor dwhosentust odest royy ou-( reli
gious)–het oldt hepeopl ethatt heLor di sbr i
nging
j
udgmentonJudahusi ngt heAssy ri
ansashi sinstrument s.
6.Ourgodshowedt hathei sst rongert hant hegodsofot hernat i
onsbecausewedef eatedt hem.
(Mi l
it
ar yandr eligious) -
hedoubt edi fYahwehcanpr otectt hem from t heirenemies.
7.Tr ustKi ngSennacher ib;hewi lltreaty ouwel linyourownl andandt akeyout oabet terlandt hany our
own.( Political)
-Hepr omi sedt hem al andf ulloffood,al andsi milart otheirsiftheymakepeacewi th
theAssy rianKi ng.
NB:t heTHREEof fi
cialsi nterrupt edanddemandedt hatRabshakehhast ouseof f
icial/di plomat i
c
l
anguageofAr amai cnotHebr ewl anguage.ButRabshakehr ef
used.
Reasonswhyt heof fi
cial
sofHezeki ahdemandedof ficiallanguage?
-theissuewasf ordi plomat i
cpur poset hanf orpubl icconsumpt i
on.
-thethr eateni ngspeechofRabshakehcoul dhav eledt hepeopl et oriotagai nstthekingt osur render .

WhySennacher ibwantedJudaht osur renderwit

houtfi
ghting?
-
hewasf i
ght i
ngmanywar satonce.
-
hewasaf r
ai dtoattackYahweh’schosenpeopl eandland.
Reacti
onoft hepeopl etoRabshekeh’ sspeech
Theykeptqui etasHezeki ahhadt oldt hem.
Reacti
onofHezeki ah'
srepresentatives
-
theytoretheirclothes.
-
theyreportedt hemessaget oHez ekiah.
Hezekiah'
sr eactiontowhatt heRabshakehsai d(37:
1-4)
-
Het or
ehi scl ot
hesingrief.
-
Putonsackcl othwhichsy mboli
zessadness.
-
Hewentt ot het empletopr ayandaskhumbl yforGod'shelp.

10
Ki
ngofEgy
pt.

Page21of21
-
HesentEl
i
aki
m,Shebnaandt
heseni
orpr
iest
stopr
ophetI
sai
ahf
oradv
ice.

NB:Hezeki
ahshowedhi schangeofmi
ndandi
ndi
cat
edhi
swi
l
li
ngnesst
otr
ustGodandf
oll
ow t
he
adv
iceofhi
sprophetunl
i
keAhaz .

ThemessageofHezeki aht oIsaiah( 37:3-

4)
-
todayi sadayofsuf fering.
-
wear ebei ngpunishedandar ei ndisgrace.
-
wear el i
keawomanwhoi sreadytogi vebi r
thbuti stooweakt odoso.
-
Sennacher ibhasinsultedYahweht hr oughhi soffi
cial.
-
mayy ourGodheart hesei nsul t
sandpuni shthosewhospoket hem.
-
prayt oGodf orsurvi
vor s.
God'sResponse-( I
saiah’s/ God’sanswerandencour agement)(37:
5-7)
-
donotl ettheAssy ri
ansf rightenyou.
-
theLor dwi l
lcausetheemper ortohearar umourt hatwi l
lmakehim gobacktohisowncountr
y.
-
theLor dwi l
lhavehim ki l
l
edt here.
NB:indeed,Sennacher ibhear dt heappr oachoft heEgy pt
ianar
mywhi chwasl edbyKingTi
rhakah11of
Egypt.Asar esult
,hecoul dnotat t
achJer usal em soon.Buthest ar
tedtopreparet
ofi
ghtagai
nstEgy pt
.
Sennacheribhowev er,sentat hreateninglet t
ertoHezeki ah.
I
SAI
AH37:
8-13
SENNACHERI B'
SSECONDTHREATENI NGMESSAGE: SENNACHERI BSENTALETTER
Sennacheribsental ettertoKi ngHezekiahwhi chwasar epetit
ionofsomeoft heargumentsinhis
of f
ici
al'
sspeech( i
.e.
)
y
- ourgodcheat syouwhenhesay sIwillnotdefeatyou.
-
y ouhav eheardwhatanAssy r
ianemper ordoest oanycountryhedeci dest odest
roy
-
Fr om thepast,Assyrianshasbeenv i
ctori
ousov ernati
onswiththeirgod( Myancest
orshavedest
royed
manyci ti
eswhi l
etheirgodswer epr
esent )
.
-
t heref
ore,Judahwi l
lnotbeexempt ed.
NB:i nsummar y,t
hel ett
erstatedthatJudahshoul dnotbedecei vedf orYahwehwoul dnotprot
ect
them.Thel ett
eralsost atedthatnogodev erprotectedacit
yornat i
ont hatAssyri
aatt
acked.

NB: TheAssy r
ianKi ngisdef yi
ngopenlytheonet rueGodbycompar inghimtofal
segodsofot
her
nat i
ons.
Hezeki ah'sReact ion( 37:14- 20)
-her eadit .
-hewenti ntot het empl eandSpr eaditbeforetheLordand
-prayedaski ngGodt odeliverJudahf rom thehandsofSennacheri
bandhi sarmy.
Thepr ayerofHezeki ah(37: 16-22)
-almightyLor dy oual one,ar eGod.
-youar et hecr eatorandr ulerofev ery
thi
ng
-l
istent ot heinsul tsfrom Sennacher i
b
-weknowhedest roy edmanynat i
onsandt heirf
alsegods
-rescueusf rom t heAssy r i
anssot hatal
lnationsshoul
dknowt hatyoualoneareGod.
HowHezeki ah' sFai thisshown

11
Ti
rhakahsucceededhi
scousi
nShebi
tkuont
het
hrone.

Page22of22
-
Heprayedinthetemple
-
Heconsult
edI sai
ah,r
eadytof
oll
owhisadv i
ce(V21).
-
Hebeli
evedt hatGodhadhear dtheAssyrianmessageandwouldrebukeandpuni
shSennacher
ib.
(
V20)
.
-
HeaskedIsai
aht opraytoGodfort
hepeopleofJerusal
em.
-
Hewasconf i
dentthatGodwouldnotabandontheremnantwhower
efait
hful
tohi
m(V4).

God’sreply/tauntsongagai nstSennacheri
b(37:21-35)
-
Jerusalem laughsaty ou.
-
Youhav ebeendi sr
espectfultomet heHolyGodofI srael
.
-
Yout hi
nky ouar eagr eatperfor
merbuty oujustcar
ryoutwhatI,Yahweh,
planned.
-
Youar einmycont rol
,andIknowev er
ythi
ngabouty ou.
-
Iam incont rol,
Iwillputahookt hr
oughy ournoseandbi ti
nyourmouthandwi l
ltakey
oubackbyt
he
r
oadonwhi chy oucame.

I
saiah’
smessaget oHezeki ah(v .33ff)
-
fortwoy ear
st her
ewi l
lbefami nebuti nthethi
rdyearbuti
nthi
rdy
eart
hel
andwi
l
lpr
oduce
f
ood.
-
thr
ought heremnant, Godwi l
lfulf
il
lhi
spr omise
-
Assy r
iawil
lnotdestroyJudah
-
thekingwill
hearar umourt hathei sneededinhiscount
ry
-
hewi l
lbekil
ledther
e

Theendoft hesi ege/Howdi dGodr escueJer

usalem fr
om Assyri
a?(37:36-
38)
-theangel oftheLor dkil
l
ed185, 000soldi
ersi
nt heAssyri
anscamp.
-Sennacher i
bwi thdrewandr eturnedtoNinevehaft
erhearingtherumourthatEgy
pti
anar
mywasnear
Ni nev
eh.
-TwosonsofSennacher ib,Adrammel echandSharezerkil
l
edtheirfat
herwhenhewasworshi
ppi
nghi
s
godNi srochint hetemple.
-anotherson, Esarhaddon12succeededhim asanewki ng.
I
SAI
AH38:
1-8,
20-22
HEZEKIAH'
SSICKNESSANDMIRACULOUSRECOVERY
Hezeki
ahfel
lsi
ckandwasal
mostdyi
ng.Hesuf
fer
edf
rom aboi
l
.

A.
God’
sfi
rstMessaget
oHezeki
ah(
38:
1)
-
Hewast oputeveryt
hinginorder
.
-
Becausehewouldnotr ecov
er
-
Heshouldgetreadytodie.
Hezeki
ah'
sReactiontothemessage(
38:
2-3)

12
Esarhaddoni sbestknownf orhisconquestofEgypti n671B. C.Althoughhewasay oungerson,
Esarhaddonhadal readybeenprocl
aimedsuccessort
ot het hr
onebyhi sf at
her,Sennacher
ib,whohad
appointedhim governorofBabyl
onsomet imeafterSennacheribsackedt hatcit
yin689.Sennacheri
b
wasmur der
ed( 681)byoneormor eofEsarhaddon'
sbr other
s,apparentl
yi nanat t
empttosei zet
he
thr
one

Page23of23
-
Heturnedhisf
acetothewalland
-
PrayedtoGod
-
heremindedGodhi sf
m ofhi ait
hful
nessandl
oyal
ty,
anddoi
ngwhatGodwant
ed.
-
Hebegant oweepbi
tter
ly.
B.God'
sSecondMessaget
oHezeki
ah(
38:
4-6)
-Ihav ehear dy ourprayerandseeny ourtear
s.
-Iwillhealy ou.
-Iwilllety oul i
ve15y earsl
onger.
-Iwillrescuey ouandt hecit
yofJer usalem fr
om theemperorofAssyri
a.
-Iwillcont inuepr otecti
ngthecityfort hesakeofDav i
dmyser v
ant.
NB:Asasi gnt hatGodwoul dadd15y earstoHezekiah'
sli
fe,Godmadet heshadowont hestairway
buil
tbyKi ngAhaz, gobackt ensteps.
NB:Hez ekiahwasheal edbyput ti
ngapast eoff i
gsontheboils.WhenHezeki
ahgothealed,hesung
praisest ot heLor d(I
saiah38:9-18).
CHAPTER39
BABYLONI ANMESSENGERSTOHEZEKI AH/ABASSADORSFROM BABYLON
(
39:1-8)
Soonaf terr ecovery,Hezeki
ahr eceivedvisi
torsfr
om Babyl
on.TheywereledbyMerodachBaladan13

Reasonswhyt
hev
isi
tor
swer
esentt
oJudah:
1.Theapparentr
easonwast
ocongr
atul
ateHezeki
ahonhi
srecov
eryandof
ferhi
m apr
esent
.
2.Therealr
easons:
 Want edHezekiah'
shelpagai
nstAssyri
a.(For
minganal
l
ianceagai
nstAssy
ria)
 Tospyont hel
andofJudahforfutur
eattack.
NB:
thev
isi
torstookthelet
terandagif
t.

Howdi dHezekiahwel comet hev i

sitors/envoys?
Hezekiah showed them al lthe wealthin his stores (sil
ver,gold,spi ces,per
fumes and mil
i
tar
y
equi
pment .)Whydi
dHezeki ahdothis?
-Hewantedt oimpressthem sot hathecoul dgetf avorabletermsf orall
iance(Hethoughtift
heysaw
howrichandpower fulJudahwas, theter
msoft healli
ancewoul dbemor ef avor
abl
eforJudah.
)
-Hewantedt oshowt hem thathewasanequal partner.
-Hewasf l
atter
edbyt hevisit
orsfr
om apower fulcountry.
-Hewasshowi ngoff.
ReasonswhyHezeki ahmi ghthaveacceptedtheal li
anceagai nstAssy r
ia?

13
Ki
ngofBaby l
onwhobegant or
eignaskingin721B. C.ThiswasthetmewhenSar
i gonIIwaski
ngof
Assyr
ia.Herebel
ledagai
nstAssyr
iabutwasdef eatedanddethr
onedin710B.C.I
n703,hecameback
topowerandr ei
gnedagainduri
ngSennacherib'
st ime,fr
om 705to701B.C.NB:MelodachBal
adan
usedthechancetostr
engthenhi
spowerwhenSar gonIIofAssyr
iadi
edin705B.C.i
n703B.Chesent
ambassadorstoHezeki
ahtogethissupport
.

Page24of24
 I. Hewasf l
atteredbyt hebyt hev i
sitofabigcount r
y,Baby l
on
II
.Agr oupofi nfluential peopleinJer usal
em persuadedhi mtojointheal
li
ance
II
I.Ther ewashopet hatchancesofsuccessseemedgood
IV.Hehat edbei ngsubj ectt oAssy riapay i
ngespeci all
ybypay ingtri
buteandbyworshippi
ng
f
oreigngods.
V.Thear myofAssy rianswasweakenedbyMer odach-bal
adan.
ReactionofI saiah/predi cti
onofI sai
aht owhatHezeki ahdid.
-Isai
aht oldHezekiaht hatBaby lonwasaski ngforJudah'shel ptodaybuti nnearf
utur
eitwi
llbeher
enemyandconquer or.Het oldhi mthat
-onedayal lthemoney ,possessi onsandt r
easuresofJudahwi llbesenttoBabyl
on.
-ManyI srael
ites,amongt hem someoft heKi ng'
sdescendant s,wil
lbetakenaway
-andsomewi l
lbemadeeunuchst heretoser vetheKingofBaby lon.

NB:Uponhear ingt histerriblepr ophecy ,Hezeki ahsai dthatthe' wor doft heLordisgood' thesewords
theymi ghtmeant hatt hepr edi cti
onwi llnotber eali
zedduringhi sl if
etime.HereHezeki ahdidnotcare
thathisownchi ldrenandt hei rseedswoul dbeexi ledandsuf ferbecauseofhi smi stake.
ReasonswhyI saiahdi sappr ov edHezeki ah’sactionoff ormingal l
iancewi thAssyri
a
-i
twillshowt hatHezeki ahlacksf ai
thi nGod, thecont roll
erofhi story.
-theJewswoul dbeexposedt oi dols
-someJewswoul dbet akeni nt oexileandsomewoul dbecast r
at edandmadet heirservant
s.
Summar yofHezeki ah’sl i
fe/char acters
1)Hewasamanoff aith.
-hepurifi
edt her eli
gionofJudahbyr emov i
ngpaganel ement ssuchasi dol
s.
-heint
roducedt hePassov ercel ebrationwhi chhadst opped.
-i
nhissi ckness, het urnedt oGod.
-hetookadv iceoft hepr ophet .
-whent hreatenedhecoul dconsul tIsaiahandpr ayedt oGodt osav ehim.
2)Hewasact iveini nternational polit
ics.
3.Hewasamanofent erprises( development )-hef ort
ifi
edJer usal em andbuil
ttheSiloam tunnel
.
4)Hewaspat rioti
c, meani ngt hathel ovedhi scount rynottober uledbyAssy ri
ans
5)Hadsomeweaknessesi .e.hemadeanal li
ancewi thEgy ptandBaby l
onagainstAssy r
ia.Agai
n,he
showedhi sweal tht oBaby l
on.
POLI
TICALSI
TUATI
ONTHATMADEJUDAHTOBETAKENTOEXI
LE
-
Towardst
heendoft
he8Cent
uryB.C.,
Prot
oIsai
ahhadt
oldHezeki
ah,Ki
ngofJudah,thatonedaythe
t
reasur
esandt
hepeopl
eofhi
skingdom woul
dbesenti
nexil
e(Babyl
on)(39:6)
.Thi
shappenedin587
B.
C.
-Hezekiahwassucceededbyhi ssonManassehwhowasv er
ywi cked.Duri
nghisreign,therewasa
revi
valofpaganrit
es,incl
udingast ralcul
tsinthev
er yfor
ecourt
soft hetempleofYHWH, childsacr
ifi
ce,
andt empleprost
ituti
on;hence,hei susuallypor
trayedast hewickedoft hekingsofJudahheal so
worshippedstar
sanddi ddivination.HeruledJudahf or55years(
IIChronicl
es33:1-
9).Duringhisrei
gn
Babylonroseupagai nstAssy r
ia.Manassehwassucceededbyhi ssonAmon,whowasal sobad.This
kingwasassassinatedafterruli
ngf or2years.AmonwassucceededbyJosi ah(640–609.

Josi
ahbecameKi ngatt
heageof8andr ul
edJudahfor31year
s.Josiahwasgoodkingjustl
i
ke
Hezeki
ah.Accor
dingt
oGod'
spl
an,
Assy
rianswer
edefeat
edin612B.C.bythecombi
nedf
orcesoft
he

Page25of25
Medes,Babyloniansand Seyt
hiansandt henew Baby
loni
anempi
rebecameaworldpower.When
Josi
ahsawt hatAssyri
awasweakenedheusedt hi
sasanopport
uni
tyt
omakeJudahli
ndependence
andhepuri
fi
edt henati
onreli
gionofJudai
sm.

Egy ptwhichwasal waysopposedAssy ri

anow deci dedt ojoinforceswi tht hi
sol denemy( Assy ri
a)
againstBaby l
onbutJosi ahr emai nedopposedt oAssy riasohewasont hesi deofBaby l
onagai nst
Egy pt.Josiahwasdef eatedandki ll
edi
nabat tl
ewi ththeEgy pti
ansin 609BCbyNeccoI I,thephar aoh
ofEgy pt,atapl acecal l
edMegi ddo.WhenJosi ahdi edNeccoI I,choset he sonofJosi ah,Jehoahaz
(orShal l
um) .Hewasf orcedt ot akehissideagai nstBaby l
on.Nechot ookJehoahazt oEgy pt af t
er
seeingt hathewasnotr oyaltoEgpy t
.NeccoI ImadeJehoi akim kingofJudah.Jehoi akimr eigned
undert hepr otect
ionofNechof orsomet imeandpai dheav yt r
ibut
e.I n605BC,NebuchadnezzarI Iof
Egy ptdefeatedEgy ptattheBat tleofCarchemish.Jehoi akim changedhi sal l
egiancefr
om theEgy pti
an
kingt oNebuchadr ezzar.Her emai nedl
oyalforthreey earsandt henr evol
tedagai nstNebuchadr ezzar.
Aftersev eralbat t
lesandi nvasions,Nebuchadnezzarl edthedeci si
veinv asionagainstJudahand
besiegedJer usalem.Jehoi aki
m di edatthi
st i
me.

-Jehoi
aki
m wassucceededbyhi s18y earoldson,Jehoiachin.Hereignedt hr
eemont hs.Hewasfor ced
tosurr
endertoNebuchadnezzarIIandwast akentoBaby lon(597BC) ,
alongwi t
h10,000ofhissubjects.
Manyscholarscite597BC ast hedat eoft hefi
rstdepor t
ati
on,forint hatyearKingJehoiachi
nwas
deposed and apparent
ly sentinto exil
e with hi
sf ami l
y,his court,and t housands ofworker s.
NebuchadnezzarchoseZedekiah(ori
ginalname,Mattaniah)tosucceedJehoi achin.

Zedeki ahwast het hir

dsonofJosi ahandtheuncl eofJehoi achin.Zedeki ahthushel dhist hroneasa
vassalunderanoat hofal l
egiancet oNebuchadr ezzar.Howev er,Hef ooli
shlyconspi redwi thEgy pt
againstBaby lon.Toendanyt r
oubl einJer
usalem, intheni nt
hy earofZedeki ah'sr ule,Babylonianar my
l
aidsi eget oJer usalem.Inthesi xthmonthoft hesi egeabr eachwasmadei nt heci tywal ls.Theend
camei n586B. C WiththeBaby loni
ancaptureofJer usal
em andt hedest ructionoft hepr i
ncipal
buil
dings,i ncluding the Templ e and the f
orti
ficati
ons:t he wal l
sand housesofJer usalem wer e
dest r
oy ed,itst empl ewassackedandbur ned.Zedeki ahandhi smenf ledbyni ghtt owardt heJor dan
River,butt heywer esooncapt ur ed.Heandhi sl eaderswer etakenbef oreKi ngNebuchadnezzarat
Riblah,inSy r
ia, whereZedekiah'
ssonswer eslai
ni nhispr esenceandhe, adisloy alvassal,wasbl inded
andcar riedinchai nstoBaby l
on,wher ehewasi mprisonedunt ilhisdeathandt hepeopl eofJudah,
exceptf orthepoor estoftheland,wer edepor t
edt oBaby l
on.Judahl ostitsst atusasaki ngdom and
becameaBaby loni
anpr ovi
nce.

InBabylon,manyJewswer escat
teredinsmallcommunit
ieswher etheyhadt owor kfortheirmasters.
Mostoft hem wereill
-treat
edandwer efarfr
om home.Mostoft hem losthopet hattheywoul devergo
backtoJer usalem again.Thisgr
eatdeportati
onof586B. C,whichwast obeat hemeofl amentand
remembr anceformi l
lenniatocome.Numer ousJewsalsomi gr
atedtoEgy ptdur i
ngthistroubledti
me.
Someoft heprophetswhoencour agedthem thatGodwaswi ththem andt hatonedayt heywi llr
etur
n
toJudahwer eEzekiel,andsecondIsaiah.

Reasonswhygodal
l
owedt
heJewst
ogot
oexi
l
e
-
itwasapuni
shmentf
ort
hei
rsi
ns

Page26of26
-
hewant
edt hem t
oreali
zethei
rsi
nsandrepent
-
hewant
edt opuri
fythem
-
hewasprepari
ngthem fort
hemissi
onofbringi
ngsal
vat
iont
oal
lnat
ions

Mai
nmessageoff i
rstIsai
ah
-
herebukedsins
-
hecall
edthepeoplet orepent
-
hepredi
catedjudgmentont hepeopleofGod-
Babyl
onianex
il
e
-
hegavethemessageofHope- ther
emnantshal
lret
urn

SECONDI
SAI
AH(DEUTEROOREXILI
CI AH)
SAI
(Chapt
ers40-
55)
Int
roducti
on
Thesechapterstel
lusaboutt
heli
feoft
heJewsi
nBabyl
onandhowtheysuff
eredandhowtheywere
comforted.TheywereinBabylonasexil
esf
or70year
s.ThesecondIsai
ahisalsoknownast he
pr
‘ ophetofcomf or
t.WHY?Because:
1.Thesechapterswerewri
tt
enf
ort
heJewsi
nexi
l
ewher
etheysuf
fer
ed:
-deport
ati
on: Theysuf f
eredast heyhadbeenf orcef
ull
ytakentofor
eigncountr
y.
-harshtr
eatment( manual treatment
) :
Intheforei
gncountrytheywer
eharshlytr
eat
ed
-Theyalsosuf f
eredspiri
tually.HOW?
14
-Theymi ssedt hetemple
-Theysuf f
eredseei ngfell
owJewsf all
awayf r
om theirf
ait
h
-Doubtsandconf usioncausedt hem tobeinsuffer
ing.
2.Godhadgi
ven2ndI
sai
ahthespeci
fi
cmissi
ontocomf
orthi
speopl
e.(
Isai
ah40:
13)

3.I
tsmaint
eachi
ngismeanttocomfor
t.How?
YahwehusesCy rust osav eHi speopl e.
Exileispuni shmentt hatwi llcomet oanend( 40:2).Itisshowni nthesechaptersthatthepuni shment
ofexilewasasi gnt hatYahwehi sconcer nedabouthi speopl e.
Theirsuf feri
ngwi l
l l
eadt osal vat
ionofal lnat i
ons.
NB: Par entspuni sht heirchi l
drent oshowt hatt heycar eaboutt hem.
LIFEOFTHEJEWSI NEXI LE
Althought heJewssuf feredgr eat l
yandf acedpower fulculturalpressuresinaf or
eignl and,they
mai ntainedt heirnat i
onalspi ritandr eli
giousi dentit
y.El der ssupervisedtheJewi shcommuni t
ies,and
Ezekielwasoneofsev eralpr ophetswhokeptal ivet hehopeofonedayr et
urninghome.Thi swas
possibl yalsot heper iodwhensy nagogueswer efir
stest abli
shed,fortheJewsobser v
edt heSabbat h
andr eligi
oushol i
day s, practicedci r
cumci sion,andsubst itutedprayersforformerrit
ualsacri
fi
cesi nthe
Templ e.
Insummar y,thelifeoft heJewsdur i
ngt heexi l
ewasnotofhashasi thadtobef orexampl e:
1.POLI TI
CALLY
-Somewer eempl oyedasEunuchsatt heking’spal ace.
-Somewer eempl oyedasgener alwor kersatt heking’ spal ace.Bydoi ngsot heyhadacqui redvast

14
C.
FPsal
ms137

Page27of27
experi
enceaboutt hety peofgov ernmentoft heBaby l
onians
-Theyhadal sol earnthowt oconductapopul at i
oncensus.
2.ECONOMI CALLY
-Somebecamet r
ader s
-Somel earntnewpr ofessi onsofcar pentry,brickandst onewor ks
-Theybecamev eryrichduet hebusi nessest heywer edoing.
3.SOCI ALLY
-Theygroupedt hemsel v esinsettlement soft heirownundert heel der
.
-Someel iteJewsbecamei mpor tantleaders.Forexampl e,Danielandhisfri
ends.
-TheexiledKi ng,Jehoi achinwasst il
ltr
eatedast hekingofJudah( Jeremiah52:31-
34)
-TheylearntAr amai clanguage.
-Theylearnthowt oeatanddr essl i
kethem.
4.RELIGI ON
-TheOldTest amentbooksi .e.TheLawandPr ophetswer ecompl i
edt oget
herandwrit
ten
-Theyobser vedt heSabbat h.
-Theybui ltsmal ltempl eswher et heyconv er gedandwor shippedt heLordonSabbat h.Thesesmal
l
templescamet obeknownassy nagogues.
-Theydidci r
cumci sion.
Theyhadpr ophet stogui dethem.

HOW THEJEWSKEPTTHEI RFAI TH( howt heJewswer eheldtoget

her?)
1.Theybel ievedt hatt hei
rGodwas t heonl yoneGod.
2.Theykeptat el
lingt heirtr
adi t
ionalstori
esofAbr aham, Mosest heexoduski ngDav i
dandputt hem in
writi
ngs.InBaby l
ont heyputt het r
aditi
oni nwr i
ting.Oldwr i
ti
ngswer er ear
rangedandedited.Thisact ed
ast hebir
thoft hebook( Bible).
3.Theycamet oget heront heSabbat h:thiswast heor iginoft heSy nagoguewhi chmeans‘ gatheri
ng
together.
’Sy nagogueswer eusedasaSundayschool duringtheweek.
4.Theysett hemsel vesapar tfrom gent i
lesbyf ol
lowi ng allr ul
esbased on t heLaw ofMoses:
Circumcision,keepi ngt heSabbat handabst ainingf r
om uncl eanf ood.
5.Theydi dnotwor shipidols.
6.Theyhadpr ophet sandpr iestsamongt hem:Amongt hepr ophetswer eEzeki
el,andsecondI sai
ah.
Thesepr ophet sandpr i
esthel pedt opreservef ait
hbyexpl ai
ningt her easonfortheexil
e.i
epuni shment
forIsrael
’
sunf ait
hf ulnessandawayofpr eparingIsrael f
oranewf uture.

Whyt heJewsdoubtaboutYahweh?: Fai

thinDanger( doubtthattheJewshadaboutExile)
Theexilewasasev eretestfortheJews'f ai
thinGodandi nhislov
eandcaref orthem.Thi swasso
because:
-TheJewsbel ievedthattheywereapeopl echosenandpr otect
edbyGodbuti tlookedasi fGodhad
abandonedt hem.
-Theybel i
evedt hatGodhadgi vent hem thei
rcount r
y ,Canaan;ift
hiswastrue,how couldheal l
ow
Babylontoconqueri t
.
-Theybeli
evedGodhadchosenJer usal
em andi t
stempl eashi sdwel
li
ngpl
ace;howt hencouldhehav e
all
oweditsdest r
ucti
on.
-Theybeli
evedGodwasal lpowerfulbuti
tlookedasift hegodsofBaby l
on(Madurk)hadgreaterpower.
-They beli
eved God was i n controlof ev ents buti tseemed t hatgreatwor l
dl eaderslike

Page28of28
NebuchadnezzarandCy r
usdeci dedthecour
seofhi
stor
y.
-
Theybeliev
edGodwoul df ul
fi
llhispromi
sesthr
oughadescendantofDav
id.Howcoul
dthi
sbewhen
t
heJewswer einfor
eignland?

WhatmadeSomeJewst obeat tractedtoBaby l

onianrel
igion/idolworship?
-Madurk,theBaby loniangod, wasseenwhi leYahwehwasnotseen/ i
nvisi
ble,
outofsi ght.Therefore,f
or
humanbei ngst hewor shipofaphy si
calgodwaseasi ert hant hewor shi
pofYahwehwhi chrequired
concentrati
on,di scipli
ne,sel fcont r
ol,i
magination&medi tation.
-WorshipofYahwehwasanev erydayact i
vi
tywhi l
ewor shipofi dolswasoccasi onal/accordingt o
needs.
-Mardurkpr oved hi spowerov ert he gods ofot hernat ions through Babylonian vict
ories.Agai n,
Nebuchadnezzarascr ibedhi ssuccesst othegodofBaby lon,Mar duk.Wher eas,Godseemedt otake
l
ongt oanswert heirpr oblems.
-TheBaby l
onianr eli
giousf eastsandpr ocessionswer ei mpressiveandj oy ousev ents,whi l
et he
worshipofYahwehhadal otofrest r
icti
ons.E.g.TenCommandment s
-Thei
rtempl esandr eli
giouscer emoni esweremor eimpressiv ethanwhatt heJewshadseeni nt heir
templeatJer usal em.

Wor
dst
hatDeut
eroI
sai
ahusedi
nor
dert
oencour
agehi
sfel
l
owJewst
oJudah
 Godwoul dtakecareofthem duri
ngthej our
ney.
 ThetempleandJer usal
em wouldber ebuil
t.
 I
sraelwast heser
vantofYahweht her
ef oret
heyhadtopreachGodtoall
nati
ons.
 Thei
rreturnwouldglori
fyYHWH ast heGodwhocar esfortheoppr
essed.
 Thei
rreturnwasa‘y es’
toGodt oabanquet( I
sai
ah55:1-
9)

Reasonst
hatGodgi
vesf
orI
srael
tor
etur
ntohi
m
 I
sraeli
sGod’sservant
 Godistheonewhosav es
 Hehassweptawayt hei
rsins
 Heisthecreat
or
 Hewillnev
erforgett
hem.
Wor
dsofhope
THEMESSAGEOFCOMFORT:PROMI SEOFTHERETURN( 40: 1-
2)
Thepr ophetgivesGodsmessaget hemessageofconsolati
on,tendernessandl ove.Isai
ahi
sconsoli
ng
hisfel
lowJewsi nexil
e.Thechi
ldr
enofLordhavespentnearly70yearsinforeignl andassl
aves.I
sai
ah
tell
sthem thatthetimeofhardshi
pisoverandthatt
hei
rdeli
v er
anceisnear.Hesay s:
-Youhav esufferedenough
-yoursinsareforgiv
en
-Thattheyhavebeenpuni shedinf
ullf
orthei
rsi
ns(andthatthei
rpunishmenti sov er).
THEWAYTOBEPREPARED:
prepar
ati
onf
ort
her
etur
n(I
sai
ah40:
3-5)
-Godt
alksofprepar
ingthewayf orthejoyful
ret
urnofhi
speopl
e.
-Ther
eturnwassoont othosei nexieandnoobst
l acl
esandnohumanopposi
ti
onwi
l
lst
opGodspl
an
ofsal
vati
onfr
om takingplace.How?
-Theroadwil
lbepreparedinthewilderness.

Page29of29
-Byf
il
li
ngv al
ley
sandl evel
i
ngeverymountai
n.
-Bymakingroughcountrysmooth.
NB:t
heresultofthesafeandsmoothret
urnoftheexi
l
edwi
l
lshowandr
eveal
the‘
glor
yofGod’
.

Av oi
cecr iesout ,‘procl ai
m amessage…. ’(
Isaiah40:6-
11)
Her et hepr ophetcompar esbet weent hebr iefnessofmankindtograssthatwi t
hersandt heflowert hat
fadest otheet er
nalwor dofGod.Thi scompar i
sonmeanst hatthehopet hattheprophetwasbr inging
wasf rom Godwhopr ov i
desper manentandt ruethi
ngsandnotfrom manwhobr i
ngstempor arythings.
Thef actthatt hemessageofhopei scomi ngf rom Godshouldbri
ngmor ecomf orttothepeopl e.
Thepr oclaimedmessagei st hat:
-allhumanbei ngsar el ikegr ass.
-theyl astnol ongert hanwi ldf l
ower s.
-grasswi t
her sandf l
ower sf adewhent heLor dsendsthewindov erthem.
-peopl earenomor eendur i
ngt hangr ass.
-grasswi t
her sandf l
ower sf ade.
-butt hewor dofGodendur esf orever.
NB: Thesi gni f
icantoft hismessagei sthatmani sweakanddoesnotl astlong,andthatsalv
at iondoes
notdependonman’ sef fortbutonGod.
Deut eroIsaiahgi vesreasonsfort
heexilestorepent
-Suf f
er i
ngisf ruit
lessunl esst heex i
lesr epent.
-Theirpastsi nsar ef orgiven.
-Aser vantshoul dser v ehismast er.
-Godl ovest hem andl ongsf orthei
rr eturn.
Godmadet hem f oraspeci alpurpose.
Onl yGodcansav et hem.
Goodnewswhi chGodsentt oJer usalem (40:9-11)
-tel
lt het ownsofJudaht hattheirGodi scomi ngtorul
ewi thpower ,br
ingi
ngwithhi
m peopl
e
hehasr escued.
-hewi l
ltakecar eofhi sflocklikeashepher d.
-hewi l
lgat herthel ambst ogetherandcar rythem inhisarms
-hewi l
lgent lyleadt heirmot hers.
Qual iti
esofGodt hatHewi l
ldi spl
ay edtother et
urni
ngexil
es.
A)Powert opr otect
-bringingwi thhi m peopl ehehasr escued.
-gat heringt hel ambst ogetherandcar rythem i nhisar
ms.
B)Gent l
eness
-t akecar eofhi sf l
ockl i
keashepher d.
-leadt heirmot hersgent ly.
NB:dur i
ngt hist i
me, t
heexi l
eshadatt histi
mehear dthattherewoul dbeaclashbet
weenthe
twogi ant s,Per si
aandBaby l
onandwer eaf raidofwhatwi llhappent othem.Themessage
showst hatGodi si ncontrolofnat ionsli
kePer siaandBabylon.
Great
nessofGodi
ncontrastt
oman’sweakness(
Isai
ah40:
12-
17)
-
Hemeasur est
heoceanbyhandf
uls.

Page30of30
-
hemeasur est heskywi thhishands.
-
Hehol dst hesoi loft heearthi nacup.
-
Hewei ghst hemount ainsandhi l
lsonscal es.
-
Noonecant el
l Him ofwhatt odooradv iceHim.
-
t oGodnat ionsar el i
keadr opofwat er
-
andi slandsar el i
kedust .
-
al lanimal sandt r
eesi nthef orestsofLebanonar enotenought obeusedt ooffersacri
fi
cet
oGod.
NB:I not herwor ds,allthenat i
onsandt hewhol ecreati
onar elesst hannot hi
ngcompar edt othe
i
ncompar abl egr eatness,power ,wisdom andmaj estyofGod.
CYRUSASANI NSTRUMENTOFSALVATI ON
Isai
ah( 41:
1-4)
Her eGodspeaksandcal l
sf oral lnati
onst odiscussthepr esentsituati
oni nwhichapower fulnat
ion
from t heeast( CyrusofPer sia)hasr i
senandhet ri
umphswi t
hev erynat i
onhef i
ghts.Godsummons
thismeet ingt odiscusswhet herornot ,GodandHeal oneist heGodofhi stor
yandt hatHehasgi ven
Cy r
usal lt
hev i
ctori
esandt hatt hesev i
ctori
eswillconti
nuetoot hernations.
Reactionofothernat
ionstowhatCyr
usisdoi
ng
Isai
ah41:5-7
-Theywereafraid
-Theytrembl
ed
-Theysoughtr ef
ugeinidol
swiththeai
m ofseeki
ngdel
i
ver
ancef
rom t
hehandsofCy
rus(
or
againstGod).

GodassuresIsrael f
orHisprotecti
onandf avour(41:
8-10)
Godnowassur esI sraelf
orhisprotectandfavour.Hesays:
I
-sr
aelismyser vant,thedescendantsofAbr aham,myf r
iend.
-
Ibroughtthem from theendsoft heearth.
-
Iam yourGod,letnot hi
ngterri
fyyou

I
nsummaryGodassur
esI
srael
thathei
sgoi
ngt
o:
hel
- pher
-
saveher
-
makeherst
rong

Whatwoul
dhappent otheenemi esofI
srael
accordi
ngt ot
hispassage?(v
v11-
12)
-
thosewhowereangrywithIsraelwoul
dknowtheshameofdef eat
-
thosewhofoughtagai
nstIsraelwoul
ddieanddisappearf
rom theeart
h.

Godpr omisesIsr
aelt
hathewill
makeherathr
eshingboar
dwit
hspikest
hatar
enewandshar
p-(
Isai
ah
41:13-20)
.
Ther esul
tsofthiswoul
dbe:
-
shewoul dthreshmountai
nsanddest
royt
hem
-
hil
l
swoul dcr umblei
ntodust
-
shewoul dbehappyandpr ai
seGod
MONOTHEISM VERSUSPOLYTHEI
SM

Page31of31
Godchal lengest hegodsofot hernat ions:TheFal seidolsont r
ial(41:21-
29)
Her eGodi scal lingthegodsoft henat i
onst obeexami nedandj udged.
Theyar ebeing:
askedt
- oshowsi gnst hatt heyar eal iveeit
herbyspeaki ngoft hepastorby
t
- ell
ingwhati st ohappeni nf utur e( predict
ingthef ut
ure).
-
Lett hem expl aint hewhol ecour seofhi story.
-
Andt heyhav et odosomet hinggoodorbr i
ngsomedi saster.Obviousl
ytheycannotdoanyofthese
thingsbecauset heydon' tev enexi st.
Ar gument st opr ovethatYahwehi sonlyGodnoti dols
-
Heknowsev ery thi
ngandhi spr edi ct
ionsaboutf utureeventsal wayscomet r
ue.
-
Godunder standsandcont r
olshi story(41:25-29,)HOW?
 HehadchosenCy r
usf rom t heEast .
 Toat t
ackf r
om t heNor th.
 Tot r
ampl eonr ul ersasi ft heywer emud. (t
houghCy rusi snotawareofitthatGodi
susi
nghim)
-
hei sthef i
rst,thel ast ,theonl yGod.
-
heal onehadpr edicat edwhathappened.
-
heal onecr eatedal lthings.
-
noonehel pedhi mtocr eat etheear t
h.
-
Idol worshipper sar edi sgust i
ng.
HowdoesGodgui dethef oll
owinggroupsofpeopl e?
(44:
24-26)
- For t
unet eller s-
hemakesf ool ofthem
- Ast r
ologer s-hef rustrat est hei rpredicti
ons
- Wi semen-heshowst hatt hei rwisdom i sfooli
shness
- Hi sservant -hemakeshi spl anandpr edicti
onscomet r
ue.

Howdi dGodat tackidolatry?Idol worshi

pisridi
culed( 44:9-20)
I
dol at
ryiswor shippingofani magemadebyman( Exodus32:3- 4/Dt18:10-
11).Itcanbephysi
cali
dol
orment alimage.
Godusedf ouraugment stoat tackidolworshi
p/whyGodsay sidolwor
shi
pisuseless:
-Idolsaremadebyman; therefore,agodcannotbemadebyaman.
-
Theener gyandski ll
sofi ronsmi thandcar penterar eal lgif
tsfrom God.How cangi f
tsof-Godbe
turnedintogods.
-
t hemat er
ials(i
ronandwood)t heyuseareallcreationofGod.
-
Thewoodandmet alcannotmakeagodbecauset heybur ninfir
e.
-
Idolwor shipperswi l
lbehumi l
iated.
-
t hemaker sandwor shippersofi dolsarebl
indandi gnor ant.

Moderndayidolscanbe
-
posit
ions,
wealth,cel
ebri
ties,l
eader s,wi
tchcr
aft,
Whythesedayspeopl eareaf r
aidofabandoni ngi
dol
atr
ouspr
act
ices?
-
theythi
nktheywillbepooroncet hewealthisgone.
-
theyfeart
hattheywilll
oset heirstatusi
nacommuni ty
.
-
theyareafr
aidoflosi
nglife.
I
SAI
AH44

Page32of32
 THECHOI
CEOFCYRUSASYAHWEH’
SINSTRUMENT
(
Isai
ah44:
24-
28)
/45:
1-8
CYRUSOFPERSI
A
Politicalandhistori
calsit
uation
Themi ddl
eoft he6t hCent urywi tnessedt heendoft hedomi nati
onoft hegr eatempi resofSemi te
ori
gi n,especiall
ytheAssy ri
anandBaby lonianempi res.In539B. C.ar ul
ercal l
edCy rusbecameaki ng
oft hePer sians.Within10y ear s,Cyrushaddef eatedt heMedes.I n546B. C,hecapt uredSar dis,t he
capitalci t
yofLy di
aandt hecapi t
alcityofCr oesus.Fi nall
y,in539B. C.,thePer sianki ngdef eated
Baby lonandbecamet hewor ldrulerwhent heI sraeli
teshadbeeni nexil
ei nBaby lonf ornear l
y70y ear s.
Afterput ti
nganendt othepowerofBaby lon, Cyr
usdecr eedthatallcapti
vepeopl eshoul dbeal l
owedt o
ret
ur nt otheircountri
eswi t
ht heiridolscarriedof fbyt heBaby l
onians.Asf ortheJews,si ncetheyhad
noi dols,theytookthesacr edv esselswhi chhadbeent akenbyNebuchadnezzar( Ezra1:1-4, 7-11) .In
thespr i
ngof538B. C.,thefir
stgr oupofJewsr et
ur nedtot hei
rruinedland,Judah.

TheCal lofCyrusandhi sMissi

on: HowdidGodbl essCy r
us?-(
45:1-8)
-Heopenedt hegat esofthecit
iesforhim( theLordishelpinghimt oconquermanynat
ionswit
houtany
problem) .
-hepreparedawayf orhim.
-heleveledmount ai
nsandhill
sf orhim.
-hegav ehimt r
easures.
-Hemadehi mv i
ctori
ousbyconquer ingothernati
ons.
-hecalledhim byname.
JEWSI NEXI LEQUESTIONGODTHEDECI SIONOFYAHWEH’ SCHOI CE(I
sai
ah45:9-
13)
-Theex il
edJewsf oundGod’sway spuzzli
ngandt heycouldhar dlyacceptt
hatGodcouldchoosea
paganasani nstr
umentt odeli
verthem fr
om t heBabyloni
ans.
Whyt
heJewswer
esur
pri
sedwi
tht
hechoi
ceofCy
rus?
-Cy ruswasagent il
eandi nJewishv i
ews,agent i
le,cannotbeGod’ sanointed.
I
nt hepastGodusedt ochooseoneamongt hem t olead.GodchoosesMosesandot herinf
luent
ial
l
eader stoleadGodspeopl e.
-Cy ruswasnotpar tofGod’schosenpeopl e,
becausehewasnotci r
cumci sed.
-Cy rusdidnotknowYahweh.
-Cy ruswasani dolworshipper.
Howdi dGodanswert heJewsf orthechoi ceofCy r
us?
-Suchquest i
onisnotproper.Thisismadeclearbyt wocompar isons.
-thecl aypotandthepot t
er.Aclaypotdoesnotar guewithit
smakert hatapot t
er
hasnoski l
l.
-thechi l
dandi t
sparents.Thechildcannotcompl aintoitsparentswhyi tismadei nthewayitis.
Godi sHolyt ot
all
yfrom manandt hatHisthought sarenotl i
keman’ sthoughts.Theref
oreGodi stoo
gr eattobequest i
oned.Hei sthecreatoroft
hewhol ewor l
dandal lpeoplear ehisandtheref
oreHecan
useany onetosaveHi speople.

Whydi
dGodchooseagenti
leasHisinstr
ument s?
 Hewantedtoshowthatsalvat
ionisuni
ver sal
 Hewantedtoport
raythatheisincontr
ol ofhi
stor
y(ev
ent
s)

Page33of33
  Hewant
edt
oshowt
hathei
stheGodofal
lnat
ions,
ther
efor
e,Hecoul
duseany
bodyHewant
ed.

THETAUNTSONGAGAI NSTBABYLON: BABYLON’ SPRIDEAND HUMI LI

ATION( I
saiah47:1-
15)
YHWHusedBaby l
onasr odt opunishhi speople.However,YHWHt urnsagainstherandsai
dthathe
woul
dpunishher.
Thi
ssongreproachesproudBaby l
oni nahumi l
iati
ngwayandi tannouncesitsdownf al
l
.
-
Babyloni
spersonif
iedasay oungv ir
gin:Thecomparisonimpli
esy outhandbeaut y
.
-
Ital
soref
err
edt otheworld-
ruler
,independent,
theproudconquer orher
, self
,unconquered.

Accusations/char gesagai nstBaby lon/whyGodi stopunishBaby l

on?
-Shehadov erpuni shedt hepeopl eofGod.( Baby l
onia,chosenbyGodt opunishhispeoplehasgone
toofarinhert r
eatmentov erGod’ schosenpeopl e)-
Psalms137.
-Shehasbeencr uel andmer cilesstot hecapti
veI srael
ite’
s,especi all
ytowardstheoldpeople.
-Shewasseeki ngt hel ifeofpl easure.
-Babyl
onal sopr esumesf oolishlythatshewasl i
keGod,ev erlasting.Sheboastedofherabi li
ti
esand
ascri
bedhersuccesst oherownpr udenceandwi sdom.Shef orgott hatYahwehcontrol
shistoryandis
themast erwhodeci dest hef ateofal lnati
ons.
-Shewast hinki
ngt oescapeGod’ sjudgmentt hroughhermagi cians,fort
unetel
lersand sorcerers.
Babyloniawasv er ypr oudofherci vi
li
zati
onincul t
ure,art,knowl edge.-Theseachievementsbl i
nded
hertothet r
uththatt hereisagr eatone, YahwehHi msel fwhowi llj
udgeandpuni shher.

HOW WI LLBABYLONBEJUDGED( ORPUNI SHED)ANDHUMI LIATED?

1-Shewi llceaset obeawor l
d-r
uler:shewi l
lbedef eatedbyCy us.(
r "Baby
loncomedownfrom y
our
throneandsi tont hedust .”
)
2-Shewi llsufferhumi li
ati
onf orlosingherpossessions.(“Li
ftyourskirt
stocrosst
hestr
eam.
..
”)
3-shewi l
lexper iencewart hatwill
causet hedeathofmenandchi l
dren.
4-Thecount r
ywi llbedev astatedandr uinedbyCyrus.
5-Hermagi ci
ans, sorcerersetc.willbeunabletohelpherf rom thepunishmentofGod.
6-thecount rywi l
llosesenseofdi rect
ion.
Whatt heBaby loniansdependedonf orthei
rsecuri
ty
i
. Magi cians
i
i. Strongar my
i
ii
.For tunet ell
ers
i
v.Ast r
ologer s
Howast rologer swor kedinBaby lon?
a.Theyst udiedst ars
b.Theymappedoutt hezones
c. Theyt oldfrom mont htomont hwhatwasgoi ngtohappen.
THESERVANTSONGS
TheSecondIsaiahisalsof amousbecauseoffoursongswhi char
ecall
edthe‘
ser
vantsongs’
.Int
hese
fourpoems,
thepr ophettalksaboutacert
ai ser
n‘ vantofYahweh’
 whoi sthelightofthenations
 Theonewhowi l
lbeagenti nbri
ngi
ngsalv
at i
on,j
usti
cetoal
lnat
ions.
 Theonewhor e-
gatherstheJewsasGod’speople

Page34of34
  Theonewhoaccept
sdeat
hsot
hatt
hesi
nsofhi
speopl
emaybef
orgi
ven

EXAMPLESOFTHELORD’ SSERVANT-WHOI STHESERVANT?

Anumberofscholarsi
dentif
ytheser
vantwi
ththe
1-Remnants:i
.e.t
hefai
thfulJewswhosurv
ivedwar
sandtheexi
l
e.(
Thesemustbr
ingbackot
herJews
whohavebecomeunf ai
thf
ul.)
2-I
sraelasacommuni
ty:I
sraelwaschosenast
heser
vantt
obet
hel
i
ghtt
oal
lnat
ions-“
Isr
ael
;you
ar
emyservant…”(49:
3),Li
‘ st
en,now,I
sraelmyser
vant…"
(44:
1).
3-Aper
son/i
ndivi
duals-i
.e.Jesushi
mself,t
heMessiahorKi
ngCyr
us,
Zer
ubabbel
.

TheFi
rstSer
vantSong(
42:
1-7)
Inthissong, Yahwehi sspeaki ngandHei sintroduci
ngHi sservant.
Hismi ssion/ theme-br ingingaboutj ustice.Theser vantestabli
shesthi
sjusti
ceinsil
ence,
withpat
ience
andcompassi on.
HisChar act eristi
cs/ qual i
ties( Howwashepr epared?)
-Wasst rengt henedbyYahweh.
-wasf il
l
edwi tht heHol ySpi rit
-wasgi venpower .(Hehast hepowerofGod) .
-Gentle,
-cour ageousandper severance.
Hi stask/ duties
-Bri
ngaboutj usticet oev er ynation.
-bri
ngingl ightt ot henat ions
-openingt heey esoft hebl ind.
-sett
ingf reet hosewhosi tindar kprison
Thef ir
stser vantsongandJesusChr ist
-duri
ngBapt i
sm ( Mat t3: 17)andt ransfi
guration(Mk9: 7),av oi
cewashear her
d,‘ eismyowndearson
whom Iam wel lpleased’ .
-Jesusr eadapassagei nt hesy nagoguei nNazar eththattheSpiri
toftheLordisuponHim.(LK4;18ff)
.
-Simeon’ ssongi nt het empl esaid,‘
Jesusi sthel i
ghttothenat i
ons’(
LK2:29-32)

NB:i
nIsai
ah42:18-
25,
Isr
aeli
scal
l ndbecauseshef
eddeafandbl
i ail
edt
oseet
hatt
heexi
l
ewasGod’
s
puni
shment.

THESECONDSERVANTSONG(
49:
1-6)
Thespeakerher eist heservanthimself.
Hi smi ssion/theme- br i
ngi
ngbackl ostJewst oGod( cr
ypt
oJews)
Het ell
stheapost at eJews( theJewsi nBaby l
onwhohadf al
lenaway)andthegenti
l
esthatGodgave
himt hetask: Tobr ingbackt hescatteredpeopleofI sr
ael
.
Hi sChar acterist
ics/ quali
ti
es
-Hei sabl et oexpr esshi mselfpower f
ully
,since;hehasbeengi venaut
hori
tytospeaktoal
lthepeopl
e
oft hewor l
d.
-thoughi nt hepastt heservantfail
edbutnowhehast heconfi
denceinGodthathewil
lnotf
ailt
hist
ime.
-knowshi saimi nl i
fet hathehast orestorethespiri
tuall
i
feoftheIsr
ael
it
es.
-bringingsal vati
ont oev eryoneincl
udingt hegenti
les.

Page35of35
-
hehasbeengi venthepowerofGodt hroughwhichpeopl
ewi l
lglori
fyGod.
-
hei sli
keapi ll
arofst rengt
hduet of ai
thinGod.
Histask/duties
-
bringbackt hescat t
er edpeopl eofI sr
ael.
-
tobel i
ghtt othenat ions.
HOW WASHEPREPARED?
-
hiswor dswer emadeasshar pasaswor d.
-
hewaspr otectedbyGod.
-
hewasshar penedl ikeanar row.
Whatisast onishingaboutt hisserv ant?
-
hedoesnotav oidsuf f
eri
ngandshame.
-
Her eali
zest hatGodhi mselfishisr ewardsothathecandowi thoutsuccess
-
hebel i
eveshecanev ensav eBaby lonmeani ngthathi
smissioniswi der
;sal
vat
ionf
orallnat
ions.
Reasonswhyt heser vantkepthi sfaithinGoddespitehi
sfai
luretoaccompl i
shhismissi
on?
a.Het rustedGod.
b.Heknewt hatGodwoul ddef endhiscause.
c. Heknewt hathewoul dber ewarded.

NB:t
hesecondservantsongandJesusChri
st
-
Jesussayshewishestogatherhi
speopl
easachickengat
her
schi
cks(
LK13:
34)
-
Simeonsay ‘
s,Chri
stisthel
ightt
othenat
ions’
(LK2:32)

THETHI
RDSERVANTSONG(
50:
4-9)
Her et heser v antspeaksonhi sownbehal fandonbehal fofanytr
uedisci
ple.
Hi smi ssion/themei ssuf fering.Thesuf feringsoft heser vantarecomparedtothoseinf
li
ctedona
condemnedcr iminal.
Hi sChar acteristi
cs/qualiti
es
-Hei sabl etospeakel oquent lyandencour agingly.
-hespendst imewi thGodt oknowt oknowHi swilleverymor ni
ng.
-heobey st hewi l
lofGodev eni fGodwi ll
shimt osuffer.
-Hei sst rong, resolute,determi nedandf earl
essi nhiswor k.
-hebel iev esthatGodwi l
ldef endhi mifputundert hecour toflaw.
Hi stask/ dut yistost rengthent hewear y.
HOW WASHEPREPARED?
-hewasgi v
enunder standingsot hathecoul dnotrebel .
-hewast aughtwhatt osay .I.
e.ev er
ymor ninghel i
stenst oGod.
-Godmadehi m eagert ohearwhatHei sgoi ngtosay .
Thet hi rdser vantsongandJesusChr i
st
-hedi esacr uel death.
-hewasbur i
edwi thcriminals.
-theser vantwasf loggedont heback, sowasJesus.( LK22:63).Pi
lat
esaid‘Iwi
l
lhavehi
m whipped’
(LK
23:
22)
.
-
Hewasspatupon,soalsowasJesus(MKI 4:
65)
.
Buti
nspit
eofthesesuf
feri
ngs,t
heserv
antkeepshi
sfai
thi
nGod.Why
?
-
Godhelpshi
m, sohecannotbeconf
ounded.

Page36of36
-
Hewi l
lnev erbeputtoshame.
-
TheGodwhowi llj
usti
fyhimisneari.e.justif
icati
onisathand.
-
IfGoddecl areshiminnocent,
whatv aluehast heaccusat
ionofthosewhosayhei
sgui
l
ty?
MAINPOI NTSOFTHETHI RDSONG.
-
Themai ntaskoft hedisci
pleissuff
ering.
-
Suffer
ingmakesoneagoodmast er
.
-
Suchmast erisabl
etogivecouraget ot hosewhodespai r.
-
Tobecomesuchamast eronehastol istentoGod
-
Thingsarepossi bl
eonlyifonehasabsol utetrustinGod.
-
Thoset hatputtheirt
rusti
nGodhav enot hingt ofearf
rom enemi
es.

THEFOURTHSERVANTSONG/MANOFSORROWS/THESUFFERI
NGSERVANT
(52:
13-53:
12)
Her et hespeakeri sYahwehandt hepeopl e
Thef our thsongdescr i
best hesuf feri
ngser vant.Thepeopl
edescr i
behowt heservantlooksout wardly
ashav ingnobeaut ybecauseofhowpeopl et reatedhim.Theservantisamanofsor rows.Hesuf f
ered
despi sed,r eject edanddi sfigur ed.Wor sest il
l,hebearstheini
quitiesofmanypeopl e,then,hedi eda
shamef ul ,abadr eput ationdeat h.Theybur iedhi m amongthewickedpeopl e.
TheLor dt hen, descr ibest hesuccessesoft heser vant
:
- Theser v antwi llcomebackt ol ifewi thglory.
- Hi ssuf fer i
ngr esul t
edi nt obl essi ngsf orbot htheserv
antandpeopl ehesufferedfor.
- Godwoul dexal thi m high.
Hismi ssi on/ t heme-t ri
umphantgl ory
HisChar act er ist i
cs/ qual it
ies
-hebear ssuf feringwi thoutcompl ai
ningordef endi
nghimself( hewi l
lenduret heoppr essionand
affl
iction) .
-hewi llbebr ui sedandwounded( Suf f
eringput sitsmarkonhim Hence, hedidnotlookat tr
active).
-hewi llbedespi sedandr eject edbymen
-hewi llsur prisemanypeopl ebecauseofhi swor k.
-heishonest , si ncer eandt r
ust wor thy.
-hewi llbeexal ted.
-hedoesnotl ookat t
r active.
-aff
lictionput si tsst amponhi m.
Hist ask/ dut ies
-tocar ryt hesor rowsandsi nsofot her s.
-toheal ot her sbyt hesor r
owi nflictedonhi m.
-tomakehi msel fanof feri
ngf orsi n.
HOW THESERVANTSUFFEREDANDHUMI LI
ATED
 Hehadnodi gnityorbeaut y
 Hewaswounded,br uised;f l
ogged.Hewasbeat enasaconv ictedcriminalwhi let her eal
criminal swer et hesi nner sf orwhom Hesuf fered.
 Hewasdespi sedandr eject ed.
 Hewasar rest edandki ll
ed.
 Hewasbur i
edwi thsi nner s.

Page37of37
NB: -Thisser vantsuf f
er edaspl annedbyGod.
Whati sast oni shingaboutt heser v ant?
-Kingsandnat ionsar east oni shedbecauseheappear edthel owl i
estofall,cur
sedbyGod. (53:
3)
-Hewi llbel ifteduphi gh, besat isfiedandseet hef ruitsofhisl i
fewhi chseemedsousel ess.
-althoughi nnocent ,ser vantdoesnotcompl ainordef endhi msel fevenwhenhei sledtodeath.
Thef our t
hser vantsongandJesusChr i
standr easonsf orthei dentif
icat
ionwithJesus
1-Thebi rthofJesus:
Dur ingHi sbi rthJesuswasr ejected- Hewasbor ninamanger .
Hisbi rt
hwasf irstannouncedt ot heshepher ds-usel essamongt hegr oups
2-Hi smi ssi onwasr ej
ect ed:
Hewasr eject edi nHi shomel andi nNazar eth.
SomechasedHi m andwasagai nstHi smi ni stry.
3-Hewasar rest edascr imi nal :
Dur ingHi sar rest ,Hewasar rest edasacr imi nal.
Theycamewi thweaponsj ustasJesuswasav erydanger ouscr iminal
4-Hewasbeat enandf loggedoft hebackandspatonHi m:
OnHi swaygoGol got ha; Jesuswasspaton, beaten.
5-Hi st r
ialwasdeal twithi nj ust i
ce:
TheSanhedr inbr oughtJesust ot rial
.Theycaughthi m wi thoutr ealchargeagainsthim.Theyf ound
falseaccusat ionagai nsthi m( Mk14: 57-
59) .Agai n,theyaccusedhi m ofpol i
ti
calcri
mesasdi stur
bing,
claimi ngt obeaki ngandencour agi ngthepeopl enott opayt axt oCaesar .Hence,hewasj udgedbased
off alseandunconnect edr easons.
6-Hi scr ucifixion-
Hewascr uci fiedwi tht hecr imi nal s:besidehi m wer ecriminals.
7-Deat hofJesus-onacr oss, hewaspi ercedwi thanar row/ spear
8-Bur ialandr esur rection- JosephofAr imat heabur iedhi m andaf ter3day s,herosegain.

Theteachi
ngsofthissongwer est rangetotheJews.Because:
-
Suff
eringwasasignt hatthesuffererhadsinned;
hence,suff
eri
ngwashispunishment( John9:
1-2)
.
-
Suff
eringcouldbenefi
tonlythesuf f
ererhi
mself(whenitledhi
m/hertorepentance)
.Itwasofnouse
toot
hers.
-
Someonel ovedbyGod, cert
ainl
yt heMessiah,wouldnothavetosuf
fer
.
-
Adeadper soncouldnotcomebackt oli
fe

GOD’SOFFEROFMERCY:FI NALI NVITATIONTOTHEBANQUETOFTHELORD( THEPOORARE

I
NVITED)
"Comeforalli
sready …"(
55:1-5)
Thebanquetisaf r
eefeastwherefreefoodanddr inksareprovi
ded.Ther
efore,i
tisagif
twhichdoes
nothav
et obeear ned.
Themeaningoft hebanquet:
 Itref
erst oGod’scareforpeople.
 Itmayal sor ef
ertotheavai
labi
lit
yofthenecessit
iesofli
fesuchasfood,dr
inksandshel
ter
.

Thi
sisaj
oyousi
nvi
tat
ionaddr
essed:

Page38of38
Fi r
sttot heJewsexi l
edinBaby lontoacceptt hegift
sofsalv
ationoffer
edt othem byGod.
Secondl yt heinv it
ationisext endedt othegent il
eswhowi l
lcomet oJerusalem tolearnfr
om theJews
aboutt het rueGodandhi splanf orthem.Godi nvit
eshispeopletorepentance/spi
ri
tualf
oodt oal
lwho
wanti t
: i
ftheyr epentt heywi l
lfi
ndl i
fe.
Ver ses1- 5ar eanOTcount erpartt othepar abl
eoft heGreatSupperi nLuke14: 15-
24.Thisisso
becauset herei sanappealt ot hei nvi
tedguest snott odelay.Godi sreadyt oacceptany onewho
respondst oHisi nvitati
onnomat terhisorhercondi ti
onorstatus.Peopleshouldnothesitat
etorepent
andt urnt oGod.
Whatdi dGodsayt oinvit
ehi speopl et ohisbanquet ?
-comeev eryonewhoi sthirsty,
her eiswat er.
-come, yout hathav enomoneybuycor nandeat .
-comebuywi neandmi l
ki twillcosty ounot hi
ng.
-whyspendmoneyonwhatdoesnotsat isfy.
Thebanqueti sf reebutt hr eecondi t
ionsar eneeded:
-l
isteni
ngt oGodandact ingoni t
.
-nohesi t
at i
on
-repentance
NB" Water".Sal
v ationisof feredf r
ee-noonecanbuyi t
.
"Wi neandMi l
k"-Godgi vesgener ously.
"
Whot
hir
st"
-thepoor
,thosewhol
ongf
orGod'
ssal
vat
ion.

Whatr
easonsdi
dGodgi
vef
ort
hei
nvi
tedt
oleav
ethei
rwi
ckedway
sandchanget
hei
rwayoft
hinki
ng?
-
hei
smercif
ul
-
heisquicktoforgive
Howdi dGodshowhi mselftobediffer
entf r
om man
-
histhoughtsaredif
ferentfrom man’s.
-
hisway saredi
ffer
entf r
om man’ s.
-
hisway sandthoughtsareashi ghast heheavensar
eabovetheear
th.
Whatwoul dhappent othepeoplewhol ist
enedanddidwhatGodhadsaid
-
theywouldenjoythebestf ood
-
theywouldhav eli
fe
-
Godwoul dmakeal asti
ngcov enantwiththem

MAI
NMESSAGEI
NSECONDI
SAI
AH
-
Yahwehattacksidol
wor shi
p
-
aspecial
servant-
Godhaschosenaspecialser
vantt
ocar
ryouthi
spl
an.
-
cal
lsfort
her et
urnoftheexil
edI
srael
i
tes.

THETHI
RDORTRITO/POSTEXILI
CISAI
AH
(
Chapter
s56-66)
Thi
st hi
rdpartcont
ainsl
astpr
opheciesut
ter
edbythethi
rdpr
ophet
.
I
ntroduct
ion
DeuteroIsai
ah(40-
55)hadcomfort
edhisfel
lowexi
ledJewsbyt
eachi
ngt
hem t
hemeani
ngofsuf
fer
ing.

Page39of39
Godwouldusethei
rpai
ns,gri
evesandanxiet
iest
oachi
evehi
spur
pose;t
hesal
vat
ionoft
hegent
il
es.
Thei
rsal
vat
ionwasthegl
oryofGod'
speople.

TheedictofCyrusin538BCper mitt
edtheexil
estorebuil
dtheTempleatstateexpenseandtorestore
thesacredvesselsplunderedbyNebuchadnezzar.JustastheJewswer etakenoutofJudahint hree
wavesofexi l
es(605,597and586BC)t heyretur
nedinthreesuccessi
vestages.Theleader
soft his
ti
mewer e:Sheshbazzar,Zerubbabel
,NehemiahandEzra.

Thef ir
stwav eofr eturningwasi n538B. C andi twasl edbySheshbazzar( probabl
yt hesonof
Jehoi achin).Hewasgov ernorbutresponsibl
et oPer sianov erlordsofthel andundertwoki ngs,Cyr
us
andDar ius.Acont ingentofabout50, 000per sons,i ncludingabout4, 000pr i
estsand7, 000slaves,
returnedunderSheshbazzar ,apri
nceofJudah.
Sheshbazzari nit
iatedt her ebui
ldi
ngoft healtarfort hesacr if
icesandt hebegi nni
ngoft hefoundati
on
oft empl ebutt hepr ogr esswassl owandf i
nall
yst oppedi n450BCbecauseofmanyf actorssuchas
money ,di v i
dedopi nionsandt hehost i
li
tyoft heSamar itanswhi chresultedtothet i
mel ifeenmit
y
betweent heJewsandt heSamar it
ans. Howev erSheshbazzardi edormur deredbyt hePer si
ans
probabl yhewassuspect edofbeingpolit
icall
ydanger ous.
SecondRet urnunderZer ubbabel(Ezra2:2;Haggai 1:1).)
,returnedt oJerusalem i
n522B. C.The
templ ewascompl etedi n515B. C.WhenZer ubbabel died,Dav i
d' sfamil
yceasedt oruleinJudah.
Int
er nalJewi shaffairspassedundert hecontrolofthehi ghpr i
est .

Thenex tt askwast or ebuil

dt hewal lsofJer usal em, whichwasunder t
akenbyNehemi ah, aBaby l
oni an
Jewandcour tbutlerwhowasappoi ntedgov er norofJudahandar r
ivedi n444.Nehemi ahal sobegan
reli
gious r eforms,emphasi zing t it
hing,obser v ance oft he Sabbat h,and t he prohibit
ion agai nst
i
nt ermar riagewi t
h“ foreign”women.Thi sr eform wascar riedt hr
oughsy stemat i
call
yandzeal ouslyby
Ezr a,apr iestandscr i
bewhocamef r
om Baby lonabout400BCE,cal ledt hepeopl etogether,andr ead
them t he“ bookoft hel awofMoses”t obringt hem backt othest r
ictandpr operobservancemai ntai
ned
i
n Baby lon:ci rcumci sion,Sabbat h obser vance,keepi ng t he feasts,and,t o seali tall,av oiding
i
nt ermar riage.
WhysomeJewswer enotwi ll
ingt ogobackt oJudah?
-i
twasal onganddanger ousjour ney .(About1, 500ki l
omet ers).
-mostJewshadacomf ort
ablelifeinBaby l
onandwer enotwi ll
i
ngt oleavet heirpossessions.
-thef utureofJudahwasuncer t
ain,since,manyy earshadpassed.
-Allthef or tif
iedci t
ieshadbeendest royedbyNebuchadnezzarexceptNegeb( Samar i
a),soJudahwasa
smal l count r
yi ndeed
-newgener ationofJewswasi gnor antofJudah, hence,i
twasdi ff
icul
tt oconv incethem.
-other sgotmar r
iedther esot heref aithinYahwehandi nt het emplewasl ost

Alas,
oncetheJewshadr et
urnedt
oJudahtheyhadei therfor
gottenthisorfai
ledtounderstandi
t.
Theypaidmoreattent
iontothesecur
it
yoft henationandt hepur i
tyoftheirrel
igi
ont hanthepati
ent
beari
ngwithsuff
eri
ngs.Theybuil
tawallaroundJer usalem andguar dedthehol i
nessoft het
empl e.
Theyalsobui
ltawallaroundthei
rcommunitiesseparati
ngt hemselvesfrom thegentil
esandany one
i
mpur e.

ReasonswhyCy
rusal
l
owedal
lexi
l
esi
nBaby
lont
oret
urn.

Page40of40
-Hewoul dkeephi sv astempi ret oget heronl yifhewasaf ri
endt oal l
.
-Hebel i
ev edf orei gngodswoul df avourhi mi fheadv ancedt heirwor ship.
-Asacunni ngpol iti
cian, heencour agedr eligi onasi tof tenpromot espeace, stabili
tyandsubmi ssion.
TENSI ONS, DOUBTSANDDI SAPPOI NTMENTS
Lif
ei nJudahaf tert her et urnwasnotasgl or i
ousandj oy f
ulashadbeenannouncedbyDeut eroIsaiah.
Ther et urnedexi ledJewshadma nyt roubl ingexper iences:
1.Atf irst, thedi sappoi nt edf ewJewswentbackt oJudah, foll
owedl aterbyonl ysmal lgr oups.(Intotal
only50, 000Jewsr eturnedt oJudah) .
2.Theyf oundapoorcount rywhi chwasqui tebackwar dincompar i
sonwi ththehi ghlydeveloped
Baby l
oni anst heyhadl eftbehi nd.
3.Thenew ar r
ival swer eshockedbyt hei nj usticesandal lkindsofcor rupt ioni ntheirnew count ry.It
showedt hatt henat ionhaddecei t
ful andcr ookedl eader s.
4.Thet iny ,weakcount rysuf feredf r
om at tacksbyi tsnei ghbors.
5.Ther ewast ensi onbet weent henew ar rivalsandt heJewswhohadst ayedbehi ndi nJudah( the
peopl eoft heland)andhadmi xedt heJewi shf aithwi thpaganr eli
giouspr act ices.Ther etur
ningJews
regardedt hemsel vesascl eancompar edwi tht hosewhodi dnotgoi ntoexi le.Thet ensionbet weent he
twogr oupsdev elopedi ntooppr ession: t
her ighteousbecamev i
ctimsoft hewi cked.
6.Ther ewashost i
li
tybet weenJewsandSamar it
ans.Atf irstSamar itansof fer
edt heirhelpi nthe
rebuildingoft het empl e,ast heyconsi der edt hemsel vest obeJews.Butt her eturnedexi ledJews
refusedt heSamar i
tans'of fert ohel pi nr ebui ldingt het empl e.TheSamar it
answer econsi deredas
'
unclean'ast heirancest orshadmar riedf or eigner s.TheSamar itansbecamehost il
et ot heJewsand
thepr ojectofr ebui l
dingt het empl ewasdel ay edunt il520B. C.I twascompl etedi n515B. C.The
hostili
tybet weenJewsandSamar itanswasduenotonl yt or eli
giousdi fferences,t herewasal so
polit
icalt ensi on.TheSamar itanscl aimedt hatt het errit
oryofJudahwher et hear ri
valsf rom Baby l
on
hadset tledwast heirland.Theywer eaf raidt hatt het empl ewoul dbecomeasy mbolofanewnat ion,
mostl i
kel yahost il
enat ion.

Gui deli
nest owhocoul dbeadmi t
tedt othet empl e
Theadmi ssiongent i
l
econv ertsandofeunuchst othewor shipofGodi nthet empl
eposedapr oblem
fort her edeemedcommuni t
yofI sr
aelaf tert her et
urnf r
om Baby lon.Atfir
stbeforecapti
vi
ty,these
gr oupsofpeopl ewerenotal l
owedt owor shipt heLor d(
Dt23: 1-2)
.Thiswast hetimewhentheIsraelas
anat i
onwast akenast hepeopl eofGod.Thoset hatwer enotIsraeli
tesbybi r
thandthosethathad
beencast ratedwer enotconsideredast hepeopl eofGod.
For eignerswer erej
ected/despisedbecause: theywer e
-regardedas' uncl
ean',hence,anycont actwi ththem wi l
ll
eadt odefil
ement .
-notcircumci sed
-I
dol wor shippersandt heref
orenotf ittowor shi pGodwi ththeJews.

Eunuchs(Peopl
ewhohadbeencast r ed15)wer
at ereject
ed/despi
sedbecause:
theywere
-Unabl
etohav echi
ldren;theycouldnotcontri
butetot heincr
easeofGod'sPeople.Ev
eryJew was
supposedtohaveatleastonechil
d.

15
orneut er
ing.Thisi
stheremov al
ofthet est
es.Theprocedur
estopsmostpr oduct
ionoft hehormone
testosterone.Ifdonebeforepuber
ty,
itpreventsthedevel
opmentoffunct
ioni
ngadul tsexorgans.
Cast r
ationaftersexualmaturi
tymakesthesexor gansshri
nkandstopfuncti
oning,
endi ngsperm
formationandsexual i
nter
estandbehavi
our .

Page41of41
-Theyhadmut i
lat
edthei
rbodies-TheJewshadgreatrespectfort
hebodycreatedbyGod.Theyhada
greathor
rorofanybodymuti
l
at i
onasshowingcontemptforthegoodnessofGod'scr
eat
ion
Thepr
ophet
'sanswert
othef
orei
gner
sandEunuchs:
Isai
ahhowever
,emphasi
zedthatt
hemember
shi
pinthecommunit
yofGoddependedonone’ sf ai
th
andonkeepi
ngofthecov
enantoft
heLor
dbyani
ndi
vi
dualwhet
herafor
eignerornot
,cast
rat
edornot.

InshortIsai
ahsaidthatbothforei
gnersandEunuchshav et
odothefoll
owing:
-TheyshouldloveGodandser vehim.
-TheyshouldobservetheSabbath.
-Theyshouldfai
thful
l
ykeephi scovenant
-Theymustdowhatpl easesGodi.e.t
heyshoul
ddoj ust
icewhendeal
ingwithfel
l
owmen.
-Godwillbri
ngotherpeopletojoi
ntheJews.
-mytempl ewil
lbecall
edahouseofpr ay
erf
orthepeopleofall
nat
ions.(
incl
udi
ngthef
orei
gner
s).

NB:i
ftheykeepal
lthese,t
hen,t
heywi
l
lbeaccept
edasGod'
speopl
eandcanwor
shi
pHi
mint
he
t
emple.

Reasonswhysomepeopl
etheseday
sar
eexcl
udedf
rom t
hecongr
egat
ions
-i
nfideli
ty/-
theft/-cor
ruption/-
pre-mar i
tal
sex/-Beer-dri
nki
ng/-smoking
Condemnat ionofl eadership:BadorCor ruptLeader shi
pdenounced( 56:9–12)
-Therewer eagr eatnumberofJewswhodi dnotgot oBaby l
onandr emainedinJudaht hroughoutthe
periodoft heexi lesotheyhadt heirownl eaders.Theseleaderswerel i
ke‘watchdogs’
thatdonotbar k,
meani ngt hatt heyf ai
ledt owar nt hepeopl eagai nstthei
rev i
ldeeds.Thepeopl ether efor
e,willbe
punishedbyf oreignnations.Thel eaderswer eaccusedof :
-Lackingunder standingofexpect ationoftheiroffi
cesasar esultt
heywer ebeingdescri
bedasbl ind.
-Seekingfort heirownadv ant
ages
-Doinginjustice

Theseleaderswer eint
wogroups:
Civ
icleaders:pol
iti
call
eader
s,j
udges,
soci
all
eader
s
Reli
giousleaders
I
nthi
spassageGodrebukes/
denouncest
hesel
eader
sfordi
ff
erentr
easons:
A.Civ
icl
eader
s:
Theywer
- elikegreedydogsbecauseofthei
rfeel
ingofdi
ssati
sfact
ion(
self
ishl
eaders)
-
Pleasi
ngforthemselves.
i.
e.f
eastingev
eryday,hence,
excessi
v el
oveofpl
easure.
-
theyhavenounder st
andi
ng
B.Rel
i
giousl
eader
s
-
theyareli
kewat chdogsthatdonotbark
-
theyarebli
nd
-
Theydonotcondemnev il
/si
norwar npeopl
e.
-
theyknownot hing.
-
theyl
ov etosleep.
Puni
shmentt obot ht
ypesofleader
sandthepeopl
e

Page42of42
 o Thel eader
swillbekil
ledi
nwar .
o Thepeopl ewil
lalsobekil
led.
o Thel andwil
lbedeserted.
TheResult
sofBad/corruptLeadershi
p(57)
-
Sufferi
nganddeathofinnocentpeople-
Thedevoutandfait
hfulJewsareper
secut
edori
gnor
ed.
-
corruptrel
i
gion.
-
judgmentandpunishment .

Godcondemnsev
ilandi
dol
atr
ousr
eli
giouspr
act
icesbyhi
sfel
l
owJews.
(57:1–9)
Thenegl i
gencet owar npeopl eagainstt heirevildeedsbyt
hespiri
tualleadersl
edt hem t
oworshi
ppi
ng
i
dol s.Thei dolatr
ypr acticesi ncl
ude:
Wor
- shi ppingf er
ti
litygodsbyhav ingsexundert hesacredt
reesi
nor dertopleasecertai
ngods.
16
-
Of fer i
ngchi l
drenassacr ifi
cesinther ockycav estoagodnamedMol ech .
-
Pour ingoutOfwi neandgr ainasof fering.
-
wor shipingofsmoot hst ones
-
Hav ingsecr etandunl awf ulpracti
cesi nt hei
rownhousessuchasset ti
ngupi dolsandworshi
ppi
ng
them,
-
Ani malsacr i
fi
cescombi nedwi t
hsacr edpr ost
ituti
on.
Whydi dt heJewst urntot heseev i
lpr actices?
-
t heywer ecopy i
ngf rom f orei
gnnations.
-
t heyf ollowedasy ncreti
cl i
feofotherJewsandt heSamari
tans.
-
t heywer el edbyev i
lleaders.

WhydoesGodcondemntheseidolat
rouspract
ices?
 Theyforsookt
heirl
ivi
ngGod, YHWH
 Theytoldli
esf
orsake

Groupsofsi nnerst hatthepeopl earecompar edwi

th
 Pr ostit
utes.
 Sor cerers.
 Adul t
erers
NB: Theirpunishmentwi llbe:
-
foreignnationswoul dcomel ikewil
dani malsanddevourthem.
-
whent heycri
edf orhelp, Godwoul dref
erthem tothei
ridol
s.
-
theiridolswil
l nothelpt hem.
-
theiridolswoul dbecar riedoffbyapuf fofwind

I
SAI
AH59:
1-11
THEJEWSCOMPLAIN
Whatwer
ethecompl
aint
soft
heJews?

16
Adei
tyt
owhom chil
dsacri
fi
cesweremadet
hroughouttheancientMi
ddleEast
.Thelawsgivento
MosesbyGodexpr
esslyf
orbadetheJewst
odowhatwasdonei nEgyptori
nCanaan.“Youshallnotgiv
e
anyofy
ourchi
l
drentodevot
ethem byfi
ret
oMoloch,andsoprofanethenameofy ourGod”(
Lev.18:21).

Page43of43
-
Peopl ethoughtthatGodwasweak.
-
Peopl ethoughtthatGodwasbl i
nd.
-
Peopl ethoughtthatGodwasdeaft ohear.
-
Peopl ethoughtthatGoddidnotlovethem.
-
theythoughtt hatthesal
vat
ionpromisedby2ndI
sai
ahwascancel
l
ed.
Thesi nsment ionedherei
nclude:
-
Lying.
-
Violence.
-
Mur der.
-
Lackofj usti
cei ncour
ts.

Whatdidprophetanswerthem ( God’sanswer)
?
-Godisnotweak.
-Godisnotdeaf.
-I
tisbecauseofyoursinsthatHecannotheary ou.
-Yoursi
nsseparateyoufrom God.
Wayst hatthepeopl eshoul
dt akei
nor
dert
obeaccept
edbyGod.
 Theymustst oplyi
ngi ncour t.
 Theymustst opbeingv iolent.
 Theymustst ophur t
ingt heinnocent
s.
 Theymustst opmur der.
I
SAI
AH61:
1-3
I
sai
ahi ntr
oduceshi mselfandannouncestheGoodNewsofdel i
ver
ance
Whatwast hemi ssi
onoftheprophet?
-
toannouncet heGoodNewst othepoor.
-
toheal t
hebr oken-heart
ed
-
toannouncet herel
easeofthecapti
vesandpr i
soners
-
toproclai
mt hattheti
meofsalvati
onanddef eatofenemi
eshascome.
-
tocomf ortallwhomour n.
-
togi
v etot hosewhomour ni
nZionjoy,i
nsteadofgrief
.

Howwast
heprophetpr
epar
ed?
 Godfi
ll
edhim wi
thHolySpi
ri
t
 TheLor
dchosehim.
I
sai
ah61:
5-9
Her ethepr ophetannouncest hefut ur
egloryoft hepeopl
eofGodandt hei
rrestor
ati
on/pr
omisesGod
i
smaki ngt oIsraelsuchas:
-theywoul dbef amousamongnat ions.
-Jerusalem willrej
oicebecauseoft heacti
onsoft heLord(t
heirshameanddi sgr
acewouldend)
-Thecitiesthathadbeeni nruinswi l
lberebuil
t(theywouldl
iveinthei
rownland.)
-Thef oreignerswi l
lcomet ot hepeopl eofGodt odowhat?Tosav ethem.HOW?
(-
Theywi l
ltakecareoft heirsheep)
(-
Theywi l
lwor ki
ntheirfieldsandv i
neyards.)
-whiletheI sraeli
teswillconcent rateinser vi
ngt heLordfait
hfull
ybymi ni
steri
ngt oal
lpeopl
eofthe

Page44of44
wor l
d,t
heywouldbecal l
edpri
estoftheLord.
-theywil
lenjoyt
heweal t
hofothernati
ons(Peopl
eofothernati
onswil
lknowt
hatt
heLor
dhadbl
essed
hispeople.
)
-thei
rwealthwil
lbedoubled.
-Godwoul dmakeanev erl
ast
ingcovenantwit
hthem andwouldhonourt
hem.
-Allt
henationswil
lpr
aisetheLordforHisact
ion.

Mai
nmessageoft hir
dIsai
ah
-
Uni
versalsal
v at
ion
-
Condi
tionsfortheretur
noftheexi
l
es
-
Messageofr estor
ati
on
-

GODI
NTHENEW TESTAMENT
THEBIRTHOFJESUSCHRI
STANDTHEROMANPERIOD:THE
POLITI
CALSI
TUATI
ONDURI
NGTHETIMEOFJESUS.
Introduct i
ontotheNewTest ament
TheNew Test amentst ar
tswitht hebi rt
hofJESUSCHRI ST.Thi
speriodcoincideswiththeRomans
17
rul
ingPalest
ine .Romemustbeconsi deredoneoft hemostsuccessfulimperi
alpowersinhi
stor
y.In
thecourseofcent ur
iesRomegr ew f r
om asmal ltownont heTiberRiverincentralI
tal
yint
oav ast
empire.Unli
ket heGreeks,whoexcel ledini nt
ell
ectualandart
ist
icendeavours,theRomansachieved
great
nessintheirmil
itar
y,pol
it
ical
, andsoci ali
nst
ituti
ons.

18
Thefi
rstempir
eoft heRomanswasJul iusCaesar whowasassassi
natedandwasr eplacedby
Oct
avan19.Oct
i av
ian wasgiven t
he ti
te ofAugustCaesar(
l Caesarbecame the t
it
leforRoman
emper
ors).Augustmeans.‘
Venerabl
eorrespect
ed’.Theemper orAugustusrei
gnedfrom 27BCt o
AD 14BCandr
uledwi
thabsol
utepower
.Her
eest
abl
i
shedpol
i
ticalandsoci
alst
abi
l
ityand
l
aunchedt wocenturi
esofprosper
it
ycall
edtheRomanPeace( PaxRomana) .Underhi
srulet
he
Romanst atebeganitstr
ansf
ormati
onintothegreatestandmostinf
luent
ialpoli
ti
cali
nst
it
uti
on
i
nEur opeanhistor
y.Peoplef
rom t
heRomanpr ovincesstreamedtoRome, wheretheybecame
sol
diers,bureaucr
ats,senat
ors,and even emperors.The deat
h penaltyfor non Roman
17
Roman Empi re,polit
icalsystem establi
shed by Rome t hat l
asted for nearl
yf i
ve centur i
es..
In44BCGai usJul iusCaesar ,theRoman l eaderwho r ul
ed t
heRoman Republ i
casa di ctat
orwas
assassinated. Hi stor
iansusual lydatet hebeginningoftheRomanEmpi r
ef r
om 27BC whent heRoman
Senat egaveGai usOct aviusthenameAugust usandhebecamet heundisputedemper oraft
ery earsof
bitterci
vi
lwar .
18
Thegrowi ngpowerofJul i
usCaesar ,whoassumedt heti
tl
eofdict
atorforl
ife,t
hreat
enedthepr esti
ge
ofmanymember soft heRomanSenat e.OnMar ch15in44BCagroupofsenat orsassassi
nat
edCaesar .
Hisdeat hemphasi zedt heneedf oranew sy stem ofgover
nmentthatwouldhel pRomet ogov erni
ts
f
arf
lungt
err
it
ori
esmor
eef
fect
ivel
y.
19
BecauseCaesarhadnomalehei r
s,hest
ipul
atedi
nhiswillt
hathi
sgrandnephew,Oct
avi
us,whom he
had adopt
ed,become his successor
.Octavi
us became Rome’sfi
rstemperorunderthe name of
Augustus.

Page45of45
cr
imi
nal
swascr uci
fi
xi
on.Romedev el
opedi
ntot
hesoci
al,
economic,
andcult
uralcapi
tal
oft
he
Medi
ter
raneanworl
d.Itwasdur
ingt
her gnofOc
ei t
avi
ant
hatJesusChri
stwasborn.

TheRomanEmper or
sappoi nted/al
l
owednat i
vev assalrul
erst or ul
et hei
rregionsi
.e.t hey
20
all
owedHerodtheGreat(HerodI)tobeaki ngoverPalest
ine .Theyal soappoint
edgov ernors
torul
eoverdif
fer
entareasi.e.Ponti
usPilat
e.TheRomanaut horit
iesall
owedt heJewst or un
thei
rownrel
igi
ousaff
airs.Theydidthist
hroughtheSanhedri
n( t
hehighestJewishCour
t) .

Thewor l
dSanhedr i
ncomesf rom aGreekwor d“ SYNEDRI ON”meani ng‘ sitt
ingtogether
’,
‘
council
’(orsessi
on).Thiscouncilwascomposedofchi efpriests,eldersandscr i
bes.In
summar y,
thecounci
lwasdeali
ngwi t
hrel
igious,legal andinter
nalJewi shconf l
icts.
TheChairmanwast heHighPriest
,appoi
nted( anddi smissedorki l
led)byt heRomans.Annas
washighpr i
estfr
om 6A. D.ti
l
l15A. D.Her emai nedi nf
luenti
alev enaf t
ert heRomanshad
repl
acedhim wi
thCaiaphas.

HERODTHEGREAT( HERODI )-reignedfrom 37BC- 4BC

HerodtheGreat
,(sonofAnt i
paterofIdumean) .Hewast hekingov erPal
est
inefrom 37-4B.
C.Het ook
order
sfrom Rome( Augustus).Her esort
edtov i
olencetohol dtheJewsi ncheck.Hetaxedt heJews.
21
Thoughhewasagoodst atesmanandar chi
tect ,hewashat edbyt heJewsasaf oreignerandsemi-
Jew.Jesuswasbor naf ewy earsbeforetheendofhi sreign.HerodtheGreatdiedin4BCi nJericho
andhisland,
Pal
estine,wasdi vi
dedamonghi sTHREEchi l
dren.

NegativesaboutHer od
-Murderedhi sownf amil
ymember si.
e. heki ll
ed hisownwi ves I.eheki l
l
edMar ri
ame=af ter
suspectinginfedel
it
ymar i
ame’ stwosonsi n7BC.
-Ordered2Jewi shlawyerst obeburntali
veforsteeri
ngarevol
t.
-Buil
tpagant emplesoutsideJerusalem
-El
ectedagol deneagleatt heentr
anceoft hetempleasthesymbol oftheRomanr ul
e.
-Heor deredthemassacr eoft henewbornbabiesinBethlehem i
nat t
emptt odest
roybabyJesusint
he
process.
Hisposi t
ives
-Thebui l
dingofthesecondt empl
e(Herod’stemplewhichwasf armor esuper
iort
oboththeSolomonic

20
Her odwasbor ni nsout hernPal estine, ofArabor i
ginonbot hsides.Att hattimet her egionwasr uledby
theHasmonaeandy nasty.In63BC, whenHer odwasabout10, Romangener alPompeyt heGr eatinv aded
Palestine,ov erthrewt heHasmonaeans,andoccupi edJerusalem.Her od’sf ather,Ant i
pat er,wasagr eat
helptot heRomans,andi n47BC wasmadeaRomanci ti
zenandappoi ntedgov ernorofJudeawi t
ht he
ti
tleofpr ocur ator.Her od,byt hen26y earsol dandaRomanci t
izen,wasmadegov er norofGal i
lee.Si x
yearslaterhewasmadet etrarch(king)ofGal il
eebyMar kAnt ony.
21
Duringthey earsf rom 25t o13BC Pal estinef ort hemostpar tpr osper ed.Her oddev ot edhi msel ft oa
greatnumberofar chitecturalprojectsdur i
ngt hi
sper i
od,i
ncludingt heconst ructi
onatJer usal em,Jer icho,
andCaesar eaoft heat ers,amphi t
heat ers,andhi ppodr omesf ort heOl ympi cGamesr einst i
tutedi nhonor
ofAugust us.Topr otecttheJudeanf r onti
eragai nstAr abincursions,hebui ltorr ehabi l
itatedachai nof
fortr
esses,whi chwer elatert oprov eofgr eatv aluet otheJewsi nt heirinsur r
ectionagai nstRome.He
begant her ebui l
dingoft heTempl eatJer usalem wi thcloser egardf ort her eli
giousscr uplesoft he
people.Notcont entwi thador ningonl yhisownki ngdom,heal soenr ichedmanyot herci ties,includi ng
DamascusandAnt ioch, andt heMedi ter r
aneani slandofRhodes.

Page46of46
andZerubbabeli
an.
)
-dev
elopmentofwatersuppl
i
esf
orJer
usalem
-Gavefoodtothepeopl
eduri
ngt
hefaminein25BC

Thr
eesonsofHer
odIwhoi
nher
it
edPal
est
ine:
Hi
ssonsalsosocal l
edHer odswer eundert hecont rolofRome.Theset hreesonsar easf oll
ows:
1.Her odARCHELAUS( )-Thi sonei nher it
edhal foft hekingdom ( Judea,Samar iaandI dumea
(Mat t2:21- 22)-
hewasbadashi sf ather.Hewasdepor tedaf tert heeldersr eportedt o
AugustCaesarofhi soppr essiver ule.Hewasr emov edf r om hi st hronein6AD. Rome
replacedhi m wi thPont iusPi l
at ein26ADwhoal sobecamegov ernorofSamar ia.
2.Her odPHI LIPI I(r uledf rom 4BC-AD 37) -i
nher i
tedregi onsofEastandNor thofLake
Galilee(It
ur eaandTr achoni t
is)(thenor theastquar t
eroft hepr ovince)-( mark6: 17)hewas
-
agoodr ulerandwaspr aisedf orhi sbenev olenceandj ust i
ce.Hebui l
toldGr eekt own,
Paneasatt hesour cesofJor danRi verandnamedi t‘Caesar eaPhi lip’(mark8:27)
3.Her odANTI PAS( ruledf r
om 4BC- 39AD) -becamet etr ch22ofGal
ar il
eeandPer eaunt i
lAD39
andl ikehisf ather ,
wasabui lder, r
ebui l
dingSepphor i
sandTi beri
asbef orehewasbani shed
Hewasr eplacedbyLy sanias.Ant ipasi nheri
tedGal i
leeandPer ea( Mark6:14/ Luke3:1) .He
washost i
leandi nheritedsomet raitsofhi sfat her.Hemar ri
edHer odiaswhowast hewi feof
hishal fbrother,Her odPhi ll
ipI I.
-Hewast heonewhoexecut edJohnt heBapt ist(Mar k6:
17- 29. )
-Hewast heonewhoi sref erredt oasa‘ fox’(Luke13: 32)
-Het ookpar tint hetrialofJesus( Luke23: 6-7)
-Hewasdef eatedbyAr etasI V; t
hef atheroft hef ir
stwi f
e. Emper orCal i
gulaexi l
edhim af ter
43year
sofr ei
gn.

Pont
iusPi
l
ate(
26AD-
36AD)
Emper orTi ber iusappoi ntedPi l
ate,asagov ernorov ert heRomanpr ov i
ncesofJudea,Samar ia,and
Idumeai nA. D.26.Hi sof fi
cialresidencewasi nCaesar eaont heMedi terraneanCoast .Whenhecame
toJer usalem, hest ay sSout hWestoft heTempl eareacal led‘ Praetori
um’ .Pil
atekeptt hatmil
i
tar yand
admi nist
rativeof f
icef ort eny ears.Hisdut iesi ncl
udedappoi ntingtheJewi shhighpr i
estandcont rol
li
ng
theJewi sht empl ef unds.Hedi dnotf indi taneasyt askt ogov ernt herebel li
ousJewsbecauseoft heir
specificreligiouspr acti
cesandcust oms. Pi l
ateint r
oducedt heTempl ewi tht heRomanst andard
bearingt heEmper or’simage.Heal sot ookawayt hef undst ofinancet hebui l
dingofanaqueduct .
Whent heJewspr ot estedagai nsttheset heyhadt hem ki l
ledi n35AD.TheNew Test amentpor tr
ay s
Pilat
easamanwhoknewt hatJesuswasi nnocentbutgav eint oJewi shpr essureandsent encedHi m
todeat h.Hist oriansdescr i
bePi lat
easav erycr udeandt act lessper son.Pi latewascr uelandstubbor n.
Heexecut edpeopl ewi thoutt rial
s. i
.e. –Luke3: 1,r epor tst hedeat hofGal i
leanski lledbyhi m.He
all
owedJesust obecr ucified(LK23: 2).Apar tfrom thebi bli
calaccount ,howev er,weknowl i
tt
leabout
hislifeand wor k.A f ourt h-
centuryhi stor i
an named Eusebi usr ecor ded a r eportt hatsai
d Pi l
at e
commi tt
edsui cide.

Thehi
stor
yofJer
usal
em t
empl
e

22
Gr
eek,
“rul
erofaquar
ter
”Thet
erm wasappl
i
edear
li
ert
orul
ersofmi
norpr
inci
pal
i
tiesowi
ngal
l
egi
ance
t
oRome

Page47of47
Fi
rstofall.thet empl eofJer usal
em,wast hehouseofGodandt hecent reofJewi shwor ship,the
worshi
pofYHWH.Thi st empl epassedt hrought hefoll
owingst ages:
 Thef irsttempl ewaspl annedbyKi ngDav i
dandwasbui l
tbyhissonSol omonin900BC.I ttook
7yearst obecompl eted.
 Itwasdest royedbyt heBaby l
oni ansi n587BC.
 In538BC,underKi ngCy r
usofPer siaandt hegovernorofJudah,Zer ubbabel
,theconst r
uct i
on
ofthet emplebegan.Buti twasi nterruptedandf ini
shedbet ween520and515BC.
 In167BC, t
het empl ewasdesecr atedbyt hegreatemper orAntiochusI I
I.
 Thet empl ewor shipwasr e-i
ntroducedbyt heMaccabeeFr eedom f i
ghtersin165-162BC.
 WhenRomeconquer edPal estine,t heyputHer odtheGr eatast heki
ngofJews.Her odbegan
worki
ngont het empl eandt hemai nwor kwasf inishedin9BC.( Butthecompl eti
onand
decorationlastedunt i
l64BC. )
 In70ADt heRomandest royedi t
.Upt onow.Onl yonewal lr emains.Thewhol esit
eoft he
th
templewasoccupi edbyt heMosquebui ltbytheMosl emsi n7 Cent uryAD.

WHOWERETHEJEWS?
Jewswereagr oupofet
hnicgrouphav i
ngdescendedfrom acommonhistoryandacommonl anguage.
Thecommonl anguagespokenbyt hem i
nthe1stcent
uryAD,wasAramaic.TheJewsacceptedtheLaw
ofMosesasawayofl i
fe.Theybel i
evedinYHAWH ast hei
rGod.Theyat t
ackedandobservedthe
Sabbat
h,ci
rcumcisi
on,r
it
ualandcleanli
ness;hence,t
heyregar
dednonJewsassi nner
s.Theywerenot
wit
htheworshipofCaesarandinjoini
ngmili
tar
yservi
ces.

JEWI SHGROUPSDURI NGJESUS’ TIME

1.THEPHARI SEES
Thename‘ Pharisee’means‘ separ atedones’ .Thi sgr oupseparatedit
selffrom t heuncleanthi
ngsl i
ke
thegent i
les,Out casts,Samar itans,si nner sandf rom ot herJewswhom t heyt houghtt obeunclean.
Theyconsi der edt hemsel v esascl eanandwer est rictobserversoft heLAW ofMoses,si nce,they
thoughtthatdel iverancewoul dcomet hroughobser vanceoft helaw,hence,theydi dnotli
keviol
ence.
Outof10Commandment s,theymadesev erallawsaboutwashi ng,eat
ing,wor king–( LK11:37-
38/6:1-
11)
Theirbeli
efs
-
t heybeli
evedi nl i
feafterdeat h( resurrection)
-
Theybel ievedi nthecomi ngof( poli
tical)Messi ah
-
t heybeli
evedi nt hedivinepr ovidence
-
t heybeli
evedi nt hetraditionoft heel ders.
-
bel i
evedinal l24booksoft heJewi shBi ble( Torah, Pr ophets,
Wr i
ti
ngs)
Whyt hegr oupopposesJesus?
-
Theyt houghtJesushadl ittl
er espectf orrules/regul ationswhichtheyconsider edimpor t
ant
.
-
t heteachingofJesuswasonl ove,f ait
handmer cy ,rathert
hanonst rictobser vanceofthereli
gious
rule
-
Jesuswasdenounci ngt hem publ i
cly( Luke11: 43-44)
-
Jesusat tractedmanypeopl e;hence, theirpopul aritywasdecr easi
ng.
-
t heyfear
edt hatJesuscoul dleadanupr i
singagai nstt heRomanst hethingtheydi sli
ked.
-
t heywerej eal
ousyofJesus’ reput ati
on.

WhyJesusopposedt hem?
-
theypaidmuchat tent
iontorul
es,forget
ti
ngt helov
ef orGodandnei ghbor(LK14:1-6),hence,they
madeitdiffi
cul
tforpeopletoknowGodsi nce,t
heyconcentratedontradit
ion.(
11:52)
-
theypracti
cedpietyinordert
obepr ai
sedorjusttoshowof ftoothers(Matt23:1-
7)
-
thePhariseesfi
ndi thardtobel
iev
et hatGodlovessinner
s, especi
all
ythosewhohav ebrokent heLaw
(
Luke5: 29-32)

Page48of48
-
theybel
i
evedthatGodcouldnotforgi
vecer
tai
nsinssuchasapostasyandadult
ery.
-
theymadereli
gionhar
derfort
hecommonpeopl ei.
e.theydemandedti
theonalmostever
ythi
ng.
-
theywereconvi
ncedthatGodthoughtwel
loft
hem becauseofthei
rstr
ictobser
vanceoft
heLaw.

2. THESADUCEES
NB:Thegr oupwasmai nl
yapr iest l
yandar ist ocr at i
cmov ementamongt heJews.Thenat iv
ecame
from Zadokt hepr iestwhom Sol omonappoi nt edt ot akechar geoft hecov enant.
-Theywer ef ew i nnumber ,wer er i
chandwer ei nf luentialduet hei rriches. t
heywereinf avouroft he
Romanssi ncet heywant edtokeept heirweal th.
-theybelievedt hatt hepoorwer esobecauseGodwasnothappywi ththem becauseoft hei
rsi ns.The
richwer esobecauset heywer efai t
hf ulbef oret hel aw.
-Theywer ewor l
dlyandpol i
ticallymi nded.Theywer econser vative,i.
e.di dnotacceptnewi deas, hence,
anddeni edl i
f eaf terdeat handpr ovidence.
-Theycont rolledt het empleandi tst reasur y.
-Theyonl yaccept edt heTor ah.
Whyt hegroupopposedJesus?
-Beingrich,theyf eltat t
ackedbyJesus’ teachi ngonr i
ches.
-theywer eupsetwi thJesus’ teachi ngonr esur rect i
on( Luke20: 27-40)
-Jesusseemedt ohav emor eaut hor ityov ert het empl erathert hant hemsel vesi.
e.Jesuscleansedt he
templ ewi t
houtt hei rpermissi on( (Luke19: 45- 46) .Thi sthreatenedt heirincome.
3) THESCRI BES( TEACHERSOFTHELAW/ lawy er s)
Thewor d‘ scribes’comesf rom t heLat inwor d,‘scr ibere’,whi chmeans‘ t
owr i
te’
.Ascr i
bermeansa
wr i
terorteacher( Rabbi )
.
Scr i
beswer epeopl ewhoper formedr eli
giousdut i
es.I niti
all
y ,theywer eempl oyedassecr et
ar i
esi n
palacesandt het empl et or ecordsev ents.Scr ibeswer er ichpeopl esincetheycont rol
ledt empl e
treasury.Theydi dnotwantt omi xwi thsinner s, gent ilesandout cast s.Theydi dnotbelieveinlifeafter
deat h.
Theirdut i
es:
-writi
ng,study ingt hescr i
ptureandi nterpretingt heLAW.
-j
udgi ngcasesi nSanhedr i
ni nt het empl e

WhythegroupopposedJesus?
-
Jesustaughtwithauthorit
y, y
ethewasnotqual if
iedasat eacher.
-
Jesusaccusedt hem ofreli
gioushy pocri
sy(Lk11:39-41;45-47)
-
Jesusdisagr
eedwi ththeirteachi
ngonweal t
handdi v or
ce.
WhyJesusopposedt hegr oup?
-
theyweremakingashowofPr ayi
ng
-
theywerewearinglongrobest oshowof f(Matt23:1-7)
-
theyabusedtheirst
atusbycheat i
ngwi dows(Lk:11:52/Mk12: 38-
40)
-
theyfor
cedthepeopl etoobser vethelawy ettheythemselvesdidnotobser
vet
hem (
Luke11:
46)

4.LEVI TES/ASSISTANTPRI ESTS

Everyboyoft hetri
beofAar oncoul dbeapri
est.Therewer eabout18000pr i
est
sduringtheti
meof
Jesus.Theywer edivi
dedinto24gr oupsandtwiceay eareverygroupserv
edinthetempleforoneor
twoweek.Thepr i
estint
hegr oupwaschosent hrought heprocessofcasti
ngoutthel
ot.Thetemple
wasser vedbyt hehighpriests,thechi
efpri
estsandt heLev i
teswhower eal
soknownasTempl e
assistants.
Theirdut i
es:
Inthet emple
-l
eadingt hepeopleint
oprayers:bothmorni
ngandev eningprayers.
-of
feri
ngscar i
fies

Page49of49
-
burningincense
-
taki
ngcar eoft empletreasures
-
guardingthet emplegates.
I
nsy nagogue
-
Givi
ngt heblessings(benedicti
on)-
(Number s6:
22-27)
-
givi
ngadv iceonmat t
ersofthebodypur i
ty(Levi
ti
cus15:1-32)
-
admi tt
ingtheJewswhower ecuredofl eprosybackintothecommunit
y(l
ev.
13:
1-6)
Thechiefpr i
est
 Theywer ecomingf r
om Jerusalem.
 Theywer eresi
denti
alpri
estsfrom t hepr
iestl
yfamili
esofJer
usal
em.
 Theyt hemember softheSanhedr in.
 Theywer etaki
ngcareoft hefi
nancesandt hetemplepoli
ce.
i
nsummar
y,t
heser
eli
giousgr
oupshat
edJesusbecause:
-
theywereshockedatJesus’ fri
endshipwit
hsinner
s.
23
-
Jesuscouldforgi
vesinsy ettothem onl
yGodcould,hence,
itwasbl
asphemy .
-
theydi
dnotl i
kehisi
nterpretati
onofthelawespecial
l
ytheSabbathl
aw.
-
Jesuscri
ti
cizedthem oflegali
sm andhypocri
sy

5.ESSENES( QUMRAM GROUP)

-Thisgroupi snotment i
onedi ntheNew Test ament.Theirnamemeans,“ Theholyones”
.Theywer e
againstabuseoft hehi ghpr i
estsinJerusal
em andi nprotest
;theyabandonedthepubl
icli
feinabout
150BC24.Andset tl
edinQumr ani nsmallcommuni ti
esofsharingandcaring(Qumram i
sar egionon
thenor t
hwest ernshor eoft heDeadSea) .Theydev otedthemselvest
ot hestudyandi
nter
pretati
onof
thescr i
ptur
es.
Theirbelief
s.
-theyrej
ectedt hetempl eofJer usal
em anditshighpri
est.
-theydidnotof fersacri
ficestot hetempl
eofJer usal
em.
-theypracti
cedmonogamousl i
fe(onewife,oneman)andsomeoft hemember swer
ecelibates(not
mar ri
ed).
-theypracti
cedascet ici
sm (selfpunishment)
.

6.THEHERODI ANS
Thiswasasmal lgr
oupconsistedoffoll
owersofKi ngHerod.Theywer efri
endlywitht hePhari
sees;
Thisgroupwasai mi
ngatseekingforman’shappinesssuchasf r
eedom, peace,l
ov eandsalvat
ion.
7.THEZEALOTS
TheZeal ot
spl ayedani mpor
tantparti
nt hePalesti
nereli
gionandpol i
ti
calli
feoft he1stCenturyAD.
Aft
ert hedeat hofHer odI,JewishPalesti
nehadbecomeapol i
ti
calandr eli
gioustidebox.Ar med
upri
singafterthedeathofHerodItookplaceinJudeaandGal i
leeunderJudasCl aimedt obethefather
oftheZealots.Lukestatest
hatSimononeoft hetwelvewasaZeal ot.

DEFI
NITI
ONOFTHEWORD‘
GOSPEL’
Thewordgospeli
sderivedfr
om t
heGreekwor euangel
d‘ i
on’,
meaning“goodnews”or“goodt
ell
i
ng.
”
I
ntheNewTest ament,
thisword‘
euangel
i
on’i
susedtodescr
ibe:
t
-heannouncementofshocki
ngnewsbyamessengersentar
oundtownsandv i
l
lagesofanar
ea.
23
Cr
imeofspeaki
ngorpubl
ishi
ngwordsthatv
il
if
yorridi
cul
eGod,t
heBible,
orr
eli
giousbel
i
efsor
i
rr
everencet
owardadei
tyordei
ti
esand,byext
ension,
theuseofpr
ofani
ty.
24
TheEssenesseparatedfrom ther
estoftheJewishcommuni tyinthe2ndcent ur
yBC,whenJonathan
Maccabeus,and,l
ater,Si
monMaccabeus,usur pedtheof f
iceofhighpri
est,whichconf
erredsecul
aras
wellasr
eli
giousauthori
ty.Simonfel
tcompell
edt opersecutet
heEssenes,whoopposedt heusurpat
ion.
Hence,t
heyfledi
ntothewi l
dernesswi
ththei
rleader
,theTeacherofRight
eousness

Page50of50
-
Messageofsal
vat
ionforthepeopl
e.
TheGospeli
stheannouncementofthenewsannouncedbyJesust
hatt
heKi
ngdom ofGodhascome,
i
tisi
nourmidst
.

TotheJewswhobel ievedinJesus,t
heGoodNewswast hatthroughJesus, Godfulf
il
sthepromi
sehe
hadmadet ot hei
rancestor
s,heisthemessi
ahtheyhadbeenwai t
ingf or.
Forthegenti
lestheGoodNewsi sthatt
heynolongerl
i
veindarknessandwi t
houthope.Thecomi
ngof
Jesustheyhav eknownhowt oliv
eahappylif
eandwhattodowi tht heirl
i
fe.
Tobot htheJewsandgent il
esthegoodnewsmeantt hatthereligiousbarr
ier
swhichhadseparat
ed
them hasendedandr emoved.
Thef
ourGospel
s
IntheBibl
e,fourbooksbeart hename‘ Gospel ’
.Thesebookst heyalldealwi ththel i
feofJesusChr ist,
hisbir
th,publi
cmi nistry,deathandr esurrect i
on.Thesef ourgospel spor t
rayJesusasonewhowas
sentfr
om God, di
dmi racles,andt aughtgoodet hics.Butlater, hewashat edbyJewi shr eli
giousleader s.
Hewascr ucifi
edandaf ter3day s,hewasr aisedf rom thet omb.Al lt hesebooksnar ratetheseev ents
i
nsosi mil
arway ,despi tethatt hesefourGospel swer ewr i
ttenbyf ourdi f
ferentauthor s.Thesegospel s
areMark,Matthew, LukeandJohn.Howev er,eachoft hesef ourgospel spresentsthedi f
ferenttypesof
writ
ingaboutJesus’l i
fe.Forexampl e,Mar ki sconcer nedwi thwhatJesusdi dfocusi ngonhi sactions,
miracl
es,deathandr esur r
ection.Mat thew andLukei ncl
udemor eaboutwhatJesussai d,r ecording
mor eofhispreachi
ng.Johnf ocusesont hei dentityofJesust hatiswhoJesuswas( thedi vi
nenat ure
ofJesus).Thesedi ff
er entper specti
vesoft hegospel sprov idet her eaderoft hegospel swi thawi de
rangeofrefl
ecti
onaboutJesusandacompr ehensi v eunderst andingofJesus.

Aut
hor
shi
poft
heGospel
s(whowr
otet
heseGospel
s?)
 TheGospel
ofMar
k
Theearli
estevidencepert
inentt otheauthorshipofMar kcomesf r
om Papiaswhowast hechurch
fat
herinthethirdcent
ury.PapiassaidthatMar k,bei
ngPeter
'sinterpret
er,
(andthecousi
nofBar nabas
-
Col.4:10;Acts15:37-
39),wrotedownaccur ately
,butnotinor derthatwhichheremember edofwhat
wassaidanddonebyt heLor d.’
!
”ThisMar kwasasonofacer tai
nMar yinwhosehouseinJer usal
em
theearl
ycommuni t
ymetf orprayer
s(Acts12:12).Marki
sassumedt ohavegrownupinJerusalem and
l
ivedthereduri
ngJesus’ t
imebutwasnothi sfoll
ower.Howev er,t
hereisnowhereinthebookwher eit
i
sCl ear
ystatedthatJohnMar kistheauthorofthebook.
 TheGospel
ofMat
thew
Earl
yChri
sti
anwr i
tersbeli
evedt hi
sbooki sandat t
ri
butedtoSai ntMat t
hew,oneoft he12apost l
es
(whoatfir
stwasat axcoll
ector)
.Thi sissobecauset heaut horwassupposedt obeaJew par tl
y
becauset
heaut horwasconcer nedwithproclai
mingJesusast heMessi ah.Agai
n,t
hisGospelcontai
ns
numerousreferencest oJewishScr i
pture,
law,andway sofli
fethatpresupposethereader
'sfamil
iar
it
y
wit
hJewishl if
eandpar tl
ybecauseot herev i
dencesuggestst hathewr ot
echiefl
yforChrist
iansof
Jewishor
iginbef orethedestructi
onoft hetemple.Thoughitisl i
kethattheGospeldoesnotment i
on
Matthewasitswr it
er.

 TheGospel
ofLuke
Churchtradi
ti
ondati
ngf r
om theendoft he2ndcentur
yattri
butesthi
sGospelto“Luke,the
bel
ov edphysi
cian”(
Colossi
ans4:14),oneofthe“fel
l
owwor kers”(
Phil
emon1:24)mentioned
bySai ntPaul.Mostmoder nscholarsacceptLuke'
sauthorshi
pf orbot
hworksofAct sof
ApostlesandGospelofLuke.
 TheGospel
ofJohn
Theauthor
shipoftheGospelofJohnhasgener
atedheat
edcontr
oversy
.Schol
arsattr
ibute
thi
sGospeltoJohnthesonofZebedee.Hewasoneofthethr
eedi
scipl
eswhom Jesusl
ov ed

Page51of51
al
ongwi
thPet
erandJames.
Si
mil
ari
ti
esamongt
heGospel
s
I
. Thegospel
sov
erl
api
nthei
rcont
ent
,wor
ding.Themostconf
usi
ngbei
ngt
hef
ir
stt
hree
Gospel
s
Mt
( ,MkandLk)
.(–t
her
equestofJamesandJohn(
mtt20:20-
21;Mk10:35-
39)
.Ther
ichman–mt
t19:
16-
30;
Luke18:18-
30
I
I. I temsofsi mil
arcont entar
eplacedt ogether.Forexample,t
het hreecont
rover
sysaying,
(f
orgiv
enessofsi ns,associat
ingwit
hsinner sandf ast
ing)Sabbat
hst ori
esandparabl
es.
I
II
. Sy nopti
csay i
ngsdonothav elongdi scussi
onsbutonl yshortspeechesandfragments
ofspeeches.
I
V. Thest yleandl anguageusedi ssi milarinallthesynopti
cgospel .Forexampleinthe
heal
ingofal eperandint heeschat
ologicalconversati
on.(Mtt24:
3-28;Mk13: 1-
27;
21:7-28)
.
V. About95%ofwhatMar khasisincludedinMat thewandLuke.
Di
ff
erencesamongt
hegospel
s
1. Matthew andLukehav emuchmor eabundantmat eri
althanMarkbuti nthewayt he
acti
viti
esofJesusar erepresented,theyal
lagr ee.
2. Thef ir
stthreegospel srefl
ectsacommonv iewofJesusasopposedt oJohn,whowr i
te
mor eindependentlyandwr i
tesmor eofwhatJesuswast hanwhathedi dandsaid.
3. Ther earesomeev ent sthataretotall
ymi ssinginsomebutar epresentinothers.For
exampl e,thegeneal ogyofJesuswhi chisf oundi nMat thew andinLuke( thoughtheyar e
dif
ferent)i
sabsenti nMar k.
4. Someev entsar epresentedinadi ffer
entway .Forexampl er
esurr
ecti
onst or
y-Lk24:1-
9/Mk16: 1-9/Mt t28:1-8,inallsynopticgospelsaredi f
fer
ent.
SYNOPTI
CGOSPELS
Si
ncethe1780s,t hefir
stthreebooksoft heNew Test amenthavebeencalledtheSynopt
icGospels.
ThesearetheGospel sofMat t
hew,Mark,andLuke.Theset hr
eegospelsresembleeachotheri
ntheir
wordi
ng,contentandor der
ingoftheev ents.Becauseofthisreason,t
heseThreegospelsarecall
ed
‘
synopt
icgospels’
( seei
‘ ngtogether
’ t
or‘ogethersight
’)
.

Thewordsynopt
iccomesf r sy
om ‘ nopti
kos,“seentoget ”
her:synmeani
ng“
toget
herwi
th”andopt
ic
meani
ng“seei
ng”
;ther
efor
e,i
tmeans“seei
ngtogether
.”

Insummar y ,thewor d‘synoptic’i

sappl i
edt otheGospel sofMat thew, Mark,andLukebecauset heyar e
sosi mi l
ari nl anguage/ wording,cont ent,andt heor der( orsequence)i nwhi chev entsar erecorded.
Ther ear enumer oust heori
esconcer ningt hesesimi lariti
es.Themostcommonoft hesei sthatMat thew
andLukeusedt heGospelofMar kal ongwi thanunknownsour ce( designat
edas“ Q”byBi bl
eschol ars-
from theGer man, Quel l
e,meani ng‘source’)tocompi let hei
rGospel s.Noonehasanabsol uteanswert o
explaint hesi mi l
arit
ies.Howev er
,itispossi blet hateachoft heseGospelwr it
ersshar edinformat i
on
wi t
ht heot hers,gl eanedi nf
ormat i
onf r
om or altradi t
ionorwr i
ttenf r
agment s,orrecordedey ewitness
account s.Thef istgospelt obewr i
tt
enwasMar k( ca.65AD) ,thenLuke( ca75AD) ,thenMat thew( ca
.85AD) ,finallyJohn( ca.(95AD) .Thegospel ofJohni sdiff
erentf rom othergospels,since,90%oft he
mat erialint hegospelofJohnar enotf oundi nt heot hergospel s.Andt hear r
angementofi tsmat erial
i
sdi fferentf rom t heot hersgospels.Forexampl e, thecl eansi
ngoft hetemplecomesear l
y(John2:13-
17)whi l
et heot hergospel siti
sacl imaxofJesus’ mi nistr
yashenear sdeath.

Whatpr
omptedorwhathappenedf
ort
hesegospelstobewrit
ten?
 Asy ear
swentby,t
hosewhowitnessedtheli
feofJesusandhisr
esur
rect
ionwer
e
dr
ying.Sot
her
ewasaneedtoputt hei
rwit
nessesi
ntowrit
ing.

Page52of52
  Theapost l
eswoul destabli
shachur chandt henmoveon.TheChristi
anslef
tbehind;
theyneededr eli
abl
ewr i
tt
enr ecordst opreservet
heapost
oli
cteachings.
 Some pr eachers di
stort
ed t he teachings ofapostl
es,so wri
ting pr
otected t
he
teachi
ngsagai nstf
alseteachings.
THEGOSPELACCORDI
NGTOSTLUKE
Wear egoi ngt olookthel i
feofJesusChr i
stbasi
ngour sel
vesonTHEGOSPELACCORDI
NGTOST.
LUKE
Str
uctureoft heBookofSt .Luke:
Lk1:1-4 -t
heprologue( introduction)
Lk1:5-2:52 -t
hebirt
hst or
ies( ofJohnt heBapt
istandJesus)
Lk3:1-9:50 -t
heGalileanmi ni
st r
ies
Lk9:51-18:
14 -t heJudeanmi nistry
Lk18:15-24:53 - thepassi onandt heresurr
ect
ion.

WhowasLuke?25
WasaSy ri
angent i
leandaphy si
cianf r
om Ant ioch,whowasl at
erconvertedtoChr isti
ani
ty.Af
terhis
conversion,het r
avell
edwi thPaulandgotmuchi nfor mat
ionofJesusChristfr
om Paul .Thi
smeanshe
wasnotaney ewi t
nessoft hemi nist
ryofJesus,buthewr otet hegospeldependi ngont heey e
witnesses.(IITimothy4:11) .Lukewaswel leducat ed,agreatwri
terandhadmuchknowl edgeont he
OTt radi
tionsandHel l
enisticteachi ngs,Lukewr otetwobooks:
-TheGospel ofLuke–whi chwaswr itt
eneitherinGr eece,RomeorTur key
.
-ActsofApost les
TheGospelofLukeaddr essest o‘Theophilus’
,whi chmeans,‘l
ov erofGod’or‘ fri
endofGod’ .This
‘
theophilus’canmeanany onei nterestedinreadingt heGospelora‘ Romanof fi
cialofhighrank’
.(Luke
greetshimy ourExcellency!)

Pur
poseoft
heBookofLuke/
WhyLukewr
otet
hisbook?
-
togiv
eanaccur
ateandorderl
yaccountoftheGoodNews.
-
toshowt
heunconvert
edJewst hatJesuswast hefulf
imentofGod’spromi
sedMessi
ah.
-
toshowt
heunconvert
edreadersthewayt ofai
th,especi
all
ythatJesuswasthepr
omi
sedMessi
ah.
-
toshowt
hattheJesuswasnotat hreatt
ot heRomanGov ernment.
Themesi
ntheGospel
ofLuke
1. UNI VERSALISM-TheGospelandsal vati
onisf orev eryone,bothJewsandgent i
les,andall
humanr ace.
Lukecont ainsthegreatcommi ssiontopreacht heGoodNewst oallnations.Passagest osupport
uni
v ersali
sm:
NuncDi
‘ mi ti
s’
-(
Simeon’sprayer)
-i
tsaysJesusi salighttothegent il
es.(
LK2: 32).
Thehi storyofJesus
datesbackt oAdam t hefat
herofthewholehumanr ace(LK3:23- 38).Duri
nghi sdepar t
ur e-(Lk24:45-
47)
2.GODLOVESEVERYONEWI THOUTDI STI
NCTI ON( Jews,Samar it
ans,gentil
es,women) -forexample:
-theGoodSamar itanwaspr ai
sedinaparable(Luke10:29-37)
-Jesusr ebukedJamesandJohnwhowant edSamar it
anVi l
lagetobedest royedbyfir
e( Luke9: 56)
51-
-thepar abl
eofthepr odi
galsonshowsthel oveofGodev ent oasinner.(Luke15: 11-
32)

25
Lukeserv
edtheLor
dwit
houtawif
e.Hediedatt
heageof84i
nBoet
ia(
adi
str
icti
nGr
eece)
.Hewr
ote
t
hisGospel
ofLukewhi
lei
nAchai
a(Greece)
.

Page53of53
3.PRAYER- Lukepor traysJesusasamanofpr ay eri
.e.
a)dur ingt hetoughmoment s:
-
inGet hsemane( Luke22: 39- 44)
-
ont hecross( Luke23: 34, 46)
b)-
bef orecar ryi
ngoutaser iousact i
on:
-
bef or echoosi ngthe12apost l
es( Luke6:12)
-
bef or eteachinghi sdiscipleshowt opray( Luke11: 1)
4.THEWORKOFTHEHOLYSPI RIT
-Lukeshowst hewor koft heHS( andhowJesuswasundert hei
nfluenceoftheHS).Agai n,itshows
howt heSpi ri
tispr esentinal lev entsconnect edwi ththecomingofandpr eachi
ngofhi smessage.For
exampl e:
a)-
incar nationwaspossi bleduet oHol ySpi
rit( Luke1: 35)
b)-Simeonwasi nformedbyt heHSt hathewoul dnotdiebef
oreseeingtheMessiah(Luke2:25-27)
5.THEWORKOFANGELS.
-Theyr ejoicedov erther epentantsi nner( Luke15: 7)
-theycel ebr atedov erthebirthofJesus( Luke2: 14)
6.MONEYANDRESPONSI BILITY
Lukepor t
r aysthei mpor tanceofusi ngmoneyr esponsiblyandthedangerofput t
ingallourhear t
son
money .I .
e.t her ichf ool( Luke12: 21). Theref ore,Detachmentfr
om weal thpromotesr elationshi
p,
especi allybet weent hepoorandt her i
ch.
CHAPTER1
I
NFANCYNARRATI
VES
THEANNOUNCEMENTOFTHEBI RTHOFJOHNTHEBAPTI ST(VV1-25)
InJudea,therewasapr iestl
yfamilyofZachariah(fr
om t hepr i
estl
yorderofAbi
jah)andEl i
zabet h.Both
wererighteous(li
vedinobedi encet oGod’swor d)butoldandhadnochi l
d.Chil
dlessamongt heJews
wasconsi deredasami sfort
uneorcur seorpuni shmentf rom theGod.Thewor dZechariahmeans,
‘
Yahwehhasr emember ed’andEl i
zabethmeans,‘ Godi sf ul
lness’
/’
Godhasswor nt oprotect’.Apr i
est
whowast oser veinthet empl ewasi denti
fi
edbycast ingl ot.WhenZachar i
ahwasi nt het empl e,an
appari
tionoftheangelGabr i
eltookplace.Theangelbr oughtamessaget hatheisgoingtohav eason,
John,means, ‘Godisgracious’.Johnwoul dbeaNazi ri
tei.e.nottodrinkst
rongwine.

Gabri
elsaidtoZachar i
ah
don’
- tbeaf r
aid
-
Godhashear dy ourpray er
-
yourwi f
ewi l
lbeary ouason
-
youar etoment ionhi m John
-
howgl adandhappywi l
ly oube
-
hewi l
lbegr eatmani ntheLor d’ssi
ght
-
hemustnotdr inkwi neorst rongdrink
-
from hisbir
thhewi llbef il
ledwiththeHol ySpir
it
.
-
hewi l
lbringmanypeopl eofI sraelt
ot heLordtheirGod.
-
hewi l
lgoaheadoft heLor d…li
kethepr ophetEl
ij
ah( hewi
llpr
epar
ethewayf
ort
heLor
d).
..

WhatGabr
iel
sai
dtopr
ovet
hatt
hepr
omi
seoft
hesonwoul
dbef
ulf
il
led

Page54of54
Iam Gabr
- iel
-
IstandinthepresenceofGodwhosentmet otel
lyoutheGoodNews
-
becauseofy ourunbel
iefyouwillbeunabl
etospeak,
unti
lthechi
l
dwi
llbor
n.
Quali
ti
esofJohnt heBaptistassaidbyGabri
el
-
greatman
-
Naziri
te
-
fi
ll
edwi t
ht heHolySpi
rit
.

NB:Zechar iahfailedt obl esst hepeopl ebecausehewasdumb.Thi smadepeopl etobeconv incedthat

hehadseent hev ision.
Reasonst hatmadeLukeputJohnt heBapt istasapr ophetofOldTestament:
-Hisbir
thwasannouncedbyanangelj ustl ikethatofI saac.Agai n,hewaschosenbef orehisbirt
hand
sentbyGod.Thesamewassai dt
oJer emi ah( Jer.1:4-5).
-Johnwasbor naf tercont i
nuouspr ayerofhi spar entsjustl i
ket hatofSamuel ’
sparents.
-Hewasbor nfrom abar renmot herjustl i
keSamuel ,Isaac, JacobandSamson.
-hi
sparent swer eagedj ustl i
keSarah, Abr aham, andSamson.
-hi
snamewaschosenandgi v
enbyGodt hr oughangel Gabr i
el.
-hewasaNazi rit
el ikeSamson.
-hegrewi nstrengt hblessedbyGodj ustlikeSamson.
-hewasl edbyt heHol ySpi ritl
ikeElij
ah.
-hewasl i
keEl i
jahi ntermsofcl ot
hing, foodandpl aceofl ivi
ng( desert).
-j
ustli
keot herpr ophet s, hisrolewast opr epar ethepeopl ef orthecomi ngoftheLor d.John’smission
l
ikeIsai
ahi stopr epar et heJewst orepentandpr eparet hem f orthecomi ngofMessiah.

DutiesofjohntheBapt i
st
-
BringingbacktheIsraeli
testoGod.
-
tocomeaheadoft heLord
-
gett hepeoplereadyfortheLord
-
prepar ethewayfortheLor dli
keEli
j
ah
-
Hewi l
lbringf
athersandchildr
entogetheragai
n.
-
Hewi l
lturndi
sobedientpeoplebacktothewayofthi
nki
ngoft
her
ight
eous.

26 27
NB:Zechari
ahbecamedumbbecauseofhi sunbeli
ef unti
lJohnwasborn. WhenZechari
ahbegant o
speak,hesangasongofpr ai
sewhichiscaled‘
l Benedictus.
’Thissongi
sfullofOl
dTestamentphrase
andthisshowstheJewi shheri
tage,Psalms,GenesisandI sai
ah.I
nthi
ssong,Zechari
ahprophesied
aboutJohntheBapt
istandJesusChr i
st.

ThePr
ophecyofZechar
iah–Luke1:
67-
79
Zechar
iahpr
ophesi
edt
hat
:

26
Unbeli
efofZachar i
ah:1-
howshallIknowt hi
sisso,2-Iam ol
dtoget
herwithmywi e.
f
AngelGabriel
'sanswerIam Gabriel
,IstandinthepresenceofGodwhosentmet ospeaktoy ouandt
ell
yout hi
sgoodnews, butyouhav
enotbel iev
edmymessage, youwil
lbeunabletospeakunti
lmypromi
se
toy oucomest r
ue.
27
Meani ngthatZechariahwasr
eleasedofhi sdumbnessaf t
erJohn’
sbir
th.ThenZechar
iahhadasong
called,
‘Benedictus.
’

Page55of55
-Godhascomet ohel phispeopleandsett hem free.
-Yahwehhaspr ovidedami ghtysav oiur,adescendantofDav i
d…whowaspr omisedthroughhi
shol
y
prophet
stosav ethepeopl efrom theirenemi es.
-Godhasshownushi smercyandhasr emember edhiscovenantwi
thAbraham
-Hissonwil
lbeagr eatprophetoftheMostHi ghGod.
-Hewill
preparethepeopl eforthecomi ngoft heLor d
-Hewill
tel
lthepeopl ethattheirsi
nswi llbef orgi
v enbecauseourGodismerci
fulandtender.
-Hewill
bri
ngussal v ati
onandpeacewi ll
alsor ei
gnamongus.

Thebir
thofJohntheBapti
st(Lk1:57-66)
WhenJohnwasbor npeoplewer esurpri
sedoft
henameJohnWHY?
-
noonei nthecl
anofZechari
ahhadt hatnameof‘John.
’
-
theyexpectedt
hatt
hesonwi l
ltakethenameoft hefat
her
,Zechar
iah
Thepr
eachi
ngofJohnt
heBapt
ist(
LK3:
4-6)
Thepr eachingofJohnwasal readyprophesi
edbyI
sai
ah(
40:
3-5)
.Lukequot
edI
sai
ahwheni
ntr
oduci
ng
theministryofJohnt heBaptist.Isai
ahsaid:
someonei
- sshout i
nginthedeser t
-
getther oadr eadyfortheLord
-
makeast raightpathfortheLordt otrav
el
-
ev er
yv al
leymustbef i
ll
edup
-
andr oughpat hsmadesmoot h
-
t hewholehumanr acewillseeGod’ ssalv
ati
on.

ThemessageofJohnt
othef
oll
owi
nggr
oups(
Luke3:
120)
1.Toordinar ypeople
-
donateashi rtt
othosewhodon’ thaveifyouhavetwo.
-
sharethef oodwi thyourneighbor
2.Taxcollectors
-
donotcol lectmor ethanwhati slegal
3.Thesoldi ers
-
donott akemoneyf rom peoplebyf orce
-
donotaccusepeopl efal
sel
y
-
besat i
sfi
edwi thyourpay.
4.TheJews.Theywer etoldt hattheyshouldnotthi
nkthatj
ustbecausetheyar
ethedescendant
sof
Abraham, theywi l
lbesavedaut omat i
cal
ly.Butt
heyshoul
drepentandbefai
thf
ult
oGod.

Johnemphasi
zedthatpeopleshouldrepent.
Meani
ngofrepent
anceaccor di
ngtoJohn.
 Itmeansatotalchangeoflif
e,aninteri
orr
enewalaccompani
edbysor
rowfort
hepastsi
nsand
aresol
uti
ontobef ait
hfuli
nfuture.
 Iti
sachangeinone’sv al
uesandpr i
ori
ti
es.
 Iti
sthetur
nawayf rom si
nsandgoi ngbacktoGodandhiscommandments.

ANNOUNCEMENTOFTHEBI
RTHOFJESUS(
LK1:
26-
38)

Page56of56
Galil
eewasl ivedbybothJewsandgent il
es.Inthistown,av i
rgingir
l,Marywasbet rot
hedtoJosepha
descendantofDav i
d.Thewor dJoseph,‘lethimi ncrease’
,whileMar y(From Hebrew name‘
Mar i
am’ )
means‘ beloved’(Egypt
ianor i
gin)or‘bit
tertears’(ifinHebr ew).Mar ywasgr eetedwithaspeci al
greeti
ngfit
tingtheimportantpeopleli
kekings.Mar ywast oconceivebyt hepoweroft heHol
ySpir
it.It
wasdur ing thesixthmont hofEl i
zabeth'
spr egnancy .AngelGabr i
elappeared to Marywho was
promisedinmar ri
agetoJoseph, adescendantofDav id.

Theangel'
s"greeting:
peacebewi
- t
hy ou
-
theLordiswi t
hy ouandhasgr eat
lybl
essedyou.
-
donotbeaf raid
-
Godhasbeengr acioustoyou
-
youwi l
lgi
vebirtht oason
-
youwi l
lnamehi m Jesus
-
hewillbethesonoft heMostHighGod
-
theLordGodwi l
lmakehi m ki
ngashisancest
orDavi
dwas
-
hewillbethekingoft hedescendant
sofJacobforev
er
-
hiski
ngdom wi l
lnev erend.

Mary’sr eact i
on:
Shewasdeepl ytroubledbyt heangel’
smessage.Shewonder edwhathi
swordsmeantandshesai
d:
Iam av
- irgin’
-
howt hencant hisbe?
Theangel said
-
TheHol ySpi ritwi l
lcomeony ou
-
God’spowerwi llrestupony ou
-
forthisr easont hechi l
dwi llbecall
edthesonofGod
-
asasi gn, yourr elat
iveElizabethisnowsi xmonthspregnantevent
houghshei
sver
yold.
Marysai d
Iam t
- heLor d’sser vant.
-
beitdonet omeaccor dingt oyourwill
.
Therol eofJoseph
-
hemadeJesust obelongt oadescendantofDav i
d.
-
hepr ov idedt hemat eri
alsuppor tt
ot hefamil
y.
-
Marywoul dnotbel ookeduponasasi nglemother.

Maryvi
sit
shercousinEli
zabeth(LK1:39-
45)
Maryvisi
tedhercousi
nEl i
zabethf hs28.WhenEl
or3mont i
zabet
hhear
dthegr
eet
ingsf
rom Mar
y,t
he
babyJohn,movedwithgladness.

El
izabet
hgavethemessagetoMar yt
hat:
-
Shewast hemostblessedofal
lwomen
-
Thatherchi
ldalsowasablessedchi
ld

28
Butt
hedegr
eeofcousi
nshi
pisnotnkown.

Page57of57
ThereMar ysunga‘ magni f
icant.
’whichisat hanksgivi
ngsong.(LK1:
46-55)
.Int
hissongMar y:
-Prai
sedGodbecauseHehasexal t
edher( Godchosehert obethemotherofasavior)
-ThatGodhasf avor edher
-Shepr ai
sedGodf orhismer cytowardshi speople.
-ThatGodhasr ev
iv edt hecov enantforever.
NB:Thewhol eoft hemagni fi
centisthepr oducti
onoft hesongofHannah(1Sam 2:1- 10)
.Theot
her
referencesintheOTwhi chsurelyinspir
ed,Mar y’
sprayerarefr
om Psal
msandI saiah.Someschol
ars
attri
butethi
ssongt oEl izabethbecause:
 Bot hEl
izabet handHannahhadbeenchi l
dlessforal
ongtime.
 Andbot hSamuel andJohnwer eNaziri
tes.

CHAPTER2
THEBITHOFJESUSCHRI STANDTHEROMANCENSUS( -VV1-7)
29
Thecensus t ookplaceduri
ngt herei
gnof‘Gai
usOct
avius’(AugustusCaesar
).Thepur
poseoft
he
censuswas:
-t
oknowhowmanypeopl eareeli
gibl
eforcompul
sor
ymil
it
aryservices.
-t
oknowthoseel i
gibl
etopaytaxes.

Everyheadofaf amilyhadt
ogobackt ohishomevil
l
agef orr
egi
str
ati
on.Ther
efor
e,Josephwhowas
borni n Bethlehem and al
so a descendantofDav i
d had totr
avelfrom Nazarethin Gali
l
ee to
30
Bethlehem, adi st
anceof144km from Nazaret
htoBethl
ehem.Thi
stimeMarywasappr oachi
nglabor
.
31
Alltheresthouses/inni
ngswereful
landMar yboreasonandwasl aidinamanger .Hewasnamed
32
Jesus.

THEANGELSANDTHESHERPHERD( 2:8-20)
Iam her
- ewit
hgoodnewsf oryou
-
Thiswil
lbri
nggreatj
oytoallt
hepeople.
‘
-t
hisver
ydayinDav i
d'
stown’
-
yoursavi
ourwasbor n
-
thi
siswhatwillpr
oveitt
oyou:youwillf
indababywr
appedi
nst
ri
psofcl
othandl
yi
ngi
namanger

NB:
Theshepher
dswer
ethef
ir
stt
ogett
henewsaboutt
hebi
rt
hofJesus.

Thest
atusoft
heshepher
dsamongt
heJewswasl
owbecause:
theywer
eregar
dedas:
-
Sinners-
becausetheywereabsentfrom t
hetempl
e/ synagogueser
vicesandt
heywerei
gnor
antofthe
l
aw
-
Outcast(unwant
ed)-becausetheycannotgi
veevi
denceincourt.
-
Defil
ed-becausetheywer enotobservi
ngJewsregulati
onssuchaswashi ngofhandsj
ustbecause
29
Thecensustookplaceevery14years
30
Thebirt
hplaceofDav i
d(ISam.16:1f
f)
31
Acubeusedt ofeedcows.
32
Thismeans‘Godsav es’
.JesuswasalsoEmmanuel
-;
Godi
swi
thus’
,hewasal
soChr
ist
/Messi
ah-
‘anoi
nted’

Page58of58
t
heyl
ackedt
imet
oobser
vet
henumer
ousJewi
shr
eli
giousr
ulesandr
egul
ati
ons.

-
Theywer
esuspect
edt
obet
hi es/unt
ev rust
wor
thy
.
-
Theywer
eal
owl
ypai
dgr
oupofpeopl
e.

Whyt hebirthofJesuswasf i
rstannouncedt otheshepher ds?
Firstofal ltheshepher dsr epresentthebelieverswhoar ehumbl
eenough,poorenought
orecogni
ze
andacceptt hesignsgi venbyGod.
-Jesusi sthemessi ahf orthedespi sedandrejectedpeople.
-shepher dshavev al
uei nt heeyesofGod.
-Salv ati
oni sfort
hepoorandt her i
ch–ev er
yone.
TitlesofJesusasment ionedbyangel sandt heirmeanings:
Sav oi ur
-Hewi l
lsavehispeopl ef r
om sins
-Hewi l
lbeal i
ghttot henat i
ons
-Hewi l
lbri
ngsalvationt othewhol e
Chr ist
-IsthesonofGod
-Expect edli
berat
or
-Princeofpeace
-Anoi nted/messi ah
-Lor d-
-sonofGod
-kingofKi ngs

Jewi
shbi
rt
hri
tual
:thenami
ngofJesus(
vv21-
24)
Cir
cumci sion-t hisist heoper ati
onofcut tingawayal lorpar toft hef oreskin( prepuce)oft hepeni s.It
33
wasdone8day saf terbi r
th. Ont hisdayamal ebabywasbot hci rcumci sedandnamed.I twasa
physi
calsi gnGodgav eAbr aham asapar tofacov enantwi t
hHi speopl e.I twasaqual i
ficati
onf orf ull
member shi pint hepeopl eofGod.Jesuswasci rcumci sedt oshowt hathewasat r
ueI sr
aelite
Namingt heChi l
d:achi l
dwasnamedont heoccasi onofci rcumci siont henamegi vent ot hechi ld
descri
bedt heper sonandhi smi ssi
on.
34
Puri
fi
cation -Fi rstofal lgivingbi rthmadet hemot herr i
tuallyuncl ean.Thi suncl eanli
nessmadeher
unfi
ttopar ticipateinpubl icwor shipofGod.Af terbi r
thawomanwasuncl eanf or7day s(ifitisamal e
baby)or14day s(ifi
ti saf emal ebaby )
.Hence,shewasunf ittopar ti
cipatei nt hepubl icwor shipof
God.Suchawomanwast oabst ainfrom sexualintercour sefor33day sint hecaseofgi vi
ngabi rt
ht oa
boyand66day si ncaseofagi rl
. Tobecl ean/ purif
iedshehadt oof feral ambandapi geonort wo
pi
geonsf ort hepoor .
Redempt ion-(represent at
ion) -accordi
ngt ot heExodus, (13:1-2)ev eryf i
rstbor nSonwasdeemedt o
bel
ongt oGod.Thi sritualwashappeni ng30day saf terbi r
th.Thi sser vedt or emi ndt heJewst hatGod
hadsav edt hef istbornofJewsi nEgy pt
.Int hi
sr it
ual,thepar ent ssy mbol icall
y‘ boughtt heirsonback”
fr
om God.Ther efore,parentshadt opay5shekel s( 75t ambal a)tot hepr iestwi thin31day saf t
erbirth35.

33
Gen.17:
1-4;
9-12,
17:
23-
27,
Lk1:
59
34
Levi
ti
cus12:1-8
35
Ex.
13:1-
2

Page59of59
Themeani
ngofJesus’
bir
thf
orLuke’
svar
iousr
eader
s
 Fort hebeli
evi
ngJews-Jesus’birt
hfulfi
l
st heprophecies.
 Thegent il
eswi t
houtknowingit,Caesarandhi soffi
cialsarepartofGod’splan.Asar esul
tof
theirdecreetoholdt heCensus,Jesusisbor nasf oretol
dbypr ophet
s,thusgentil
esarealso
i
ncludedi nGod’splanofsal
vati
on.
 Tot heunbel i
evi
ngJews,Jesuswi l
lber eject
edassy mbolizedinthefactthattherewasno
placeintheinn.
 Theout castandthepoor,Jesusisbornint hefactplaceforthem.Thefir
stinvi
tedpeoplewere
thepoor ,
shepherds.

ProphecyofSi meonandAnna( 2:25-40)

Dur i
ngt i
me, ofPur i
ficati
on-(t
hepar entsofJesusmet2peopl ei nthet emple:
Simeon36:good,Godf eari
ngmanwaswai t
ingforIsr
aeltobesav ed.TheHol ySpir
itwaswithhi
m.He
wasbeenassur edt hathewoul dnotdi ebeforehehadseent heLor d’sPromi sedMessi ah.
Simeonsai d(Simeon’ ssongNuncDi mi t
ti
s):
NowLor
- dyouhav ekepty ourpromi se
-
y oumayl etyourser vantgainpeace( die)
-
wi thmyowney esIhav eseeny oursal vati
on.
-
al ighttorevealy ouwi l
ltothegent il
esandbr i
ngglorytoyourPeopl eIsrael.
Thenhebl essedt hepar entsofJesusandSi meont ol
dMar ythatshewi llsufferbecausethesonwil
lbe
rejected(asignt hatmanywi llspeakagai nst),
hated,t
ortur
edandcr ucif
ied.

Twooccasionswher eMar ysuf

fer
ed/wassad
-
whenJesuswast ri
edbyt heSanhedri
n.
-
whenJesuswasbei ngcrucif
ied.
Anna:av eryoldprophetessandwi dow /
adaughterofPhanuel/ oft
hetr
ibeofAsher/hadbeen
marr
iedforonl
y7y ears/was84y ear
sold/nev
erlef
tthet
empl e/dayandni
ghtsheworshi
ppedGod
/f
ast
ingandprayng-Shet
i hankGodandspokeaboutuniver
salsalv
ati
on.

Howdi
dthepr
ophecyofI
sai 1437wasf
ah7: ulf
il
ledt
hrought
hev
irgi
nal
bir
th?
i
. Hewasbor nthr
ought hepoweroft heHolySpir
itandnott hroughbiol
ogicalmeans.
i
i. Hewasbor nthr
oughMar ywhowasav i
rgi
nandt heref
or eknewnoman.
i
ii. HewasadescendantofDav idthroughbothhismot her,Mar yandfather,
Joseph.
i
v . Josephwasadescendantoft heclanofDav i
d.
v. Mar ywasacousintoEl i
zabethwhowasf r
om thepriestl
yf amil
yandt hatcanmakeusconcl
ude
thatMarywasalsofrom t
hepr iest
lyfami l
y.
JESUSI NTHETEMPLE( 2: 41-51)
38
Passoverfeast wascerebratedev eryyeartoremindtheJewsonhowt heygotoutofslav
eryi
nEgypt
.

36
whichmeans‘ Godhasheard’
37
Forthi
sreasonthesover
eignmast erhi
mselfwi
ll
giveyouaconf i
rmingsi gn.Look,thi
syoungwomani s
abouttoconceiveandwil
lgiv
ebirt
ht oason.You,y
oungwoman, wi l
lnamehi mI mmanuel.
38
Thi
swasahol i
daycommemor at
ingtheHebrews'li
berat
ionfrom slaveryinEgy ptandt he“passing
ov er
”oftheforcesofdest
ructi
on,orthespari
ngofthefir
stbor
noft heI srael
ites,whentheLord“smot e
thelandofEgypt”ontheeveoftheExodus.Thefesti
valt
husmar ksthef i
rstandmostmoment ousev ent

Page60of60
Duringt hefeast,theactivit
iesdonewer e:
i
.kill
ingofthel ambandr oastit.
i
i.Eatingthemeatt ogetherwi t
hbi tt
erher
bsandunleav enedbr ead.
i
ii
.Taki ng4cupsofwi newhi l
esi ngi
ng.
v.ReadingExodus12.
NB:Jewi shboy sof fi
cial
lyreachadul t
hoodwhent heyhadr eached12- 13y ears. Duri
ngthatage
Jewishboy sstudiestheLawandt hetr
adit
ionoftheel ders.Theirknowledgewast estedinafor
m of
oralexami nat
ion.Hav i
ngpassedt heboywas:
 Ent i
tl
edt otaket hereadi
ngofthelawdur i
ngt hesy nagogueservi
ces.
 Hewasconsi deredoldenoughtomakedeci sionsandr esponsi
bil
it
ies
 Hewasexpect edt oobservethewholelaw.
Ithappenedt hatdur i
ngt histi
meJesushadr eached12-13y ear
s.

Howdi dchi ldJesusf i

ndhi
mselfint
hetemple?
-
whent hePassov erwasov er,theystartedbackhome
-
buttheboyJesusr emainedi nJer usalem
-
thepar entsdi
dnotknowt his
-
theythoughtthathewaswi ththegr oup
-
theytravell
edthewhol edayandt henst artedlooki
ngforJesusamongtherel
ati
vesandf
ri
ends
-
onthet hir
ddayt heyfoundhi mi nt hetempl e
-
sit
ti
ngwi t
htheJewi shleader sli
steningt othem andaski
ngquesti
ons…

Mar ysai dtoJesus‘mysonwhyy ouhavedonet histous’

?TheanswerofJesusindi
cat
edt
hatt
he
parent sshouldnotworr
ybecausehewasdoingwhathecameonear th.
CHAPTER3: 21-
22
THEBAPTI SM OFJESUS
Johnt heBapt i
stbapti
zedJesusi nJor
danRi v
er .Four t
hingshappenedwhenJesuswasbei
ng
baptized:
-Hewaspr ayi
ng
-Heav ensopened
-TheHol ySpiri
tcameuponJesusinaform ofadove.
-Avoicef rom heav
enwasheard,Youar
‘ emyowndearson.Iam wellpleasedwi
thy
ou’

WhyJesuswasbapt i
zedthoughhewasnotasi nner?
hewant
- edtoidenti
fyhi
mselfwiththesinners
-
toshowthathehasacceptedhismi ssi
onf r
om God.
-
toshowthatJohnwasat rueprophet.
-
itwasal
sothesy mbolofhisdeathandresurrect
ion
THEANCESTORSOFJESUS(
LK3:
23-
28)
Geneal
ogymeansl i
neofdescendant
s( f
amil
ytr
ee).Lukegivesal
i
nkofJesustoAbr
aham t
hefatherof
Jews.Fr
om thi
sgenealogyf
ewt hi
ngshav et
obenoted:
- Jesuswasbor ntoJosephwhobel ongstot
hedy nast
yofDavi
d,hence,
ful
fi
ll
i
ngt
hepromiseofGod
t
oDav i
dthatanoff
shootofhisbr
anchwouldruleforever.

i
nJewi
shhi
stor
y.

Page61of61
- Thegeneal
ogyemphasizedtheroy
alorki
ngl ydescentofJesus.
- Jesusi
spresent
edasadescendantofAbr aham.
- Thegeneal
ogyshowsthatJesuscamef r
om t hepeoplewhowereri
ght
eousi
ntheey
esofGod.
- Jesusi
sthesavi
orofal
l peopl
e.
CHAPTER4
TEMPTATI ONSOFJESUSCHRI ST(VV1- 13)
Thesetemptati
onswereMessiani
cTempt ati
onsbecauseallofthem ai
m atdr
awinghim awayf
rom his
vocat
ionastheMessiahandtoful
fil
lthefal
seMessianicexpectat
ionofthemostJews.
ThedesertisaplacewhereonecanmeetGod.I ti
salsoapl acewheredemonsandwi l
danimalsl
ive.
Thetemptati
onshappenedaft
erJesusfastedfor40days.

WhyJesuswentt ot hedeser t?
-Hewasl edbyt heHol ySpirit
-Tohav et i
mef ormedi tati
on.
-Topr epar ef ort hemi ssioni .
e.todecideonhowt oest abl
isht heki ngdom ofGod.
-Tobet empt edbyt heDev i
li.
e.t oseei fhei sgoi ngt ocar ryouthi smi nistryinaccor dancewi t
ht hewil
l
ofGodort hr oughhi sownwi l
l.Thet empt ationswer eTHREE:
Firsttempt ation( 4:3-4) -
Jesuswast ol
dt oshowhi ssonshi pbyt ur ningstonesi ntobr ead.Themeani ng
wast hatJesusshoul dusehi spowert odomi raclest opr ovi
dephy sicalneeds( mat erialt
hings)for
himsel fandt hephy siologicalneedsofot herpeopl ehencemaki nghi mselfpopul ar.Inot herwor dsthe
dev il
swant edJesust ousehi sdi v
inepowert osat i
sfyhi msel fandpeopl emat er i
all
y.Jesusanswer ed
thathumanscannotl iveonbr eadal one( Dt.8:
3).Thi sanswershowedt hathehadt oputGodf ir
st
bef oreany thingel se.( JesusputGod’ swi l
l beforehisown) .
Secondt empt at ion( vv5- 8)-
Jesuswast oldt hathewi llber i
chi fhewor shipsSat an.Themeani ngwas
thatJesusshoul dusehi sdivineshipi ntermsofpol iti
cal power /wor l
dlypower .Thehopet hatthemany
JewshadonMessi ah onewhowi llhav e pol it
icalandmi lit
ar ypower ov ertheRomans.Jesus
answer edt hatGodal onei stobewor shippedandsav ed(Dt .6:
13).Jesusr efusedt olinkhi ssonshi pto
thewor ldorpol itical power .
Thir dtempt ation( vv9- 13)
Jesuswast oldt oj umpdownbecauseGodwoul dpr otecthi m( Psal m.91:9-12) .Themeani ngwast hat:
-Jesusshoul dpr ov ehi sdi v
inesonshi pbyunnecessar yper formanceofmi racles.
-Jesusshoul df or m anar mywhi chwoul dpr otecthim aswi l
lbeov erthrowingtheRomans.
Jesusanswer edt hatheshoul dnotputt heLor dt ot het est( Dt.
6: 16).Hisansweri ndi catesthat’
she
doesnotdoubtt hepowerofGodbutheshoul dwai tfort her i
ghtt i
mef orhi mt ost artper f
orming
mi racles.

NB:Thetempt at
ionswereinli
newiththeexpectati
onsoftheJewsonhowtheMessi
ahwi
l
ldo:
-
TheMessi ahwillpr
ovi
dethephy si
calneeds.
-
hewilll
iberat
ethem fr
om theRomansandr e-
establ
ishDavi
d’smonar
chy
.
-
Hewi l
lmakeI sr
aelanindependentnati
on.
Themi
nist
ryofJesusChr
ist
JESUSBEGINSHI SMINISTRYI
NSYNAGOGUEI NTOWNOFNAZARETHI NGALI
LEE (LK4:16-
30)
Thenamesy nagoguemeans‘gat
her
ingt
oget
her
’.Theter
m sy
nagoguei
sofGr
eekor
igi
n(sy
nagein,“
to
bri
ngtoget
her”)
.Synagogueswer
eusedi
nthr
eeway s:

Page62of62
i
. Apr ay erhousewher et heJewsgat heredt opray
.Itwascomposedoft enfami
l
ies.Sy
nagogues
weref oundi nev eryt ownandv i
l
lage. Nosacr if
iceswer ecarr
iedouti nthesynagogues.
Sacrif
iceswer edonei nJer usal
em Templ e.
i
i. I
twasal sousedasaSundayschool (
school f
ort
heTor ah)
,
i
ii
. Aplaceofmeet ings( assembl y).
Orderoftheser vi
cei nasy nagoguedur i
ngthet imeofJesus
o Li tanywhi chwast heopeni ngprayerwhi chwascalledshema39.
(Dt6:4-
5)
o Conf ession.
(oft hesi ns)
o I ntercessorypray er.
o Scr i
pturereading( from theLaw/Tor ah).
o Pr eaching.
o Benedi cti
on(18bl essingsbyapr i
est )
.
Jesusi
srej
ect
edasapr
ophet
NB:Jesushadt hischanceofpr eachi
ng.Her eadI
saiah42:1-2.Thepassagewast
urnedi
ntohi
s
manifesto.Hedecl ar
esthathi
smi ssi
onwillbe:
br
- ingi
nggoodnewst othepoor.
-
setti
ngf reethoseincapti
ves.
-
restori
ngsi ghtofthebli
nd.
-
setti
ngf reetheoppressed.
-
announci ngthatthetimehascomewhent heLordwi
llsav
ehispeople.
Twoki ndsofr eact
ionstothi
smessage:
a)Fi
rstr
eact
ion
-
theyalll
ooked(gazed)athim( 4:
20)
-
allpeopl
ewer ei
mpr essedathiswords(4:
22)
-
theyallmarvel
edifhewasi ndeedthesonofacar
pent
er(
4:22)
b)Secondr
eact
ion
40
-thepeoplewer eangeredbecauseJesuspr ai
sedthegenti
lesasbei
ngbet t
erthatt
heJews. For
exampl e:
a)-hepr ai
sedt hewidowofZar ephathf
orherki
ndnesscomparedt
oI sr
ael
i
tesinEl
i
jah’
sti
me.
b)-Naamanwascur edofl eprosybyEl i
shanott
hosepeoplefr
om I
srael
.
Therefore,thepeopl e
-theydraggedJesusoutoft het own.
-theytookhi mtot hetopofthehi ll
.
-theywantedt ot hrowJesusof ftheclif
f.
-buthewal kedt hroughthemiddl eofthecrowdandwentaway .
Whydi
dtheynotbel
i
evei
nhi
m?
-
Theyexpect
edGodt
osendHi
smessaget
hroughsomeonenotl
i
keJesuswhowast
hesonofa
carpenterandasonofanordi
nar
ygir
lMary.
-TheideasofJewson sal
vati
onwer
enotinli
newithwhatJesussaid.
-theywantedtoseemir
acl
esbutwer
elacki
ngfai
thandtheri
ghtatt
it
udetowar
dsJesus.
-Theywer eJeal
ousy

39
“Hear,
OIsrael
:TheLordourGodisoneLord”(Deut
eronomy6: 4)
.“Youmustl
ovet
heLor
dyourGod
withyourwholemind,
yourwholebei
ng,andally
ourstrength.
40
TheJewsbel i
evedtobeGod’speopl
e,hence,t
heydespisedthegenti
les.

Page63of63
 Mi
racl
esofJesus
Amir
acl
eisanextraor
dinaryeventthatcannotbeexplai
nedbyor
dinar
ynat
uralpower
.(I
tcan
al
sobedef
inedasanacti
vit
ythatdisrupt
sthenatur
allaw).
ReasonswhyJesusper
for
medmi
racl
es:
- Tosymboli
zethetr
iumphofGodov erthepowerofev
ilandt
hati
twast
heendofSat
an’
s
power
.
- ToshowthatGodcarest
hosearesuff
ering.
- Toboostt
hefait
hofunbel
iev
ers.

- Theywer
eser
vingt
hepur
poseofset
ti
ngt
hecapt
ivesf
ree

- Theywer
eful
fi
ll
i
ngt
hepr
ophecyofpr
ophet
s.

Thesemi
racl
esi
ncl
uded:

1. Healingmi r
acles-donetosickpeople.
2. Nature mi r
acles (powerov ernature)
-happened torever
se t
he l
aw ofnat
ure.For
exampl ewalki
ngont hewater,
calming.
3. Raisi
ngsomeonef or
mf r
om dead.
4. Exorcism -donet oexpel
/castoutdemon( s)f
rom someone.
Heal
i
ngmi
racl
es
1. Heal
i
ngofSi
mon’
smot
heri
nlawandmanypeopl
e(LK4:
38-
41)
Jesusl eftt
hesy nagogueandwentt othehouseofSi monandAndr ew.Hewentwi thtwo
disci
ples.TheyfoundSi mon’smotherinl
awsi ckwi
thfev
er.Jesushealedherbycommandi ng
thefevertoleav
eherhandup.Thef everl
eftherandsheserv
edt hem.Aftersunset
,thepeople
broughttoJesusal lthesickanddemonpossessedt obeheal ed.Thedemonswer eorder
ed
nottospeakbecauset heyrecogni
zedhim astheMessi
ah,si
nce, mostofthem wereshouti
ng,
‘
y ouarethesonofGod. ’
2.Heali
ngofaleper(5.12- 16)
41
Aleperwasasocialoutcast .Theheal
i
nghappenedi
nGal i
lee.HerethemanaskedJesust
ohealhi
m
i
fhewanted.Jesusstret
chedhi shandandt
ouchedhim andtheleprosylef
thi
m.
NB:Accordi
ngtoJudaism, Jesusbecameuncl
eanbytouchingtheleper.

41
Lev.13:45- 46/14:1:al eperhadt okeepawayf rom theircleanf el
lowJews,hadt owal ki ntorncl othes,shave
theirheadsandcov erst heirlips.Thisischroni
ci nfecti
ousdi seasethataf f
ectstheski n,theper i
pher alnerves(nerves
outsidet hebr ai
nandspi nalcor d)
,andt hemucousmembr anesoft henose,t hroat,andey es.Itiscausedbyt he
l
epr osybaci l
lus,My cobact eri
um lepr ae.Destructi
onoft heper i
pheralnervesbyt hebaci llusl eadst oal ossof
sensation,whi ch,t
oget herwi thprogressiveti
ssuedegener ation,mayr esultintheex t
remiti
es'becomi ngdef or
med
ander oded.Inal mostal lcul turesthroughouthistory,lepr
osyhasar ouseddr eadandl oathi
ngaboutt hepr ospectof
i
ncur ablediseaseandal i
fetimeofpr ogressivedisfigurement .Atonet ime“ l
epers,”ast hosewi t
ht hedi seasewer e
l
ongcal led,wer eostracizedasuncl eanandwer egat heredintoi sol
ated“ l
epercolonies”inor dertokeept hem outof
sight,t
ocont rolthei
rcont agiousness, andtoof ferthem whatl it
tletreat
mentwasav ail
able.manypar t
soft hewor ld,
andi nmanycasest hedi sfi
gur ementanddi sabil
itycausedbyt heinfecti
oncannotber eversed.

Page64of64
 Lawofpur i
ficationinJewishcust
om (Lev14:1-7)
-t
heleperwasbr oughtt
othepr i
estwithtwocl eanbir
ds.
-i
fal eperwasf oundhealed,onebi r
dwaski ll
edandi t
sbloodsprinkled7t i
mesoverhim andt
he
secondbi r
dfled.
-t
hecleanedleperhadtobath,washhiscl othesandshav eal
lthehai
rsonhi sbody.
NB:Apr iestwastheonl
yper sontoprooft hatapersonhasbeenhealed.ThatiswhyJesusorder
edt
he
mant ogot othepri
esttobeexami nedandf ol
l
owwhatMosesor der
edhi m.

3-Jesusheal edt het enl epers.(17:11-19)

Ont heirwayt ot hepr iest,theywer eheal ed,butonl yoneleperwhowasal soaSamar i
tanreturnedto
Jesust othankhi m.Thesi gnif
icanceoft hegr atefulSamaritanist hatthegent il
es( outcast)might
i
nher i
tthekingdom whi l
et heJewsr emai nedout side.
4. Theheal i
ngoft hepar al
yti
cwhowasbr oughtt ohimt hr
oughanopeni ngont her oof
(5:17-26)
Jesusheal edt hepar alyti
ct oshow t hathehadpowert oforgivesinsandal sobecauseoft hef ai
th
thosewhocar r
iedt heman.Thi smi racleisspeci al becausehef i
rstforgi
ves,thenheal s.
‘
For gi
veness’canbedef inedast heheal ingoft her el
ati
onshipbet weenGodandman.Jesusf orgave
theparalyt
icbef oreheal ingbecausehewant edtodeal wi
thther ootcauseofhi ssicknessandal sothat
salvat
ionwasi mpor tantt hanphy si
calheal ing.Theopponent sofJesusi nterpret
edt hisforgi
venessas
blasphemysi nce, tothem onl yGodcanf or givesins.

5. Jesusheal sar omanof fi

cers’ ser
vant(7:1-10)
Whatr easonsdi dt heJewsgi veJesust ohelpt heRomanof fi
cer
?
-
thecent urionlov edJesus.
-
thecent urionhadbui ltthesynagoguef ortheJews.
NB:thecent uri
onhadf ai
th.
Themessagewhi chtheRomanof fi
cersentt hroughhi sf ri
endsasJesuswasapproachi
nghishouse
wast hat:
-
sirdonott roubley ourself
-
Idonotdeser vet ohav ey oucomet omyhouse
-
neitherdoIconsi dermy selfworthyt ocomet oy ouinper son
-
justgiv et heor derandmyser vantwi l
lgetwel l
.
-
Itoocommandmysol di
ersandt heyobey .
Reasonswhyt hecent ur i
ondidnotal l
owJesust ocomet ohi shouse
-
hebel iev edt hatJesushadpowert oheal fr
om adi stance.
-
hewasr eadyt osubmi ttoJesus’ orderalt
houghhewasamanofor der
sintheRomanmi l
i
tar
y.
-
heknewi twasunl awful f
oraJewt ovisi
tagent ileinhishouse.
-
NB:Thet hemeshowni nthepassagei stheuniv ersalsalvati
on.

6-
Jai
rus’
daught
erandt
hewomansuf
fer
ingf
rom hemor
rhage(
8:40-
56)
Aftercr ossingLakeGal i
leef r
om eastt owest ,Jesusf oundmanypeopl ewai t
ingf orhim.
Amongt hecr owdwasJairus.Jair
uswasoneoft heJewi shruler
softhesynagogues.Hewas
waitingf orJesusbecausehi sonlydaughterwhowas12y earswasv er
ysickandatt hepoint
ofdeat h.Sohewant edJesustoheal her
.
Whi leJesuswasonhi swayt oJairus’house,alargecrowdf ol
lowedhim andpressedagainst
hi
m.I nthecr owdtherewasawomanwhosuf feredadi seasecalledhemorrhagefor12y ear
s.
Shespentmuch moneyon manydoct orswho t r
ied to healher,buthercondi ti
on was
wor seningal lthet
ime.Thewomanhear daboutJesus, andhadf ait
hinhim.Shebel i
evedthat
shecoul dbeheal edbyt ouchinghiscloak.Shet ouchedJesussecr et
ly.Immediatel
yher
bleedingst oppedatonceandshef el
tbett
erinsideasasi gnofbei ngcur
ed.

Page65of65
Jesusreali
zedthatsomepowershadgoneoutofhi m.Het hen,askedwhohadt ouchedhi
s
clot
hes.Thewomancamewhi l
etrembli
ngandafraid(Lev
.15:19-30).Sheexpl
ainedherstor
y
toJesus.Jesussentherawaybycit
ingt
hatherf
aithhadcuredher.
Whythehemorr
hagi
cwomancamewhi
l
etr
embl
i
ng?
ShemadeJesusuncl
- eanbytouchi
nghim.
-
uncl
eanwomenwerenotsupposedt
ogoi npubl
ic.
-
shewasafr
aidoft
hepeopl
ewhowoul dknowshewasuncl
ean.
awomanshoul
- dnotr
easonwithmeninpubl
ic.

WhileJesuswasspeakingtoawoman, somemencamef r
om thehouseofJai
rusandt
oldhi
m
thatherdaught
erhasdiedandneedednottobot
herJesus.Jesust
oldhi
m nottoworr
ybutto
beli
eve.Jesusr
aisedherupfr
om deat
h.
Jewishmour ningcustoms
- Thebodywaskepti nar oom wi t
hr elat
ivesandfr
iends.
- Weepi ngandl ament ingt ookplace.
42
- Fr i
endspr ovi
dedf oodanddr i
nk.
- Thehai randpar tsoft hebear dwer eshav ed.
- Th emour nersdressedi nsackclothandl asted3-
7days.
NB: t
hesest oriesaresimi larbecause:
-
bothstoriesconcer nf emales.
-bot
hwer esav edbecauseoff ait
h.
-bot
hf emalesar eaddr essedas‘ daught er’
.
-bot
hhav eacommonnumberofy ear
s( 12y ears)
.

7.Je sushealsabli
ndbeggar( LK18: 35-43)
WhenJesuswascomi ngnearJer i
cho,t her
ewasabl i
ndmansi t
ti
ngbyt heroadbegging.Whenhe
heardt hecrownpassingby,hewonder edwhati twasandhewast ol
dt hatJesusofNazar et
hwas
passingby .Whenhehear dthis,hecr iedout ,‘
JesusSonofDav id!
’Takepi tyonme! ’Jesusthen
stoppedandor der
edthebl
indmant obebr oughttohim.Whenhecamenear ,
Jesusaskedhim whathe
want edandt hebl
i
ndmanaskedf orsightandJesusheal edhi
m byrestor
inghissight
.Jesustoldhi
m
thathisfait
hhadhealedhi
m.
Exor
cism (
cast
ingoutofdev
il
s/demons)
Mi
( r
acl
esofcast
ingoutdev
il
s)
1.
Heal
i
ngofamanwi
thanev
ilspi
ri
tonaSabbat
h(4:
31-
37)
TheJewswer east onishedandamazedatJesus’t eachingsandmi r
aclesbecause:(WhyJesuswas
becomi ngf amous? )
-Het aughtwi thaut horit
ythanthescribeswhower efondofquot i
ngt hesayi
ngandi nter
pretat
ionsof
formert eacher s.ButJesusnev erquot edpastteachers,heusedthewor dofGodandgav ehisown
i
nt er
pretation.
-Evil
spiri
tsr ecognizedJesusast heHol yOneofGod
-Hehadaut hor
itytocommandev i
lspiri
ttocomeout .Thi smeantJesuswasmor epowerfulthanthe
dev i
l
.
Whatdi dthemanwi t
hanev il
spir
itsaytoJesus?
-whatdoy ouwantwi thusJesusofNazar eth?
-areyouher etodest r
oyus?
-Iknowwhoy ouar e:youaretheGod’sHol ymessenger.

42
Becausef
oodf
rom t
hedeceasedf
ami
l
ywasuncl
eanduet
othepr
esenceoft
hecor
pse.

Page66of66
NB:
Jesusor
der
edt
hespi
ri
ttobequi
etandor
der
edi
ttocomeout
.
2.Theheali
ngofamanwi thev i
lspiritsint
helandofGerasa(Gerasenedemoniac)
-LUKE8:
26-
39
43
Aft
ercrossi
ngLakeGal i
l
ee, theyreachedt helandofGer asa whi chwasi nhabitedbygent
il
es.
AssoonasJesusgotoutoft heboat ,amanwi thmanyev il
spi r
it
sapproachedJesus.
Descr
ipti
onoftheman
Hewaspossessedbyev
- ilspiri
ts( demons) .
-
hewasnakedf ormostoft heday s
-
hewasnotst ayi
ngathome
spenthi
- sti
meint hebur i
alcav es( livedamongt hetombs) .
-
Nightanddayhecr i
edandwonder edamongt het
ombs.
-
Hehadgr eatphysicalpowerbecausehecoul dbrokechains.
React
ionofthedemoni acmanwhenhesawJesus
-
ThrewhimselfdownatJesus’ feet
-
hegav ealoudcry
-
heshoutedJesus‘ JesusSonoft heMosthi ghGodwhatdoy ouwantwithme…’
-
hebeggedJesusnott opuni shhi m

Theev i
lspi
ri
tsbeggedJesusnottosendthem i
ntoabyssnort
opunishthem butt
osendthem
tothepigsandJesusal l
owedt hem togo.Themanwascur edbutthewhol eher
dofpi gs
rusheddowni nt
otheLakeandwerealldr
owned.
Thev i
ll
ager
scameandwer ebot
haf r
aidandangrywit
hJesus.Theybeggedhimtoleavethei
r
l
and.Thecur edmanwant edtofoll
owJesusbuthewast ol
dtogohomeandpr ocl
aim what
theLordhasdonet ohi
m.

NB:
Jesussentt
hemanhomet
opr
eachGoodNewst
othegent
il
es.

NB:evi
denceshowingthatthest
orytookpl aceinagent
il
eland:
Thepresenceofpi
gs(Jewsdonotkeeppi gs)
Theti
tl
e‘JesusSonoftheMostHi gh’i
sapaganwayofspeaki ng.
Jesusall
owedthemant oprocl
aimt ootherswhathashappened.
Thenewgent i
l
ewasnotal l
owedtojointhegr oup.

Gerasapeopl
ewereaf
rai
dofJesusbecause:
Jesushadcausedt
hei
rpigstodrowninthesea
Jesushadtamedanuncontr
oll
abledemonpossessedman.

Howdi
dthepeopleknowthatthemanwasreal
l
yheal
ed?
-
themanwassitt
ingatt
hefeetofJesus.
-
hewasclot
hed.
-
hewasinhisi
nhisri
ghtmind.

3.Je sushealsamanwi t
hdemons( LK9: 37-
43)
Jesust oget
herwit
hthreeofhisdiscipl
eswentdownf rom t
hehi
l
landalar
gecrowdmett hem.
From t hecrowdamanshout ed,‘Teacher,Ibegyou;lookatmyson,myonl yson!Aspiri
t
attackshimintoafi
t,sothatheformsatt hemouth.Themantol
dJesusthathehadaskedhis

43
Whi
chi
sfoundatt
heeastsi
deofLakeGal
i
lee

Page67of67
di
sci
plestodri
veitoutbutt
heyf
ail
ed.Jesusr
ebukedhi
sdi
sci
plesandl
aterheal
edt
heboy
andgavehi
m backtotheman.
NATUREMI
RACLES
1. Jesuscal msast orm atLakeGal il
ee(8:22-25)
Ont hisday ,Jesuswasgoi ngtot heLandofGer asaont heboat.ButbecauseJesuswast i
red,
hesl eptAst rongwi ngbl ewont helakeandt heboatbegant obefil
ledwit
hwat ersothatt
hey
wer ei ngreatdanger .Thedi scipl
eswokeupJesust el
li
nghim aboutthedanger.Jesusgotup
andgav eanor dert ot hewi ndandst ormywat erandt heydi
edoutandi twascalm again.
Jesusdoubt edt hef aithoft hedisciplesbutt hedi sci
pleswereamazedandaf rai
dwithwhat
Jesusdi d.Thedi sciplesshowedl ackoff ait
hby :
-pani cki
ngwhent heyr eal
izedthattheywer eindanger .
Responseoft hedi scipleswhenJesuscal medt hest or
m:
-wer eamazed
-wer eaf r
aid
-theyaskedeachot her Whoi
.‘ sthisman?Hegi vesorderstothewi ndsandwav esandthey
obeyhi m’.
Aut hor i
tyofJesusov ernatureshowni nthismi r
acle
a)Aut hori
tyov ernatur e
-Jesusi st heLor dandcont roll
erofnat ure.
-her estorespeaceandor derofcreation.

2. Jesusf eedsagr eatcrowd:Thefeedingoft he5000people(LK9:10-17)-

I
nhi smi ni
st r
yJesusal sof edthosewhower ephy sical
lyandspir
it
ual
lyhungry,hence,soci
al
responsibi
l
ity.Ont hisday ,Jesusandhi sdisci
pleswer ehungryandtir
ed,yetmanypeopl e
werewai ti
ngt ol i
stentoJesus.Jesust ookhisdi scipl
esonboatt oBet
hsaida44 f
orthem t
o
havear est.Howev er,peoplesawt hem andgott herebeforet
hem.Jesuswasmov edwit
hpity
andbegant eachi
ngt hem until
itwasverylate.

Thedi sci
plessuggest edtoJesust osendthepeopleawaysot hattheycoul dbuyfood.Jesus
i
nst ead,t
oldthedi sci
plestogiv
et hepeoplef
ood.Theonl yfoodavailablewere5loavesand2
fi
sh.Thecr owdwasmadet ositdowni ngroupsoff i
ft
iesandhundr eds.Jesustookthe5
l
oav esand2f ishandl ookeduptheskyandgav ethanks.Hebroket hel oavesandgavetohis
discipl
estodi str
ibutetothepeople.Allt
hepeopleateandwer esatisfi
ed.Thel ef
tover
sf i
l
led
the12basket s.Ont hisdayJesusf ed5000menexcludingwomenandchi l
dren.

RAI
SINGOFTHEDEAD
1.Ther
aisi
ngofasonofawi
dowatNai
n(Luke7:
11-
17)
EventhowJesusencounteredtheprocessionofthef uneral
andhowher
aisedt
heson
-
Jesusandhi sdi
sci
plesandalargecrowdr eachedt heofNai n
-
ashear r
ivedatt
hecitygateafuneralprocessioncameout
-
thedeadmanwast heonlysonofthewi dow
-
Jesushadpi t
yonthewidowandsai dt oher,donotcr
‘ y’
-
thenhetouchedthecoffi
nandt hemencar r
yingitstopped

44
I
tisf
oundont
henor
theast
ernshor
eoft
heSeaofGal
i
lee,
neart
hei
nfl
uxoft
heJor
danRi
v .
er

Page68of68
-
thenJesussai
d,y
‘oungmangetup,
Itel
lyou’
-
thedeadmangotupandbegantowalk
-
Jesusgavehimtohismot
her.

Peopl
ereactedbysayi
ng:
agr
- eatprophethasappear
edamongus
-
Godhascomet osavehispeopl
e
NB:Jesusbecameuncleanbytorchi
ngt
hecof
fn45.
i

2.Ther aisi
ngoft heJairusdaught er(LK8: 40-42, 49-56)
Aftercrossi ngLakeGal i
leef r
om eastt owest ,Jesusf oundmanypeopl ewaiti
ngf orhi
m.
Amongt hecr owdwasJai rus.Jair
uswasoneoft heJewi shr uler
softhel ocalsy
nagogues.He
waswai t
ingf orJesusbecausehi sonl ydaught erwhowas12y earswasv er
ysickandatt he
pointofdeat h.Sohewant edJesust ohealher .Ont hewaysomemencamef r
om thehouse
ofJairusandt oldhimt hatherdaught erhasdi edandneedednott obot herJesus.Jesustold
him nottowor rybuttobel ieve.Jesusraisedherupf rom death.
Jewishmour ningcust oms
- Thebodywaskepti nar oom withrel
ativesandf ri
ends.
- Weepi ngandl ament i
ngt ookplace.
46
- Fr i
endspr ov idedfoodanddr i
nk.
- Thehai randpar t
soft hebear dwer eshav ed.
- Themour ner sdressedi nsackclothandl ast ed3- 7day s.
Evidencest hatshowt hatJai r
us’daughterwasr eallydead
1. peopl el aughedatJesuswhenhesai dt hatt hedaught erisnotdeadbutsleeping(si
nce,
theyknewt hathewasr eal l
ydead)

2. peopl
ewerecr
yingandmourni
ngforthechil
d
3. thepar
ent
swereastoundedwhenthedaughtergotup

Reasonswhyt
her
eput
ati
onofJesusgr
ew
 Becauseofhi
sauthor
it
yinpreachi
ngandthemir
acleshewasdoing.
 Becauseofhisgoodnessandcompassi onforallespeci
all
ythepoorandt he
aff
li
cted.
 Hebroughtpeaceandhappi
nessandgavemeaningtotheli
feofthepoorwhohad
nostatusi
nthesoci
et.
y
Howt
her
eput
ati
onofJesusdi
dgr
ow?
 Peopl
ecamef r
om ever
ywheretol
i
stenandhecur
edal
lthei
rsi
ckness.
 Thenewsofhisextr
a-ordi
nar
yacti
vi
tyasagoodandgreatpr
ophetwasspr
eadbyt
he
poorpeopl
e.
PARABLESOFJESUS
The word‘parable’comes f r
om the Greek word‘parabol
e’which means il
lust
rat
ion,
compar
isonoranal ogy. Jesusoft
enusedspi r
it
ual
lysigni
fi
cantf
icti
onalnar
rat
ivescall
ed
par
abl
estoil
lustr
atehisteachi
ngsorhi
s point
.Aparabl
ecanbedefi
nedas:

45
Numb19:11,
16
46
Becausef
oodfr
om t
hedeceasedf
ami
l
ywasuncl
eanduet
othepr
esenceoft
hecor
pse.

Page69of69
- Ashortst
oryt
akenfr
om thedail
yli
feofpeopletot
eachaspiri
tualt
rut
horacer
tainmoral
.
Or
- Ashor
tstoryt
hatusesfamil
iarsit
uati
onstoill
ust
rat
ear el
i
giousormoralpoi
nt.Usual
ly
,
par
abl
eswereoft
enstor
iesaboutsimpl
e,ever
ydayevent
s.

ReasonswhyJesususedpar
abl
esi
nhi
steachi
ngs?
-
Theycatchat t ent i
onoft hehearersbymov ingandst imulati
ngt hel
istenersbymakingt he
messageinterest ingsot hatpeoplewoul dbeal er
tast helessoni scont
inuing.
-
toavoiddebat e/di scussion.
-
Theyarepower ful teachingaidsince,theyar eeasil
yremember ed.
-
Tomakepeopl et hinkforthemselvescr i
ticall
y.
-
Toconceal hi
st ruei denti
tyastheMessi ahsince,manypeopl ehadawr ongi deaofwhoJesus
was.
-
Parabl
esenabl edonet ocommuni cateef fecti
vel
y,since;theywer egoodav enuesf
orpassi
ng
i
mportantteachi ng, forexample,onhowt ouseweal t
hwi sely.
-
Parabl
eswer eusedt oseparateseri
ousseeker softhekingdom ofGodf rom theonl
ookers.
-
Parabl
eswer eusedt ot eachaboutt heki ngdom ofGodandt henatureofGodsuchasHi s
mercy.

1. Thepar abl eoft hegoodSamar itan-(LK.10:25- 37)

Thepar abl ewassai dwhenat eacheroft hel awcameupandt riedtotrapJesusofwhatt odo
tor ecei veet ernal li
fe.Jesusanswer edhim byaski nghi m again,whati swrit
tenint helaw?
Howdoy ouunder standi t?”t hescr i
bet henanswer ed( byquot ingDeut6: 5andLev19: 18)
Lov
‘ etheLor dy ourGodwi thal lyourhear t,wi thallyoursoul ,withallyourstrength,andwi thall
yourmi nd, andl ov ey ournei ghborasy oursel f.Jesussai dtohim, “Youhav eanswer edcor rectl
y;
dot his, andy ouwi l
llive.”Thet eacheroft heLawwant edt ojustif
yhimselfbyaski ng.‘ Whoi s
mynei ghbor ?’Thenhecameupwi thapar abl eofaGoodSamar it
an.
THEPARABLEI TSELF
Amant rav elsfr om Jer usal em t oJer i
cho, adi stanceofabout20mi les.I
twasdanger ousroad,
knownas" TheWayofBl ood"becauseoft her obber s.Themani sattackedandi sbeat en,
strippedofhi scl othingandwoundedbyt hieves,hei slefthal fdead.Twopassby ,doing
not hing.Thef irstwasapr i
est ;thehesecondwasaLev i
te.Bot hofthesewer eoft hereli
gious
elit
ei nI srael att hatt ime.
Whyt heLev it
eandt hepr iestdi dnothel ptheonewhowasal mostdead?
-touchi ngbl oodwoul dl endert hem uncl ean.
47
-theyhadt obecl eansi nce, theyhadj ustat tendedt het empleser vi
ce.(Lev.
21:1)
-Theyf ear edt heymi ghtbei mpl i
catedi nthecase( ast heonewhocausedt hei nj
ury ).
-theyf ear edt hatt her obber smi ghtattackt hem al sowhomi ghthav ebeenhi dingnear by.
ASamar it
ancomesbyandshowscompassi on.HOW?
hepour
- edwi neandoi lsonhi swounds.( Firstaidi nthoseday s)
hebandagedhi
- swounds.
47
TheLordsai
dtoMoses:
“Sayt
othepriests,
thesonsofAar
on—sayt
othem,
‘Foradeadper
sonno
pr
iesti
stodef
il
ehi
msel
famonghispeople…”

Page70of70
-
puthi
m onhisanimal
s
-
tookhi
mtoi nntobet
akencar
eofand
-
hepaidal
lexpensesf
orhi
m.

Jesust
henposesthequesti
ontothet
eacherofthelaw:Whi chofthethr
eeprov
edtobea
nei
ghbort
otheonewhowasbeat en?Thelawyerrepli
eswit
ht heobvi
ousanswer:"
Hewho
showedmercyonhim."
Jesusthenadmoni
shesthel awyert
odol i
kewise.
NB:t
hepar
abl
eshowsuncondi
ti
onal
lov
e.
2. Thepar ableoftheri
chf ool-( LK12: 13-34)
Af ooli ssomeonewhol iv
esasi fthereisnoGod.Thi stime,Jesuswaswar ningthepeopl e
aboutt hehy pocri
syofthePhar isees(Lk12: 1-3).Teachi ngaboutt hefearofGod ( Lk12: 4-
7)
andwasi nstr
ucti
ngt hem ont heneedt oconf essHi m bef or emen( Lk 12:8-
12). Then
someonef rom thecrowdi nt
erruptswithar equestf orJesust oresolveaf amilydi
sput eover
aninher itance!(Lk12:13)Thispr omptednotonl yat er
ser esponsef rom Jesus,butawar ning
48
andpar abletothecrowdaboutt hedangersofcov etousness andpl acingone'sconfidencein
earthlyr i
ches.TheLor d'swarningi sgroundeduponani mpor tanttruth(Lk13:15b)"forone's
l
ifedoesnotconsi stintheabundanceoft het hingshepossesses. "Format eri
alabundance
didnotpr olongtherichman'sphy si
calli
fe Andi tcertai
nlydi dnotensur ethatonewoul dbe
ri
cht owar dGod!
Toi l
lustratetheneedt oheedthiswar ning,Jesuspr oceedst ot ell
,thepar abl
eoftherichfool.
Theparablesummar ized.
Ar i
chmani srichlyblessedwi t
hlargecr ops.Asheconsi dershissi t
uati
on,hemakespl ansforthe
fut
ure:
a.Tobui l
dgreaterbarnst ost
orehiscrops( Lk12: 17-
18)
b.Tor et
ir
eandenj oyt hefrui
tsofhislaborsformanyy ears(Lk12:19).YetGodtell
shi
m hei safool
!
(Lk12:20):
a.Becausethatv er
yni ghtheistodie,
andhi ssoul wi
llberequi
redofhi m
b.Andt hethi
ngshehadpr ovi
ded,whosewi l
ltheybe?Themanassumest hathi
sli
feconsist
sinthe
abundanceoft hingshepossesses.Het houghtt hathiscropswillprovi
deforhissoulf
ormanyy ears
tocome.

Whyt hismanisconsi deredafoolandasaself

ishperson
-Hethoughthehadsecur edagoodf utur
ebyt hefar
m, for
gett
ingt
hatonlyGodcanassurethefutur
e.
-Hewaspr e-
occupiedwi thhi sowninter
est ,notmindingabouthi
sneighbor.Hedoesnotconsiderthe
needsofothers:i.
e.thepoor .(notet
he"I's"and" my'
s")
-Hedidnott hinkany t
hingabouthi sdeat h.Hef ai
lst oreal
i
zethathis"body"ismort
al,andwi l
lnot
necessar
il
yli
v eonf ormanyy ear
s.
-Hethoughtofonl yenjoy i
nghi msel
fforgettingGod.Hedoesnotconsi derthathi
sri
chesr eal
l
ycan't
sati
sfyhi
s"soul "
!
-Nordoeshet hankandgl ori
fyGod

48
St
rongdesi
ret
opossessomet
hingev
ent
hatwhi
chbel
ongst
osomeone.

Page71of71
Lessonsf
rom t
heparable:
-wealt
hdoesnotassureonesfuture/
securi
ty;hence,t
ruesecuri
tydependsonone’ srel
ati
onshipwi
th
God.
-wealt
hmustbeusedtohelptheneedysoast omakeonesel fr
ichinGod’ssi
ght
-ear
thl
yweal
thmustnotbet hesolegoali
none’slif
e,si
nce,mater
ialt
hingscannotsaveyou.(Job1:
21)

Whyisitbet t
ertohav eri
chesinheav
en?Because:
-
theyarenoteat enbymot hs.
-
theyarenev erstolenbythi
eves.
-
theyneverdecr ease.
NB:thepar ablewassai dwhenamani nthecrowdaskedJesust
oaskhi
sbr
othert
oshar
ehi
mthe
wealt
htheirfatherhadleft.
49
Par
abl
esont
hel
ost (chapt
er15:
1-32)
Thet hreeparabl
esdef endthewel
comi
ngofir
rel
i
giouspeopl
ebyJesus.Thesi scanbegent
nner i
les,
Jewswhodonotobser v
eMosaicLaw andr
abbini
calt
eachi
ngs,adul
ter
ers,swi
ndler
se.
t.
c.These
parablesareasfoll
ows
-Thepar abl
eofthelostsheep.
-Thepar abl
eofthelostcoin.
-Thepar abl
eofthelostson.

Thesepar ablesshowt hatt hemer cyofGodi stoevery

one.Thef
ormerl
if
eofarepentantsinnerwill
not
becount edf or,andagai n,t hepi ousshouldnotmur murwhenJesusshowsl ovef orsinners.The
par abl
eswer esaidwhent axcollectorsandtheteacher
softheLaw weregr
umblingt hatJesuswas
wel comingsi nnersandout castseveneatingwit
hthem.
Simi l
ari
ti
esoft he3par ables:
-sinnersarer egardedast hel ostt
hatmustbef ound.
-Godt akesi nit
iat
ives,Hegoesaf t
ert hesi
nner.
-j
oywhenasi nnerr et
urns
-thejoyisshar ed.

3.Thepar ableoft hel ostsheep–( 15:

1-7)
Ify
ouhav eonehundr edsheepandy ouloseone,y
oul eav
et heni
netyni
neandlookforthelostoneunti
l
youfi
nditandt heny oubecomeahappymanagai nandy ouputitt
oget
hertheotheronesandt henyou
cel
ebrat
ewi thyourf r
iendsforfi
ndingyoursheepthatwaslost.
Here,
Godcannotbei ndif
fer
enteventoasi ngl
esi
nner.ThatisHecannotbesati
sfi
edwi t
h99r i
ghteous
peopl
e,buthesear chesf orthel
ostone.

4.Thepa r
ableofthelostcoi n(15:
1-7)
Somebackgroundinformati
onoftheparable
1.Thesi
lv
ercoi
n, l
i
ketheRomandenar i
us,
wasequivalentt
oaday '
swage.
2.Thehomeofthepoor ercl
asseswasusuallysmal
l,
wi t
hdirtf
loor
sandfewwi
ndows
3.Fi
ndi
ngalostcoini
nadar kanddustypl
acewouldnotbeeasy .

49
Thesepar
abl
escanhav
eal
sot
it
lesl
i
ke:
wel
comi
ngsi
nner
s;mer
cyt
osi
nner
sandf
orgi
venesst
op
si
nner
s.

Page72of72
Theparableanal yzed:
Anywoman, havingt ensil
vercoins,
ifshelosesonecoi n:
a.Willl
i
ghtal amp, sweepthehouse, andseekdi l
i
gentl
yuntil
shefindsit
b.Uponf indingi twi
llcal
lherfr
iendsandnei ghborst
ogethertor
ejoicewit
hher
2.Insimilarfashion, t
hereisjoyinthepresenceoftheangelsofGodov eronesi
nnerwhorepent
s.
Herethejoyisexpr essedwhent hecoinisfound,meaningthatGodishappywhenasinnerr
epents.

5.Thepar ableoft hel ostson( f

orgivi
ngf at
her )15:11-32)
ThePhar i
seesandscr ibeswer enothappybecauset heythoughtthatt
heholi
nessofpeoplewould be
preservedifsinnersarei sol
ated,hence,t
heycr i
ti
cizedJesusf orrecei
vi
ngsinner
s.TheRabbit aught
thatGodi shappywhensi nner
sper i
shfrom theworl
d.
Inthisparable,thekissingoft hefathersi
gnifesf
i or gi
vi
ng.Theel dersoncanbeI sr
ael,Pharsees50,
i
scri
bes,whoar econcernedaboutt hemselvesanddi dnotcar ethefat
eofthebrot
hers(genti
les)
.God
i
scal l
ingthem thatsalvati
onisforall
.

Anal
yzi
ngt
hepar
abl
eof"
thepr
odi
gal
son"
A.hisdepar turefr om home-Lk15: 11-13a
They oungersonaskshi sfathert ogi vehi m hi spor tionoft heinher itanceduehi m.Accor dingt ot he
LawofMoses, theel destsonr ecei vedadoubl epor ti
on-cf .Deut21: 17.Si ncet herewer etwosons, the
youngersonwoul dr eceiveone- thi r
d.Likesomanyi mpat ientyoungpeopl et oday,they oungerson:
desiredt obef reef r
om par ent alr estr
aintsdesi redt ohav ehisf ather '
si nheritance" now. "Thef ather
grantshi m hisr equest ,andthey oungersonsoont akesal lt
hathehast oadi stantcount ry.
B.hisl i
feabr oad-Lk15: 13b-19
Wi t
h" prodigal"( wast eful,extrav agant)l iv
ing,he soon depl et
es hi s possessi ons.Hi s pov er
tyi s
compl i
catedbyaf aminest ri
kingt hecount r
y .Indesper ati
on,hehi reshi msel ftoanot hert of eedhi s
pigs:Thi swoul dbemostdegr adingt oaJew,f orpi gswer econsi dereduncl ean-cf .Lev11: 7.Wi th
greathunger ,hewoul dhav egladl yeat enwhatwasgi ventot hepi gs.Hef inallycomest ohi ssenses:
Recallinghowwel lf
edwer ehisf ather'shiredser vant s.Theyhadpl ent y
, andher ehewas, perishingwi th
hunger !Sot ohungerandhumi l
iation,therei snowaddedhomesi ckness.Her esolvest or eturnhome:
Toconf esshi ssi nagai nstheav en( i.
e.,God'swi l
l)andhi sfather.Toconf esshi sunwor t
hinesst obe
call
edhi sf ather'sson.Tobemadeonl ylikeoneofhi sf at
her'shir
edser vant s
C.hisr eturnhome-Lk15: 20-32
Carryingouthi sr esoluti
on, t
hepr odigalsonr eturnshome.Whi lest i
llagr eatwayaway ,thefat hersees
him( hadhebeenl ookingf orhi sson? ).Thef at her'
sgr eatl ovei si mmedi atelyevident :1)Hehas
compassi on.2)Her unst ogreethi sson.3)Het hrowshi sarmsar oundhi sson' sneck.4)Heki sseshi m
Thesonqui cklyconf esseshi ssi n, andhi sunwor thinesst obecal l
edason.Butbef orehecanev ensay
"Makemeoneofy ourhi r
edser vants",thef atherj oyfullycall
supon hi sser vantst o:1)Br ingoutt he
50
Theeldersonisamodel ofPharisee.Thi
si sevi
dentfr
om: 1)
Hisrel
ationshi
pwithGodi .
e.healways
worksforGodandkeepst helawwi thoutdi
sobey i
ngorders.
2)Hisrelat
ionshi
pwithsinnersi
.e.heref
uses
toaccepthissinf
ulyoungbrotherashisbrother,
hejudgesandcondemnshi sbr
other,herefusest
ojoin
hisyoungbrotheratthef
east.3)Hisreacti
ont ohisf
ather’
sloveforhissinf
ulbr
otheri.
e.heisangrythat
hisfat
hersti
lll
ovesthatson.

Page73of73
bestr obeandputi tonhi m.2)Putar i
ngonhi shand, andsandal sonhi sfeet.3)Kil
lthefattedcal
fin
ordert ocel ebratehi sr eturn.Al lofwhi chser vetor einstatethesonasaper sonofimpor t
anceand
author i
ty.
D.Jeal ousl yoft heel derbr other-Lk15:25-32
Theel derson, r
etur ningf r
om t hef iel
d,wonder swhatt hecel ebrati
oni sabout.Whent oldbyoneoft he
servants,heangr il
yr efusest ogoi n.Thef athercomesout ,andpl eadswi t
hhi m.Theel derson's
compl aints: a)Formanyy ear shehadser vedhisfather.b)Hehadnev ertr
ansgressedhisfather'
swill
c)Thef atherhadnev erpr ov idedsuchacel ebrati
onf orhi m.d)Butwhent hesonwhosquander edhis
father'
si nher i
tancewi thhar lotsreturnshome, thefattedcal fiskil
ledforhim!
2)Thef ather 'sresponse:
b)Her ecogni zest heel derson' sf ai
thf
ulness("youar ealway swi t
hme" )
c)Her eassur est hesont hatther emaini
nginheritancei shis("all
thatIhavei sy
ours")
d)Yett hef athermai ntainst hatitisri
ghttocelebr ate."Yourbr ot
hwasdeadandi sal i
veagain,and
wasl ostandi sf ound. "
Howar eal ltheseTHREEpar ablessi mil
ar?
-t
heyal ltalkaboutt hel ostt hing.
-t
heowneri si ngr eatpai nsaf tertheloss.
-t
heownert akesi ni ti
at i
vet ol ookf orthelost.
-t
her eisgr eatr ej
oi cingaf t
ert hel ostandthejoyisshar edbyal l
.

Lessonsf rom theparabl

e:
-uprightandsinnerscanbeaccepted,si
ncesalvat
ionisf
oral
l
-l
apseChr i
sti
ansbesearchedfor
.
--searchi
ngf orl
apseChri
sti
anisnotawast eoftime.
weshoul dbehappyifalapseChri
stianhasrepented.
THEDI
SICPLESHI
P:THEMEANI
NGOFADI
SICPLEANDANAPOSTLE
Jesushad12disci
pleswhowoul dhelphim pr
oclaimtheGoodNewst oallpeopl
eaft
erhisr
esur
rect
ion
andascensi
on.Thet erm di
sciplemeansal earner
.Thet erm disci
plecomesf r
om theLati
nwor d
di
scipul
uswhi
chmeanspupi lorlear
ner.Howev er
,theter
m disci
ple,i
ntheBiblei
susedtomeanpeople
whof ol
l
owedandli
st enedtotheteachingsofJesus.

Thet er m anapost l
e,meansaf oll
owerofJesusorami ssi
onar yoronewhoi ssentout .Thewor d
apostlecomesf rom Greekwor dapost olos,whichmeansa“ messengeroraper sonsent ”
.Int heBibl
e
therefore,apost
leswer ethepeopl ethatwer echosenandsentint otheworldbyJesus”:Topr eachand
teacht hegospel,healthesi
ckanddr iveoutdemonsusi ngHisnameandaut hori
ty.
THETEACHI NGOFJESUSONDI SCI PLESHIP
Thewoul dbefol l
ower sofJesus( 9:57-62)
InthispassageTHREEpeopl ecanbeanal yzed:
Thef irstmanv olunteeredtof oll
ow Jesus,butdi dnotknow thatdisci
pleshi
pinvolv
essuf feri
ng.The
51
answerofJesussuggest sthe‘ sacr
ifi
cialspir
it
’. Bi
rdsandanimal shaveaplacetost ayunli
keJesus.
Sot hef oll
owerofJesusshoul dnotexpectt ol i
veacomf or
tablelif
e.Thissuggestthatthereisli
ttl
e
ti
mef orresti
ngandcomf or
ting.

51
‘Fox’r
efer
stoHer
odAnt
ipasandhi
ssuppor
ter
s.‘
bir
dsoft
heai
r’r
efert
heRomanoccupy
ingf
orces
(
soldi
ers)

Page74of74
Thesecondmant houghthecoul df ol
low Jesusathi sownconv eni
entti
me.I .
e.buryi
ngthedead
i
nv olvesanumberofday s.Andaf terburyingthedeadonedoesnotgetanyspi r
it
ualbenef
it
.The
answerofJesussuggest s‘i
mmedi acyofobedi ence.’Afol
lowershouldber eadytodot hemission
urgent l
ywit
houtanydel ays.
Thet hi
rdmanl ackedf ocussincehewant edtobi dfar
ewell(goodbye)t
ohi shousehold.Thi
sman
values familyties mor ethan the urgency inf ol
lowi
ng Jesus.The answerofJesus suggest s
‘
det erminat
ion’i
nf ol
lowingJesus.Thef oll
owermustknow t hatoncet hemissionstar
ts,hemustbe
readyt ofor
geaheadandnott hinkofgoingbackatsomepoi nt.
NB:t hepassagest ressestheideaoft otalcommi tmentinfol
lowingJesus.Theplaceofabodei sin
heav en.

Thecostofbei
ngadi
sci
ple14:
25-
33)
Thel ar
genumberofpeopl ewant edtobehisdisciplesbutdidnotreal
izewhatthismeant /i
nvol
ves.The
crossstandsfor‘
suffer
ing’and‘death’
,hence,adisciplemustbereadyt osuff
eranddi eforthesakeof
Jesus( t
heloveforJesusshoul dsurpassthelov eoneshowst ohi s/
herparents,chil
drenorsist
ersor
brother)
.Meaning thatthel ovef oeJesusmustbebey ond thewayonel ovesf amil
ymember s,
possessionsandhisownl i
fe.Thiswasawar ningt hatt
heonewhowant edtof ol
low Jesusmustbe
readytogiveupthei
rpriori
ti
esandber eadyt osufferli
kehim.ThenJesusnar r
atedthet woparabl
es:

1.Planningtobuildahouse/tower–v v
28-30
2.Planningtowagewar–v v31-
32
I
nt hesepar ablesJesusi sencouraginghisdiscipl
estothinkfi
rstbeforest
arti
ngdoi
ngsomethi
ng
rat
hert hanstarti
ngitthenf ai
ltofini
sh.Onehast omakeadeci si
ont hatwi
llnotber
ever
sed.Thi
s
meansser iousness,
willandstrengt
har eneededifonewantstobeadiscipl
e.

Thecal
lofpet
erandhi
smi
racul
ouscat
choff
ish(
LK5:
1-11)
Ont hisdayJesuswast eachi ngf rom aboatwhi lethepeopl ewer eont heseashor eofLakeGal i
lee
52
(Genesar et ).Jesusspokef rom t hewat erbecause:
-Av oi ceiscar ri
edwel lov erwat er, sothecr owdcoul dhearhim wel l
.
-Thecr owdhadabet terv iewofJesus.
-thesepar ationpr eventsdi st
urbances; soJesuscoul df ocusont eachi
ngandt hepeopl eonlist
eni
ng
Fourr eactionsofPet erbef oreJesus:
-Doubt i
ngi .e.hef ail
edt ocat chf ishdur inggoodt imeatni ght,howcant henonecat chfi
shdur i
ngt
he
day ?
-het henputconf idencei nJesus’ wor danddi dwhatJesusaskedf or.I.
e.lower ingthenet.
-Her eali
zedhi ssinful
nessbef oreJesus( whohasdi vi
nepower )afterthegr eatcatch
-Heshowedf ait
handt otal surrendert of oll
owJesus( Immedi acyofobedi ence) .
Thec all ofLev i(Mat thew) -t
het axcol l
ector-LK5: 27-32
Hi storyoft axcol l
ecti
on
Int heRomant imes, manyJewsi nPal estinewer eagentsoftaxcol l
ecting.Eachonewasal l
ocateda
cer tainareaf rom whicht heamountoft axestobecol lectedwasbasedoncensus.Taxcol l
ector
shad
topayt het ar getedamountt ohi ssuper i
orof f
icerwhetherhecol l
ectedornot .Itwasupt ohimt o

52
I
tis13mi
l
esl
ongand7.5mi
l
eswi
de.

Page75of75
coll
ectenoughmoneyf r
om t hepeopl e,notonlytomeethi scont
ractbutalsotokeepsomethi
ngfor
himselfaswell
.
Whyt het axcollectorswer ehatedbymanyJews?Becauset hey
-werethoughttobegr eedy ,dishonestandunj ust.Ie.t
. heywereenr i
chingthemselv
esbycollecti
ng
morethannecessar y.
-t
heywer econsider
edascol laborators(workmat es)oftheRomans( agentsofpaganconquer
or.
)
-t
heywer euncleansincet heywer einconst antwithuncleanthi
ngslikegenti
lesandmoneywhichhad
i
mages.
-t
heJewshat edt opaytaxbecauset het axwasapai nfulremi
nderthattheyar
eundertheromanrule.

JesusaskedLev it oleavehi swel l–pay ingjobandr ichest ofoll

ow hi
m.Lev iobeyedandf
oll
owed
Jesus,leav i
ngev eryt
hingbehi nd.ThenLev ihadabi gf easti nhishousef orJesusandamongthe
guestswer eal argenumberoft axcollectorsandotherpeopl e.
NB:whenJesuswasaskedwhyhei sassoci at
ingwi t
hsi nners,hesaid,hedidnotcomet ocal
l
respectablepeopl e…butout casts(sinners.)
Levishowedat ruedi scipl
eshipby :
-gett
ingupandf ollowedJesus.
-helefteveryt
hing

Whi leinLev i
’shouse, Jesuswasaccusedofl etti
nghisdiscipl
esliv
ewithoutf
asti
ng.ThenJesuscame
upwi t
ht hreepar abl
es:
1)-guest sdonotf astinthepr esenceoft hebri
degroom.
-t
heweddi ngf easthasst ar
tedassucht her ei
snoneedoff ast
ing.
2)- Noonet earsapi eceofanewcoatt opat chupanol dcoat .Thi
swillmakethenewcoattot eart
he
oldgar metandt henewpat chwi l
lnotmat chwit
htheoldcoat .
3)- noonepour snewwi nei nt
ousedwi neskinbecauset henewwi newil
lbur
sttheski
nsandt hewine
willpourout .
All
egor ical r
ef er
encesoft hewor dsused:
Bri
degr oom- Jesus
Guest s-thedi sciplesofJesus
Theweddi ngf east-t
hekingdom ofGod.
Oldwi ne- oldcust omswhi cht heJewi shleadersweredoing.
Newwi ne- GoodNewsofJesus.
Jesuschoosest
het
wel
veapost
les
Thedi sciplesofJesuscamef rom al lwal ksofl i
fe.Theyi ncludedfishermen,pol iti
calactivi
sts,tax
coll
ectors,commonpeopl e, ther ichandt hepoor ,t
heeducat edandt heuneducat ed.Thi schoiceofhi s
disci
plesshowst hathecamef orev ery
oneandt hateveryonecanbeal earnerandaf ol
lowerofJesus.
Again,thischoi cewasasy mbolof‘ uni
tyfrom diversi
ty.
’Beforechoosingt heseapost l
es,Jesuspr ay
ed
toGodaski ngHi mt oguidehi m whenchoosi ngtheapostles.
These12di sciplesgraduatedi ntoapost lesont hedayofPent ecost,
wher et hesedi scipl
esr eceiv
edthe
HolySpi r
ittocar ryouttheirmi nistry .
Thef i
rstt hreedi sci
plestobecal ledwer eallfi
shermen.Theywer ecal l
edwhi lef ishingint heLake
Galil
ee.Thesewer eSimon( Peter ),JamesandJohn.Thel asttwower ebr others,thesonsofZebedee.
Theywer egi vent henicknamesof‘ Boanerges’whichmeans‘ menoft hunder .’
Namesofal l12apost l
esar easf ollows: (
Luke6: 12-16.
)

Page76of76
Si
monal socal l
edPet er
,whi chmeans‘ rock.
’
53
-
Andrew ( t
hebr ot
herofPet er)
-
James( sonofZebedee)
-
John,(sonofZebedee)
-
Phip54.
l
i
-
Bart
holomew.
-
Matthew.Oncet hetaxcollect or
.
-
Thomas.
-
James, thesonofAl phaeus.Hewasal socal
led‘Jamest
heless.
’
-
Thaddeus, orJudas,thesonofJames.
-
Simont heCananaean, ortheZeal ot(
patri
ot)
.
-
JudasIscar i
ot(hewast het reasureofthegroupandhewastheonewhobet
ray
edJesus)

Theprivi
legesoft heTwelvewer etobeincontinualattendanceontheirmast
erandtobetherecipi
ent
s
ofhisspeci alteachingandtraini
ng.Thr
eeoft hem, Peter,James,andJohn,f
ormedaninnercir
clewho
alonewer eper mi t
tedtowitnesssucheventsast her aisi
ngofJairus'
daught
er(Mark5:
37;Luke8:51),
theTransfiguration(Mark9; Matt
hew17; Luke9),andt heagonyofJesusintheGardenofGethsemane
(Mark14:33; Mat thew26:37).

Speci alimportanceseemst ohav ebeenat tachedtot henumber12, whichsomeschol arsinterpr

etasa
referencet othe12t ri
besofIsrael.Thismeanst heapostlesaretolayt hef
oundationofthenewI srael
ornewpeopl eofGodj ustli
kethe12sonsf ormedt hefoundati
onoft hepeopleofGod,theIsraeli
tes.
NB:Whenagaphadbeenl eftbyt hedefectionanddeat hofthetrait
orJudasI scar
iot
,immedi atesteps
wer et akentof i
llitbytheelecti
onofMat thias(Acts1).Inthi
scaset henumber12r epresentedthe12
tri
besofI sr
ael.
THE12ARESENTOUT( LK9:1-12)
Whydi dJesussendt hem?
-
t oputi ntopracticewhattheyhadl ear
ned.
-
Tot r ainthem andpr eparefortheirfut
uremi ssion.
-
t oreachmor epeopl e,si
ncetimewasl i
mitedbutt hewor kwasplenty .
-
t opreach, healandcastoutdemons.

I
nstr
uctionsf
orthejourney-
CF.Mk6:
7-13
55
-
totakenothi
ng-
i.e.nosti
cknomoney, nobeggar’
sbag,nofood,
nomoneyandnoext
rashi
rt
.
56
-
Ifwelcomedinonehouse, t
heyst
ayt
her eunt
ilt
heyl
eave.

53
Oneoft het welv
eapost l
esofJesusChristandthebrotherofSimonPet er.AGali
leanf i
shermanof
Bet hsaida, hewasor igi
nall
yadisci
pleofJohnt heBapti
st.Andrewwascr ucif
iedatPatras,i
nAchaea, on
anX- shapedcr oss,theform ofwhi
chbecameknownasSai ntAndrew'sCross.
54
Oneoft he12di scipl
esofJesusChrist
,borni nBet
hsaida.Phil
ipismentionedasoneoft heapostl
esin
thef ir
stt hreeGospel sandt heActsoftheApost l
es,butthelit
tl
et hati
sknownofhi sli
fei sr
ecordedin
theGospelofJohn.WhenchosenbyJesusasadi sci
ple,hewasaf oll
owerofJohnt heBapt i
st;l
aterhe
broughtNat hanaeltoJesusasnewdi sci
ple

55
Why
?Theywoul
dtr
avel
li
ghtandf
astsi
ncet
heywill
notcar
ryunnecessaryt
hings
56
Why
?Theywoul
dnotwast
etimei
nseeki
nghospi
tal
it
yindi
ff
erenthouses.

Page77of77
 57
-
ifnotwelcomedatacert
aint
ownt heyhavet
oshakeoffdustfr
om t
hei
rfeet
.WHY?
 I
twasasignofcurset
hattheywouldbepuni
shed.
 Theapost
leswoul
dnotbebl amed.
 Asassi
gnthatt
heyhaverej
ectedthef
reegi
ftofsal
vati
on.

Acti
vi
ti
esdonebythedi
sci
plesonthi
smissi
on
-
preach.
-
heali
ngthesi
ck.
-
casti
ngoutdemons.
NB:Themissi
onofthe12waseffect
ivet
otheext
entt
hati
tconf
usedHer
odANTI
PAS.

Afterthi
sincidentwearetol
dt hatJesusalsosentsevent
yandsentthem two byt
wot
ogoaheadof
himt oeverytownandtheplacehehi msel
fwasaboutt ogo.(
Luke10:
1-11)
ReasonsJesussentt hem t
wobyt wo
-t
obearwi tnessuponeachother
-t
oencour ageeachotherduri
ngt hemissi
onaryact
ivi
ti
es

THETEACHI
NGOFJESUSCONCERNI
NGTHESABBATH
Def
ini
ti
onofSabbat
h
Thewor
d'Sabbat
h'comesf
rom He ew Shabbat
br ,der
ivedf
rom t
hev
erbshav
at,
whi
chmeans“
to
r
est
,cease”or“t
odesist
”).TotheJews:
- Theyhad‘t
o-stopt
heirdai
l
yendeavor
sinor
der-t
o-pr
aise-God'
.
- I twasadayofr estev
enf orani malsi nhonourofGodwhor estedonthesev enthday.
- Rabbi shadl i
sted39act ivi
ti
esf orbi
ddenont heSabbathsuchas:
 Pr eparingf ood(Ex16: 23) .
 Maki ngaf i
re(
Ex35: 3).
 Clappi nghands, harvest ing(Ex34: 21).
 Wal ki
ngmor ethan1250met ers.
KeepingtheSabbat hwasawayf orJewst oshowi npubli
cthattheywereJews.Br eaki
ngt heSabbath
wasl i
keceasi ngtobeaJew.
THEATTI TUDEOFJESUSTOWARDSTHESABBATH
-Jesusrespect edt heSabbat hrules.Forexampl eJesusoftengoest othesy nagogueont heSabbath
(Lk4:16).
-Jesuswoul dbr eakt herul
esift heyhi nderhi mf rom r
eli
evi
ngsuf f
eri
ng;thel i
feofahumanbei ngis
mor eimpor t
antt hankeepi ngt heSabbat h.Thi sissobecauseLov eofGodandnei ghborismor e
i
mpor tantthanSabbat hLaw.Ther efore,br eakingt hel
aw i
nor dertosomeonei sreall
yobservi
ngt he
l
aw.
-Heali
ngont heSabbat hwasasi gnt hathewast heLordoftheSabbat h;hence,hecanchangei tor
suspendit.

Thequest
ionaboutSabbat
h-Luke6:
1-5.

57
Shaki
ngt
hedustof
fwasdonebyJewswhohadbeeni
nagent
il
ear
eaandwhohav
eref
usedt
oli
sten.

Page78of78
I
nthispassage,accordi
ngtothePhari
seesandscr
ibes,hedi
t sci
plesbroket
heSabbat
hby
:
har
- vest
ingontheSabbat hi
.e.pi
cki
ngofcornfr
om thefi
eld.
-
threshi
ngcornont heSabbathi.
e.r
ubbi
ngofcorni
nt hei
rhands
-
prepari
ngfoodont heSabbathi.
e.t
hetaki
ngawayofhusksandeat ing.

Jesusdef endedt heact ionofhi sapost l

esbyr eferri
ngtowhatDav iddi d.WhenDav i
dandhi smenwere
hungr y,hewentt ot hehouseoft heLor dandat ethebr eadmeantt obeeat enbyt hepriest
.Jesussai
d
thisbecausehewant edt oshowt hem t hatev entheOTi snotuphol dingt hest r
ictlegali
sm whicht
he
Phariseeshaddev eloped.
Helpingt heneedyont heSabbat hi snotgoi ngagai nstt heLaw.( SinceDav i
dandhi smenwer ever
y
hungr yandt hepriestgav et hebreadmeantf orhi mself-ISam.21:1-8).
Jesusheal sacr i
ppledwomanonaSabbat h( LK13: 10-17)
OneSabbat h, Jesuswast eachingi nasy nagogue
-awomanwast herewhohadanev i
l spiri
twhomadeheri l
l f
or18y ears
-shewasbentandcoul dnotst rai
ght enup
-Jesussai dt oher ,‘
Woman, youar ef reef r
om y ouril
lnesses’
-Hepl acedhi shandsonher
-atoncet hebackwasst raightenedandshepr aisedtheLor d
NB:t hismadet hesy nagogueof ficialt obeangr yandhet oldthepeopl et ocomeonot herdaystobe
healednotonSabbat h.Jesusanswer edthaty ouhy pocr i
tes;any
onecanunt iehisdonkeyonSabbat h
58
todrinkwat er.Whatmor et hiswomanwhowasboundedbySat anfor18y ears.

Jesusheal
sasi
ckmani
nthehouseofaPhar
iseeonaSabbat
h(14:
1-6)
Now oneSabbat hJesuswasi nvi
tedtoeatatt hehouseofal eaderofthePharisees.AsJesuswas
eati
ng,peoplewerewat chi
nghi m cl
osely.Amanwhosel egsandarmswer eswol l
encamet oJesus.
Jesusaskedt hescri
besandt hePhariseeswhetherthelawall
owshealingontheSabbat hornot.The
peopledidnotanswerany t
hing.Thenheheal edthemanandsenthi m away.
NB:Her eJesuswant edtot eacht hepeoplethattheissueofloveoftheneighborismor ei
mpor t
ant
despit
ewhatt heSabbathsay s.
TEACHI
NGABOUTTAX
JESUSANDZACCHEAUS-( 19:1-
10)
Ont hisdayJesuswasinJerichoandwaspassingt
hroughi
t.NowamannamedZacchaeuswast her
e;
hewasachi eft
axcoll
ectorandwasri
chbuthewasshor t(
li
tt
leman)
.Jesussai
dt Hur
oZacchaeus.‘ ry
downZacchaeusbecauseImustst ayiny
ourhousetoday’
Ev entst
hatmadeJesussayt hesewor
ds
-JesuswaspassingthroughJeri
cho
-therewasachieft
axcollect
ornamedZaccheaus
-hewasr ich

58
Thest
atementofJesusmeantt hat:
1. I
fcar i
ngforanimalsisal
lowedonSabbaththencari
ngforhumanbei ngsi
smor eimportant
2. Satanisacti
vesev endaysaweek;Hetoo(Jesus)mustfighttheSatanonalldaysincl
udingon
theSabbath
3. TheSabbathr el
iv
esmanoft hebur
denofwork;thenJesusfreesherf r
om t
heburdenofsi ckness
therebymakingherrest.

Page79of79
-
hewast r
yingtoseeJesus
-
buthewasal it
tleman
-
hecouldnotseeJesusbecauseofthecrowd
-
heranaheadoft hecr
owd
-
andcli
mbedasy camoretr
eetoseeJesus
-
Jesussawhi m andaskedhimtohur
rydown.

Whent hepeopl
esawt hatJesusi
sgoingtothehouseofZacchaeus,t
heystar
tedgrumbl
ingbysay
ing
that‘thismanhasgoneasaguestt ot hehomeofasi nner.’ThereasonsthatJesusgavefor
associati
ngwithsi
nnerswerethat
:
-ZaccheauswasalsoadescendantofAbraham.
-Jesuscamet oseekandt osavet
hel
ost.

Si
gnsthatshowconversi
on/r
epentanceofZacchaeus:
-
herecei
vedJesusjoyf
ull
yinhishouse.
59
-
hegavehalfofhi
sgoodst ot
hepoor .
-
theremaini
nghal
fwasusedt omaker est
it
uti
onforthefaud60.
r

THETEACHI
NGOFJESUSONPRAYER(
11:
1-4)
Pray ercanbedef i
nedas:
 acommuni cationwi t
hGodt hef at
herandcr eator
 Thel if
ti
ngupofourmi ndsandhear tst
oGod.
Int hissensepr ayerinvolvesspendi ngt i
mewi t
hGod,al oneorwi thother
s,puttingoneselfinHi s
presencei nsi l
enceorspeaki ngt oHim.Therear emanyr easonswhypeopl epray.Somepr aytot hank
andpr aiseGod,somepr ayf orthei
rneedsandt heneedsofot hers.Forexampl e,Abraham,Isaac,
Hannahpr ayedt oGodf orason.
InIsrael,itwascommonf orRabbi stoteachtheirdisciplesasi mpl
epr ayerwhicht
heyhav etouse.
Jesuswasal sowasal soaRabbi .Soont hisday,Jesushadbeenpr ayi
nginacer t
ai npl
ace,whenHe
ceasedpr aying,oneofHi sdi sciplesasked:"Lord,teachust opray
, asJohnalsotaughthisdisci
ples."
In
answer ingt hatrequest,Jesusdi dtwothings:
a.Hef irsttoldthem "howt opr ayand"whattopr ayfor ”.
b.Het hent oldapar abletost r
essacr uci
alelementi n" how"topray.

Wecal lthi
s“ TheLord’sPr ay
er ,
”becauseJesust aughti t
.Thi
sisa“patt
ernormodelpr ayerofall
prayers,”gi
vent oguideusi nourownpr ayi
ng.Itt eachesusthatt
ruepr
ayerdependsonaspi r
it
ual
rel
ationshipwithGodt hatenablesustocallHi
m“ Father.”
Whyt he‘OurFather
’isamodel( example/
patt
ern)ofpr ayer
?Iti
samodelofpray
erbecauseitteaches

59
Usedhi
sweal
thtomakeGodhisfr
iend.
60
thecri
meofobt
aini
ngmoneyorsomeot herbenef
itbydel
i
ber
ate
decepti
on

Page80of80
usthatat ruepr ay ershouldincludet hingsas:
1)Rev erencef orGodandHi s"Name"whi chmeans, itbeginsbygi vingGodhi srespect-Lk11: 2
2)Pray ingfort hepr ogressofGod' sKi ngdom andWi l
lont heear thsothatr i
ghteousnessandpeace
shouldr eign-Lk11: 2
3)Aski ngf orphy sicalnecessiti
es- itasksf orfoodf ort hepr esent.Peoplemustnotbeanxi ousfor
thei
rphy sicalnecessi ti
esf orGodl ovest hem andwi ll
prov i
det heirneeds.(12:22-29).
4)Ourspi r
itualneeds:
a)For givenessofsi nsaswef orgiveothers-Disci
plesmustpr ayforf orgiv
enesswhi chis
grant edonl ytothosewhof orgiveothers.Lk11: 4
b) Pr otectionanddel iv
er ancef r
om ev i
l-Thisi ssobecausehumani tyispr onet osinand
concupiscence( desiretodoev i
l)
.Peopl esi ninvari
ousway s:byact i
on,omi t
ti
ngorbywor ds.Theref
ore,
peoplemustpr ayf orpr ot
ectionfrom t ri
bulati
onandt estingwhi chcanweakenone’ sf ai
th.

Parabl
esforper
sev
eranceinprayer
:
a)Afri
endatmid-
night(
11:5-
8)
Thepar abl
esummar ized.
-
Youf i
ndy our
selfwi thcompanyandi nadequat eprovi
sions
-Yetyouknowt haty oucangot oy ourf ri
end'shouseandbor rowsomef ood
-Evenifi
tlateatnight ,andheandhi sfami l
yareal r
eadyinbed,hewoul dnormall
ynothelpyou,ev
en
thoughy ouareaf r
iendy etyouknowt hatify ou"persi
st"
,hewillhel
py ou!–Lk11:5-8.The'
fr
iend'
gives
theloafbecausehedoesnotwantt ol ookr ude.
b)Thewi dowandt hej udge( 18:1-7)
Thepar abl
eitsel
f
A.thecharacterofthej udge-Lk18: 2
1.Onewhodi dnotf earGodnorr egar dman.
2.Anunjustjudge, forwhi chthi
spar abl
ei ssomet i
mesknownas" TheUnjustJudge."

B.thedistressoft hewidow-Lk18: 3
1.Shehassomeopponentwhohaswr ongedher .
2.Sheseekst heai dofthejudgetoav engeher .
C.thediffi
cult
yshef aced-Lk18:4a
1.Thej udgewoul dnothelpheratfir
st.
2.Repeat edattempt sseem tofall
ondeafear s.
D.atlastthejudgeheedshercompl aint-Lk18: 4b-5
1.Notoutofanyl oveforwhatwasr ightinthesi ghtofGodorman.
2.Butonl ytoav oidbeingweariedbyherconst antappeal
s.

Thet wopar ablesdon'

tanswert herequestsoutoflove.The‘ f
ri
end’andthe‘ j
udge’answerrequest
sf or
help,ev eniftheyhavenol ove.Godl ovesHi schil
dren;how muchsur erwi l
lHet henanswert heir
prayers,cer
tainlywhentheyaskf orwhattheyreal
lyneed.
Thesepar ablesshowt hatpeopleshouldpraywithfai
th,determinat
ionandhope.
Jesus' poi
ntseemst obet his.I
fpersist
encewithaf r
iendwi l
lprovefr
uitf
ul.I
fearthl
yfather
sknowhow
togivegoodgi f
tstotheirchil
drenhow muchmor ewillpersi
stenceprov efrui
tf
ulwithourheav enly
Father!
Theimpor tanceofpersistence-Lk11:9-12

Page81of81
- Iti
sthosewhoask, seek,andknock, whowi ll
receive,fi
nd, andhav edoorsopened.
- Godgi v
espeopl ewhoper severeinprayer.Toencour ageper si
stenceinprayer,Jesusspeaksof
eart
hlyfathersandt hei
rsons.I fasonaskshi sfatherf orbread,whil
ehegi vehim ast one?Ifhe
asksforaf ish,wil
lhegivehi m aserpentinstead?I fheasksf oranegg,wi l
lthefatherofferhima
scorpi
on?Eachoft heserhet ori
calquest
ionsimpl i
esadef init
e"No!"Thenhowmuchmor ewillour
heavenl
yFat hergivesust hatwhi chisgood?I fearthl
yf athers,t
houghev i
l
,knowhowt ogivegood
gif
tstotheirchil
dren.Howmuchmor ewil
lourheav enlyFat hergi
vetheSpiri
ttothosewhoaskHi m?

Thepar
abl
eoft
hePhar
iseeandt
hatt
axcol
l
ect
or (
18:
9-14)
Jesusill
ustratedt hespiritt hatoughtt operv adeourpr ay ers.Het eachesushowandi nwhatmanner
weoughtt opr ayt obehear dbyGod.Thepar abl
ei saboutt wodi ffer
entmen,t heybothgot othe
templetopr ayonei saPhar isee,t heotherat ax -
collector .Phar iseeswer ear el
igioussect,notedfor
thei
rstri
ctobser v
anceoft heLaw andt het raditi
onsoft heel der s.Tax-col
lector
swer econsider
edby
thePhariseest obeext orti
oner sandt rait
ors:
1)Extorti
oner s,becauset heycol l
ectedmor ethanwasr equi r
ed,forpersonalgain.
2)Traitors,becausewhi l
eJewst heyr epresent edanoccupy i
ngpower( Rome)
Thepar ablegoest othosewhoconsi deredt hemsel vesgoodanddespi sedot hers.Itteachesthat
humili
tyisneededf oronet oent erheav en.
ThePhar i
see’spr ayerwasf alsebecause:
61
-heexalt
edhi msel fforhispi ety.- hesai dthathei snotgr eedy ,dishonestnoranadul t
erer
.
-hedespisedhi sneighbor /other s.( heisboast fulinhispr ay er)
-hewassel f-suffi
cientinGod’ spr esence;hence,hehasnoneedofGod.( hespeakst ohi
msel fnotto
God)
Thet axcollect
or ’
spr ayerwast r
uebecause:
-hewashumbl eandi sawar eofGod’ spresence.
-heconfessedhi ssi nsandaskedf orGod’ smer cy.

Awomananoi ntsJesusinthehomeofSi mont hePharisee-(7:

36-
50)
Ont hi
sdaySi mont hePhariseeinvit
edJesust odi newithhim.Howev er
,asi nfulwomancamei nwith
analabaster
sjarf ul
lofexpensi
veper f
ume.Thewomanwett hefeetofJesuswi thtearsanddri
edthem
wit
hherhai r
,kissedthem andpour edtheperfumeont hem.SimonthePhar iseesaidinherhear
t,i
‘ft
his
manr eall
ywasapr ophet
,hewoul dknow whot hiswomani s…hewoul dknow t hatshei sasinner.
’
JesusknewwhatSi monwast hinki
ng.Inresponse,Jesusnar r
atedthepar ableofthet wodebt
orsand
atlastJesusforgavethewomanbecauseofherf aith.

Thepar abl
eofthetwodebtors
t
-herewer etwomenwhoowedamoneyl ender
-
Oneowedhi m 500sil
vercoi
nsandtheot
herowedhi
m 50
-
neitherofthem coul
dpayhim
-
hecancel l
edthedebtsofboth
NB:t henJesusaskedhim aquesti Whi
on,‘ chonewil
llov
ehi
m mor
e?’Si
monsai
d‘t
heonewhowas
for
giv enmore.
’

61
ThePhar
iseesf
ast
edt
wice:
Monday
sandThur
sday
s.

Page82of82
Lessonsfrom t
hepar abl
e
-thewomanwhohasbeenf orgivenmor eshowsgreaterlovethanthePhari
seewhot houghthad
few/nosins
-Jesuscametoseekandt osav ethelost
.
Thediff
erencebetweent hewaySi monwel comedJesusandt hewaythewomanwelcomedJesus:
-Simondidnotwasht hefeetofJesusbutt hewomandidasasi gnofwelcomi
ng
-SimondidnotkissJesusbutt hewomandi dassi
gnoflove
-SimondidnotanointJesusbutt hewomandi dtoshowrespect/honour
.

NB:TheJewishcustom requi
redthatwhenav isi
torcomestoahomeheshouldbegi
venakiss,
wat
er
towashfeetandbeanointedwithoilonthehead.ThePhari
seedi
dnotdoal
lthi
sbutt
hesi
nfulwoman
didal
lthi
sbecauseofherloveforJesus.

OTHERTEACHI
NGSOFJESUS
 ONFASTI
NG
Jesustaughtt
hatfasti
ngwasunnecessar
ybecausethebri
degroom wasar
ound(Jesus)
.When
thebri
degroom wi
l
l betakenawaypeopl
ewil
lfast
.Jesususedtheexampl
eof‘put
ti
ngthenew
patchontheoldcl
oth’,
and‘pour
ingofnewwineintheol
dwi neski
n.’

 ONFORGI
VENESSANDONJUDGI
NGOTHERS(
6:37-
42)
- Jesustaughtthati
faper sonf orgi
vesot her
s, Godinheavenwill
for
gavetheper
son’ssins
- Humanbei ngshavetoexer ciseforgi
venessofoneanot heri
nordertoenj
oyGod’sfel
lowshi
p.
- Jesustaughtthatpeopleshoul dnotjudgeot hersandGodwi l
lnotj
udgethem.
- Weshoul dnotcondemnot hers.
- Nopersoncant akeaspeckoutofhi s/ herf
ri
end’seyey ethehasgotaloginhi
s/hereyes.
- Onebli
ndmancannotl eadanot herblindman

 ONTHEI
DENTI
TYOFJESUSCHRI
ST
Thet
ransf
igur
ati
on(
9:28-
36)
WhileJesuswaspr ay i
ngont hehil
lhisdi
scipl
essaw hi
m beingt ransfi
gured.Tr
ansf
igur
ati
onmeans
changeofappear ance.ThisincidenttookplaceatMt.Her mon(Tabor )
.Jesustook3disci
ples:Pet
er,
JamesandJohn.
Thet women( El
ij
ahandMoses)wer etal
ki
ngaboutthewayi nwhi chJesuswouldsoonf ul
fil
lGod’
s
purposebydy i
nginJer usal
em.Thecl oudrepresent
sGod’spresence.
ReactionofPeterandot herdiscipl
estowhattheyhadseen
-i
tisgoodthatwear ehere
-l
eusmaket hr
eet ents:oneforJesus,oneforMosesandt heotherforEli
jah

NB:Thefi
ndi
ngofJesusbet weenEli
j
ahandMosesmeansJesusi
sthef
ulf
il
lmentoft
heLAW and
PROPHET(whoal
readyspokeabouthi
sdeat
h).

Page83of83
 ONHUMI
LITYANDRESPONSI
BILI
TY (
14:
1-6)
Theset
ti
ng.
Jesushadgonet oeatatt hehouseofoneoft her ul
ersoft hePhari
seesont heSabbat h.Theyhad
62
watchedHim cl
osel
y,perhapstoseei fhewouldhealthemanwi thdr
opsy ? Jesusposedaquest i
on
aboutthel
awful
nessofheal i
ngont heSabbath.Towhi chtheydidnotrespond.ThenJesusheal edt
he
manandposedanot herquestionreveal
ingthei
rinconsist
ency(Lk14:4-6)
:ThePhar iseescouldshow
mercytoanimalwhichfelli
nawel lont heSabbath,butdidnotwantt oshowmer cytoamanwhose
l
egsandarmswer eswollenont heSabbath.
CHOOSI
NGPLACESATTHETABLE-HUMI
LITY (
Luke14:
8-11)
Jesushadal sobeenwat chingthem closely :Hehadnot edhowt hosei nvi
tedwer esel
ecti
ngt hebest
placestosit.Iti
st houghtt hattheseat i
ngar rangement satt hatti
memayhav ei nvol
vedthreet abl
esin
63
theshapeofaf lat-
bottomed" U""Thet ri
clinia ,orGr eciant abl
e,theni nusehadt hr
eesect i
onswhi ch
wer eplacedt ogethersoast of orm af lat-
bot tomedU.Thespaceencl osedbyt hetablewasnot
occupied.Itwasl eftvacantt hattheserv antsmi ghtent eritandat tendt othewant softheguest swho
recli
nedaroundt heout ermar ginoft het able.""Thecent r
alseatofeachoft hesethreesectionswas
deemedapl aceofhonor .
Thispettypositi
oningar oundt hetablespr ompt edJesust oteachal essonusingapar abl
e.
Theset t
ingisaweddi ngf east,acommonsoci alev entinthoseday sJesuswar nsagainstsitt
ingdown
i
nt hebestplace:
a.Someonemor ehonor able/i
mpor t
antmayhav ebeeni nvi
ted,
b.Whent heyar r
ive,thehostwi l
lasky outomov e
c.Wi t
hshamey ouwi llhavet omov etot hel owestpl ace( Likelytheonl yplacel
ef t
!)
.

HOSPI
TALITY-whatadvi
cedi
dJesusgivetothosehosti
ngapar t
y?
-
Whenwehav eapartyweshoul
dinvi
teevery
one,notourfr
iendsonl
y.
-
Ift
hepoorarei
nvit
ed,Godwil
lbl
essussince,t
hepoorcannotpayback.

HUMI
LITY-Wemusthav eatr
ueestimateofourval
uesandnott
oputoursel
vesfor
war
dasbettert
han
wear
ei .
e.thescri
besandPhari
seesthoughttheywer
eGod’sfav
ori
tesbutJesuswarnedt
hem that
t
heymightbelasti
ntheki
ngdom ofGod.

WhatJesussaysaboutchoosi
ngpl
aceswhenonei
sinv
itedt
oaf
unct
ion/
weedi
ngf
east
?
weshoul
- dnotsitdowninabestpl
ace

62
Alsocal l
ed oedema,pluraledemas,oredemata, Theaccumul at
ionoff
lui
dinthel
ungscancauselung
congest ion( f
il
li
ngoft healveol
iwithinmedi ci
ne,anabnor malaccumulati
onofwat eryfl
uidinthe
i
nter cell
ularspacesofconnecti
veti
ssue.Edematoust issuesareswoll
enand,whenpunctur
ed,secr
etea
thi
ni ncoagulabl
eflui
d.maybeagener alone( e.g.,nephrot
icedema).Theterm dr
opsyi ssomewhat
archai c,
andedemahascomet obetheprefer
redterm.

63
acouchar
rangedar
oundt
hreesi
desofat
abl
eandusedbyanci
entRomanst
orecl
i
neonatmeal
s

Page84of84
-
becausesomeonemor eimpor tantcouldbeinvit
ed.
-
andy ouwillbeembar r
assed.
-
wheny ouwi l
lbeaskedt ositint helowestpl
ace.
-
inst eadwheni nvi
tedsiti
nal owpl ace
-
sot hatthehostwi llof
feryouabet t
erplace.
-
t hiswi l
lbri
ngy ouhonourint hepr esenceofallguest
s.
CONCLUSI ON
Thr ought hissimpleparable,Jesushast aughtusamosti mport
anttr
uth:t
heneedtobehumbl
einour
relationswi t
hGodandt hosear oundus!Humi li
tyisnotapopul
argr
aceinourcul
tur
e:
a.Itisconsi der
edasi gnofweaknessbymany .
b.Peopl efearthattheywi l
lbemadeaf l
oormatbyot her
s

Jesusbl
essesl
i
ttl
echi
l
dren(
18:
15-
17)
Thelessonherei
sthatsal
vati
onwillbegi
vent
othosewhoareprepar
edtorecei
vei
tl i
kechi
ldrenwho
arehumble.God’
ski
ngdom isfort
hosewhoarepoori
nspi
ri
tandacknowl
edgesthei
rinsuf
fi
ciency.
THEPARABLEOFTHEGREATFEAST(
14:
15-
24)
Theset t i
ng.
Jesusi si nthesamehouseeat i
ngal ongwithanumberofl awy ers(scr
ibes)andPhar i
sees.Hehadj ust
toldthepar ableof" Taki
ngt heLowestPl ace" .Het hent ellsHi shostt hatwhenhehasadi nnerora
supper ,thatheoughtt oi nvitet hosewhocannotr epayhi m.Jesusi snotsay ingthatwecan" never"
haveour f r
iends, etc.Hei sst ressi nghospi tali
tytowar dst hosewhocannotr epayusi nthisli
fe.Jesus'
comment spr omptar esponsef rom onewhohear dHi m“ howhappyar et hosewhowi l
lsitdownatt he
feastint heki ngdom ofGod! ”
Thel anguageofChr i
stimpl iedt hatGodhi mselfwoul df eastt hosewhof eastedt hepoor ,andt his
i
mpl i
cat ion accor dedwi ththeJewi shnotiont hattheki ngdom ofGodwoul dbeusher edi nwithagr eat
festi
val.
Thepar ablei t
self
.
Acer tainmangi vesagr eatsupperandext endshi sinvitati
on.Howev er;thosei nvi
tedbegant omake
excuses. ..
a.Onehadboughtapi eceofgr ound,andsai dhemustgoandseei t.
b.Anot herhadboughtf i
v ey okeofoxen, andwant edt otestthem.
c.At hi
rdsaidhehadmar ried, andcoul dnotcome.
Themast er,beingangr y,sendshi sser vanttogooutandi nv i
teothers..
.
a.Atf i
rst,t
hepoor ,mai med, lameandbl i
nd(i.e.,
soci aloutcasts)
b.Butt hereisst il
lroom,sot heser v
anti ssentoutagai n,tocompelt hoseamongt hehighway s
and hedgest ocome.Butt hosei nvi
tedwhomadeexcuseswoul dnott asteofhi ssupper .Jesus
doesnotexpl aint hemeani ngoft hisparable,sowear el eftonourown.Her ear esomet houghtsi n
regardst ot hepar able:
Fir
stl
y ,thef east(kingdom ofGod)wi ll
befil
ledwi thgent il
es( t
hosenoty etinvit
edi nthefirstpl
ace).

Jesuscorr
ectst
heJewi shfalsehopethatsalvati
onisonlyfortheJews.
1.Godhasgraci
ouslyextendedtheinvi
tati
onofsalvati
on,alongwit
hit
sfuturebl
essings,t
omany
a.TotheJewf i
rst
,andal sotot
heGr eek(i.
e.theGenti
les)
b.Godcert
ainl
ydesiresal l
tobesaved,notwant i
nganyt operi
sh-1Tim 2:
3-6;
Tit2:11;
2Pet3:
9
c.Andsotheinvit
ati
onhasbeenmadet oall-cf
.Rev22:17

Page85of85
 2.Sadly
,though,manywi llnotacceptthei nvi
tation,makingexcuses.Theseexcusesmayi nvol
ve
thi
ngsthatwithinthemsel vesar enoblesuchasbusi nessresponsibi
li
tiesorfami l
yresponsi
bil
it
ies.The
probl
em isthatpriori
tiesaremi splaced,
andoneshoul dnotall
owear thlymatterstotake priorit
yover
spir
it
ualmat t
ers.
CONCLUSI ON
TheLordhascer tainlypreparedawonder f
ul"supper",andhasext endedt hei
nv i
tati
ontoall.
Thedanger
i
sal l
owingtheaffairsoflif
etokeepusf rom acceptingt hi
sgraci
ousi nvit
ati
on.

ALLEGORI CALDETAI LS:

Mani sGod
GreatfeastmeanstheGospel ;
I
nv i
tedguests=Jewi
shel der s;
Theser v
ant=Jesus;
Excuses=howt heJewsr ejectedtheGospel
Str
eetpeople(thepoor,cr i
ppled,bli
ndandlame)=Jewsconsi
deredasout
cast
s
Farinthecountry/thosei ncount r
yroadsandlanes=gent
il
es.

 ONSOCI
ALRESPONSI
BILI
TY:
ONTHEUSESOFMONEY/
RICHES.
Jesustaughtt
hepeoplethatri
cheshavetobesoldoutandthemoneybegi ventot
hepoori
nthe
soci
ety.I
tisofnousetokeepr i
chesonearthwhereathi
efcanstealandrustandmot
hcandest
roy
,
butri
chesshouldbekeptinheavenwheretheycannotbest
olennordestr
oyed:

Ther
ichmanandLazar
us(
16:
19-
31)
Ther i
chmanr esembl esthePhariseesorany onewhol ovesmoneyandsel fi
shl
yandshor t
sight
edly
disregardedLazar us(thepoor ,
oranyper soninneedofchar i
ty)
.Abr aham’sbosom signifi
esaheav enly
banquet .Theaddr essoft heri
chman,‘ f
atherAbr aham’indicat
esJewi shdescentf r
om Abr aham.The
responseofAbr aham ‘ son’i
ndi
catesthatalt
hough, arichmanwasaJew, itdidnotguaranteeheavenly
bliss.Greatfi
reandgr eatgulfi
ndi
categreatsepar ati
onbetweent het wowor lds.
64
NB:t her i
chmanknewwhatMosesandpr ophets t aughtonsoci alresponsibil
i
tytowardsthepoor ,so
hehadnoexcusef ornothel pi
ngthepoor( Lazarus).Fail
uretopract i
celoveandmer cyledtoloss of
newl ife.
Lessonsf rom thepar able:
-tobei ndi
fferent/non-concer nt
otheneedsofot hersisasin.
-ri
chpeopl e/nationshav eadutytohelpthepoorpeopl e/nati
ons.

NB:itwasacommonbel iefthatwhoeversuff
eredanymi sf
ortune,beitsicknessandassuchpeople
couldnotenterthekingdom ofGod.Theybel i
evedthatthosewhower erichandownedpr oper
tywere
favor
edbyGod,hence,woul dautomati
call
yenterheav en.Agai n,t
hisparabledoesnotmeanthatthe
poor(materi
all
y)arefri
endsofGodandt hattherichareenemi esofGod.Any onecanresemblet
hisr
ich
mani f
:
 Onei stoowor ldl
y
 I foneisnotli
steni
ngwhatt heBi
blesays
64
C,
FIsai
ah58:
6-9

Page86of86
  I
fonei
sev
il
.

The(
young)r
ichman(
18:
18-
30)
Thet eachingofJesusshockedt hedisci
plesandt her i
chman,since,manyJewsr egardedr ichesa
signofdivinefavourwhil
epovert
yasaccurse, ButJesussaid‘
iti
shardf orri
chpeopl etoent erheav en
thanacamelt ogot hr
oughtheeyeofaneedl e’Theri
chmant houghtthathecoul dgainsal vati
onbya
singl
eher oicacti
on.Jesusemphasizesthatl ackofdetachmenttorichescandet erone’ssal vati
on.
Thatiswhyt hemanwassadwhenhewast oldtosellhispr
opert
yanddonat ethemoneyt ot hepoor
then becomeadi sci
pleofJesus.In summar yJesuswant ed tot each hi
m t hatdet achmenti s
i
mpor tantwhenonewant st
ofoll
owJesus.
 THETEACHI
NGOFJESUSONWOMENI
NSERVI
CE (
LK8:
1-3)
Inhismi nist
ry,Jesuswast ravelli
ngi ndi
ff
erentpl
acespreachi
ngtheGoodNews.Thi smeans
Jesusv aluedwomenandr espect edthem.Somewomenwhohadbeenheal edfrom di
seases
andf r
om ev ilspiri
tswer
ef oll
owi ngJesushelpinghim wi
ththei
rownresources.Examplesof
suchwomenar e,Mar yMagdal ene,Joanna(thewifeofChuza),andSusanna.Someoft hese
womenpr eparedt hespi
cesf orJesusaf t
erhisdeat
h.Andsomeoft hem werethefi
rstwi
tness
totheresur r
ection.
Jesusvisi
tsMar t
haandMar y(10: 38-42)
a)Howdi dMar thawelcomeJesus?
-
shewor kedtopreparefoodforJesus
-
shereceivedhi
m asaguest
b)Howdi dMar ywelcomeJesus?
-
Shesatatt hefeetofJesusli
steni
ngtohi
st eachi
ng
-
Shewelcomedhi m asateacher
c) WhyJesusr ecommendt herecept
ionofMar y
?
-
becauselisteni
ngtoJesusismor eimpor
tantthancar
ingf
orhi
m asaguest
.

 ONLI
FEAFTERDEATHANDTHEMESSI
AH(
20:
27-
44)
TheSadduceeswhodidnotbel
i
evei
nlif
eafterdeathwant
edtotr
apJesusandr ef
utehi
steachi
ngson
65
l
ife aft
erdeath .The di
l
emma ofthe quest i
on waswho wi
llbe the ownerofthe woman at
66
resurr
ecti
on,si
nceal
lthe7menmarr
iedher. Jesussaidatr
esurr
ect
ionpeoplewil
lbeli
keangels67.

65
Thequest i
onwasl i
kethis:
1. Moseswr otethefollowinglawf orus’
2. I
famandi esandleav esawi fewithoutchil
drenthatman’sbrot
her
smustmar r
ythewidow
3. Thereasoni stohav echil
drenthatwillbeconsideredasthedeadman’
schil
dren
4. oncet herewer esev enbr others
5. theeldestgotmar riedanddi edwi t
houthavingchil
dren
6. thenthesecondonemar r
iedawomanandt hethir
d
7. thesamet hi
nghappenedt oal l
thesev en
8. theyalldiedwi thouthav i
ngchi l
dren
9. l
astofal l thewomandi ed
10.Nowont hedayofr esurr
ect i
onwhosewi fewi l
lshebesinceall
oft
hem gotmarri
edt
oher?
66
C.fTobit6:
14- 15/
67
1.Themenandwomenoft hi
sagemar ry.
2.butt
hemenandwomenwhoar ewor t
hyt ori
sefrom deathandli
veint
heagetocomewillnotmar
ry.

Page87of87
Heprovedt hatGodisaGodoft heli
vingnotdeadbyci ti
ngthecall
i
ngofMosest hatGodrevealedto
MosesthatHei stheGodofAbr aham, I
saac,Jacob(Ex.3:
1-6)
OntheMessi ah,Jesusaskedthet eacheroftheLawwhatt hescri
ptur
emeantwheni tsai
dt hatthe
Messiahwoul dbethedescendantsofDav i
d.Andwhati tmeantwhenDav i
dsai
dt heLor
dsaidt omy
master,
sithereonmyr i
ght.
’ThismeansJesus( Messiah)i
sgreat
erthanDavi
d.
 ONOFFERI
NGANDONTHEENDOFTHEWORLD(
Luke21:
1-4)
Jesuspraisedt hewi dowforherof feri
ngsince; shegav eever yt
hingtoGodev ent hemoneyshecoul d
haveusedt obuyf ood.Thiswasi ncompar i
sonwi t
ht hePhar iseeswhower egivingoutofabundance.
Someoft hedi sci plescomment edont hebeaut yofJer usal em Templ e.Thi spr ompt edJesust o
narr
atethet i
mewhent het empl ewi l
lbedest royed(notast onewi llbelefti
ni t
spl ace).Thedi sciples
wantedtoknowt heexactdat e,buttheywer etoldt hattheyshoul dbeont heirguar dbecausemany
thi
ngswillhappenbef oredest ructi
onsuchas, warsamongki ngdoms,st r
angesi gnswoul dhappenat
thesun,moonandt hestars,terri
bleearthquakewi lloccur,falsemessi ahs,wil
lriseupf ami ne,plagues.
Manydisciples/followersofJesuswi llbearrested,triedinasy nagogueandputt hem inpr isonforthe
sakeofJesus,f ami lyandcl osef ri
endswi l
lbet r
ayeachot herI .e.parent
shandi ngov erthei rchil
dren.
(Act
s12:1- 3/ 16:22f f)Thedi scipleswi l
lbehat edbymanypeopl e.Thiswillbet hetimewhent he
Templewi l
lbesur roundedbyt hearmy .Atlastthesonofmanwoul dappeartot hewor ldingl oryand
power.
Thepr
edi
cti
onsofJesusconcer
ninghi
ssuf
fer
inganddeat
h
(LK9: 21-22);(LK9: 43-45);
(LK18: 31-34).
Forthef i
rstt i
meaf terPet erhadconf essedt hatJesuswast heMessi ahJesuspr edictedt hatthe
‘
Sonofmustsuf f ermuchber ejectedbyt heelders,thechiefpr iestsandt heteachersoft heLaw.He
wil
lbeputt odeat h,butt hreeday slater,hewi l
lber aisedtonewl i
fe.Butheputst r
ictor der sthathe
shouldnott ellany oneaboutt his.(LK9: 21-22).
Forthesecondt ime, het oldhisdisciplesaboutHi sdeathagai n.Het ol
dt hem thattheSonofMani s
goingt obehandedov ert othepowerofhumanbei ngsbuthi sdi sci
plesdidnotunder standwhat
Jesussaid. (
LK9: 43- 45).
Forthet hirdtime,Jesust ol
dhi sdi sciplesabouthi sdeat h.Het ol dthem thattheywer egoi ngto
Jerusalem wher eev erythingthatthepr ophetswr oteaboutt hesonofmanwi llbefulfil
led.Hewi l
lbe
handedov ertot hegent il
es,whowi llmockhi m,insulthim andspi tonhi m.Theywi llalsowhi phim
andkillhi
m, butont het hirddayhewi llri
seagai n.Stil
lthedisciplesdi dnotunder st
andwhathesai d
tothem.( LK18: 31- 34).

THEPASSOVERFEAST
THEPASSIONOFJESUSCHRI ST/THEHOLYWEEK
Itiscal
l
edthe‘PassionWeek’becausethiswastheweeki nwhichJesusmetgreatopposi
ti
on
from hi
senemiesthen,Jesuswasar r
ested,t
ort
ured,fl
oggedandcondemnedt odeathonthe
cross.I
tisal
socalledthe‘Hol
yweek’becauseChr i
sti
ansrememberthatt
hroughthedeathof
Jesus,t
heworldwassav ed.

Jer
usal
em atPassov
erseasonwast
hedel
i
ghtoft
heJewsandt
hedespai
roft
heRomans.

3.t
heywil
lbeli
keangelsandcannotdi
e
4.theyar
eli
kethechi
ldrenofGodbecauset
heyhav
eri
senf
rom deat
h…

Page88of88
Thousandsofdev outJewsf rom allov erthewor l
dar ri
vedintheHol yCity,theirheart
sf i
l
ledwith
excit
ementand nat ionali
sticf ervor.Thepopul ationofJer usal
em t ri
pled dur i
ng thi
sf east,
makingitnecessaryf ort heRomanmi l
it
aryunitst obeonspeci alalert.Theyl i
vedwi t
ht he
possibi
l
ityt
hatsomeent husiasticJewi shZealotmi ghttryt
oki l
laRomanof fi
cialorinci
tear i
ot,
andtherewasal wayspot ential
f ordisputesamongt hevari
ousJewi shreligiousgroups.
Intothi
ssit
uationcameJesuswi t
hl esst hanaweekr emainingbef or
eHewoul dbecr ucifi
ed
outsi
dethecitywalls.Ont heroadJesust ook,atr avel
erwoul darriv
efirstatBet hanyandt hen
comet oBethphage,aboutt womi l
esf rom Jerusalem.Theel ev at
ionatt hispointmakesonet o
viewtheHolyCity.

TheLor dper mittedHi sfol l

owerst ogivehim apubl i
cdemonst r
ati
oni nHishonorwhi chis
knownast het r
iumphent ryintoJerusal
em.Jesussentt woofHi sdisci
plestoBet hphagetoget
thecolt(donkey )thatHeneededf ortheev ent
.Thedi sci
pleswer etoldthatifany oneasked
them whytheywer euntyingt hedonkey,theyhadtoanswert hattheLordwant sitandwi l
lbri
ng
i
tback.
Jesusrodeont hedonkeyashewasent eringJerusal
em.Peopl espreadtheirgarment sonthe
roadandot herst ookbr anchesoft r
eesandspr eadingthem ont her oad(C.F2Ki ngs9:13)
/
Psalm 118:25–26.Peopl ewer eshouti
ng,‘Hosanna,bl
essedi shewhocomesi nt henameof
theLord…Hosannai nthehi ghest.
’
PALM SUNDAY
Triumphentryi
ntoJerusal
em (
19:28-
40)
WhyJesususedacol
t/
donkey?Si
gni
fi
canceofusi
ngadonkey
:
1.I
tsy
mboli
zedhumil
i
ty
2.Hewasf
ulf
il
li
ngt
heprophecyofPr
ophetZechar
iah(
9:9)‘
Rej
oicegr
eat
ly,
daught
erofZi
on!
Shout ,daughterofJerusalem!Look!Yourkingi scomi ngtoy ou:heislegi t
imateand
vict
or i
ous,humbl eandr idingonadonkey ’
. Byr idingont hedonkey ,Hedecl ared
Himsel ftobeI sr
ael’
sKi ngandMessi ah.Hence,hedel i
ber at
elychal lengedt he
reli
giousl eader
s.Thisseti nmot i
ontheof fi
cialplott hatl
edt oHi sarrest,tri
al,and
crucifi
xion.TheJewishleader shaddecidednott oarr estHim duringthef east.
3.Toshowt hathehascomet obr i
ngpeaceandnotwar .Jesususedadonkeynotahor se
whichi sanani malwhichi susedinbattl
ef i
eld;hence, hewasnotami l
itaryMessi ah
ast heJewsexpect ed.

Howdi
dHi
sent
ryf
ulf
il
lOTpr
opheci
es?
68
-
herodeonadonkeyaspr ophesi
edbyZechari
ah.
-
peopl
eshoutedaspr ophesiedbyZechar
iah.
-
heenter
edinJerusalem i
nahumbl eway.
Si
gni
fi
canceoflayi
ngofcl oaks:
-
symbolofl
oyalt
y.
-
symbolofki
ng’senthronement.

68
Zechar
i 9-Rej
ah.9: oicegreat
ly,
daught
erofZion!Shout
,daughterofJer
usal
em!Look!Yourki
ngis
comingtoyou:hei
slegit
imateandvi
ctor
ious,
humbleandr i
dingonadonkeyonay oungdonkey,t
hefoal
ofafemaledonkey
.

Page89of89
WhyJesusweptov
erJer
usal
em?(
19:
41-
44.
)Af
terent
eri
ngJer
usal
em Jesusweptov
er
Jer usalem.WHY?
-theenemi eswoul
dcomeandsurroundt
hecity
.
69
-allinhabi
tant
swouldbeki
l
ledandtheci
tydest
roy
ed.
Cl
eansi
ngoft
het
empl
e(v
v45-
48)
Gentil
eswer eallowedt opr ayint hecour tofgent i
l
esbutpriest
si nchar geofthetempl edidnot
respectthi
splace.How?
i. Theyusedi tasamar ketsquar et osel
lspot
lessorblamel essani malsfi
tf orsacri
fi
ce.
ii
. Theyusedi tasabankf orforeignexchange:uncleanmoneywaschangedt oclean
Jewishmoneyi nor dertopayt empletax.
ii
i. TheCour tofgent i
leswasal sousedasshor tcuttogeti ntot hecourtofIsrael
ites.
Reasonst hatmadeJesusdr iv
emer chantsoutoft heTemple:
1.Theani malscr eatedasmel lyandmessyat mosphereint het empl e.
2.I twasamet aphoricalcleansing,becauseJesuswant edt osy mboli
zethatt heHol yGod
needst obewor shippedi nacl eanpl ace.
3.Jesuswant edt heGent i
lesalsot owor shi
pGodcomf ortablybutt hebenchesandt he
animal penswer einconveniencest othem.
4.Themoneychanger st ookadv ant ageofpeopl eand ov ercharged them whi ch was
steali
ng.

NB: Whenhewascleansi
ngt hetemple,hequoted2OTpr ophecies:
-heaccusedt
hepeople‘f
ormaki ngthetempleahideoutf
orthieves’ (
Jeremiah7:11)
,inst
eadof
-‘
makingthet
empleahousef orpr
ayer’(
Isai
ah56:7)
.
MONDAY- WEDNESDAY
Ont heseday
s,Jesusev adedmanyt r
apssetbyt hechi
efpr iests,Phari
sees,scri
besandthe
elder
s.
TheQuest
ionaboutt
heaut
hor
it
yofJesus(
20:
1-8)
Thequesti
onwas‘ t
elluswhatrightdoyouhav etodotheset
hings?Whogav
eyout
hisr
ight
?’
Theabovegroupswantedtoknowwhy
 Jesusr odei
ntoJerusal
em inatri
umphway ,
 taughtinsi
dethetemplewithoutt
heirper
missi
onand
70
 Chasedt hepeopleoutofthetemple.

Actual
lytheywant edt ohearbl untl
ythatwashet heMessiahandt hatSonofGod.I fsoJesus
couldhavebeingaccusedofbl asphemy .I
nst
ead,Jesusquestionedwher eJohntheBapti
stgot
hi
saut hori
ty,
whetherf rom Godorf rom men.Thegr oupsfai
ledtoanswerbecause:
1.Tosayt hatJohn’saut hori
tycamef rom men,theycouldhavebeenst onedbythecrowdwho
bel
ievedthatHisauthor it
ycamef r
om God.
2.Again,tosaythathisaut horit
ycamef r
om God,theycoul
dhav ebeenaskedwhyt hentheydi
d
notbeliev
eGod.Sof earofbei ngcorneredbyJesus, t
heysai
dtheydonotknow.Jesust oodid

69
Thi
seventoccurr
edin70ADbyKi ngFelix,
whosecommanderwas…. .
70
Thequest
ionwast ri
ckbecausetobet heMessiah,Jesuscoul
dhavebeenarrest
edandifhecould
havesai
dhehadnospeci alauthor
it
y ,
theycouldhavetoldhi
mt oobeyt
heiror
ders,si
nce,
theywerethe
mostpowerfulr
eli
giousbodyinIsr
ael,secondtoGod.

Page90of90
 notgi
veananswerwhyhei
sdoi
ngal
ltheset
hingsbecausehi
shourhadnoty
etcome.

Thepar
abl
eoft
hewi
ckedt
enant
s(20-
:9-
18)
Int hispar ableJesusv ivi
dlydescr i
best hesi nfulnessoft hoser el
igiousl eader swhower erejecti
ngt he
ver ySonofGod!
Ther
‘ ewasonceamanwhopl antedav i
ney ardandl etittot enantsandt henl efthomef oral ongt i
me…’
Thepar ableisbasedont hef oll
owi ngcust om:Owner sofest atesi nPal estinewhol ivedabr oadr ented
thei rlandt ot enantswhopai dr entwi thpar toft hehar vest .I fthehei roft heownerdi ed,thet enants
hadt hef ir
strighttot hel and.Jesusnar ratedt hispar ableaf terthecont r
ov ersiali
ssueofhi saut hori
ty.
Theowneroft heviney ardsent3ser vant sandhi ssont or eceivet heshar eoft heharv
est .Butoneaf ter
anot heral lthet hreeser vant swer ebeat enup,t reatedshamef ully,woundedandsomesentt hem
wi thoutany t
hing.Atl ast, t
hesont oowast hrownoutoft hev i
neandki ll
edhi m.ThenJesusaskedwhat
theownerwi lldo.Jesusanswer edt hathewi l
lkil
lthosepeopl et enant sandhandov ert hev ineyar
dt o
ot hert enants.Thenhet oldt hem t hat‘thest onewhi cht hebui lderr ejectedaswor thl
esst ur nedoutt o
bet hemosti mpor tantofal l
.’
(Psal ms118: 22- 23).Her eJesuswant edt oshowt hat
 Theonewhoseaut horitytheywer er efusingwast heper sonsentandchosenbyGod.
 Jesuswast hef oundat ionoft heirsal vationonwhom t hef aithofpeopl ewasf oundedandhe
wasgoi ngt obet heirjudgeoneday .
Al l
egor icalreferences:
-viney ard=God’ schosenpeopl e(Jews) .
-Owneroft hev ineyard=God.
-tenant s=Je wi shl eader s( chiefpr i
est s,scr i
bes,el der s,andal lthei rf oll
owers-asanat i
on),
I
srael
rej
ect
edmanyofherpr
ophet
s-cf
.2Chr36:
15-
16)
-
servant
s=di ff
erentprophets.
-
son=JesusChr i
st
-
threwout sidevineyar
d=Jesuswaskil
ledoutsi
deJerusal
em.
-
Others(tenants)-genti
l
es
Whatwast hereactionoftheJews?
-
theytri
edt ohav ehim arr
ested,
butwereaf
raidoft
hepeople.

NB:t
hedest
ruct
ionoft
het
enant
s,meantdest
ruct
ionofJewi
shl
eader
sandJer
usal
em (
in70AD)
.The
gi
vingofthev i
neyar
dtoothersmeantthetransferofGod’skingdom tothenewpeopl eofGod.Inother
words,t
hereplacementofthewickedtenantsbyothersmeant ,unfai
thf
ulreli
giousl
eader
sofIsraelwil
l
berepl
acedbygent i
lel
eadersint
henewI srael
,thechurch.Ifwedonotut il
izeourspeci
alpr
ivi
l
eges
a.Godwi l
ltakeawaytheblessi
ngswehav e
b.Andgiveittosomeonewhoappr eci
atesitandbearthefruitofit
.

NB:
Thepar
abl
eissi
mil
art
otheoneusedi
ntheOTi
nIsai
ah5:
1-771.

Thequest
ionaboutpay
ingt
axes(
20:
19-
26)
Thescr
ibesandchi
efpr
iest
sbr
ibedot
her
stot
rapJesuswi
thaquest
ion:whet
heri
twasl
awf
ul

71
Theparabl
eofthevineyar
d,wher
ethef
armerwor
kedhar
dbutt
hef
iel
ddi
dnotr
espondt
othecar
e,
si
nce,
itpr
oducedsourgrapes.

Page91of91
f
ort
heJewst
opayt
axt
otheRomans.

Whythequest ionwast ricky

?Because:
A‘Yes’answerwoul dhav emadepeopletodesertJesus,
becausehecouldhavebeentakenas
acoll
aboratoroft heRomans.Agai n,a‘NO’answercouldhaveledJesustobearrest
edsince;
hecouldhavebeent akenasapolit
icalr
ebel
.
ButJesusev adedt hetrapbysayi
ng‘paywhatbelongstotheemperorandpayGodwhat
72
bel
ongst oGod’.Peopl ewerequi
teandwereamazedatt hisanswer.
Thequest
ionaboutr
esur
rect
ion/
ri
singf
rom deat
h(20:
27-
40)
TheSadduceeswhodi dnotbel iev
einli
feaft
erdeathwant edtotrapJesusandr efut
ehis
73
teachi
ngsonl if
eafterdeath .Thedi l
emmaofthequestionwaswhowi l
lbetheownerofthe
74
womanatr esur r
ect
ion,si
nceal lt
he7menmar r
iedher. Jesussaidatresurr
ecti
onpeopl
ewil
l
belikeangels75.HeprovedthatGodi saGodoft
heli
vingnotdeadbyci ti
ngt hecal
li
ngofMoses
thatGodrev ealedtoMosest hatHei st
heGodofAbr
aham, I
saac,Jacob(Ex.3:
1-6)
ngaboutt
Teachi rueandf
alsepi
ety
/godl
i
ness(
20:
45-
21:
4)
Fal sepietyofthescr i
bes
-theywal kedabouti nthei
rlongr obes
-theylov edtobegr eetedwithrespectintheirmarketpl
ace
-theychoset her eservedseatsint hesynagoguesandthebestpl
acesatf
east
s
-theyt ookadv antageofwi dowsandr obtheirhomes
-theymadeashowof fbysay i
ngl ongprayers
-theymadeashowof fbygiv i
ngal otbutoutofabundance.
Tr uepietyofthewi dow
-thoughpoort hewi dowgav eall
whatshehad
-shewashumbl e
-sheshowedgr eatneedofGod.
Thet
eachi
ngont
heendofday
s/endt
imes(
LK21:
5-24)
Someofthedi
sci
plescomment
edonthebeaut
yofJerusal
em Templ
e.Thi
spromptedJesusto
nar
rat
etheti
mewhent het
empl
ewil
lbedestr
oyed(notastonewil
lbelefti
nit
spl ace)
.The

72
Jesusi ndicatedt hatbot hCaesarandGodhav etheirri
ght sandwhati sgi
ventothem isnotagi
ftbut
thepay mentofadebt .
73
Thequest i
onwasl i
ket his:
11.Moseswr ot ethef ollowinglawf orus’
12.Ifamandi esandl eav esawi fewithoutchil
drent hatman’ sbrot
hersmustmar r
yt hewi
dow
13.Ther easoni stohav echil
drent hatwillbeconsider edast hedeadman’schil
dren
14.oncet herewer esev enbr others
15.theel destgotmar riedanddi edwi t
houthav i
ngchi l
dr en
16.thent hesecondonemar r
iedawomanandt het hir
d
17.thesamet hinghappenedt oal ltheseven
18.theyal l
diedwi thouthav i
ngchi l
dren
19.lastofal lthewomandi ed
20.nowont hedayofr esurrectionwhosewi fewillshebe?
74
C.fTobi t6:14-15/
75
1.Themenandwomenoft hi
sagemar ry
2.butthemenandwomenwhoar ewor t
hytor i
sefrom deat handli
veintheagetocomewi ll
notmarry
3.theywi l
lbel i
keangel sandcannotdi e
4.theyar elikethechi ldrenofGodbecauset heyhav er i
senf rom deat
h…

Page92of92
di
scipl
eswant edtoknowt heexactdate,buttheyweretol
dthattheyshoul
dbeont hei
rguar d
becausemanyt hingswillhappenbeforedestruct
ionsuchas,warsamongki ngdoms,t er
ri
ble
eart
hquake,famine,plagues.Manydi sci
ples/
foll
owersofJesuswi l
lbear rested,tri
edi na
synagogueandputt hem inprisonforthesakeofJesus.(Acts12:1-
3/16:22ff)Thedi sci
ples
wil
lbehatedbymanypeopl e.Thiswil
lbethet i
mewhent heTemplewillbesurroundedbyt he
army.

Thursday
Thebet
ray
al:
Theplottoki
llJesus(
LK22:
1-6)
Thetimef orthef eastofunleav
enedbr ead(Passover)wasnear.Thechiefpri
estand
theteachersoft helaw desir
edt oarr
estJesusbutt heywereafraidofthepeopleso
theyweret r
yingtof i
ndway sofkill
i
ngJesussecr etl
y.JesusI
scariotwenttothechief
pri
estandt heof f
icersofthetempleguar danddiscussedhowhecoul dbetrayJesus.
Judaswasof fer
edmoneyt owhichhecoul dbet
rayJesuswhenanoppor tunetimehas
come.

WhyJudasI scariotbetrayedJesus?
-Hewant edJesust oactqui cklyasaMessi ah,sinceJesuswasnotr evol
ti
ngagai nstthe
76
Romans.
-Hesmel tdangerandt houghtt hatthebet r
ayalwoul dassur
ehim ofhisprotecti
on,si
nce; hehad
aser v
iceoft hepr i
ests.(hewant edt osidewi t
ht hewinni
ngsideforsafety)
-Hewant edmoneybyt ri
ckingt hepr iest
s.Het houghtJesuswoul ddisappearbyami racl
e.
-hethoughtJesuswoul ddef endhi mself.
-Satanent eredhi m.
Pr eparationf orthel astsupper( 22:7-13)
PeterandJohnwer esenti ntoaci tyandf ol
lowedamanwhocar r
iedthejarofwat erandt his
manwi l
lshow t hem t her oom f orthePassov er.Jesuswantedt ohaveaPassov erinsecr et
because:
-hewant edt opr eventJesus’ enemi esfrom knowi nghiswhereabouts.
-tohavespeci alatt
entionwi thhi sapost l
es.
-toavoiddi sturbancesf rom thosewhost il
lneedhi m.

ThePassov erlambwassupposednott ohav eanybl emi sh,andt hensl ainint het emple
precinct
sandt hesuppereatenwi thi
nt heJer usal
em citylimits.Fort heJews,t hePassov er
feastwast hememor ialofapastv i
ctor
y ,butJesuswoul dinstit
uteanewsuppert hatwoul dbe
thememor i
alofHisdeath.
Ont hisday,Jesussenttwodiscipl
esintot hecit
yandwer et oldtofoll
owt hemanwhowi llcar
ry
ajarofwat erwhowi llshowthem ther oom wher etheywillcelebratethesupper .Sincef orthe
Jewst henewdaybeganwi thsundown, i
twoul dbeFridaywhenJesusandHi sdi
sciplesmeti n
theUpperRoom.Thi swasHi slastPassov er
,andont hatday ,Hewoul df ulf
illt
hePassov erby
dyingont hecrossasthespotlessLambofGod( John1:29;1Cor .5:7;1Pet er2:21–24) .
Thel
astsupperandhowwasi
thel
d?

76
Hewasambi
ti
ous;
hehopedJesuswoul
ddef
endhi
msel
fift
heyt
ri
edt
oar
resthi
m

Page93of93
Theor igi
nalPassov erfeastconsist edoftheroast
edlamb,theunleavenedbr ead,andthedish
ofbitt
erher bs(Ex.12:8–20) .Thelambr emi
ndedtheJewsofthebl oodt hatwasappl i
edtothe
doorpostsinEgy pttokeept heangel ofdeat
hfrom sl
ayi
ngthei
rfi
rstborn.Theunleavenedbread
remindedt hem oft hei
rhast einl eavingEgypt(Ex
.12:39)
,andthebi tterherbsspokeoft hei
r
suff
eringasPhar aoh’
ssl aves.Att het i
meofJesus,theJewshadaddedt othecer emonythe
dri
nkingoff ourcupsofwi nedil
utedwi thwater
:

1.Af t
erasolemnbl essi
ng,thefi
rstcupwasdr unk,f
oll
owedbybi t
terherbs.Thensomeoner ead
thePassov erst
oryfrom Exodus12, Psal
m 11(theli
ttl
eHallel
)wassung.
2.Thent hesecondcupwasdr unk.Thencamet hemai nmeal oflambandunl eavenedbread.
3.Aftert
hiscamet hethi
rdcup, t
he‘cupofblessing’
wasdr unk.Final
ly,
Psalms114- 118(the
‘
Gr eatHall
el’
)weresung,
4.Andt hePassov ercamet oit
sclimaxwhent hefourt
hcup,t he‘cupofconsummat i
on,’was
drunk.

I
nsummar y
-
alambwasr oastedanditsbl
oodsmear
edonthedoorpost
.
-
itwaseat
enwi t
hbitterher
bsandunl
eav
enedbread.
-
Asongwassung.
-
cupofwinewerepr esent

ThisisthewayJesusandhi sdisci
pleswouldhavecelebrat
edthePassov
er.However,t
he
change came atthe t
hir
d cup.Jesus di
d somet
hing thatwas har
dforthe di
sci
ples t
o
underst
andatthatt
ime.
LK22:17-20:

Thenhet ookacup,andaf tergi

vingthankshesaid,“Takethi
sanddi vi
deitamongyoursel
ves.ForIt el
l
yout hatfrom nowonIwi llnotdri
nkofthefrui
tofthevineunti
lthekingdom ofGodcomes.”Thenhet ook
bread, andaftergiv
ingthankshebr okeitandgaveittothem,say i
ng, “
Thisi
smybodywhi chisgivenf or
you.Dot hi
sinr emembranceofme. ”Andinthesamewayhet ookt hecupaftert
heyhadeaten,saying,
“Thiscupt hatispouredoutf ory
ouisthenewcov enantinmyblood.

Herewast hethi
rdcup,t he‘ cupofblessi
ng,’butJesussaidthatthebreadandwi newer ehis
bodyandbl ood.“Bloodoft heCov enant”wasaquot at
ionfrom Exodus24:8,apassaget hatal
l
thedisci
pleswouldhav er ecognized:i
trefer
redtotherati
fi
cati
onoft hecovenantbetweenGod
andIsrael
.Jesust alksast houghhei si
ntroduci
nganewcov enant,
onethatwillberati
fi
edwith
hisownblood.

Dur
ingthesupper,Jesusrevealedthatoneofthem wil
lbetrayhim(vv22-
23.
)Thi
sst
atement
pr
omptedthedisci
plestoaskingthemselveswhoitwasthatwil
lbet
rayhim.

JesusinGethsemaneandhowwasJesust empted?(
22:
39-46)
TheDev i
lsuggest
edtohi
mt ochangehi
sfather
’spl
anofsuff
eringanddryi
ng(vv42-44)
.
Jesusasahumanbei ngwasafrai
dtofacesuff
eri
nganddeath77.Howev
er,heacceptedthewi
l
l
ofhisFather
.
Thear
restofJesusi
nGet
hsemane(
vv47-
53)

77
Thi
sisshowni
nthewayhewascr
yingi
nthedeser
t,Remov
‘ ethecupofsuf
fer
ingf
rom me…’

Page94of94
JudasbetrayedJesuswithakiss.Pet
eri
ntr
yingt
odef endJesusbycutt
ingofftheearoft
he
servantofthehi
gh-pr
iest
,whosenamewasMal chus.Jesusdidnotr
esi
sthisarr
est.Hewas
takentothehouseofhighpri
est.

NB:Thef actt hatJudasbr oughtsuchal argegroupofar medmeni sev i

dencet hatneit
herhe
northereli
giousl eadersr eal
lyunderst
oodJesus.Theyt houghtthatJesuswoul dt r
ytoescape,
orthatHisf ollower swoul dputupaf i
ght,orthatperhapsHemi ghtdoami racle.OurLord’
s
wordsinMar k14: 49wer eproofthatHewasi ncontrol
,fort
heycoul dhav earrestedHim many
ti
mesear l
ier,exceptt hatHishourhadnoty etcome.
NB:thearrangementofr el
igi
ousauthori
ti
eswi thJudasIscar
iotarr
estJesuswasgoodbecause
Jesuswoul dbear rest
edi nabsenti
aofthecr owdwhowoul dhav eattackedrel
igiousauthori
ti
es.

HowPet
erdeni
edJesus:
-
Jesuswasar restedandt akenawayi ntothehouseoftheHi ghPriest
.
-
Peterfoll
owedatadi stance.
-
Hejoinedt hosesi tti
ngr oundt hef i
re.
-
Aser v
antwomansawhi m andsai dhewaswi thJesus.
-
Peterdeniedt hathenev erknewJesus.
-
Aft
erawhi eamannot
l icedhi m andsaidhewasoneoft hem too.
-
Peteranswer edt hathewasnot .
-
Aft
eraboutanhour ,anot hermani nsi
stedstrongl
ythatPet erwaswi t
hJesussincehewasa
Gal
il
ean.
-
Peteranswer edt hathedi dnotknowwhatt hemanwast alkingabout.
-
Whilehewasst il
l speaki ng,thecockcr owed.
-
Jesust ur
nedandl ookedst r
aightatPeter.
-
Peterremember edwhatJesushadsai d.
-
Hewentoutandweptbi tterly
NB:thecryofPet eraf terr eali
zedthathehasdeni edJesusi ndi
catedasignofr
epentance.

ReasonswhyPeterdeniedJesus:
1.Hewasnotconf identenoughi nJesusandhi spr
otecti
on.
2.Hewasangr yanddi sappoi
ntedt hatJesushadnotr esist
edduri
nghisarr
est
.
3.Hedi dnotrecallJesus’sayi
ngaboutper secuti
ononaccountoft heSonofmanther
efor
e
hewasafrai
dofbei ngkill
ed.
4.Hedi dnotprayenoughi nGet hsemane. i.
e.hewassl eepi
nginst
eadofprayi
ng.
Thet ri
alsofJesusofJesuswer eTHREE: (
22:66-
71;23:
6-12)
78
A)-
befor
etheSanhedrin(Jewishcounci l
) -Fr
idaymorning
B)-
befor
etheRomanGov ernor-
Pont i
usPi l
ate.
-Fri
daymor ni
ng.
C)-
befor
eHerodAntipas.--Fri
daymor ning.

Bef
oret
heSanhedr
in,
Jesuswasasked(
accused)whet
herhewas

78
Accor
dingtot heTal
mudi csources,i
ncl
udingthetr
act eSanhedr
at in,theGr eatSanhedr
inwasacourt
of71sagest hatmetondi f
ferentoccasi
oni.
et otr
yahighpri
est
,afalsepr ophet,
arebell
i
ousel
der,
oran
err
anttr
ibe.Reli
giousl
y,i
tsupervisedcer
tai
nr i
tual
s,i
ncl
udi
ngtheYom Ki ppur(DayofAtonement
)li
tur
gy.

Page95of95
 TheMessi
- ahor
- herhewast
Whet heSonofGod
-
Hewasaccusedofadmi tt
ingt
hathewast heSonofGod.
79
-
hewasaccusedofblasphemy becausehesai
dhewastheSonofGod.

Howdi dJesusr espondtothecounci

l’
saccusat
ions?
-
ifIt
ellyouwill
notbel i
eve.
-
andifIasky ouaquest i
on,youwil
lnotanswerme.
-
butfrom nowt heSonofmanwi l
lbeseatedontheri
ghthandofAl
might
yGod.

Whyt hecouncildidnotst oneJesusinst

eadt heybroughtJesusbefor
etheRomangov er
nor
,
Pilat
e( bl
asphemywaspuni shabl
ebydeatht hroughstoni
ng)-
reasonswhythecaseofJesus
waspr esentedbefor
etheRomanGov er
nor?
-
t heRomangov ernorhadtosignforanypersontobekill
ed
-
t hecouncilwantedastif
ferpunishmentt
oJesussuchascr ucif
ixi
ontopr
ovethathewasnot
theMessi ah.

NB:themenwhower
eguar
dingJesusov
ert
heni
ghtmockedJesusHow?
-
Theybeathim
-
Insul
tedhi
m
CHAPTER23
BeforePont i
usPi
lat
e,Jesuswasaccusedof(23:1-
5)
-
Mi sleadingtheJews.
-
Forst ar
tingari
ot.
-
For biddingpeopl
efrom payi
ngt
axtoCaesar.
-
claimi ngt obet
heKing,(whi
chwastreasoncase)

NB:
Bef
orePi
l
ateJesusanswer
edhi
m bysay
ing“
yousayso”

ThenPont i
ussentJesust oHerodWHY?
 Hewant edtogetridofthecasebecausehesawt hatJesuswasi
nnocent.
Howdi dHer odandhissoldi
ersmock/ t
reatJesus?23:
6-12)
-theyputafinerobeonhim.
-theymockedhi m
-theytr
eat
edhi m wit
hcontempt.
Jesusdidnotansweranyquest ionfr
om Her odAnti
pas.WHY?Because:HerodregardedJesus
asamagi cian,awonderworker.ThenHer odsenthi
m backtoPont i
usPi
l
ate,meaninghesaw
thatJesuswasi nnocent
.
Jesusi
ssent
encedt
odeat
h.(
23:
13-
25)
79
i
rrever
encetowardadeit
yordei
ti
esand,
byext
ensi
on,
theuseofpr
ofani
tyor
disrespectforGodorsacr
ed
things

Page96of96
WhenJesuswasbr oughtbef orePil
ateforthesecondti
me,Pil
atetol
dt hechiefpri
ests,t
he
l
eadersandthepeopl ethatneitherhenorHerodfoundJesusgui
lt
yofanyof fensetheywere
accusi
nghim of
.Pi l
atesaidthatJesusdi dnotdeserv
edeathandheruledthatheshoul dbe
whippedandsetfree.Thechi efpri
estsandthepeopl
ewerenothappywiththedecisi
onmade
bytheRomanGov ernor,
Pilat
e.

Way
sinwhichPonti
usPil
atet
riedtosaveJesus(Luke23:4,13-16,
22)
 Hetoldthepeopl
ethatJesusshouldbewhippedandbel etgo.
 Hetoldthepeopl
ethatbothheandHer odfoundJesusinnocent.
 Pil
ateappeal
edtothecrowdtwot i
mesf ort
hem tochangetheirmindi
nfav
orofJesus.

WhydidPil
atebecomesuspici
ousofJesus’accuser
s?
 ItwasstrangeforJewstoaccuset heirf
ell
ow Jew obbei
ngagai
nstRomanr
ule
since;
all
theJewswer ehati
ngtheRomans.
 Heknewt hatt
heJewi shl
eader
swerej eal
ousofJesus.

WhyPilatewasi
ndil
emmatojudgethecaseofJesus?
o Let
ti
ngJesustogowouldhavecausedarebel
li
onbyt heJews,hence,
riski
nghis
j
ob.
o Agai
n,condemni
ngJesuswoul
dbeagainsttheRomanl awashewasi nnocentof
anycri
meagainstt
hestat
e,soiftheEmperordiscov
eredthi
s,hecouldalsobe
di
smissed.

TheJewsdemandedt hatBarabbasbereleased.I
roni
cal
l
y ,Bar
abbaswasaccusedoft reason,
thesamecaseJesuswasaccusedof .Pi
latetr
iedt
or i
dofftheresponsi
bil
i
tyofsheddi
ngblood
ofaninnocentper
sonbywashinghands.

WhyPi
l
atef
inal
l
ybowdownt
othedemandoftheJewst
houghheknewt
hatJesuswas
80
innocent
?
set
- t
ingtheJesusfreewoul dhavecausedunresti
nPalest
ine,
hence,
rioti
ng.
-
hefearedthathemi ghtlosehi
sjobiftheJewslodgedacomplai
ntagainsthi
m atRomet
hathe
i
sthefri
endofar ebel.
-
tosati
sfythepeople,hence,maint
aini
ngpeace.

Onthewayt oGolgot
haSimonofCy rene.Thesol
derspl
acedthecr
ossonhisbackandmade
hi
mt ocarr
ybehindJesus.I
nshor
t,thesolder
s,f
orcedSi
montocarr
ythecr
ossbeam ofJesus
uptoGolgotha.Alar
genumberofpeopl ewerefoll
owi
ngJesusandamongt hem wer
esome
womenwhower eweepi
ngandwail
ingforhim.

Whatdi
dJesussayt othosewomenwhower eweepingforhim?
- WomenofJer usalem!Donotcryf orme.
- Butf oryourselv
esandy ourchi
ldren
- Fort heday sarecomi ngwhenpeopl ewillsay
;howl uckyarewomenwhohadnev
erhad
chi
l
dr en,whonev erborebabi
esbef ore,
whonev ernursedthem.
- Thatwi l
lbethetimewhenpeopl ewi l
lsaytomountains,fal
lonus.

80
Pi
l
ateknewv
erywel
lthatJesusi
sinnocentandt
hathedoesnotdeser
vet
odi
e.

Page97of97
 - Andt
othehi
l
lhi
deus
CRUCIFI
XIONOFJESUS( 23:26-49)
Crucifi
xionwasani mportantmet hodofcapi talpuni shment,particul
arl
yamongt hePersi
ans,
Seleucids,Car
thagi
nians,
andt heRomansf r
om aboutt he6thcent uryBCt othe4thcentur
yAD.
Thecondemnedman,af t
erbei ngwhipped,or“ scourged,”draggedt hecrossbeam ofhiscross
tothepl aceofpuni
shment ,
wher etheuprightshaf twasal r
eadyf i
xedint heground.St
ri
ppedof
hisclothingei
thert
henorear l
ierathisscourging,hewasboundf astwithoutstret
chedarmst o
thecrossbeam ornailedf
ir
ml ytoitt
hrought hewr i
sts.

Thecr ossbeam wast henr aisedhighagai nstt heupr i

ghtshaftandmadef asttoitabout9to12
feet(appr oximately3met res)from theground.Next ,thefeetwer eti
ghtl
yboundornai ledt
ot he
uprightshaf t.Al edgei nser t
edabouthal fwayupt heupr ightshaftgavesomesuppor tt
ot he
body ;evidencef orasi milarledgef orthef eetisr areandl ate.Overthecr i
minal'
sheadwas
placedanot i
cest ati
nghi snameandhi scr i
me.Deat h,apparentl
ycausedbyexhaust i
onorby
heartf ai
l
ur e,couldbehast enedbyshat teringt helegs( crur
ifr
agium)wi t
hani ronclub,sothat
shockandasphy xiat
ionsoonendedhi sl i
fe.Cr uci
f i
xionwasmostf requentl
yusedt opunish
polit
icalorr el
igi
ousagi tators,pirat
es,sl
av es, orthosewhohadnoci vi
lri
ghts.

Attheplaceofexecuti
onJesuswasst r
ippedandthennailedtothecross, atleastnail
edbyhis
hands;andabovehi m atthet
opoft hecrosswaspl acedthecondemnat or yinscri
pti
onstat
ing
hi
scr i
meofpr ofessi
ngt obeKingoft heJews.(TheGospel sdif
fersli
ghtlyint hewor di
ngbut
agreethatt
heinscri
pti
onwasi n“Hebrew,”orAr
amaic, aswellasLat
inandGr eek.)Onthecross
Jesushungforthreehoursofagony.Hespoket hel
ast7wor dsbeforedrying81.

HowwasJesusmockedwhi
l
eont
hecr
oss?
A)Jewishleaders
-Theyjeeredathim, t
ell
i
nghimtosavehimselfforsav
edother
s.
B)Thesoldiers
-t
heyofferedhim cheapwine
-t
heytoldhimt osavehimsel
fifhewasthekingoftheJews.
C)Oneoft hecriminal
s
–hetoldhimt hatashewast heMessi
ah,heshouldsavehi
mselfandt
hem t
oo.

Att
welv
eo’clockt
hesunstoppedshi
ningandthedar
knesscover
edthewhol
ecount
ryunt
il3
O’
cl
ockP.M whenJesusdi
ed.Thecur
tainoft
heTempl
ewast or
nintot
wo.

Themeani
ngofdar
kness
- I
twasasy mbolofuni
ver
saljudgmentonbot
htheJewsandthegent i
l
es.(
Amos
8:
9/Joel2:
2/Zeph1:
15)
- I
tsigni
fi
esthatmanwil
lbej
udgedaccordi
ngt
ohi
sat
ti
tudet
owar
dsJesus.

Meani
ngoft
het
ear
ingoft
hecur
tai
n
- Itmar
kedt heendoftheOl
dTest amentandthebeginni
ngoftheNewTestament
.
- Thebar r
iersbetweentheJewsandt hegentil
esi sdemolished,t
heyar
enol onger
separ
atedascleanandunclean.
- Theholyofholi
esisopenandallhaveadir
ectaccesstoJesus.

81
Lk23:
34/
23:
43/
Jn19:
26-
27/
Mt27:
46/
Jn19:
28/
19:
30/
Lk23:
46

Page98of98
 - TheJewi
shwayofwor
shi
ppi
ngGodandt
het
imeoft
het
empl
ewasov
er.

Cr uci
fi
edonei thersideofJesuswer etwoconv i
ctedt
hieves,whom thesoldier
sdi
spatchedat
eventi
debybr eakingtheirl
egs.Thesoldi
ersfoundJesusalreadydead;but,t
obecertai
n,oneof
them droveaspeari ntohisside,from whichpouredbloodandwat er.Hewast akendown
beforesunset(i
ndef erencetoJewishcustom)andburiedi
nar ock-
hewntomb.

Thebur
ial
ofJesus(vv50-56)
AmannamedJosephofAr i
mat headidagreatrol
eduri
ngJesus’
buri
al.Whowa st
hisman?
- Wasagoodandhonor ableman.
- Waswaiti
ngforthecomi ngoft heki
ngdom ofGod.
- Wasamemberoft hecouncil(Sanhedri
n)
- Hedidnotagreewi ththedecisionofthecounci
ltohav
eJesuscruci
fi
ed.
- Wasthesecretdiscipl
eofJesus.

Ther
olepl
ayedbyJosephofAr
imat
heaonJesus’
bur
ial
- Wentt
oPil
atetoaskf
orthebodyofJesus.
- Hadmoneytobuybur
ial
placef
orJesus.

Thebodywasputi
nat
ombwhichhadbeendugoutofsol
i
drock.Thebodywasnotembal
med
astheSabbat
hwasnear
,sosomewomendeci dedtodosoassoonaspossi bleaf
terthe
Sabbat
h.

Jewi shbur
ialpr
ocedure
-washingthebody .
-anointi
ngthebodywit
hointmenti.
e.spi
ces,
myr
rh,
aloes.
-wrappingthecorpsei
ngravecl
othes.
-l
ayingthebodyinacave/normalgr
ave.
Chapt
er24.
THERESURRECTI ON-( Sundaymorni
ng)-(1-11)
Resurrecti
oninast r
ictsensemeans, ‘
comingbacktoli
fewithaglori
fi
edbody’
.Threewomen82
onSundaymor ni
ngcar ri
edspicestoanointthebodyofJesus.Thewomenwer etoldby2men
i
nbr i
ghtshi ni
ngclothesthatJesusisali
ve.Her emi
ndedthem torememberwhathetoldt
hem
whil
ehewasi nGal i
l
ee.‘Thesonofmanmustbehandedov ert
osinnersbecr
ucif
iedandt
hree
dayslaterri
setoli
fe.’

React
ionofthedisci
plestothenewsthatJesushadr
isen
-
theythoughtt
hatwhatt hewomenwer esayi
ngwasnonsense
-
theydidnotbel
ievethem
-
Peterrushedt
ot hetombt oseeforhi
mself

Whythedi
sci
pleswer
eunwi
l
li
ngt
obeli
evet
hereportf
rom t
hewomenaboutt
her
esur
rect
ion?
-
thet
esti
monyofwomenhadnov
aluei
ntheJewishsoci
ety
.

82
eJoana,
Thesear Mar
yMagdal
eneandMar
ythemot
herofJames.

Page99of99
-theyhadforgot
tenJesus’ predi
cti
onabouthisdeathandr
esurr
ect
ion.
-theyhadcomplet elygi
venuphopei nJesussince,
itwast
hethi
rddaysince,
Jesushaddied.
-theydidnotunder standtheOTscr iptur
ethattheMessi
ahwouldsufferandenteri
ntoGod’s
glory.
-theywantedaper sonalexperi
enceasapr oof.
-noneofthedisciplesobservedtheresurr
ect
ion.

APPEARANCEOFTHERI SENJESUS( 24: 13-35)

First
lyi
tseemedt hatt hebodyofJesusdi dnotl ookexact l
yashedi ed.Secondl y,t
hebodyof
Jesusthought ransf ormed, wast hereal physical body :
ThebodyofJesusdi dnotl ookexactlyashedi edbef ore.Thisst at
ementcanbepr ovedt obe
truebecauseoft hef ail
ureofsomeoft hedi sciplest orecognizehimi mmedi ately
.Forexampl e,
thetwodi sci
pleswhower egoingtoEmmausf ailedtor ecogni
zeJesus( Luke24: 16ff
).Lastl
y,
whenJesusappear edt ot heelevendisciples,theywer est ar
tl
edandf ri
ghtened( Luke24:33).On
theotherhand, thedi sciplesrecogni
z edJesusf airlyquickly(Matthew28: 9).Thiscanmeant hat
therewasaconsi der abledegr eeofcont i
nuitybet weent hephy sicalappearanceofJesusbef ore
hisdeathandaf terhi sdeat h.

Though tr
ansf
ormed,t he body ofJesus was a physi
calone.The rai
sed Jesus had a
tr
ansfor
medbodybuti twasst i
l
laphysi
calbody
.Thisisevidenti
nthef
oll
owingevent
s;fi
rst
ly,
hi
sbodycouldbetouchedandhandled
Pr
oof
sthatJesusr
osef
rom deadar
easf
oll
ows:
 Womenf oundthetombstoner ol
ledawayandwer etol
dbytheangelsthatJesushad
ri
sen(Luke24: 2-
4)
 Peterpr
ov edbyseei
ngthel
ineswr appi
ngsofJesus’deadbody.(
Lk24:12)
 Jesusappearedtothedi
sci
pleswhower egoingt oEmmaus.(Luke24:13-
37)
 Jesusappearedtothe12disci
plesinJerusal
em.(Luke24:36-
44)
 Onhisascensionever
yonesawhi m ashegotlif
tedandwenttoheaven.(Luke24:50-
53)

Jesusappear
edt
otwodi
sci
pl Cr
es( eopasandhi
sfr
iend)whower
egoi oEmmaus83.
ngt
Theconv ersati
onbet weenJesusandt hesetwodi sciples
t
- hetwodisciplesweregoi ngt oEmmaus
-
t heyweretalkingaboutwhathadhappenedt oJesus
-
Jesusdr ewneart hem andwal kedalongt hem
-
t heysawhi m butcouldnotr ecognizehi m
-
Jesusaskedt hem whatt heywer etalkingabout
Cr
- eopasaskedhi mifheist heonlyvisitori
nJer usalem whodi dnotknowt hethi
ngsthathadi
n
thefewday sago.
-
Jesusasked whatt hi
ngsand t heyanswer ed thatt hethingst hathappened t
o Jesusof
Nazareth…
Thet worecogni zedJesusashebr oket hebread.ButJesusv anished.
Thedi scipl
esf ail
edtor ecognizeJesusbecause:
t
- hei
rsenseswer esupernaturall
ydull
ed.

83
Emmauswas16km f
rom Jer
usal
em.

Page100of100
-
theyhadcompl etel
ygivenuphopeinJesus.
-
theydidnotexpectthatJesuswhowasdeadcouldbealive.
-
Jesusmi ghthavelookeddif
fer
entfr
om thewayhehadlookedthemorni
ngofhi
sdeat
h.
-
theyfail
edt olearnfrom t
hescript
uresthati
nGod’splanthattheMessi
ahshoul
dsuff
eri
n
ordert
oenterhisglory.

Jesusopenedupt heirmi ndt ounder standtheOTscr i

ptures.Theset wor ecognizedJesusas
Jesusbr oket hebr eadatt hetable.I mmediatel
y,Jesusv anishedfrom t hei
rsite.Theset wo
returnedthesameev eningt oJerusalem tonarrat
et hattheyhav emetJesus.Ast hesetwower e
explaini
ngt ot hem Jesussuddenl ystoodamongt hem givingthem peace, saying‘
peacebewi t
h
you’.Theywer eafraidthinkingthattheywer eseeingaghost ,
buthet oldthem nottobeal armed
anddoubt .Jesuspr ov edt ohisdisciplesbeyondr easonabledoubt sthathewasal i
vebyt el
li
ng
them t olookathi shandsandf eet ,andtoldthem t ogi vehi m somet hingtoeat .Laterhe
explainedwhatt hescr iptureshadsai dabouthim;t hentheirey eswereopenedt ounder st
and
thescr i
ptures.
WasJesusbodyr eall
yphy si
cal
?‘YES’ HOW?BE CAUSE:
-Heshowedt hem thewounds.
-heaskedt hem tofeel thathehadf leshandbones.
-heaskedf orsomet hingt oeat.

Theascension(24: 50-53)
Ascensionisthegoi ngupofJesusi nt
oheav
en.Accordi
ngtot hefi
rstchapt
erofTheActsof
theApost l
es(1:6-11),afterappear
ingtot
heApostl
esonv ar
iousoccasionsdur
ingaperi
odof
40day s,Jesusblessedt hediscipl
esandwastakenupintheirpr
esenceandwast henhi
dden
from t
hem byacl oud.

ENDOFFORM THREEWORK

Page101of101