Banquet With The King

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Last Breath

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, "This man truly was the Son of God!" Mark 15:37-39

His last breath.

I was with each of my parents when they died. There was no loud cry…just a brief sigh, a Good Bye and…exhale. It was over. Jesus was in such excruciating pain that He cried out…and breathed His last breath. It was finished. His work on earth was done. This man truly was the Son of God!

Model of the Temple - Jerusalem.
Look inside...is the Curtain torn?

The Temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The footnotes in my Bible explain that this is significant of being torn by God Himself…from Heaven. It was not caused by an earthquake, but by God Himself allowing humans direct access to Him—removing that curtain barrier. That Temple curtain separated the Holies of Holy from the rest of the Temple. Only the selected priest could go into the Holy of Holies once a year. (Levitcus16) Moses was given specific directions for this curtain in the Tabernacle as described in Exodus.

Set up this Tabernacle according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain. For the inside of the Tabernacle, make a special curtain of finely woven linen. Decorate it with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and with skillfully embroidered cherubim. Hang this curtain on gold hooks attached to four posts of acacia wood. Overlay the posts with gold, and set them in four silver bases. Hang the inner curtain from clasps, and put the Ark of the Covenant in the room behind it. This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Exodus 26:30-33

The Temple built by Solomon had dimensions described in 2 Chronicles.

These are the dimensions Solomon used for the foundation of the Temple of God (using the old standard of measurement). It was 90 feet long and 30 feet wide. The entry room at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple, and 30 feet high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold. ... He made the Most Holy Place 30 feet wide, corresponding to the width of the Temple, and 30 feet deep. He overlaid its interior with 23 tons of fine gold. ... Across the entrance of the Most Holy Place he hung a curtain made of fine linen, decorated with blue, purple, and scarlet thread and embroidered with figures of cherubim. 2 Chronicles 3:3-4, 8, 14

The veil has been removed. Torn from the top down to the bottom. We have access to God directly. No need for a priest to atone for our sins once a year…or anytime. We can approach God Himself. He continually listens for our prayers. He listened to Abraham, to Moses, to David, to Daniel…to me.

But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Psalm 66:19

Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54:2 NASB

O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. Daniel 9:18 NASB

Just because He listens doesn’t mean that our prayers will be answered as we want them to be…but He does listen. We in turn should listen and obey. Just as the Israelites told Moses…

Go yourself and listen to what the LORD our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey. Deuteronomy 5:27 NLT

May we obediently choose to serve and respect God.

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. Deuteronomy 13:4

Prayer ~ Dear God, You said that You would bless the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and bless all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3. Bless us as we seek to know You more and to live in ways that please You.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 18-22

Happy Birthday, Melissa!

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Monday, July 16, 2018

Deserted or Abandoned?

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. Then at three o'clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, ["Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?"] which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. "Wait!" he said. "Let's see whether Elijah comes to take him down!" Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, "This man truly was the Son of God!" Mark 15:33-39

Brass Cross from Korea.
Other side has the Lord's Prayer in Korean.

Jesus felt abandoned on the cross. Forsaken by God…by His Heavenly Father. God turned His back on the sin…the sin of mankind that had been thrust onto Jesus’ back…not on His Son, Jesus. Jesus words reflect those from Psalm 22.

" My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? ... But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, "Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!" Psalm 22:1, 6-8

Have you ever felt abandoned, deserted, rejected, or unloved and groaned for God’s help? I have. I was very distressed after my sister and her family were killed in a domestic violence incident back in 1989. My groaning was too deep for words. I felt abandoned by God…and my sister. How could God allow my sister to be taken away…when we were going to grow old together? What kind of a God was He anyway? He’s supposed to be loving. Mom taught us that “God is Love” so how could a loving God allow that to happen? After years of struggling with that I came to accept that God kept His promise to my sister and to me…He will never leave us or forsake us. We won’t be abandoned. He promised….

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:5

Jesus said…Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20.

No matter what…God loves us. God is love.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16.

Jesus obediently took that journey to the Cross. Yet hanging there Jesus felt abandoned…but God the Father was with Him. God turned His back on the sin…not on His Son. We just have to trust Him…to keep His promise.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I understand…I know how much You love us—enough to give Your own Son for us. I put my trust in Your love. You are love, and all who live in love, live in You, and You, O my God, live in them. From 1 John 4:16. This is real love—not that we loved You, God, but that You loved us and sent your Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10. Thank You for not abandoning Jesus…or us.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 13-17

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Between Two Rebels

Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided his clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. A sign announced the charge against him. It read, "The King of the Jews." Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Mark 15:24-27

Cross from Medjugorje
Life, Death and Resurrection

It was predicted in Isaiah that Jesus would be crucified, although that was not the custom during Isaiah’s time. Crucifixion was a Roman ordeal…a death sentence.

Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. Isaiah 53:1-12 (Underlining is mine for emphasis.)

Jesus didn’t deserve to die on that cross…He was punished for us…for each of us. It was God’s plan that Jesus would be the sacrificial lamb—there between two rebels…two revolutionaries. He was obedient to His Heavenly Father. How can we show our obedience to God? Begin with knowing in your heart if you believe that Jesus died for your sins.

Prayer ~ Lord, help me be obedient to You and to Your commandments.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Saturday, July 14, 2018

The Sweet Smell of Myrrh

And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means "Place of the Skull"). They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it. Mark 15:22-23

Do you see the face of the skull?
This place in Jerusalem is assumed to be Golgotha.

Golgotha…and the cross. Jesus carried His cross…until He could carry it no longer and Simon of Cyrene carried it for Him to Golgotha. Before they crucified Jesus the Roman soldiers tried to give Him wine with myrrh—a sedative—but He refused it. Had He already suffered so much from His scourging and beatings that He felt He didn’t need the wine? For whatever reason…He refused that offer to escape the pain with which He was about to be confronted on the cross. Have you ever felt the need to escape pain? Taken a Tylenol or aspirin to take away your headache? I have a high pain threshold and don’t rely much on pain meds, but imagine the headache that Jesus was feeling at that moment. Would He have taken aspirin if it had been available? When the Wise Men brought the gift of myrrh to Bethlehem did Mary think it would be used at a crucifixion? Surprisingly myrrh is found in 15 verses in the NLT of the Bible. Here in this passage from Psalms describes a king at a royal wedding perfumed with myrrh. Is this…perhaps Jesus?

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. Psalm 45:6-8

Myrrh is mentioned in Revelation 18:13 among the commodities traded in Babylon. It was an important incense throughout Biblical times. Probably the most significant use of myrrh was in the burial of Jesus, when His secret follower Nicodemus brought the incense to the tomb.

With him (Joseph of Arimathea) came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. John 19:39

Seventy-five pounds of ointment for embalming was a huge quantity. Nicodemus must have had a couple of servants to help him carry it. That means that a couple of more people saw where Jesus was buried. Would they have heard of His resurrection…and believed? Have you heard of His resurrection and believed? Are you willing to repent of your sin and establish or restore your relationship with Jesus?

Prayer ~ Lord God Jesus Christ, I chose to believe in Your resurrection. I can almost smell that sweet fragrance of myrrh that was left in Your tomb. I am sorry for the pain You had to endure for my sin…but I am grateful for Your sacrifice…for me, for my family, friends and neighbors. Please continue to guide us and give us insight into Your desires for our lives. May there be a great revival…here in the Pacific Northwest…and around the world as people draw closer to You and acknowledge You as their savior.

Daily Bible Reading: Micah

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Friday, July 13, 2018

He Spoke…I AM

But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "I AM. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven." Mark 14:61-62

Jesus was silent…and then He spoke, “I AM.” Recall what God spoke to Moses at the Burning Bush when He was sending Moses to rescue the Hebrew people in Egypt.

But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you." Exodus 3:13-14

Clouds over the Sea of Galilee - Israel

God is the I AM. Jesus is the I AM. It is amazing that He told the high priest that he would see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven. But then we shouldn’t be surprised because John wrote to us about Jesus in Revelation…

Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him—even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! Revelation 1:7

Everyone will see Him. What a day that will be. The great I AM coming on the clouds. Everyone will bow down and worship Him.

Though he (Jesus) was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11

No need to wait until you see Jesus coming in the clouds. You can confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and worship Him now. Can you do that?

Prayer ~ Lord God, I love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I hear the message…Jesus Christ will return in the clouds…and every knee will bow down to worship Him. Show me what I need to do to be spiritually ready for your return.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-12

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

As usual every Friday is Feast Day—Feasting at the King’s Table. We can’t live on just spiritual food …nor can we live on bread alone. We’ve got to have some meat, veggies, fruit and fat. Don’t forget the good fats!

Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) are good for our bodies. Those contain antioxidants and actually help to lower cholesterol. Some of the foods that contain monounsaturated fats include: olive oil; avocados; nuts and seed—especially almonds, peanuts, and sunflower seeds; olives; and even chocolate. Try to have a MUFA with each meal, such as 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter, ¼ cup avocado, no more than 10 olives, 2 tablespoons raw nuts, ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips, or 1 tablespoon olive oil. Watch the serving size of your MUFAs—the calories can add up and deter any weight loss you for which are striving.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Silence

But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Mark 14:61

Silent Lambs

Just as described by Isaiah…

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

Jesus kept silent. Could you have done that? I don’t think that I could. I would have been sticking my foot in my mouth and telling them that they were all wrong…maybe that God had a plan…and that unless they changed their ways they would be doomed. Or would I have kept silent? I can only speculate.

What will Jesus say to His accusers? Do you know the rest of the story? Speak now…or forever hold your peace. That is a familiar line that is used in marriage rituals. Let everyone know if you have any objections. Remember that within the last few hours Jesus had just prayed…

"Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Mark 14:36

God’s will was for Jesus to be…silent… at least for a few minutes. And that is just what He did. He was silent. Next listen closely to what He said…read ahead.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I want to please You. You were silent. Help me to bring You glory by thinking before I speak. Let me be attuned to Your Holy Spirit and be silent when I need to be.

Daily Bible Reading: Amos 6-9

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

False Witnesses

Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn't find any. Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony: "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands.'" But even then they didn't get their stories straight! Then the high priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" Mark 14:55-60

Model of the Temple and Old Jerusalem.
This trial occurred in the courtyard of the High Priest.

This passage occurs at the one of the trials of Jesus, before Caiahas. I thought that this passage was very ironic. False witnesses. Doesn’t that remind you of one of the Ten Commandments? Take a look at the list…

      Ten Commandments

I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods.
Thou shall bring no false idols before me.
Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Thou shall not kill (murder/or harm another’s character).
Thou shall not commit adultery.
Thou shall not steal.
Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Number nine…You shall not bear false witness. That is just what many of the witnesses were doing. If we assume that those witnesses were Jewish leaders, elders or scribes then surely they were aware of the Ten Commandments. Additionally, according to Jewish law two of the witnesses had to agree for there to be a charge against an accused individual.

You must not convict anyone of a crime on the testimony of only one witness. The facts of the case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15

Jesus didn’t call them out in their error. Was He not their “neighbor”? Do we ever bear false witness by either deliberately giving a false statement…may that never be true! Or do we bear false witness by keeping silent when we should speak up—because we know the truth. Remember Jesus said…

- I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

- And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

Jesus is the way…the truth…and the life. Do you believe this and will you share this truth with others?

Prayer ~ Lord God, Be gracious to me according to Your word. I love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I want to keep Your commandment and live to please You in whatever I think, wherever I walk, and whatever I do. I Thank You morning, noon and night for Your goodness, love, and righteousness. Please continue to teach me more about yourself today…and every day, as long as I live.

Daily Bible Reading: Amos 1-5

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Can You Pray While You Sleep?

Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say. When he returned to them the third time, he said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Mark 14:37-41

Can you pray while you sleep? Can you sleep while you pray? Focusing on one thing is always good. No multitasking during prayer. Peter, James and John were not praying or really keeping watch as Jesus had asked them to do. Have you tried to pray for an entire hour? When I’ve done that several times at first I thought…what can I possibly pray about for an hour? Well, then I had an agenda…my prayer list. Praying for specific things, specific people and using scripture to focus my prayers has allowed me to pray for even more than an hour at a time. God likes us to pray His words…His scripture back to Him. That was a lesson I learned a while back…and not too sure where that comes from, but it is a good use of scripture.

Watch and Pray
Garden of Gethsemane - near Jerusalem

Don’t give into temptation. Temptation to sleep. Ahhh. I’ll just close my eyes for a minute. That may have been what those disciples thought. I would have. Haven’t you felt the same way resting in a nice quiet place after a big meal? Sleep. Keep watch and pray…. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. The temptation to sleep is so strong. He came back to the disciples again and again. Three times…and found them sleeping. Were they lazy bums? They sure weren’t listening and obeying. Watch and pray. Can you watch and pray…and sleep? No. We cannot pray while we sleep, nor can we sleep while we pray.

Jesus prayed the same prayer to His Father…over and over that evening. That is a good example to us. To keep on praying the same thing is alright. If Jesus did, so can we. He gave His disciples a good parable about this very issue…to keep on praying.

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'" Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?" Luke 18:1-8

So wear God out with your constant requests…and praises to Him. He wants to hear your voice…to hear from you.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 NASB

With thanksgiving…with a thankful heart. For all things come from God—to whom we should be thankful.

Prayer ~ Lord God, I am thankful for all that You have provided for me…physically and spiritually. You are an awesome God…and I want to watch and pray…and not fall into temptation. Thank you for always hearing my prayers.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 5-8

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Monday, July 9, 2018

Abba Father

"Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Mark 14:36

Abba means Father in Aramaic. It was brought into the Hebrew language in a sacred use of the Chaldean word during prayer. My first memory of this word was when my Grandfather, who spoke more German than English, used it in a family meal blessing… “Alle lieben Abba Vater.” All love the Abba Father. So true. We all love the sacred Heavenly Father. We are so thankful for all He has done for us—our hearts overflow with love.

Crucifix at the Holy Family Shrine near Ashland, NE

Here Jesus is calling out to His Father…Abba—take this cup of suffering away from me. He knew what lay ahead for Him…denial, brutal beatings and scourging, humiliation, and death. A painful death on the cross. Death that was for sinners, thieves, murders…but He wasn’t any of those. He was sinless. The sins of all mankind were being put on His shoulders so that He could save them from their sins. They were the ones who deserved to die…not Him…but He was to take their place. He was to take my place…and your place. Abba Father. Have mercy. Everything is possible for you. But it was not to be that time. There had to be a sacrifice for the sin of mankind…and Jesus was that sacrificial lamb. As John the Baptist said…

… John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

We call out Abba…because He is our Father. He has adopted us.

- So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15

- And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6

Do you claim God as your Father? Have you been adopted by Him?

Prayer ~ Abba Father, it is such a privilege to be Your child. I praise You. Thank You, Jesus, that You were willing and obedient to pay the price for our freedom. You are worthy of our praise. May we be people of integrity who stand up and offer praise to You no matter where we are.

Daily Bible Reading: Isaiah 1-4

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Watch and Pray

They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. Mark 14:32-35

Old olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane - Jerusalem.

Let’s go to a quiet place to pray. Jesus took all the disciples—besides Judas Iscariot who had already headed to the Temple to get the chief Priests, scribes and elders along with a legion of Roman soldiers. Picture this. When they got to the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus took Peter, James and John went deeper into the Garden with His inner circle of dearest friends. He told them just how He felt… My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Burdened …crushed. They were in an olive orchard with an olive press where olives were crushed. He was feeling that crushing in His very human soul. He simply asked these friends to stay awake and pray with Him. Watch and pray. Stay here and keep watch with me. Then Jesus went a little further away and in the classic picture we see is Him kneeling by a rock and praying. The scripture tells us that He fell to the ground and prayed. There He was face down in that olive orchard pouring out His heart to His Heavenly Father. Jesus knew what lay ahead for Him…but in utter anguish He prayed to be released from it. Before He got to this point in His life Jesus may have thought…

Olive Press - Israel

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13:2

Now the time had come…the end was coming near. He prayed as His enemies approached the Garden.

What an example. Take your three closest friends. Find a quiet place and go pray. Pour out your heart to the Lord. Thank the Lord for what He has done for you.

Prayer ~ LORD, You are my strength and shield. I trust You with all my heart. Thank You, Lord, for all that you have done for me…and for my family, friends, and neighbors. My heart is overflowing with anguish with You in knowing what You have done for us all…and knowing that You hear my prayer.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 26

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Denial and Desertion

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. On the way, Jesus told them, "All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, 'God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there." Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will." Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me." "No!" Peter declared emphatically. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the others vowed the same. Mark 14:26-31

Jesus’ words were from the Old Testament…

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my partner," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. "Strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn against the lambs. Zechariah 13:7

The sheep will be scattered. He telling His disciples that they will desert Him…in His hour of need. All of you will desert me. Not me…That is just what Peter said…No… I will never deny you. That is what everyone said. I will never deny you. Do you ever feel that way? Jesus, I will never deny you. But do you?

Listen for the rooster crow.

Peter will deny Jesus. The rooster will crow twice…. That is just what happened. Peter denied Jesus.

… Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, "You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth." But Peter denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed. When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, "This man is definitely one of them!" But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, "You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean." Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying--I don't know this man you're talking about!" And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:66-72

Denial. Once. Twice. Three times. Peter denied being part of Jesus’ group—denied even knowing Jesus. When the rooster crowed, Peter cried. That is not the end of the story. After His resurrection Jesus went ahead of His disciples to Galilee—just as He said He would. There He tasked Peter with taking care of His sheep—sheep that would eventually be scattered. Peter became one of the strongest disciples—taking the gospel into the Roman Empire. No more denial or desertion.

Prayer ~ Jesus, may I never deny or desert You. You are worthy of praise. Just like You went ahead of the disciples into Galilee…You have gone before us…to prepare a place for us. There is a forever place for us…with You. No scattering this time.

Daily Bible Reading: Jonah

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook.

Friday, July 6, 2018

His Last Meal

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it, for this is my body." And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, "This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God." Mark 14:22-25

This is my body...broken for you.

The Passover Meal. Jesus last Passover Meal. The bread—unleavened—representing His sinless body…which was broken for each of us. The wine—representing His very blood which was shed for us on the cross. Jesus was destined to be the Passover lamb—pure and spotless. Perfect—no blemishes. That was just how the Passover lamb was to be.

Blessed bread and blessed wine. Jesus was giving thanks to the Father for what was about to happen—as well as blessing the food. His body to be sacrificed…His blood to be spilled out. Jesus was blessing the sacrifice…just as Samuel blessed the sacrifice in the Old Testament times. An example of this is found in 1 Samuel 9:13 when Saul was looking for the prophet Samuel. There are no sacrifices today…in the Temple or on high places. What is our sacrifice today?

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17

Prayer ~ Lord… My sacrifice to You is my broken spirit and repentant heart. Please bless the food that I eat…the physical and spiritual food. May I remember that You are the Bread of Life. Your body is represented by bread…broken for the sin in my life. Thank you for Your sacrifice for me.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 14; 2 Chronicles 25

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Bread is mentioned 228 times in the New Living Translation of the Bible. Bread is important to life…all through the Old and New Testaments…and even today. Whole grain breads that contain seeds like pumpkin, flax and sunflower seeds are my healthy favorites, although I personally don’t eat much bread as the gluten tends to give me an arthritis ache in my hands. I have found that lower gluten or no gluten grains like brown rice, oatmeal, rye or quinoa are much healthier for me. No pain is a gain. This is one of those things that each person has to discover for themselves. I went on a 21-day no gluten, no dairy, no sugar diet and then added gluten products back in slowly, followed by a reintroduction of dairy products into my diet to see what affected me. Sugar is like poison so I tried for a while to totally avoid it. It is too much a part of the American diet—my diet—to totally eliminate it. But a way of eating that includes no sugar does have a great benefit in being healthier and providing more energy. Can you even make bread without sugar in some form? Not yeast bread. But then Jesus and His disciples were eating yeast free…unleavened bread at the beginning…the first day of Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread meal (Mark 14:12).

We are reminded that sin is like yeast…

Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

New bread of sincerity and truth. That sounds like something we could all use. In the meantime, here’s a recipe for unleavened bread…with no sugar.

UNLEAVENED BREAD

Preheat oven to 475 degrees prior to mixing ingredients

2 cups of flour (I used a gluten free flour blend)
1 teaspoons of salt
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
1/2 cup of warm water (or more if needed added gradually)

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Stir in olive oil with a fork. Gradually add water until you have a nice soft dough. Then pinch of pieces of dough and either roll or pat them into a circle. Poke the breads with a fork. You can then drizzle with additional oil if you like. Bake for 3-5 minutes.

From…http://www.eliyah.com/recipes.html

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Betrayal

In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me." Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, "Am I the one?" He replied, "It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!" Mark 14:17-21

Are you closing the gate to your heart?
Denying Jesus Christ?
Gate at the Garden of Gethsemane - Jerusalem.

One of you will betray me. Am I the one? Betrayal is serious. A denial of a relationship. Jesus was disclosed to His enemies by one of His disciples. Each one wondered… “Am I the one?”… “Surely not I?” (NASB). Do you ever doubt your own loyalty to the Lord? Would you ever deny Him? Do we deny Him by just not following His rules, commandments, guidance, by not treating others in the way He has taught? That is pretty harsh.

Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the LORD by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty. Numbers 5:6

Try as hard as we can…we still need the Lord’s help. Love God…love your neighbor as yourself. How are you doing with that? Begin with love God…love yourself. You are created in His image.

Prayer ~ Lord God—just as You spoke to Israel through Moses…"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart." Deuteronomy 6:4-6 NASB. These words are on my heart, Lord, and I do love You with all of my heart, soul and might.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 12-13; 2 Chronicles 24

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Follow And Like "Banquet With The King" on Facebook. 👍