Forbidden Fruit (The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil)

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Examination:

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’ ”
(Genesis 2:16-17) -ESV

Prosecution:

There exists four common objections to this specific Scripture:

1. If GOD is truly omnipresent (everywhere at all times) and omniscient (all-knowing), then why would GOD put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden if He knew Adam and Eve would sin while He was not around?
2. Even if GOD is truly omniscient and omnipresent, GOD cannot be truly omnibenevolent (all-good) because GOD didn’t care enough to prevent the serpent from tempting Adam and Eve and thus prevent them from falling into sin. If GOD is a good Father, He would protect His children, not banish them out of the garden for something He caused out from His own negligence.
3. Even if GOD is truly omnipresent, omniscient and omnibenevolent, GOD cannot be omnipotent (all-powerful) because GOD did not prevent the serpent from causing Adam and Eve to sin.
4. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and did not die as Scripture promised. That’s an obvious contradiction!

Cross-examination:

“The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.”
(Proverbs 18:17) -NLT

Defense:

The skeptic is right to first call attention to the nature of GOD. For unless we understand who GOD is, we will never understand the reasoning behind anything in the Bible. Knowing that GOD’s thoughts and ways are far higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9), it is reasonable to expect that we will not understand everything. If your 3-pound, 15-centimeter brain could contain all knowledge about a god, then that god would be too small to be the real GOD. As it is, we don’t even possess all knowledge about the ocean within our own planet, much less the entire universe where our infinitesimal planet swirls about within our galaxy. So, do you truly expect to know everything about the one true GOD who created the entire universe? In the future, on the New Earth under the new heavens, when we meet Him face-to-face, I believe we will be given the wisdom to understand all that happened in the past; however, I do not believe we can presently know absolutely everything there is to know about GOD in this limited lifetime of learning during our process of sanctification. For this reason, it is written in 1Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

But with that said, GOD has given us information from revelation in the form of GOD’s Word to provide us with answers to difficult questions. Granted, the skeptics will not trust the information from the Bible unless the Bible can be shown to be reliable and accurate. The investigation will reveal that the Bible is actually not full of contradictions, only apparent contradictions that require explanations. But even when the Bible can be acknowledged as reliable and accurate, one still needs to know if the Bible should be taken literally. Only after coming to the conclusion that the Bible is not only reliable and accurate but that the Bible is also inspired by GOD, the revelation can be trusted and then understood with the help from the Holy Spirit who speaks Truth and reveals Truth (John 14:26; 15:26; 1Corinthians 2:10).

So, it is first important to understand who we are talking about – the Creator GOD and the Source of all that exists. Second, we need to understand what we are talking about – GOD’s perfect plan! GOD has not chosen to reveal every detail of His plan to us all at once (Exodus 6:2-3; Matthew 24:36; 25:13; Mark 4:41; John 16:12; Acts 1:7; 1Corinthians 13:12). We can only know what He chooses to reveal. And, since we are part of that plan, we are responsible to it, even if we do not fully understand it or agree with it at times. However, there are some things GOD has revealed to us:

1. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not a bad tree. Everything that GOD made – including the tree – was “good” (Genesis 1:4,10,12,18,21,25). In fact, after creating Adam and Eve, creation was declared to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). The origin of sin in this story came from the serpent, Adam, and Eve; the tree did not sin; the tree was good for the specific purpose for which it had been created.
   
2. Adam and Eve had every reason to trust GOD. The Creator did a good job creating them, and He placed them in a beautiful location where they had everything they needed. GOD was trustworthy, but Adam and Eve chose not to trust GOD.
3. Adam and Eve were created with freedom in mind. GOD places high value on our choice to obey Him, and He created Adam and Eve with freedom so that obedience would be possible. Life without freedom is not really life at all. GOD wisely gave them freedom, but Adam and Eve abused that freedom.
4. Adam and Eve were not ignorant of GOD’s boundaries. Just as wise teachers test their students on what they’ve learned and parents test their children with new responsibilities, GOD tested Adam and Eve in their obedience. However, GOD didn’t test them on what they didn’t know. They knew which tree was off limits, and they knew the consequences if they ate from it. The rules were plain, but they violated the rules anyway.
5. GOD provided for Adam and Eve. Before GOD told them not to eat of the tree, He told them they were “free to eat” of every other tree in the garden (Genesis 2:16). They were not in danger of starving, nor were they deprived of variety. They had an all-you-can-eat buffet in the garden, but Adam and Eve chose to place their focus on what they did not have rather than on what they did have.
6. The decision to sin opened the eyes of both Adam and Eve to the reality of evil. For the first time, they knew what it was to do evil, to feel shame, and to want to hide from GOD. Their sin of disobeying GOD brought corruption into their lives and into the world. Eating the fruit, as an act of disobedience against GOD, was what gave Adam and Eve the knowledge of evil – and the knowledge of their nakedness (Genesis 3:7-13).
7. Adam and Eve did die just as Scripture promised. The Fall was a separation which led to an eventual physical death of Adam and Eve. The physical death wasn’t immediate though the spiritual death was immediate. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
8. GOD’s perfect plan is much bigger than the original garden of Eden. His plan for His creation and His people did not end when Adam and Eve sinned. In fact, GOD’s plan from the very beginning was to redeem His people and His creation. The drama of the Fall and redemption could never have happened if the tree had not been in the garden. Indeed, GOD did know that Adam and Eve would sin and fall, but GOD’s plan was bigger than their sin.

Reasonable Response:

But why did GOD allow the sin? How could the permitting of the Fall be in alignment with the nature of the all-good, loving, and perfectly Holy GOD? From the first half of Romans 6:23, we know that the wages of sin is death; however, the other half of that verse provides the key to understanding why GOD permitted the Fall: “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The response to the perceived problem of the forbidden fruit is as follows:

• GOD is love (1John 4:8,16)
• GOD created humans in His own image (Genesis 1:26-27) and thus created us out from love for the purpose to love (Matthew 22:36-40).
• GOD desires for us to know Him and for us to have a loving relationship with Him (Matthew 6:33).
• For a mutual loving relationship to exist, free will is absolutely necessary.
• From GOD’s omniscience, He knew that free will would be absolutely necessary; therefore, He gave us the great gift of free will.
• Because GOD is omnibenevolent, He gives us free will and permits the consequences that come from created beings who possess free will.
• Through GOD’s omnipresence and omnipotence, He created miracles in order to release the Israelites from slavery, set them up as a free people, and instituted the commandments and sacrificial system in order to reveal the standards of Holy perfection that are impossible to keep through a fallen and sinful people.
• GOD set up the sacrificial system so that He could become the willing ultimate sacrifice on our behalf to atone for our sins, doing what we could never do on our own. For this reason, it is written in John 3:16-17, “¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
  

Closing Statement:

Understanding that GOD is wisdom enables us to put everything into proper perspective in order to help us see that GOD foresaw the Fall from free will. The Father’s wise, good plan included sending the Son into the world that Adam and Eve ruined. Think about it: from eternity past, GOD ordained that Jesus would become the victim of His own plan (Revelation 5). For this reason, it is written in John 10:17-18, “¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

The Good News (the Gospel) is that He guaranteed our redemption by His sacrificial crucifixion and miraculous resurrection. GOD foresaw the separation and created in advance the relentless rescue operation to build the bridge of salvation for our redemption. That’s how much GOD loves us. GOD did for us what we could never do by our own efforts. GOD loves us so much that He allowed us the freedom to choose wrong so that He can help us to see what is right. GOD has allowed us to experience the Fall, evil, and pain and suffering so that we can be grateful for the life that is to come. This limited lifetime of learning through our process of sanctification will become our comparison for completeness in Christ. And when we’re finally with Him, Adam and Eve will probably be the first ones to tell you that GOD’s commands are for our good, not to restrict us. On this present earth, which is destined for destruction by fire (Psalm 97:3-5; Isaiah 64:1-2; Amos 9:5; Micah 1:4; Nahum 1:5-6; 2Peter 3:7,10,12), GOD is showing us that the best humans can have apart from Him is pain and suffering. We ruin everything and that’s why we need Him. And that should be more than enough reason to trust in GOD on the New Earth under the new heavens where only righteousness dwells (2Peter 3:13; Revelation 20:15; 21:3-8,27). Death is merely graduation into the real life. Where we end up will be our choice. And that’s why Hell is justified. GOD loves you so much that He is going to allow you to choose where you end up: Heaven or Hell. So, what will you choose? GOD’s desire is that you will choose blessing over curse, life over death, good over evil, and that you will repent and live (Deuteronomy 11:26-28; 30:15-20; Ezekiel 18; Matthew 11:20; 12:41; Mark 1:15; 6:12; Luke 5:32; 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 17:30).

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ”
(John 14:6) -ESV

GOD desires for all people to be saved (1Timothy 2:4; 2Peter 3:9; John 3:16-17). However, do you need to be saved?

Who Is Barabbas?

Passion week is upon us. Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are soon approaching. While reading GOD’s Word and praying, the Holy Spirit highlighted something specific to me: Barabbas. But before I discuss Barabbas, allow me to first set the scenery in a chronological timeline.

Passion week begins on Palm Sunday when Jesus made His triumphal entry on a colt of a donkey (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19). And as Jesus was making His entrance, the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:9). But what does [5614] ὡσαννά hōsanna (ho-san-nah’) mean? It is of Hebrew origin (hoshia-na) and it comes from Psalm 118:25-26. The word [3467] יָשַׁע yasha (yaw-shah’) means “to deliver, help, to be rescued, to be safe.” The word [4994] נָא na (naw) is usually rendered “I pray” or “now” or “then”; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future). Thus, hosanna in the Greek essentially means “save us now we pray.” According to the Davidic covenant (2Samuel 7), the people expected the coming Messiah to destroy Israel’s enemies and establish GOD’s kingdom. But they didn’t understand what they were asking for. GOD’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts or ways; the Lord’s ways and thoughts are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9). And just as James and John didn’t understand what they were asking for to drink the cup of GOD’s wrath (Matthew 20:22; Mark 10:38), the Jews had an expectation which did not match GOD’s plan for salvation.

The next day, Jesus cleared the temple for the second time (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48). The people had welcomed Jesus as the potential Messiah. But instead of waging war against the Roman Empire, Jesus targeted the Temple. Why? Merchants and money changers set up their booths in the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple, crowding out the Gentiles who had come from all over the civilized world to worship GOD. The merchants sold sacrificial animals at high prices, taking advantage of those who had come long distances. The money changers exchanged all international currency for the special Temple coins – the only money the merchants would accept. They probably often deceived foreigners who didn’t know the exchange rates. But how were those vendors able to set up there unless the religious leaders allowed them to be there? And why would they allow it? It is almost certain that the religious leaders were also getting a portion of the profits. Their commercialism in GOD’s house frustrated people’s attempts at true worship and that angered Jesus because the Lord desires outsiders to come to Him (Isaiah 56:6-7). And after Jesus had tipped over some tables in righteous anger, the blind and lame came to Jesus there and He healed them. And then Jesus left and spent the night in Bethany.

The next day, Jesus publicly criticized and condemned the Pharisees and warned the people against them (Matthew 21:23-24:51; Mark 11:27-13:37; Luke 20:1-21:36). It was also around this same time frame that Judas Iscariot chose to meet secretly with the religious leaders in order to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).

The next major event that occurred was when Jesus had the Passover meal with His disciples, which gave a new meaning to the bread and wine as His body and blood. After singing a hymn, they all went to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus lifted up intense prayer, Judas arrived with guards, and Jesus was arrested. After this, Peter denied Christ while Jesus endured extreme interrogation and abuse under Annas and Caiaphas. And then Jesus was questioned by Pilate, the Roman governor.

Mark 15:4-15 says, “⁴ Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” ⁵ But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed. ⁶ Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. ⁷ The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. ⁸ The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. ⁹ Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. ¹² Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” ¹³ They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” ¹⁴ But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” ¹⁵ Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.“

But who is Barabbas? All four Gospels make it clear that Barabbas was a notorious prisoner, a robber, and one of the insurrectionists who committed murder during an insurrection. Hence, he was against the law, a law breaker, and one who opposed and rebelled against order. 

Crucifixion was the Roman penalty for rebellion and the Romans used to set up the crucifixion sites along public paths so that they would serve as examples as to why no one should rebel against the Roman empire. Barabbas didn’t deserve to be set free. He was a murderer. Lawless. 

However, take a moment to ponder: who else is a lawless murderer? 

1John 3:15 says, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”

Matthew 15:19 says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”

Jewish men had names that identified them with their fathers, their lineage, genealogy. Simon (Peter), for example, is called “Simon Barjona” (Matthew 16:17). Barjona means “son of John.” So, what is the meaning of Barabbas?

[912] Βαραββᾶς Barabbas (bar-ab-bas’) is of Aramaic origin meaning “son of a father.” It’s generic. No name. Ambiguous. He could’ve been anybody’s son. But that’s the point! Though seemingly generic, it’s actually quite specific. Who is a son of a father? I am. Who was the one who lived apart from the Law? I did. Who led a rebellion against GOD’s Kingdom and the Lord’s absolute moral standard? I did. Who was the murderer with hatred in his heart? I was. Who was the guilty person sentenced to death whom Jesus traded places with? Me. A son of a father. Trenton BarArnell. The son of Arnell. The Son of the Father traded places with a son of a father so that a son could become a child of GOD.

Galatians 4:4-7 says, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “ Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

And if I am a son of Abba, then I am Barabbas! But I’m not the only one!

David murdered Uriah in his adulteress affair with Bathsheba (2Samuel 11). But in 2Samuel 12:13, Nathan the prophet told David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.” So think about it! How was king David – a man after GOD’s heart – any different from Barabbas at that moment?

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

1Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”

Ephesians 2:8-9 informs us that we were saved by grace. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t deserve it. Therefore, David was Barabbas. I am Barabbas. You are Barabbas. And so is every single person in this world whom you perceive to be unworthy of salvation. 

Matthew 5:38-48 says, “³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. ⁴¹ Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. ⁴³ You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.“

In 1Timothy 2:4, Paul says GOD desires for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth.

In 2Peter 3:9, Peter says GOD doesn’t want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance.

It was the religious who rallied the mob against Christ (against love). Don’t allow a religious pride to rally you into hatred of another because of that person’s particular sins. That’s why Jesus warned us to first take the log out of our own eye before concerning ourselves with the spec in the eye of another (Matthew 7:1-5). Do not allow religion and hatred in your heart to shout out, “crucify him!” about anyone. Why not? Because you don’t know who they might become. At one point in Mary Magdalene’s life, she had been possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2). Yet she became one of the most loyal and faithful followers of Christ to ever exist. 

I was Barabbas because Jesus died in my place. But I was also the criminal on the cross next to Christ who at first did not receive Christ but then humbled himself before the Lord and died to himself and to whom Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

In Mark 2:17, Jesus said He came not to call the righteous but sinners. It is easy to view our opponents as problems to be solved and eliminated rather than as people to be respected and loved, and as creations of GOD in need of salvation.

How quick we are to say to others that they are demon possessed and deserve immediate judgment. They are wicked! They are unworthy of salvation. Just like James and John – the sons of thunder – when some Samaritans did not receive Jesus immediately at the moment, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But what is written? Jesus rebuked them. He came to save the lost (Luke 9:51-56). That could have been Mary Magdalene while she had been possessed. That could’ve been me while I had been an atheist. In fact, it was me. There was a time in my past when I did not receive Jesus and I mocked Christians. But I thank GOD that He led me to one of His true daughters who reflected Christ rather than shouting for me to be crucified while I did not receive the Lord at that moment. 

We must remember what Paul told us in Ephesians 6:12 in that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” People are not our enemies! This is a spiritual war! Remember the woman whom Jesus said Satan had bounded her for 18 long years (Luke 13:10-17)! Yet Jesus called her a daughter of Abraham. Remember the man who had been possessed by a legion of demons in the country of the Gerasenes (Luke 8:26-39). And yet Jesus left the crowd (the 99) to seek the one in order to set him free.

Challenge / Assignment:

Who is the Barabbas in your life? Who do you perceive to be your enemy? Who do you believe deserves immediate judgment? Who do you believe doesn’t deserve salvation? It’s easy to see someone else’s sins and judge in your heart that they deserve condemnation and death, that they are unworthy to be saved. And yes – it might be true that they are currently wicked right now. Yet Jesus traded places with Barabbas, took the punishment he deserved, and gave him a second chance, a fresh start. And that person was me. That person is every single person I saw in the discipleship program at the Dream Center of Los Angeles. That person is every single person who my brother Caleb and I saw at Celebrate Recovery. Some of those people started their new life only 30 days ago, but some have been living right for months or even years now. 

I want to challenge you to spend Passion week with the passion of Christ for whom He had passion to pursue. And it was not the righteous, but sinners. You know who your perceived enemies are. So go to them. Do not wait for them to come to you. Approach them in love. And if we truly reflect Christ like His daughter did for me when I had been an atheist, perhaps the “enemy,” seeing the passion of Christ, like the Centurion at the crucifixion site, will receive the fear of the Lord and say, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

Ponder: who have you spent the most time talking bad about, complaining about, and maybe even secretly hoping or praying that judgment comes upon them? That person (or people) is your assignment for Passion week. Pray for them every day. Attempt to approach them. Go out of your way to love them and give them another invitation to the Lord. We do not want the Lord to return only to find hatred in our hearts for whom He created. No one has traveled so far that the Lord’s loving hand cannot reach them. Until their last breath, there is still hope for them. Remember king Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:34-37). Even a person who had once lived wickedly can repent and become a servant of the Most High, a soldier of the Lord’s Kingdom. Don’t give up on anyone.

Romans 12:14-21 says, “¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. ¹⁷ Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. ¹⁹ Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.“

The Jackass Made An Entrance?

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If you would rather read this message, the words are provided below:

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Imagine the joy and relief that helpless, distressed, and tired citizens would feel when a superhero arrives to save them from captivity, danger, or death. The people would think and/or shout, “Our savior has arrived!” To understand the full meaning of this message, I want you to first watch the following three videos which depict a hero’s anticipated arrival:

My Hero Academia: All Might announces that everything will be all right because he is there!

Justice League: Superman arrives to defend the weak and save the day!

Avengers: Infinity War: Thor, with lightning, makes a grand entrance onto the battlefield in order to lead everyone into victory!

In all three of those videos, the heroes make a memorable and remarkable entrance. But what does that have to do with my message? Everything. I’m posting this article on April 13, 2019 — the day before Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the day we (Christians) celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The story of the triumphal entry is one of the few incidents in the life of Jesus which appears in all four Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:1-17; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19). In combining the details of all four accounts, it becomes clear that the triumphal entry was a significant event, not only to the Jews of that time, but to all Christians throughout history! In order to fully comprehend the reason for celebrating Palm Sunday, we must fully understand the significance of the triumphal entry. But one thing you will most likely immediately notice is that Jesus’ triumphal entry isn’t like the exaggerated scenes we see in comic books, movies, or myths.

Palm Sunday marked the beginning of what is often called “Passion Week,” which is the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Palm Sunday was the “beginning of the end” of Jesus’ work on Earth, which would become the beginning of the church (the book of Acts) before the end time. 

Palm Sunday began with Jesus and His disciples traveling over the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage to find and retrieve a colt of a donkey. They found the unbroken colt just as Jesus said they would (Luke 19:29–30). When the disciples untied the colt, the owners began to question them. They told the owners what Jesus told them to say: “The Lord needs it” (Luke 19:31–34). Some people believe that Jesus stole the donkey or that He was at least presumptuous in taking it; however, Jesus had visited this region before this moment (Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1), and it is more than likely that Jesus arranged for this moment ahead of time. In fact, it is written that later on that week Jesus arranged [ahead of time] for the upper room to be available in order to celebrate Passover with His disciples (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13). And Jesus’ abilities to foresee the future and plan ahead explains why the owners of the colt accepted the disciples’ answer — the owners had been expecting them, but they wanted to be certain the men were in fact Jesus’ disciples and not common thieves. 

But why the colt of a donkey? Shouldn’t a great leader and anticipated heroic Savior arrive with a grand entrance like all superheroes? Shouldn’t there be lightning, fireworks, an orchestra, big flags or banners? Shouldn’t a great leader ride on a fancy prancing steed while wearing royal robes? Where was the pizazz? What was so majestic about a colt of donkey? The colt was young and small; in fact, the disciples brought along its mother to ride alongside it (Matthew 21:7). If you were a Roman soldier at that time and you saw a grown man riding on a young and small donkey, would it look like a grand entrance to you? If I had been a Roman soldier at that time, I probably would have pointed at Jesus and laughed while saying, “Look at that jackass! Hey! Sir! You’re making an ass of yourself! Get it? An ass is a donkey?”

What made this seemingly ordinary event a triumphal entry? The answer is found in the Old Testament — Jesus was fulfilling prophecy (Psalm 24:7-10; Isaiah 62:10-11; Zechariah 9:9; Psalm 118:25-26; 148:1)! Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their long-awaited King and Messiah. And because the Jewish people realized this significance, the ones who believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah (anointed or chosen one) were celebrating (John 12:18)! The Old Testament prophecy predicted a coming Deliverer, chosen by GOD to redeem Israel (Isaiah 42:1; 61:1–3). The Jews called the Deliverer the Messiah — this chosen One was going to be their ‘superhero’. The only reason why the scene of Jesus riding on a colt of a donkey was a triumphal entry was because the prophets said that the Deliverer would be riding on a colt of a donkey. This event was a big deal! However, for those who had been unaware of what prophecy foretold, they just saw a grown man riding on a tiny donkey. To a Roman soldier who had been accustomed to seeing intimidating warhorses, chariots, formation of phalanxes, and lines of legions, this event seemed trivial and wouldn’t have caused them any concern — it was just a dude on a donkey. And that’s why Jesus was able to do it without the Roman army intervening. It was genius! And again, all of this was planned ahead long before the moment ever happened. And to everyone who knew the significance of this event, it most certainly was a triumphal entry. And for this reason, the people rejoiced and celebrated!

Sadly, the majority of praise from the people were not because they recognized Jesus as the Savior of their souls but only as someone who would lead them in a revolt against Rome. The people believed that the Deliverer would set up an earthly kingdom at that time, not a heavenly Kingdom in the life that is to come. And though there were many people who did not believe in Jesus as the Savior of our souls, they nevertheless hoped that perhaps He would be the one to overthrow the empire. And this is why a mixture of people hailed Jesus as King with their many hosannas, recognizing Him as the leader of the resistance revolution. The word hosanna comes from a Hebrew word meaning “save now” or “save us, we pray.” The first word of Psalm 118:25 is howosiah-na, translated “Save us!” and the crowd’s use of this word at the triumphal entry was significant—especially as they waved palm branches (Psalm 118 was associated with the Feast of Tabernacles, which is a recurring event throughout the Bible as a way of reminding Israelites in every generation of their deliverance). By saying “hosanna” as Jesus passed through the gates of Jerusalem and referring to David and David’s kingdom, the Jews were acknowledging Jesus as their Messiah. The Jews had been waiting a long time for the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17:11–14; 2 Chronicles 6:16), and their shouts of “hosanna in the highest” indicated the hope that their Messiah had finally come to set up GOD’s Kingdom there and immediately at that time (Luke 19:11).

As Jesus rode toward Jerusalem, a big crowd gathered around Him. The people rightly understood that Jesus was the Messiah; however, they did not understand that it wasn’t yet time to set up the Kingdom. Sadly, the salvation that the people of Jerusalem wanted that day was political, not spiritual (Acts 1:6). Though Jesus had tried to tell them that He came to be the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation (Luke 19:10–12), they neglected to realize that prophecy foretold that Jesus must be a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) before He becomes King of all kings. 

Nevertheless, the crowd’s use of palm branches gives us the name “Palm Sunday” (John 12:13). And as the people celebrated on that first Palm Sunday, the allusion to a Messianic psalm drew resentment from the religious leaders (Luke 19:39).

But the celebration would be short-lived because the crowd’s commitment was shallow. In only a matter of a few days, the same people who hailed Jesus as the Deliverer would deliver Him up to be nailed on a cross. The same people who proclaimed Jesus to be Christ would soon call Him a criminal (Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:38-19:16). And because Jesus lowered Himself to such a humbling position (Philippians 2:5-8), the people did not recognize Him for who He truly is (Matthew 27:27-31,39-44). The greatest tragedy in the history of mankind is to see Jesus yet not recognize Him as the Creator, Provider, Sustainer, and Savior — the great I AM. Devotion based only on curiosity or popularity fades quickly. Jesus told us that our faith needs to have deep roots (Matthew 13:1-9,18-23). 

At this very moment that I’m writing this article, Palm Sunday will be celebrated tomorrow. So, why should we celebrate on Palm Sunday? Because we’re celebrating the fact that the King of kings came to live amongst us and suffer with us (Hebrews 4:15)! But we’re also celebrating the fact that He will come again! And when the Lord comes again, it will most certainly be the triumphal entry one would expect from the King of kings. And on that Day, the entire world will see and know that the name of Jesus is above every other name (Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:27,30; Mark 13:26; Luke 2:26-27). Though we don’t know the day nor hour (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32), there is coming a time when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10–11). Unlike the first Palm Sunday when the celebration was superficial, the worship on the new Earth under the new heavens will be authentic, deep, and meaningful. There will come a Day when people will again be hailing Jesus as King while waiving palm branches  (Revelation 7:9-10). Just as Jesus restored Peter after Peter denied Him (John 21:15-17), the future worship with palm branches will symbolize our restoration. 

The first Palm Sunday was a celebration of GOD’s great mercy. This is what separates Christianity from all other religions: in all other religions, humans attempt to work their way to salvation, to a god or becoming a god; however, we (Christians) know that we are simply unable to save ourselves. And this is why GOD came to us! On Palm Sunday, we are celebrating that GOD loved us enough to get personally involved and mixed up in our mess so that He could absorb all our sins and redeem us. This is why we celebrate Palm Sunday! Forget about the donkey! Only a jackass fixates on a jackass. Jesus could have miraculously stood on a snail while ants pulled Him if He wanted to do so. The point here is that GOD-Almighty lowered Himself to be with us so that we can be with Him! Palm Sunday is a celebration of a triumphal entry! Jesus was born in a manger and announced Himself while riding on a little donkey, but none of that had anything to do with the real triumphal entry. The triumphal entry is Jesus existing in the world! And that’s what the people were supposed to be celebrating on that first Palm Sunday! The fact that Jesus is Immanuel — GOD with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)! None of the superheroes in the comic books have ever made a more memorable or remarkable entrance than Jesus when He was miraculously born of a virgin by the Spirit (Luke 1:26-38)! The virgin birth is the true triumphal entry! Jesus in this world is the true triumphal entry! And if you think Thor’s entrance with lightning onto the battlefield was spectacular in the movie, Avengers: Infinity War, just wait until Christ comes again and opens the sky as a scroll would roll up while the stars fall from their places (Isaiah 34:4; 51:6; Matthew 24:29-31; Revelation 6:12-17)! On that Day and at that time, it will be the greatest entrance ever witnessed! And all throughout Heaven, it will be said, “Now that’s how you make an entrance!”

Happy Palm Sunday. As you celebrate the fact that Jesus entered our pain and suffering to be our Savior, know this:

“What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
(Romans 8:31) -GW

 

Additional Study:

• Good Friday
• Passover
• Resurrection

Passover? Paint The Town Red!

What is Passover (Pesach in Hebrew)? Why is it so important? What does it mean for us? First of all, it is a Jewish festival celebrating the exodus from Egypt, when GOD took His chosen people — the Israelites —  out of slavery and into freedom! True freedom!

In the book of Exodus, chapter 12, we see that the Israelites were commanded to make a sacrifice with a spotless/perfect lamb and use the blood to put it on the doorposts and the lintel of the houses. We find out in Exodus 12:13 that this blood serves a purpose: “The blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt” (NLT).

It was the people’s obedience to GOD that saved them, not necessarily the blood. By them putting the blood on their doorposts, they demonstrated that they were placing their trust in a sacrificial death prescribed by GOD for their salvation. Likewise, we see in 1Corinthians 5:7 and Revelation 5:12 that Jesus was the prescribed sacrificial death and it is only by the blood of Jesus that we are saved.

In Exodus 12, GOD wasn’t actually looking for the blood on the doorposts; rather, He was looking for their obedience. Their obedience just so happened to be colored red. But that outward sign of obedience was only there because of the faith in their hearts. GOD wanted to know: “Do you love me? Do you trust me? Will you do what I’m asking you to do?”

In 1Samuel 15, we see that Saul did not listen carefully to the words of the Lord (15:9); rather, he listened to the people (15:24). Not only did Saul disobey (15:19), but he was prideful (15:12), he lied (15:13,20), and he failed to be obedient. To make matters worse, he tried to cover up his disobedience with sacrifice (15:21). And we see that Samuel’s response to Saul was short and straight to the point: obedience is better than sacrifice (15:22).
[see also, Psalm 40:6-8; 51:16-17; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 12:7; Mark 12:33; Hebrews 10:8-9]

Sacrifice is still important, but the motive behind the sacrifice is more important. Without love for GOD and genuine repentance, the rigmarole of the religious ritual is nothing more than a pious performance from a hollow and pseudo-holy host. Think about this: incomplete or selective obedience is disobedience. And this is why Saul was rejected as king and why GOD had already chosen his replacement (15:28).

The Israelites who, in faith, applied the blood of the lamb to their homes, became a model for us. It was not the Israelites’ ancestry or good standing or good nature that saved them; it was only the blood of the lamb that made them exempt from death and saved them. But it was their faith and trust in GOD that produced that obedient act where the blood could be seen.

Challenge: All of our sins have been overlooked because of Jesus. We have been given a passover. We no longer have to make tons of sacrifices to be cleansed and be saved. We are cleansed and saved by the blood of Jesus — the perfect sacrificial Lamb — who died for us, to do what we could never do on our own. GOD is looking for our faith and our obedience. In what ways can you be obedient? What is GOD asking you to do that you should be doing anyway out of love for GOD and love for others?

I want you to go paint the town red! And by that, I mean, let everyone see your obedience while GOD sees the faith in your heart. [Painting the roses red! We’re painting the roses red!] Go beyond the superficial act of red paint and get to the heart of the matter with the sacrificial blood of Christ. And share the Good News with everyone!

Jesus died so that you could live — truly live!

Now, are you willing to live for the One who died for you and gave you life? I’m going to! And I hope you join me because it’ll be fun and exciting anyway! [Painting the roses red! We’re painting the roses red!]

Let’s go paint the town red! By this, I mean that all of our acts of love should be noticed by others. Our acts of service for others should be as noticeable as red paint – the love of Christians should stand out! We should be in constant celebration due to the gift of salvation! In what way can you celebrate today? Who can you celebrate with? How can you love others in your celebration?

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
(John 13:34-35) -NLT

[ Think: It is true that we are saved by the blood of Jesus if He died and rose again as written. But did Jesus actually die? ]

Church History – Part 1 (AD 30-177)

[ If you missed the introduction to this series, you can read it here: “Church History – Introduction” ]

Christian church history did not begin at the birth of Jesus [like many assume]; rather, it started “in the beginning” (Genesis 1:1). Christianity is the continuity and completion of Judaism. To see how this is so, read my other article, “Is Judaism and Christianity Complementary or Contradictory?”

In AD 30, Jesus was crucified, He resurrected, and then ascended into Heaven after revealing Himself to multiple people. Also in that same year was the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost. In 33, Stephen was the first Christian martyr. Saul of Tarsus had been one of the people responsible for the death of Stephen. In that same year of 33, Saul encountered Jesus, became a Christian, and was from that point on known as Paul. Around 43, Antioch became the center of Christian activity. In 45, Barnabas brought Paul to Antioch. In 47-48, Paul and Barnabas visited Galatia during their first missionary journey. In 49, the Jerusalem Council recognized that the Gospel is also for Gentiles. In that same year, Roman emperor, Claudius, forced the Jews out of Rome; Priscilla and Aquila left Rome and ended up in Corinth where they meet Paul. Around 49-52, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia and visited there for the first time during his second missionary journey; Timothy traveled with Paul and Silas. In 50, Paul, Silas, and other missionaries landed at Philippi and the church was established there. In that same year, Paul also went to Thessalonica and established a church there. Around 50-52, Paul visited Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey. Around 51, Luke joined Paul, Silas, and Timothy during Paul’s second missionary journey. In 52-54, Paul taught in Ephesus. In 52, Emperor Claudius installed Felix as procurator of Judea. From 52-62, Paul defended his faith before Roman procurators Felix (52-60) and Festus (60-62). From 54-68, Emperor Nero ruled the Roman Empire. Around 57-59, Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea. In 60, Paul had been shipwrecked on the island of Malta en route to Rome. Around 60-63, Luke wrote his Gospel and the book of Acts.

In AD 64, there was a great fire in Rome that destroyed 70% of the capital city. Emperor Nero (AD 54-68) blamed the fire on Christians. Prior to the Jewish revolts and the great fire, Christians had been largely ignored by those in power, with of course some martyrs sprinkled throughout the timeline. According to the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus, the Sanhedrin ordered James (linking James as the brother of Jesus) to be stoned to death around AD 62. But because of the great fire two years later (AD 64), persecution came down hard on Christians because Nero blamed the fire on the Christians. According to early church tradition, Peter died in Rome during Nero’s persecution, crucified upside down. It is said that Paul also died during the intense persecution between AD 64-65. And because of the Jews’ open revolts against the empire’s overstepping of boundaries, Nero eventually gave General Vespasian 60,000 soldiers to regain Galilee and Judea. And because Vespasian conquered Galilee, we have the writings from Josephus. It is said that Josephus surrendered to Vespasian. Before attacking Jerusalem, Nero had apparently committed suicide and Vespasian returned to Rome to claim the imperial throne. Josephus went with him and ended up writing his major treatises there. An important mention in the historian’s writings (Antiquities of the Jews) is the reference to Jesus as a historical figure who was reputed to be a prophet and miracle worker who had been crucified under Pontius Pilate.

After becoming emperor, Vespasian sent his son, Titus, and an army back to Jerusalem to besiege the city. However, before besieging the city, the Jews were allowed to enter into the city for the Passover celebration, thereby collecting more Jews in one area than might have been possible otherwise. But just like in the lyrics of Hotel California by the Eagles, they could come in, but they were not to leave. The Temple was eventually destroyed in AD 70, thereby fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus (see Matthew 24:2). Only one wall of the temple mount (known today as the “Wailing Wall”) remained. And because of all this, many Jews who desired to avoid further tragedies, excluded all fringe groups, including Christians, from their synagogues. But where had the Christians been during the siege of the city? Eusebius tells us that the Christians, acting on a revelation, to flee to a certain town called Perea, which they called Pella. After the disastrous Jewish War of AD 66-73, large numbers of Jews moved away from their traditional homes (Dispersions). And then up until AD 81, Christians were largely ignored again. But then Vespasian’s son, Domitian, became emperor (AD 81-96) and demanded divinity status (divus) and to be declared as Dominos et Deus Noster (‘Our Lord and God’). But persecution continued even after a new emperor, Trajan, took the throne.

Polycarp was one of the martyrs — he had been burned alive because he refused to deny Christ. According to Irenaeus, Polycarp was his spiritual mentor and Polycarp was a disciple of apostle John. In the second century century AD, apologists began defending their faith and their innocence, desiring to prove that Christians weren’t criminals. The most famous of the apologists was a man named Justin. Justin studied the philosophies of Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras, and the Stoics. Around AD 132, he eventually came to the conclusion that Christianity was the “one sure worthy philosophy.” In AD 165, he was beheaded and soon became known as “Justin Martyr.” Christianity was unpopular in the first and second centuries for a few reasons: Christianity went against the social order and opposed the pluralistic, polytheistic, and relativistic ways of life that catered to the pursuit of pleasure. And if we substitute polytheistic for atheistic, we find the reasons for Christianity being unpopular remain the same today of the Western world in 2017. And much like today, GOD used human factors to produce spiritual results. The allowance of the Roman empire produced the dissatisfaction of the empire; consequently, many found refuge in the grace of Christ. Those in power produced persecution, which caused the stirring of faith and the scattering of believers; consequently, seeds of salvation grew in areas that needed the Gospel. Think about it: in the depth of the darkness, surrounded by soil, the future of the buried seed always looks hopeless. But that’s where growth takes place; that growth will eventually be known when it shoots up, breaking through the soil to proclaim life.

[ To read Part 2, CLICK HERE! ]