01/11/13

Day of preparation stock your oil

Luke 23:54 - And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.


Jesus fulfilled every sacrifice as given by Moses required for the healing, forgiveness and salvation of man. The day He broke bread was the Feast of Unleavened Bread though according to Moses it was supposed to be celebrated the week after Passover but after the Jews were taken to Babylon a large part of the Jews started celebrating the Passover week together with the week of unleavened bread. For them Jesus may have seem to have accepted their modification in the laws given though Moses but it is only when we realize Jesus takes us for the conclusion to the task, from victory to the battle, then we would realize why Jesus celebrated the feast before. He did also comply with Moses' book by again breaking bread after His resurrection (Luke 22:7-13). If we read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, they simply recorded what was witnessed therefore they state the Feast of Unleavened Bread as being celebrated before the Passover.

After breaking unleavened bread (on Saturday) Jesus was arrested and kept under arrest for 5 days, moved between the Jewish court to the Roman court during these 5 days. Historic documents give details of the torture He went through those 5 days. The movie Passion of Christ did not capture even a reasonable percentage of the torture that Jesus really went through. These 5 days Jesus kept silent like a lamb to fulfil the days of observation according to the book of Moses, this brings us to His death being on a Thursday.

If we read today's message it speaks of the Sabbath being on the next day of His crucifixion. People mistake it for the weekly Sabbath therefore think Jesus was crucified on a Friday. The Gospel of John records it as a High Sabbath and not as an ordinary weekly Sabbath. The High Sabbath was the day of Passover which fell on a Friday a day before the weekly Sabbath. Jesus was crucified on a Thursday evening, the evening before the Passover when they started preparing for meal of the Passover as subscribed in the book of Moses (Exodus). His resurrection was on the 3rd day which was on Sunday a day after the weekly Sabbath (Saturday).

Today God is reminding us our High Sabbath in the Lord is at hand this Sabbath is not His Passover but the Day of His coming in glory and we are dwelling in the evening of the day before, so are we preparing for it? Even for the weekly Sabbath the Jews would light lamps the evening before. For this they had to collect oil and if they did not have oil they would go door to door to borrow some. Jesus spoke through the parable of the 10 virgins [those not defiled by other gods/idols] of stocking oil [fuel] for their lamps [their testimony in Christ/witnessing Christ] before the coming of the Bridegroom. The Lord is telling us now is the time to stock fuel for our lamps for tomorrow would be late. Do not be caught without a burning lamp when the Bridegroom comes, you may have done great works for the Kingdom of God before but is your lamp still burning now for only those who keep witnessing Christ unto their last will enter Heaven to be with the Bridegroom. Wake up do not be caught asleep without a burning lamp.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You do not desire people who start with a bang and then fizzle away. You desire people who are diligent and dedicated unto the last. Woe unto us if we do great things for your Kingdom and then sleep being lost to this world. Wake your people from their sleep, fill us with great passion for your Kingdom that they keep our lamps burning bright unto your coming again to take us unto our Father's House...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Matthew 25:1-13
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

John 19:31 - The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

John 19:14 - And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

Luke 22:7-13
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Luke 24:28-35
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

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