As we noticed a few weeks ago, Passover and Easter of 2016
are several weeks apart. Pentecost is not calculated as to when Easter falls,
but as per Passover’s date. Therefore, Pentecost is June 11th/12th
in 2016. However, it may be that we have misunderstood the origins of this holy
day. We previously discussed the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and the Prophets
initiating from Shem. Further study reveals that Noah, Shem’s father, was the
originator of the Feast of Weeks. The Essenes at Qumran had several copies of
the Book of Jubilees hidden in caves and they esteemed it very highly. Jubilees
will give us some clues as to the origin of the holy day we call
Pentecost.
Also, to understand the perspective of the things that Jesus
said, we have to read them in context. Not just the immediate context, but the
remoter context. In some instances we split up the words that Jesus spoke, but
they were recorded as Jesus spoke them in a particular time frame. Therefore it
is better to look at the entire block of time that Jesus was speaking as the
context to understand the meaning of his words. Jesus gave the disciples some
very important information during and just after the last supper that he ate
with them before his crucifixion. He reiterates “a command” several times and
some have mistakenly taken this out of context to apply to the Mosaic Law. That
is not the best way to interpret the written word given by the Holy Spirit. We
will look at this as we near the day that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon
the called out, because that outpouring would not have occurred if Jesus had
not been offered up.
While it is not commonly understood in the church, Noah was
the one who established the Feast of Weeks,
Shavuot, later called Pentecost.
Gen 9:9-17 Behold, I establish My covenant or pledge with
you and with your descendants after you 10 And with every living creature that
is with you — whether the birds, the livestock, or the wild beasts of the earth
along with you, as many as came out of the ark — every animal of the earth. 11
I will establish My covenant or pledge with you: Never again shall all flesh be
cut off by the waters of a flood; neither shall there ever again be a flood to
destroy the earth and make it corrupt. 12 And God said, This is the token of
the covenant (solemn pledge) which I am making between Me and you and every
living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I set My bow
[rainbow] in the cloud, and it shall be a token or sign of a covenant or solemn
pledge between Me and the earth. 14 And it shall be that when I bring clouds
over the earth and the bow [rainbow] is seen in the clouds, 15 I will
[earnestly] remember My covenant or solemn pledge which is between Me and you
and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters will no more become a
flood to destroy and make all flesh corrupt. 16 When the bow [rainbow] is in
the clouds and I look upon it, I will [earnestly] remember the everlasting covenant
or pledge between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the
earth. 17 And God said to Noah, This [rainbow] is the token or sign of the
covenant or solemn pledge which I have established between Me and all flesh
upon the earth. AMP
The rainbow was the sign to Noah and his descendants to
remember the flood and that Yahweh would not destroy the earth with water
again. But the Book of Jubilees makes a few very important points we should
consider. Jubilees was written from the perspective of an Angel giving Moses
these instructions on Mount Sinai, Exodus 19. The Book of Jubilees records it
this way, remember that the Angel is speaking to Moses.
Noah's Sacrifice; God's Covenant with him (cf. Gen.
viii. 20-ix. 17). Instructions to Moses about eating of Blood, the Feast of
Weeks, etc., and Division of the Year (vi. 1-38).
Jubilees VI 1. And on the new moon of the third month he
went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain. 2. And he made atonement for the earth, and
took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the earth; for
everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the
ark with Noah. 3. And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an
ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the
young of a dove, and placed a burnt sacrifice on the altar, and poured thereon
an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over
everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the
Lord. 4. And the Lord smelt the goodly
savour, and He made a covenant with him that there
should not be any more a flood to destroy the earth;
that all the days of the earth seed-time and harvest should never cease; cold
and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their
order, nor cease for ever. 5. "And you,
increase ye and multiply upon the earth, and become many upon it, and be a
blessing upon it. The fear of you and the dread
of you I shall inspire in everything that is on earth and in the sea. 6. And behold I have given unto you all beasts, and all
winged things, and everything that moveth on the earth, and the fish in the
waters, and all things for food; as the green herbs, I have given you all
things to eat. 7. But flesh, with the life thereof,
with the blood, ye shall not eat; for the life of all flesh is in the blood,
lest your blood of your lives be required. At the hand of every man, at the
hand of every (beast), shall I require the blood of man. 8.
Whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of
God made He man. 9. And you, increase ye, and multiply on the earth."
10. And Noah and his sons swore that they would not eat any blood that was in
any flesh, and he made a covenant before the Lord God for ever throughout all
the generations of the earth in this month. 11. On this account He spake to
thee that thou shouldst make a covenant with the
children of Israel in this month upon the mountain with an oath, and that thou
shouldst sprinkle blood upon them because of
all the words of the covenant, which the Lord made with them for ever. 12. And
this testimony is written concerning you that you should observe it
continually, so that you should not eat on any day any blood of beasts or birds
or cattle during all the days of the earth, and the man who eateth the blood of
beast or of cattle or of birds during all the days of the earth, he and his
seed shall be rooted out of the land. 13. And do thou command the children of
Israel to eat no blood, so that their names and their seed may be before the
Lord our God continually. 14. And for this law
there is no limit of days, for it is for ever. They shall observe it throughout
their generations, so that they may continue supplicating on your behalf with
blood before the altar; every day and at the time of
morning and evening they shall seek forgiveness on
your behalf perpetually before the Lord that they may keep it and not be rooted
out. 15 And He gave to Noah and his sons a sign that there
should not again be a flood on the earth. 16. He set His bow in the cloud for a
sign of the eternal covenant that there should not again be a flood on the
earth to destroy it all the days of the earth.
Compare this section to Genesis 9, we can see that there is
no contradiction between the Bible and Jubilees. Humans were not to shed the
blood of other humans, or eat blood throughout the age. The covenant of the
rainbow is an everlasting covenant, and this was the day that was to be
remembered. Noah made a sacrifice offering for atonement; comparatively, Jesus
is the sacrifice of atonement for us. Jesus’ innocent blood atones our sin.
This was the day to remember, the new moon of the third month. Remember that
Jesus died on the 14th of Nisan, the first month. Sivan is the third
month, and Noah’s day of celebration was on the new moon of that month. In 2016
however, the new moon of the third month is June 5th. Let’s go on.
Jubilees
6:17. For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tables, that
they should celebrate the feast of weeks in
this month once a year, to renew the covenant every year. 18. And this whole
festival was celebrated in heaven from the day of creation till the days of
Noah-twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years: and Noah and his sons
observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noah's
death, and from the day of Noah's death his sons did away with (it) until
the days of Abraham, and they ate blood. 19. But Abraham observed it, and
Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days
the children of Israel forgot it until ye celebrated it anew on this mountain.
Just to take notice of the numbers here, a week of years is
one seven year cycle, and a jubilee is fifty years. 26 Jubilees is equal to
1,300 years, plus 5 seven year cycles, equals 1335 years of heavenly
celebrations of this holy day. Yes, apparently they do party in heaven. Then
after the exit from the ark, 7 jubilees equals 350, plus 1 seven week cycle
equals 357 years.
Shem was Noah’s son, the one who started the school in
Jebus for prophets and godly men. They observed this festival, but notice in
the days of Abraham that the people ate blood. Those would be the days of
Nimrod and forward. People forgot about this holy day, but Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob observed it. Jacob’s children forgot about this festival while in Egypt
but Moses was to reinstitute it.
Jubilees 6:20. And do thou command the children of Israel
to observe this festival in all their generations for a commandment unto them:
one day in the year in this month they shall celebrate the festival. 21. For it
is the feast of weeks and the feast of first-fruits: this
feast is twofold and of a double nature: according
to what is written and engraven concerning it celebrate it. 22. For I have
written in the book of the first law, in that which I
have written for thee, that thou shouldst celebrate it in its season, one day in the year, and I explained to thee its sacrifices
that the children of Israel should remember and should celebrate it throughout
their generations in this month, one day in every year. 23. And on the new moon
of the first month, and on the new moon of the fourth month, and on the new
moon of the seventh month, and on the new moon of the tenth month are the days
of remembrance, and the days of the seasons in the four divisions of the
year. These are written and ordained as a testimony for ever. 24. And Noah
ordained them for himself as feasts for the generations for ever, so that they
have become thereby a memorial unto him. 25. And on the new moon of the first
month he was bidden to make for himself an ark, and on that (day) the earth
became dry and he opened (the ark) and saw the earth. 26. And on the new moon
of the fourth month the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were
closed. And on the new moon of the seventh month all the mouths of the abysses
of the earth were opened, and the waters began to descend into them. 27. And on the new moon of the tenth month the tops of
the mountains were seen, and Noah was glad. 28.
And on this account he ordained them for himself as feasts for a memorial for
ever, and thus are they ordained. 29. And they placed them on the heavenly
tables, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial,
from the first to the second, and from the second to the third, and from the
third to the fourth. 30. And all the days of the commandment will be two and fifty weeks of days, and (these
will make) the entire year complete. 31. Thus
it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tables. And there is no neglecting
(this commandment) for a single -year or from year to year.
Here is where the times and dates have to be noted.
Jubilees notes 52 weeks (weeks of days is a one week cycle), and every thirteen
weeks there is a holy day. That is four observed holy days per year, every
thirteen weeks on the new moon. Now add this holy day in the third month on the
new moon. This assumes a 364 day per year calendar, on a solar cycle. But other
cultures observed days months and years differently. But by the time we get to
Daniel in captivity, they were using a 360 day year on a lunar cycle. In modern
times we added one whole day to make 365 days per year with a leap year every
four years. But the modern Jewish calendar is on a lunar cycle, adding days to
it to match up with the solar cycle, which in turn mixes up all the days and
holy days.
Also notice here that the Angel says this holy day, the new
moon of the third month, has a double meaning, it’s the day Noah left the ark,
and the rainbow covenant, and the day Moses received these words on Sinai. Now
this holy day has a quadruple meaning, we have to add the first wheat and the day
that the Holy Spirit was poured out on humans. The Angel goes on.
Jubilees 6:32. And command thou the children of Israel that
they observe the years according to this reckoning-three hundred and sixty-four
days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb
its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in
them according to their testimony, and they will not leave out any day nor
disturb any feasts.
Notice that other events were supposed to take place on
these holy days, the holy days have multiple reasons to celebrate. On Tishri 1,
the new moon is the calendar New Year, Rosh Ha Shanna. It is also the day that
the waters started to recede for Noah. It is also Jesus’ birth date. By this
insight given to Moses, it would not be out of character for other significant
holy days to have multiple observances. But in hindsight we can see that people
did not stay true to these days and observances. This was something the
Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and Prophets viewed as a problem that needed to
be rectified. We can see how holy day observances have lost some of their
meanings and have been mixed with the practices of other nations.
Jubilees 6:33. But if they do neglect and do not observe
them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons,
and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the
seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their
ordinances. 34. And all the children of Israel will forget, and will not find
the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and
sabbaths, and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years.
We know from the Masoretic period in history that the
Masoretes actually deleted 240 years. The reason being was to make someone else
the Messiah. So the Angel is correct in telling Moses that if they don’t
observe these days they will disturb all the seasons and dislodge years. It is
easy to trick people into believing the calendar is different if people haven’t
been observing the holy days. The Jews have lost the path of years. They have
gone wrong as to all the order of the years. Thankfully, Bible History students
and secular historians can piece back together the distortions the rabbis
created. Add 240 years back to the Jewish calendar (5776 + 240=6016) to get the
accurate year. Look what is foretold.
Jubilees 6:35. For I know and from henceforth shall I
declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lieth)
written before me, and on the heavenly tables the division of days is ordained,
lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of
the Gentiles after their error and after their ignorance. 36. For there will be
those who will assuredly make observations of the moon--now (it) disturbeth the
seasons and cometh in from year to year ten days too soon. 37.
For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the
order), and make an abominable (day) the day of testimony, and an unclean day a
feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and
the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the months and
sabbaths and feasts and jubilees. 38. For this reason I command and testify to
thee that thou mayest testify to them; for after thy death thy children will
disturb (them), so that they will not make the year three hundred and
sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new
moons and seasons and sabbaths and festivals, and
they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.
It is interesting to see how emphatic the Angel was that
because they will mix this up they will eat blood. It is understandable to note
that Nimrod probably changed the calendar dating year as Babylon observed the
360 day year. But the Israelites were to observe 364 day years, and by the time
of Moses, they had already stopped observing the months and new moon
celebrations properly. This is what the Essenes wanted to get back to, but with
limited communication technology, everyone followed the dominant system of the
day. This was the danger of having people change the calendar, they would
observe the wrong days. To Israel, Judaism was a law and a religion, as it is
in part today. Islam is a law and a religion as well, but Christianity is not a
law, it is a religion. Therefore Christianity can exist under any nation
because it is only bound to one command, as Jesus will later tell us. Here are
Moses’ commands.
Ex 34:22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the
firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the year's
end. AMP
Ex 34:22G2532And G1859a
holiday G1439.1of a
period of sevens G4160you
shall observe G1473to me,
G746the beginning
G2326of the harvest
G4447.1of
wheat, G2532and G1859a
holiday G4864gathering
G3322being
in the middle G3588of the
G1763year
Lev 23:15-17 And you shall count from the day after the
Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, seven
Sabbaths; [seven full weeks] shall they be.
16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall
present a cereal offering of new grain to the Lord. 17 You shall bring from your dwellings two
loaves of bread to be waved, made from two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour;
they shall be baked with leaven, for firstfruits to the Lord. AMP
Yahweh had to give them different ways to determine the
feast of weeks. Instead of the new moon of the third month, count 50 days from
Passover. Now keep in mind our previous studies on Passover; the nation as a
whole rarely observed Passover; from the time of Samuel, to once with Hezekiah,
and once with Josiah. The temple became the place for all sorts of evil
practices including male and female prostitution, worshipping of the stars and
the cherubim, abortion, and fire rites. This is instruction given to Moses, and
while they wandered for 40 years, they kept these observances while also
worshipping the cherubim in the wilderness. But soon after they entered the Promised
Land, they did not observe the proper feast days.
Deut 16:8-12 For six days you shall eat unleavened bread,
and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord your God;
you shall do no work on it. 9 You shall count seven weeks; begin to number the
seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. 10
Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a
freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give to the Lord your God, as
the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your
God, you and your son and daughter, your manservant and maidservant, and the
Levite who is within your towns, the stranger or temporary resident, the
fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place in which the Lord
your God chooses to make His Name [and His Presence] dwell. 12 And you shall
[earnestly] remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be watchful
and obey these statutes. AMP
People were to mark the first fruit with a stick as it was
growing; and at the time of the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, they were to cut it
off the plant and take that first fruit into the tabernacle as a free will
offering. This is another “extra” holy day observance. Not simply the day they
left the ark, or the day Moses received these words, but also the day to
celebrate the first wheat or other fruit of the season, and then later, the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
This is an interesting story from Tobit.
Tob 2:1-7 Now when I was come home again, and my wife Anna
was restored unto me, with my son Tobias, in the feast of Pentecost, which is
the holy feast of the seven weeks, there was a good dinner prepared me, in the
which I sat down to eat.2 And when I saw abundance of meat, I said to my son,
Go and bring what poor man soever thou shalt find out of our brethren, who is
mindful of the Lord; and, lo, I tarry for thee.3 But he came again, and said,
Father, one of our nation is strangled, and is cast out in the marketplace.4
Then before I had tasted of any meat, I started up, and took him up into a room
until the going down of the sun.5 Then I returned, and washed myself, and ate
my meat in heaviness,6 Remembering that prophecy of Amos, as he said, Your
feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your mirth into lamentation.7
Therefore I wept: and after the going down of the sun I went and made a grave,
and buried him. KJV
Tobit was in captivity in Nineveh, but he was still
observing the holy days. There in the streets of Nineveh was a murdered Israelite
lying in the market place. Notice that Tobit was sincere in that he was doing
what the Mosaic Law prescribed when he was going to share his food with a poor
person. But there on a holy day lay a dead man in the market place. Why wasn’t
anyone concerned about a strangled man in the market? Was it because the dead
man was an Israelite and they were captives there? Tobit leaves his home to
retrieve the dead man’s body, then he waits until sundown, washes (as per the
cleansing rites of the law), and remembers Amos’ words. But on the Day of
Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came, just as Jesus said, it once again
became a feast day of celebration.
Acts 2:1-4 AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all assembled together in one place, 2 When suddenly there came a
sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled
the whole house in which they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them
tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled
on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled (diffused throughout their
souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign)
languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression
[in each tongue in appropriate words]. AMP
This feast day was a command to remember the covenant
between Yahweh and Man marked by the Rainbow, the day Noah came out of the ark,
the day Moses received the covenant on Sinai, the first fruits of the season,
and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. To prepare the disciples for the
pouring out of the Holy Spirit Jesus told them what was about to take place,
and he gave them one commandment to observe. The full context starts before
Jesus’ last meal. Jesus knows what is to take place and he washes his disciple’s
feet. John gives us a bit of back story here.
John 13:1 [NOW] BEFORE the Passover Feast began, Jesus knew
(was fully aware) that the time had come for Him to leave this world and return
to the Father. And as He had loved those who were His own in the world, He
loved them to the last and to the highest degree.
John 13:3-5 [That] Jesus, knowing (fully aware) that the
Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come from God and was
[now] returning to God, 4 Got up from supper, took off His garments, and taking
a [servant's] towel, He fastened it around His waist. 5 Then He poured water
into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with
the [servant's] towel with which He was girded. AMP
John 13:12-16 So when He had finished washing their feet
and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you
understand what I have done to you? 13 You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the
Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am. 14 If I then, your
Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty,
you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have
given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have
done to you. 16 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not
greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent
him. AMP
Jesus basically says ‘You owe it to one another to use my
example and wash each other’s feet’. We should think this way today because it
will be to our advantage if we do.
John 13:17-20 If you know these things, blessed and happy
and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and
really do them]. 18 I am not speaking of and I do not mean all of you. I know
whom I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He who eats
My bread with Me has raised up his heel against Me. [Ps 41:9.] 19 I tell you
this now before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may be persuaded
and believe that I am He [Who I say I am — the Christ, the Anointed One, the
Messiah]. 20 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who receives and
welcomes and takes into his heart any messenger of Mine receives Me [in just
that way]; and he who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart
receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way]. AMP
After Judas leaves, Jesus continues his instruction.
John 13:31-38 When he had left, Jesus said, Now is the Son
of Man glorified! [Now He has achieved His glory, His honor, His exaltation!]
And God has been glorified through and in Him. 32 And if God is glorified
through and in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify
Him at once and not delay. 33 [Dear] little children, I am to be with you only
a little longer. You will look for Me and, as I told the Jews, so I tell you
now: you are not able to come where I am going. 34 I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just
as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. 35 By this shall
all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep
on showing love among yourselves]. 36 Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, where are
You going? Jesus answered, You are not able to follow Me now where I am going,
but you shall follow Me afterwards. 37 Peter said to Him, Lord, why cannot I
follow You now? I will lay down my life for You. 38 Jesus answered, Will you
[really] lay down your life for Me? I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,
before a rooster crows, you will deny Me [completely disown Me] three times. AMP
Jesus gave a new commandment, just like there would be a
new reason to celebrate the upcoming holy days. Jesus’ death on Passover, as
the perfect Passover lamb, is not a defeat, but a victory. His death and
resurrection freed the dead redeemed from Hades, and cleansed the living
redeemed. “You will follow Me afterwards”, meaning when we die, we will follow
Him, but Peter could not follow him at that time until Jesus took back the keys
to hell and death. Jesus then explains he is preparing a place for the
redeemed.
John 14:1-7 DO NOT let your hearts be troubled (distressed,
agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe
in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. 2 In My Father's house there
are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for
I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And when (if) I go and make ready
a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where
I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way. 5
Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we
know the way? 6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no
one comes to the Father except by (through) Me. 7 If you had known Me [had
learned to recognize Me], you would also have known My Father. From now on, you
know Him and have seen Him. AMP
We cannot get to the Heavenly Father unless we go through
Jesus. We cannot cast Jesus aside and commune with the Father, we have to go
through Jesus. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. We cannot have
audience with the Father unless we go through Jesus. Then Jesus brings up the
command he gave them just a short time ago.
John 14:15 If you
[really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. AMP
We see that this is all part of the same conversation from
John 13:1; the commands are to love one another and wash each other’s feet.
They are all still in the same place eating, Judas left, and Jesus explains he
is going to send the Spirit of Truth once he (Jesus) leaves. That Spirit of
Truth is another comforter. Jesus
was/is a comforter and the Holy Spirit is another comforter.
John 14:16-20 And I will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener,
and Standby), that He may remain with you forever — 17 The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot
receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and
recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly]
and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate,
bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you. 19 Just a little while
now, and the world will not see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I
live, you will live also. 20 At that time [when that day comes] you will know
[for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in
you. AMP
He didn’t leave us forlorn or helpless, he sent the Holy
Spirit, aka the Spirit of Truth,
another comforter to help us. Then notice that when that day comes, the day he
comes out of the grave, they will know he really is inside the Father and that
those who believe on Jesus as Messiah are inside Jesus. And once again, he
mentions his commands.
John 14:21 The
person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me;
and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love
him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be
clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.] AMP
Again, in the same context Jesus mentions the commandment
he gave them, all three times they hinge on “if we really love Him”. First, if
we keep his command to love one another, it will be a witness of being a
disciple. Second, if we keep his command, we will have the Holy Spirit forever.
Third, if we keep his command, we will be loved by the Father. If we really love
him, we will keep his commands and he will reveal Himself to us. This is all in
the same context as Jesus being the way, truth, and life. But he mentions
keeping his commands again in just a bit. Jesus explains how he will reveal
himself.
John 14:22-26 Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is
it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the
world? 23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word
[obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and
make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. 24 Anyone who does
not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the
teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who
sent Me. 25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the
Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby),
the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to
represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will
cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything
I have told you. AMP
Anyone who does not really love Jesus does not observe and
obey His teaching. Remember that we can’t bypass Jesus to get to the Father.
Who are people claiming to be in relationship with? Is it someone other than
Jesus? He told us this while he was still on earth and again reiterated the
Holy Spirit would be poured out on those who really love Him and the Holy Spirit
will remind them of Jesus’ words.
John 14:27-29 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now
give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let
your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves
to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and
intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] 28 You heard Me tell you, I am going
away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have
been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and
mightier than I am. 29 And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that
when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me. AMP
Do not be afraid, he arose. Do not be disturbed, he arose.
Do not be agitated, he arose. Do not be troubled, he arose. Jesus defeated
death, do not be fearful or intimidated. During the same evening Jesus then
remarks that the prince of this world is coming. Do not be afraid, the prince
of this world has nothing in those who really love Jesus.
John 14:30-31 I will not talk with you much more, for the
prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me.
[He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him,
and he has no power over Me.] 31 But [Satan is coming and] I do as the Father
has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the
Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in
full agreement with His orders.] Rise, let us go away from here. AMP
Now they get up and start walking to the garden of
Gethsemane. Appropriately, Jesus starts using the description of vines.
John 15:1-8 I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the
Vinedresser. 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing]
He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes
every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and
more excellent fruit. 3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the
word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. 4 Dwell
in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as
no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to)
the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the Vine;
you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant)
fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do
nothing. 6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a
[broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into
the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me]
and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever
you will, and it shall be done for you. 8 When you bear (produce) much fruit,
My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be
true followers of Mine. AMP
More great words for us to hide in our hearts, Jesus using
the idea of vines and branches inspires us to live in Him. As they walked
along, they probably recognized trees, vines, broken branches, and fruit. And
again Jesus brings up the importance of keeping His command.
John 15:9-14 I have loved you, [just] as the Father has
loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. 10 If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My
instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have
obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love. 11 I have told you
these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and
gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. 12 This is My commandment: that you love
one another [just] as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [no one
has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his
friends. 14 You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command
you to do. AMP
Now, if we really love him, we will abide in His love and
live on in it just like Jesus lives on in the Father’s love. And lastly we will
lay down our lives for our friends as Jesus laid down his life for his friends.
Let’s review the aspects of keeping Jesus’ commands. 1) Others will know we are
His disciples; 2) We will receive the Holy Spirit; 3) We will be loved by the
Father and Jesus will reveal himself to us; 4) We will abide in and live in His
love; 5) We will be His friends. There is one more coming up shortly.
Over the course of the evening Jesus explained all of these
aspects of his new commandment and the new reason to celebrate the Feast of
Weeks. Of all the reasons to celebrate this holy day, the coming of the Holy
Spirit is the most significant for our day and time. This is one of the most
un-observed days in the church, but notice how important it is. Jesus goes on.
John 15:15-18 I do not call you servants (slaves) any
longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out).
But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything
that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I
have learned from Him.] 16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I
have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and
keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain,
abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that
I AM], He may give it to you. 17 This is
what I command you: that you love one another. 18 If the world hates you,
know that it hated Me before it hated you. AMP
Another reminder, associating this to the vines and bearing
fruit, love one another. The 6th aspect of this command is that the
world will hate us like it hated Jesus. But notice how Jesus wraps this whole
discourse up by circling back to the beginning, discussing being servants to
each other with the washing of feet. It’s the same evening, they are walking
towards the brook Kidron.
John 15:19-22 If you belonged to the world, the world would
treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not
of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of
the world, the world hates (detests) you. 20 Remember that I told you, A
servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My
teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. 21 But they will do all this to
you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and
on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me. 22 If I
had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be
blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin. AMP
The lost sheep Jesus came to speak to have no excuse for
their sin. They hated the miracles he did, but they also hate the Father. Jesus
is the only way to the Father. When the Holy Spirit comes, he will testify of
Jesus.
John 15:23-27 Whoever hates Me also hates My Father. 24 If
I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did,
they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen
[these works] and have hated both Me and My Father. 25 But [this is so] that
the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a
cause. [Ps 35:19; 69:4.] 26 But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper,
Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you
from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He
[Himself] will testify regarding Me. 27 But you also will testify and be My
witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning. AMP
Jesus reveals more to the disciples of the Holy Spirits’
ministry on the earth.
John 16:5-16 But now I am going to Him Who sent Me, yet
none of you asks Me, Where are You going? 6 But because I have said these
things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of
them]. 7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is
profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I
do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor,
Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you];
but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. 8
And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring
demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and
right standing with God) and about judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not
believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me]; 10 About righteousness
(uprightness of heart and right standing with God), because I go to My Father, and
you will see Me no longer; 11 About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius,
prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is
passed upon him. 12 I have still many things to say to you, but you are not
able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. 13 But when
He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into
all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message
[on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He
will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and
declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. 14
He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what
is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 15 Everything
that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the
Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose,
transmit) it to you. 16 In a little while you will no longer see Me, and again
after a short while you will see Me AMP
Jesus then goes on to explain a bit more to the disciples,
and then he prays. Jesus reveals all the aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministry
to humans who love and believe on Jesus. It is a shame that some dismiss the
gifts of the Holy Spirit as something that is no longer relevant. The Holy
Spirit will be with us until the eons. I would suggest that dismissing what we
don’t understand could cause us to not keep Jesus’ command. How many times has
there been contentions within the body because we don’t keep Jesus’ command,
and yet he wraps up his command of loving one another in with the coming age of
the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. If we really, really, really love Him we
will keep his commandment to love one another. We will observe this holy day
with renewed excitement, as it is no longer a day turned to mourning but a day
turned to celebration. While the days and years may be mixed up, causing the
Jews to lose their way, we can look to the new moon of the third month as a day
to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as well as the day that Noah
and his family left the ark, the covenant Rainbow, the day Moses received the
commands on Sinai, and the first wheat of harvest. Pentecost is a day of
commands, covenants, provision, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Certainly
this day deserves more than a nod, but a celebration for those who really, really,
really love Jesus.
