Christ Jesus died on the Cross to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins because of his love for us. As recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ was mocked, scorned, and tortured in the praetorium. He carried his cross up the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem to Calvary, was nailed to the Cross and hung between two common criminals, and suffered an indescribable end, recalled by the Church on Good Friday of Holy Week.
One may meditate on the Passion of Christ by reflecting on his Seven Words on the Cross or by a devotion known as the Way of the Cross.
When religious pilgrimages to the Holy Land ended with military occupation of Jerusalem in the Middle Ages, a popular devotion known as the Way of the Cross arose during Lent retracing the Passion, Crucifixion, and Death of Jesus. The fourteen Stations of the Cross are (1) Pilate condemns Jesus to death; (2) Jesus takes up his Cross; (3) He falls the first time; (4) Jesus meets his sorrowful mother Mary; (5) Simon helps carry the cross; (6) Veronica cleans his face; (7) He falls the second time; (8) Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem; (9) He falls the third time; (10) Jesus is stripped of his garments; (11) Jesus is nailed to the cross; (12) Jesus Christ dies on the cross; (13) He is taken down from the cross; (14) Christ is laid in the tomb.
Here are hisSeven Words, the last seven expressions of Jesus Christ on the Cross recorded in Scripture.
THE FIRST WORD
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Gospel of Luke 23:34
Jesus is looking down from the cross just after he was crucified between two criminals. He sees the soldiers who have mocked him, scourged him and tortured him, and who have just nailed him to the cross. He probably remembers those who have sentenced him – Caiaphas and the high priests of the Sanhedrin. Pilate realized it was out of envy that they handed him over (Matthew 27:18, Mark 15:10). But is Jesus not also thinking of his Apostles and companions who have deserted him, to Peter who has denied him three times, to the fickle crowd, who only days before praised him on his entrance to Jerusalem, and then days later chose him over Barabbas to be crucified?
Is he also thinking of us, who daily forget him in our lives?
Does he react angrily? No! At the height of his physical suffering, his love prevails and He asks His Father to forgive them!
Right up to his final hours on earth, Jesus preaches forgiveness. He teaches forgiveness in the Lord’s prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). When asked by Peter, how many times should we forgive someone, Jesus answers seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). At the Last Supper, Jesus explains his crucifixion to his Apostles when he tells them to drink of the cup: “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28). He forgives the paralytic at Capernaum (Mark 2:5), and the adulteress caught in the act and about to be stoned (John 8:1-11). And even following his Resurrection, his first act is to commission his disciples to forgive: “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).
THE SECOND WORD
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Gospel of Luke 23:43
Now it is not just the religious leaders or the soldiers that mock Jesus, but even one of the criminals, a downward progression of mockery. But the criminal on the right speaks up for Jesus, explaining the two criminals are receiving their just due, whereas “this man has done nothing wrong.” Then, turning to Jesus, he asks, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). What wonderful faith this repentant sinner has in Jesus – far more than the doubting Thomas, one of his own Apostles. Ignoring his own suffering, Jesus mercifully responds with His second word.
The second word again is about forgiveness, this time directed to a sinner. Just as the first word, this Biblical expression is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus shows his Divinity by opening heaven for a repentant sinner – such generosity to a man that only asked to be remembered!
THE THIRD WORD
“Jesus said to his mother: “Woman, this is your son.”
Then he said to the disciple: “This is your mother.”
Gospel of John 19:26-27
Jesus and Mary are together again, at the beginning of his ministry in Cana and now at the end of his public ministry at the foot of the Cross. What sorrow must fill her heart, to see her Son mocked, tortured, and crucified. Once again, a sword pierces Mary’s soul: we are reminded of the prediction of Simeon at the Temple (Luke 2:35) . There are four at the foot of the cross, Mary his Mother, John, the disciple whom he loved, Mary of Cleopas, his mother’s sister, and Mary Magdalene. He addresses his third word to Mary and John, the only eye-witness of the Gospel writers.
But again Jesus rises above the occasion, and his concerns are for the ones that love him. The good son that He is, Jesus is concerned about taking care of his mother. In fact, this passage offers proof that Jesus was the only child of Mary, because if he did have brothers or sisters, they would have provided for her. But Jesus looks to John to care for her.
St. Joseph is noticeably absent. The historic paintings, such as Tondodoni by Michelangelo and The Holy Family by Raphael, suggest Joseph was a considerably older man. St. Joseph had probably died by the time of the crucifixion, or else he would have been the one to take care of Mary. Early Christian traditions and the second-century apocryphal Protoevangelium of James held that Joseph was a widower, and his children by his former wife were the “brothers and sisters of Jesus.”
Another striking phrase indicating Jesus was an only child is Mark 6:3, referring to Jesus: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” Now if James, Joses and Judas and Simon were also natural sons of Mary, Jesus would not have been called the “son of Mary,” but rather “one of the sons of Mary.”
THE FOURTH WORD
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34
This was the only expression of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Both Gospels related that it was in the ninth hour, after 3 hours of darkness, that Jesus cried out this fourth word. The ninth hour was three o’clock in Judea. After the fourth Word, Mark related with a horrible sense of finality, “And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last” (Mark 15:37).
One is struck by the anguished tone of this expression in contrast to the first three words of Jesus. This cry is from the painful heart of the human Jesus who must feel deserted by His Father and the Holy Spirit, not to mention his earthly companions the Apostles. As if to emphasize his loneliness, Mark even has his loved ones “looking from afar,” not close to him as in the Gospel of John. Jesus feels separated from his Father. He is now all alone, and he must face death by himself.
But is not this exactly what happens to all of us when we die? We too are all alone at the time of death! Jesus completely lives the human experience as we do, and by doing so, frees us from the clutches of sin.
His fourth Word is the opening line of Psalm 22, and thus his cry from the Cross recalls the cry of Israel, and of all innocent persons who suffer. Psalm 22 of David makes a striking prophecy of the crucifixion of the Messiah at a time when crucifixion was not known to exist: “They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones” (22:16-17). The Psalm continues: “They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots” (22:18).
There can not be a more dreadful moment in the history of man as this moment. Jesus who came to save us is crucified, and He realizes the horror of what is happening and what He now is enduring. He is about to be engulfed in the raging sea of sin. Evil triumphs, as Jesus admits: “But this is your hour” (Luke 22:53). But it is only for a moment. The burden of all the sins of humanity for a moment overwhelm the humanity of our Savior.
But does this not have to happen? Does this not have to occur if Jesus is to save us? It is in defeat of his humanity that the Divine plan of His Father will be completed. It is by His death that we are redeemed. “For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all” (I Timothy 2:5-6).
THE FIFTH WORD
“I thirst.”
Gospel of John 19:28
The fifth word of Jesus is His only human expression of His physical suffering. Jesus is now in shock. The wounds inflicted upon him in the scourging, the crowning with thorns, and the nailing upon the cross are now taking their toll, especially after losing blood on the three-hour walk through the city of Jerusalem to Golgotha on the Way of the Cross. Systematic studies of the Shroud of Turin, as reported by Gerald O’Collins in Interpreting Jesus, indicate the passion of Jesus was far worse than one can imagine. The Shroud has been exhaustively studied by every possible scientific maneuver, and the scientific burden of proof is now on those who do not accept the Shroud as the burial cloth of Jesus.
“He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross,
so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed.”
I Peter 2:24.
THE SIXTH WORD
When Jesus had received the wine, he said,”It is finished;”
and he bowed his head and handed over the spirit.
Gospel of John 19:30
It is now a fait accompli. The sixth word is Jesus’ recognition that his suffering is over and his task is completed. Jesus is obedient to the Father and gives his love for mankind by redeeming us with His death on the Cross.
The above painting is meant to capture the moment.
What is the darkest day of mankind becomes the brightest day for mankind.
And the Gospels as a group captured this paradox. The Synoptic Gospels narrated the horror of the event – the agony in the garden, the abandonment by his Apostles, the trail before the Sanhedrin, the intense mockery and torture heaped upon Jesus, his suffering all alone, the darkness over the land, and his death, starkly portrayed by both Matthew (27:47-51) and Mark (15:33-38).
In contrast, the passion of Jesus in the Gospel of John expresses his Kingship and proves to be His triumphant road to glory. John presents Jesus as directing the action the entire way. The phrase “It is finished†carries a sense of accomplishment. In John, there is no trial before the Sanhedrin, and gone are the repeated mockeries and scourging. But rather, Jesus is introduced at the Roman trial as “Behold your King!†(John 19:14). Jesus is not stumbling or falling as in the Synoptic Gospels, but the way of the Cross is presented with majesty and dignity, for “Jesus went out bearing his own Cross†(John 19:17).
And in John, the inscription at the head of the cross is pointedly written “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews†(John 19:19). The inscription INRI at the top of the cross is the Latin Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum. The loved ones of Jesus are with Him, and He decisively gives his Mother Mary to the disciple who loved him.
When Jesus died, He “handed over” the Spirit. Jesus remained in control to the end, and it is He who handed over his Spirit. One should not miss the double entendre here, for this may also be interpreted as His death brought forth the Holy Spirit.
The Gospel of John gradually reveals the Holy Spirit. Jesus mentions living water in John 4:10-11 when he meets the Samaritan woman at the well, and during the Feast of Tabernacles refers to living water as the Holy Spirit in 7:37-39. At the Last Supper, Christ announces he would ask the Father to send “another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth” (14:16-17). The word Advocate is also translated as Comforter, Helper, Paraclete, or Counselor. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (14:26). The symbolism of water for the Holy Spirit becomes more evident in John 19:34: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water.” The piercing of his side fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 12:10: “They will look on me whom they have pierced.” The piercing of Jesus’ side prefigures the Sacraments of Eucharist (blood) and Baptism (water), as well as the beginning of the Churchs.
THE SEVENTH WORD
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Gospel of Luke 23:46
The seventh word of Jesus is from the Gospel of Luke, and is directed to the Father in heaven, just before He dies. Jesus recalls Psalm 31:5 – “Into thy hands I commend my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.” Luke repeatedly pleads Jesus’ innocence: with Pilate (Luke 23:4, 14-15, 22), through Dismas (by legend), the criminal (Luke 23:41), and immediately after His death with the centurion” “Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47).
John’s Gospel related that it was the Day of Preparation, the day before the actual Passover (Pesach in Hebrew, Pascha in Greek and Latin), that Jesus was sentenced to death (19:14) and sacrificed on the Cross (19:31). He died at the ninth hour (three o’clock in the afternoon), about the same time as the Passover lambs were slaughtered in the Temple. Christ became the Paschal or Passover Lamb, as noted by St. Paul: “For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed” (I Corinthians 5:7). The innocent Lamb was slain for our sins, so that we might be forgiven.
Jesus fulfilled His mission: “They are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:24-25). The relationship of Jesus to the Father is revealed in the Gospel of John, for He remarked, “The Father and I are one” (10:30), and again, at the Last Supper: “Do you not believe I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works” (14:10). And He can return: “I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father” (16:28). Jesus practiced what He preached: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Psalm 144 : 2 He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my rescuer. He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him .
Nearly a year ago, a fierce 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey, killing hundreds of people. One man, however, refused to let his fiancée become a statistic. A Turkish Air Force Lieutenant named Onur Eryasar rushed from his base and travelled 60 miles to direct rescue workers to the place where his fiancée was trapped. After locating the restaurant where she had been dining at the time of the earthquake, he and the workers began digging through the rubble. They eventually found and freed her 18 hours after the restaurant had collapsed. During the rescue operation, the lieutenant told a photographer on the scene: “All I want is for her to live. I don’t care if she’s injured or not. It doesn’t matter. I just want her alive.” It’s a story of amazing heroism and love—surpassed only by God’s heroic efforts to save us. You see, ransoming mankind and coming to our rescue was not simple or easy. Not only did Satan strongly oppose it at every turn, but we who were in need of rescue (which includes all of humanity) didn’t truly know how deeply we were buried under the rubble of a broken, sinful world. (2 Corithians 4:4)…
1 John 5:19 But that didn’t hinder God. Though we turned away from Him and fell into the hands of the evil one.
1 John 4:9 God lovingly continued to pursue us. Even though it cost Him dearly, He provided a way for us to live because of the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son.
Because of God’s great love, He saved us from our desperate plight and gave us our life back. As the apostle Paul put it:
Colossians 1:13 “He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His dear Son”
Is a Mega Earthquake due 22nd March 2012 ? will the 188 – 189 day cycle continue ?
An alarming pattern has started emerging with the frequency and magnitude of the recent mega earthquakes the Earth has been having. Its been observed that a 188 -189 day pattern has started emerging with these Earthquakes. This makes the next mega earthquake to hit the planet if this pattern follows. This is true on the 22nd or the 21st March 2012. Well that’s this month, so we won’t have long to wait to see if this pattern continues.
Chile, Japan, Fiji, New Zealand all fell victim to large, devastating earthquakes, and you will notice there is a 188/189 day pattern between each mega quake. These quakes have shifted the Earth’s axis, and the upcoming date for the next mega quake is March 22, 2012. The United States could very well be next as it lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
February 27 2010 – 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile( the axis of the earth shifted by 7,62 cm or 3 inches).
2. September 3, 2010: 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit New Zealand.
3. March 11 2011: 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan( the axis of the earth shifted by 4 to 10 inches – 25,4 cm ).
After 189 days later of New Zealand Earth Quake (11 March 2011) Where ?
4. September 15 2011: 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Fiji
After 188 days later of Japan Earth Quake (15 Sept 2011) Where ?
5. March 22 2012: ?
After 189 days later of Fiji Earth Quake (22 March 2012) Where ?
There will be mega earth quake because the Earth Axis going to shift more than 10 to 15 inches. If these things happens there will be a Tsunami at the costal Area………….
There is going to be an huge earthquake in Los Angeles(California) 9 or 10 mag. It going to come in USA, When the earthquake strikes LOS ANGELES in another place the for line of US Tsunami come from west from the east NEW YORK are Tsunami going to wipe out.. This going to happen as per God Plan based on Ezeik 38,39 and Rev 13,17 Chapters…
Haggai 2:5 The agreement which I made with you when you came out ofEgypt, and my spirit, are with you still; have no fear.
Haggai 2:6 For this is what the Lord of armies has said: In a short time I will make a shaking of the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;
Haggai 2:7 And I will make a shaking of all the nations, and the desired things of all nations will come: and I will make this house full of my glory, says the Lord of armies.
Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine and the gold is mine, says the Lord of armies.
Haggai 2:9 The second glory of this house will be greater than the first, says the Lord of armies: and in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of armies.
Revelation 6:12 And I saw when the sixth stamp was undone, and there was a great earth-shock; and the sun became black as haircloth, and all the moon became as blood;
John is using pictures very familiars to Jewish readers. The Jews always regarded the end time . When the earth would be shattered and there would be cosmic upheaval(Disturbance) and destruction. in the picture there are is it were five elements which can all be abundantly illustrated from the Old testament and from the books written between the testaments …
1. There is the earth quake at the coming of the Lord the earth will tremble (Shake) (Amos 8:8)
Amos 8:8 Will not the land be shaking with fear because of this, and everyone in it have sorrow? and all of it will be overflowing like the River; and it will be troubled and go down again like the River of Egypt.
There will be great shaking in thelandofIsrael(Ezekiel 39:19)
The earth will quake and the heaven will tremble (Joel 2:10).
Haggai 2:6 For this is what the Lord of armies has said: In a short time I will make a shaking of the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;
The earth will tremble and shaken to its bounds; the hills will be shaken and fall (Assumption of Moses 10:4)
The earth shall open fire hurt forth (2 Esdzas 5:3) who ever gets out of the war will die in the earth quake and whoever gets out of the earth quake will die in the fire, and who ever gets out of the fire will perish(die, expire) in the famine (2 Baruch 70:8). The Jewish prophets and seers raw a time when earth would be shattered and a fide of destruction would flow over the old world before the new world was born.
2. There is the darkening of the sun and moon:-
The sun will set a midday, and earth will grow dark in the clear day light (Amos 8:9)
The star will not shine ; the sun will be darkened in his going forth and the moon will not cause her light to shine (Isaiah 13:10)
Isaiah 50:3 By me the heavens are clothed with black, and I make haircloth their robe.
Ezekial 32:7 And when I put out your life, the heaven will be covered and its stars made dark; I will let the sun be covered with a cloud and the moon will not give her light.
The sun will be turned in to darkness and the moon into blood (Joel 2:31).
The horns of the sun will be broken and he will be turned into darkness the will not give her light and will be turned into blood, and the circle of the stars will be disturbed (assumption of Moses 10:4,5). The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give her light (Matthew 24:29), Mark13:24, Luke23:45
3. There is the falling of the Stars
To the Jew this idea was specially terrible, for the order of the heavens was the very guarantee of the unchanging fidelity of God. Take away the reliability of the heaven and there was nothing left but chaos. The angel Enoch to behold the heavens, to see how the heavenly bodies never change their orbits or transgress against their appointed order (Enoch 2:1) Enoch saw the chambers of the sun and moon, how they go out and come in , how they never leave their orbit, and add nothing to it and take nothing from it.(Enoch 41:5). To the Jew the last word in chaos was a world of falling stars. But in the end time the host of the heaven would be dissolved and fall down as the leaf falls from the vine and the fig from the fig-tree (Isaiah 34:4).
The stars will fall from heaven and powers of heaven shall be shaken (Matthew 24:29). The firmament shall fall on the sea and cataract of fire will reduce the heavens and the stars to a molten mass (Sibylline oracles 3:83).
The stars will transgress their order and alter their orbits (Enoch 80:5,6). The outgoing of the stars will change (2Esdras 5:4). The end will be a time when the most reliable things in the universe will become a disorderly and terrifying chaos……..
4. There is the folding up of the heavens:-
The picture in this passage is of a roll stretched out and held open, and then suddenly split down the middle so that each half recoils and rolls up. God will shake the heaven (Isaiah 13:13).
Isaiah 13:13 For this cause the heavens will be shaking, and the earth will be moved out of its place, in the wrath of the Lord of armies, and in the day of his burning passion.
Isaiah 34:4 And the heavens will be rolled together like the roll of a book: and all their army will be gone, like a dead leaf from the vine, or a dry fruit from the fig-tree.
They will changed like a garment and folded up (Psalm 102:25,26) . At the end the eternal heavens themselves will be rent in two….Psalms 102:25In the past you put the earth on its base, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
Psalms 102:26 They will come to an end, but you will still go on; they all will become old like a coat, and like a robe they will be changed:
5. There is the morning of the hiss and the island of the sea..
The mountains will tremble and the hills will be moved (Jeremiah 4:24).
Jeremiah 4:24 Looking at the mountains, I saw them shaking, and all the hills were moved about.
The mountains will quake and the hill will melt (Nahum 1:5). John saw a time when the most unshakable things would be shaken and when even rocky isles like Patmos would be lifted from their foundation. Strange as John’s picture may seem to us, their is not a single detail which is not in the pictures of the end time in the Old Testaments and in the books written between the Testaments . We must not think that these pictures are to be taken literally. Their point is that John is taking every terrifying thing that can be imagined and piling them all together to give a picture of the terrors of the end time.
Today with our increased scientific knowledge we might well paint the picture in different terms; but it is not ht picture that matters. What matters is the terrors which John and the Jewish seers foresaw when God would invade the earth when time was coming to an end..
Yes, God his going to Shake the earth ….. on 22 March 2012 (Mega Earth Quake) more than 9+ magnitude……………………
When? , Where? As per Rev 6:12 Where was the first earthquake? ..———CONTINUED IN NEXT SESSION—————–
Job 31:1 I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
Job 31:2 For what is God’s reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
Job 31:3 Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
Job 31:4 Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
Job 31:1 I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
Our friend is a computer “techie.” One night when our family was at his house, I noticed a verse taped to his monitor: “I have made a covenant with my eyes” (Job 31:1).
Evidently, he understood the potential danger of spending hours alone in front of a computer with easy access to indecent images.
Our friend’s “reminder verse” is a quote from Job, and it continues, “Why then should I look upon a young woman?” Like many of us, Job had promised himself to stay free of lust. Reflecting on that oath, he said, “Does [God] not see my ways, and count all my steps?” (v.4). The Bible assures us that God does (Heb. 4:13), and that we are accountable to Him. This is why believers must “abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3).
While some want to debate the boundaries of morality, the Bible says, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:28).
If you have made a covenant with your eyes, consider how Scripture might help you keep this pledge. Post a verse on your computer screen, television, or the dashboard of your car, and remember, “God did not call us to uncleanness” but to holiness (1 Thess. 4:7).
God (Jesus) spoke to a Muslim women, why not with you ? think about it and pray to God, go along with His word through faith. He will definitely speak with you.
The Bible is a book about people who have a problem with God. They have a hard time seeing eye to eye with a God who says, “ ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’ ” (Isa. 55:8-9).
The Bible is also about a God who has a problem with people. The whole Bible is about a God who will not always protect those who refuse to trust Him. When God barred Adam and Eve from their garden home, when He sent a flood to destroy all but Noah and his family, when He allowed the Assyrians to defeat the
Northern Tribes and the Babylonians to defeat Judah, God made it clear that there is a limit to His patience.
God’s promises are not given to all, but to everyone who is willing to seek and trust Him. Isaiah reminds us that God is willing to be found by those who are willing to seek Him on His terms. Just before saying, “My thoughts are not your thoughts,” Isaiah quoted God as saying, “Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:6-7).
The whole Bible makes it clear that God promises to be found only by those who are willing to surrender to Him. This important condition of surrender is what Jesus taught when He said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
He said this immediately after saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit . . . . Blessed are those who mourn . . . . Blessed are the meek . . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness . . . . Blessed are the merciful” (vv.3-7).
Each of these conditions reflects the need for a surrendered heart as a condition to receive the blessing of God.
God cannot be found by just anyone. Because He is Spirit, He is seen only by those to whom He chooses to reveal Himself. This is also true of the Bible. While the Scriptures have been given to lead us to God, they remain a closed book to those who are trying to find God on their own terms. God will be found in the pages of His book by those who desire to obey Him, or He will not be found at all.
Jesus said of God and of Himself, “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority” (John 7:17).
Salvation itself is a gift. Forgiveness and eternal life come to us only by grace and through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9).
But seeing God in the Bible requires a willingness to do the will of God. Only in surrender do we have assurance that God will let us see the truth about Christ in our present circumstances. Only in submission can we see the Father and His Son on every page of Scripture.
I’ve been a Christian for many years. And to be honest, I figured there were interesting bible facts to back up what I believed, but like many Christians, I had blind faith in the Bible.
I believed it because the Church told me it was God’s Word. And because it had changed my life. At that time, it was enough for me.
But recently, I went on a journey to find evidence for myself. And I found that there are actually many interesting Bible facts and much evidence to back up what I believe in the Bible.
When we look at a book, how can we know that it’s true?
First of all, it really doesn’t matter what we believe about it. It matters what is true.
Truth by definition is always narrow. It has one right answer, and many wrong answers. For example, 2+2=4. One right answer, and millions of wrong answers. Another example, one president of the United States. One right answer and billions of wrong answers.
The same concept applies for eternal truth.
Eternal truth will also be narrow. We want to make sure we have the right answer. Truth is not what we believed or feel it is. We may believe the sky is green, but it’s not. It’s blue. We may believe the earth is flat, but it’s not. It’s round.
So how do we know eternal truth?
I have to admit that I’ve struggled with excepting the Bible as eternal, absolute truth. As I searched for answers, I found some that makes sense to me.
By the way, many of the concepts I am sharing are taken from chapter three in Mark Cahill’s book, “One Heartbeat Away, Your Journey into Eternity.” I highly recommend it if you’re searching for spiritual truth.
Let me explain to you why the Bible is unique by sharing a few interesting bible facts
Interesting Bible Facts #1:
The Bible is the best-selling book of all time
How many Bibles, do you think are sold in one year? Any guesses?
150 million!
And there are over 4 billion Bibles in print.
Just because the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, doesn’t mean it’s truth. But, it does mean that it’s probably a book that’s worth checking into. If that many people are buying it, there’s probably something to it.
Interesting Bible Facts #2:
The Bible claims to be written by God.
All other religious texts were written by men who claimed to be speaking for God. Only the Bible claims to be written by God, speaking to men.
Did you know that over 3000 times the Bible says, “thus saith the Lord.”
Knowing that the Bible claims to be written by God, is there any evidence to prove this supernatural words and of the Bible? There is. From history, archaeology, science and prophecy we have a lot of evidence to show that the Bible is indeed the word of God. Let’s look briefly at it.
Interesting Bible Facts #3:
Historical evidence
First of all, they are over 24, 000 ancient copies of portions of the New Testament. The closest in all other books is Homer’s Iliad, which has 643 ancient copies
Secondly, the Bible itself does not have any contradictions within it. Some people will claim there are contradictions, but when you ask them about it, they have a hard time naming them.
Thirdly, the external evidence for the Bible is incredible. There is a Roman historian named Tactitus and a Jewish historian named Josephus that both support the historical accuracy of the Bible. Also, there were 17 secular historians, who wrote about the death of Jesus by crucifixion. This could not have been made up by men, and shows that external historical records support the Bible.
Finally, no one has been able to identify one historical mistake anywhere in the Bible. If man did write the Bible, we surely would have found mistakes after 2000 years. But there are none.
There have been more than 25,000 archaeological findings relating to people, places, and events in the Bible. And believe it or not, not one of them has contradicted anything in the Bible. That in and of itself is incredible proof of the Bible’s trustworthiness.
So if we can believe the historical and archaeological evidence for the Bible, why do you think it’s hard for us to believe the spiritual part of the book? Or can we believe the spiritual part of the Bible?
Well, let’s investigate and see.
Interesting Bible Facts #5:
Fulfilled prophecies validate the Bible
Did you know that approximately 25% of the entire contents of the Bible is prophecy. That means about 25%, predicts future events. And to this date, every single one of them has come true to the smallest detail, except the remaining prophecies about the return of Jesus.
Statistically, there is no way any man can predict the future with 100% accuracy. Therefore whom is the only one who can do this?
When someone predicts the future, and then what they say, comes true. And then they predict the future again, and what they say comes true over and over and over again…you can trust whoever it was that predicted the future to 100% accuracy.
The only one that can do this is the God of the Bible, which includes Jesus Christ.
We have reason to put our full trust in this book, the Bible, as eternal truth.
What are some of the examples of fulfilled prophecies?
Here are a few.
Micah 5:2 says the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem. This is fulfilled in Luke 2:4-7.
Zechariah 11: 12-13 says the Messiah will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. This is fulfilled in Matthew 26:15.
Psalms 22, says the Messiah will be pierced in his hands and feet. This was written about 800 years before crucifixion was ever used as a means of punishment. The New Testament says that Jesus was crucified on across the pierced in his hands and feet.
To finish out…
I want to share something that Mark Cahill shares in his book that will give you a visual image of what we’re talking about.
“Jesus Christ fulfilled more than 300 prophecies in his life. Here’s something that can help you appreciate the odds of this happening: if only eight of those 300 prophecies came true in any one person, it would be comparable to this:
Build a fence around the state of Texas,
fill it 2 feet deep and silver dollars,
paint one of them red,
mix them all up,
then – starting at the Louisiana border – walk blindfolded as far into Texas as you want to go,
then leaned over, still blindfolded,
and pick up the red silver dollar.
What do you think the chances are that you would pick up the red one? Would you bet your retirement fund picking up that red Silver Dollar? Would you bet your eternal life on odds like that? All of us do, because those are only the odds for eight prophecies coming true in one person. But Jesus had more than 300 prophecies about him come true.”
How’s that for an interesting bible fact?
In closing…
I encourage you to continue your study of the bible for yourself. There are lots of great books out there to get more information from. Eternity is a long time. Make sure you have solid answers for why you believe what you believe!
7] And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8] And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
And He said unto me, unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:14
INTRODUCTION
As Jesus died onCalvary, He cried, ” It is finished” and the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom. This was to show that the services of the earthly sanctuary were forever finished, and that God would no more meet with the priests in their earthly temple, to accept their sacrifices. The blood of Jesus was then shed, which was to be offered by himself in the heavenly sanctuary. As the priest entered the most holy once a year to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, so Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly, at the end of the 2,300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation, and thus cleanse the sanctuary.
THE WOUNDERFUL NUMBERER
While Daniel was watching the havoc the “little horn” power of Daniel 8 ( Chapter-8) was to make among God’s people, one saint was heard asking the “Numberer of Secrets” ,” How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled – the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?” .The “Numberer of Secrets” of the “Wonderful Numberer”, who is God Himself, said that it would take 2,300 days, then the sanctuary will be recons crated or cleansed.
The children ofIsraelwere told that they were to wander in the wilderness for forty years [a year for every one of the 40 days they explored thelandofCanaan]. Ezekiel was asked to lie down on the right and bear the sins of Israel for forty days stating that he had to do so a day for every year. from these texts we conclude that one prophetic day is equivalent to one literal year. therefore these 2,300 days would clearly mean 2,300 literal years.
THE 2,300 YEARS
In Daniel chapter-8 doesn’t give indication of when the 2,300 days commences nor when it ends. while Daniel was studying this prophecy, the angle Gabriel appeared to him and told “Seventy weeks of years are fixed for your people”.
From the anointing of Saul to the Babylonian captivity too there were 490 years – 1095 to 606 B.C. In this prophecy they were to have “Seventy sevens cut off” for them. The only period previously mentioned from which they could be “Cut off” is the 2,300 years period of Daniel 8:14. it must be these years were “cut off” from the 2,300 year period. in other words, 490 of these 2,300 years were to be given to the Jews, as a nation; the other 1,810 would be given of them as individuals and to someone else. by finding the beginning of the 490 years period, we would have the beginning of 2,300 years period.
AT 31 AD (7 Days/Years) – ONE WEEK (Half Weeks)
THE 490 YEARS CUT OFF FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE
There were at least six reasons for the giving to these seventy weeks to the Jewish people. they were:
1. “To restrain the transgression”.
2. “To seal up sins”.
3. “To make reconciliation for iniquity”.
4. “To bring in everlasting righteousness”.
5. “To seal up the…. prophecy”.
6. “To anoint the Most Holy”.
The seventy weeks or 490 years were to commence from the time of issuing of the decree to rebuild ?Jerusalem. Three decrees were issued concerningJerusalem. They are:
The decree of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the house of God, 536 B.C.
The decree of Darius of the prosecution of that work which had been hindered, 519 B.C.
The decree of Artaxerxes to Ezra, 457 B.C.
This decree of Artaxerxes is the only on of the three that could be considered an answer to the “restore and…. buildJerusalem” idea. the other simply commanded to build the temple and restore the Jewish system of worship. Therefore, 457 B.C., is the date take as the beginning of the 490 years period.
The seventy weeks are divide into three parts. they are:
“Seven weeks” or 49 Years – 457 to 408 B.C. – for the rebuilding ofJerusalem.
“Threescore and two weeks” (62weeks) of 434 Years – 408 B.C. to A.D.27 – to the anointing of “the Messiah the Prince” – Jesus baptism.
“One week” or 7 years – A.D27 to 34. in the midst week Jesus was to be crucified.
Jesus was baptized in the fall [beginning of autumn] of A.D.27, being “about thirty years of age”. He was crucified at the time of the Passover in the spring of A.D.31. the gospel began to be preached to the Gentiles in A.D.34. the following three things are given as the closing of the 490-year period and expansion of the work of the gospel top the rest of the world.
Stoning of Stephen in A.D.34 and the great persecution that scattered the believers “aboard throughout the regions of Judea andSamaria” and later to many others lands. they “went everywhere preaching the world”.
Peter, directed by God in a vision, visited the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius and baptized some of them. in his defense before his brethren he asked, “What was i that I could withstand God?”.
Saul of Tarsus, later Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, was converted as he was on his way toDamascusto the persecute the disciples of Jesus.
END OF THE 2,300 YEAR PERIOD
Deducting the 490 years from the 2,300 years, we find that 1,810 years are left. adding 1,810 years to A.D.34, we come to A.D.1844. this is the date set by the “Numberer of secrets” as the year in which the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary should begin. In all parts of the world, prior to the ending of the 2,300 years in 1844, men arose preaching a message pointing to that which was to begin in 1844. they were mistaken in the exact way in which God planned to work, but their message was one of warning, fulfilling the Feast of Trumpets always celebrated on the first day of the seven month:
The cleansing of the sanctuary is really announced by the message “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
The women supported a preaching ministry. Preaching was Jesus’ business; it was what He came to do His primary call and mission. Right after the banquet, he got up and went about His primary task, that of the preaching and proclaiming the gospel. The point is this: the women supported a solid preaching ministry.
Much of the untold misery and suffering which tormented the old world has been at least alleviated in great measure by the labours of the women of Christianity. Several of these kindly grateful souls here allude to evidently belonged to the wealthy class; some even occupied a high position in the society of that time. It was by their gifts, no doubt, that Jesus and his company was enabled to live during the 30 or more months of the public ministry. He had given up, as had also his companions his earthly occupation, and we know that he deliberately refrained from ever using his miraculous power to supply his daily wants.In the contemporary Jewish culture of the time of Christ, as well as in many other cultures, the social status of woman was not anything remarkable, nay often it was rather degrading. In this background Christ’s own attitude and dealings with women are surprisingly different. These women disciples provide for His needs out of their own resources. This is an aspect that is not at all mentioned in regard to the men disciples.
A note on these women
Mary Magdalene: She was delivered from seven demons (Lk 8:2); was one of Jesus’ primary financial supporters; was among the women who courageously stood at the cross and was one to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection (Mt 28:1, Mk 16:1, Jn 20: 11)
Joanna: He husband Herod’s steward, was the court official who looked after the king’s estate and financial interests. Such was the task of the steward. The very nature of his job shows that he had to be most-trusted official (Lk 24: 10)
Susanna: There is no other reference to Susanna. She represents the prominent disciple who is known by everyone but serves in a capacity that few ever notice. But note: she was such a devoted servant in giving, her name is known.
Many Others: These represent the unknown and quiet, but all-important, followers of the Lord. They serve completely in the background, never up front; therefore, they are totally unknown. But note: they are faithful and do serve consistently and faithfully
They supported Jesus out of devotion. They were grateful for what He had done for them. Each of them had been reached and healed by Jesus. They had received a very special touch from Him and as a result they were helping to support them out of their means.
Jesus teaches a great lesson for all the menfolks who seldom respect women. Women have played a vital role in the life and mission of Jesus. His attitude towards women should be a model for all of us. Women are not objects to be used but persons to be respected and loved. In spite of growing awareness of gender justice there are several instances of harrasments and abuses. Let Jesus Chirst be our model, who recognized their absolute neccessity in his life and mission.
The parable was taken from an everyday happening. It concerned a sower, a farmer, who went out to sow seed. How many do go out? Of those who do, how many really sow the seed of the word? It is so easy for the minister and believer.
1.To sit in the comfort of the home or office and rest and work administratively instead of going out and sowing.
2.To visit and care for the flock in their needs instead of going out into the fields to sow.
Jesus wanted the open hearts, the persons who were really seeking God, to learn all they could about the secrets or mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Parables required much thought in order to grasp their meaning. A person who really sought after God would seek, strive, think and ask until he could find the meaning to the parable. And then he would chew upon the meaning, drawing all the meaning he could out of the parable so that he could learn everything possible about God.
The success of the seed depends upon one thing alone; the condition of the soil (heart) to receive the seed (Word). If the ground (heart) is soft and rich, being full of the right minerals (spiritual qualities) and cleared of all junk and brush, ploughed and turned over, then it is ready to receive the seed.
Luke 8:4 And when a great number of people came together, and men from every town went out to him, he gave them teaching in the form of a story:
Luke 8:5 A man went out to put in seed, and while he was doing it, some was dropped by the wayside and it was crushed under foot, and was taken by the birds of heaven.
Luke 8:6 And some went on the rock, and when it came up it became dry and dead because it had no water.
Luke 8:7 And some went among thorns, and the thorns came up with it and it had no room for growth.
Luke 8:8 And some falling on good earth, came up and gave fruit a hundred times as much. And with these words he said in a loud voice, He who has ears, let him give ear.
Luke 8:9 And his disciples put questions to him about the point of the story.
Luke 8:10 And he said, To you is given knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the others, they are given in stories, so that seeing, they may not see, and though they give hearing, the sense will not be clear to them.
Luke 8:11 Now this is the point of the story: The seed is the word of God.
Luke 8:12 Those by the side of the road are those who have given hearing; then the Evil One comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not have faith and get salvation.
Luke 8:13 And those on the rock are those who with joy give hearing to the word; but having no root, they have faith for a time, and when the test comes they give up.
Luke 8:14 And those which went among thorns are those who have given hearing, and go on their way, but they are overcome by cares and wealth and the pleasures of life, and they give no fruit.
Luke 8:15 And those in the good earth are those who, having given ear to the word, keep it with a good and true heart, and in quiet strength give fruit.
A brief look on the fate of the seed
The seed by the path or wayside:
The person is present, but he is off to the side, out of the way, not involved. He respects Christ and the preacher and would not miss a service, but he is on the outer circle, paying little attention to the warnings and promises of the Word.
The seed on the rock:
He receives the Word, professes belief in Christ, and makes profession of faith before the world. But he fails to count the cost, to consider the commitment, the self-denial, the sacrifice, the study, the learning, the hours and efforts required. He is only a superficial believer.
The seed among the thorns:
This is the person who receives the Word and honestly tries to live for Christ. But there is one problem, the thorns or worldliness. He is unwilling to cut completely loose from the world. He bears fruit, fruit does appear but it never ripens; it is never able to be plucked. The thorns choke the life out of it.
The seed on the good ground:
Their hearts are noble. They honestly seek to learn to know the truth, spiritually as well as physically. Once the truth is now they hold fast to it. They bear fruit with perseverance and patience.
Jesus wanted the truth concealed from closed minds. Closed minds are hardened and unwilling to consider the secrets or mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Sitting there in the audience, they heard and understood the words and the pictures which the words painted. But not all had the disposition to keep their hearts open.
I would like to see the parable from the perspective of the Sower. All of us Christians and in a concrete way the ministers of Christ are asked to do this great job of sowing the Word of God. During the several years of seminary formation and ongoing formation as priests some fail to learn to sow the seeds effectively. Some instead of learning the Scripture, concentrate too much on secular studies and stay wayside, while others learn the Scriptures well but fail to upgrade their knowledge by deeper studies and land up on the rocky areas, some others do their learning part well but fail to seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through prayer and contemplation and get choked by thorns of popularity. Only a few succeed to have the efficacy of word and land up in the good soil.
It is worth a moment’s time to note that the sheep referred to here and elsewhere are not the fat-tailed, generally lazy sheep often represented in romantic Bible illustrations. The sheep intended by the Gospel reference were not of the Arabian fat-tailed type but perhaps of an intermediate breed with small fat tails. The sheep of that time were probably more active than their modern Palestinian counterparts.
The Son of man came to save that which was lost. His great love was not merely a general love for sinful humanity as a mass, it was an individual love for each perishing soul. The love of God is all- embracing in its extent and fullness, perfect and complete in its individual affection.
In Ezekiel 34, the Shepherds of Israel are criticized ‘the strayed you have not brought back (34:6) God promises to secure as the shepherd. ‘I will seek the lost and I will bring back the strayed (34: 15-16).
The sheep is attracted by something out ‘in the wilderness. What the sheep sees is more attractive and appealing. It tempts and seduces it. It is aimless. The sheep does not know it is losing its way. It refuses to heed the warnings of the shepherd and the example of the other sheep. It is not attached enough to the shepherd or to other sheep. It does not think the shepherd will take care and see that there is satisfying food.
The lost sheep was sought. The shepherd left ninety-nine to seek the one lost sheep. It was the one that needed to be sought. It was this sheep that needed the attention of the shepherd and was to occupy the time, energy and effort of the shepherd. When he found the sheep, he embraced the sheep and carried it over his shoulders.
Matthew 18 : 10-18
Matthew 18:10 Let it not seem to you that one of these little ones is of no value; for I say to you that in heaven their angels see at all times the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
Matthew 18:12 What would you say now? if a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone wandering away, will he not let the ninety-nine be, and go to the mountains in search of the wandering one?
Matthew 18:13 And if he comes across it, truly I say to you, he has more joy over it than over the ninety-nine which have not gone out of the way.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the pleasure of your Father in heaven for one of these little ones to come to destruction.
Matthew 18:15 And if your brother does wrong to you, go, make clear to him his error between you and him in private: if he gives ear to you, you have got your brother back again.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not give ear to you, take with you one or two more, that by the lips of two or three witnesses every word may be made certain.
Matthew 18:17 And if he will not give ear to them, let it come to the hearing of the church: and if he will not give ear to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-farmer.
Matthew 18:18 Truly I say to you, Whatever things are fixed by you on earth will be fixed in heaven: and whatever you make free on earth will be made free in heaven.
The experience of being lost is a terrible thing that could happen to anyone. Nobody loses one’s way purposely but it could happen due to our lack of prudence and carelessness. We can take risks in certain places where there are no dangers even if we get lost, but certain places could be very dangerous not merely to body but also to our souls. It is better to be with the fold than to take unhealthy risks. If we feel that we are lost totally, we can always shout out the Lord’s name. The Lord who desperately searches his lost sheep will surely come for rescue and will restore our lost hope.
Ezekiel 34:1-10 is a strong word. The prophet does not criticise the leaders for shortage of anointing, or lack of vision or inadequate leadership and organisation skills. His concern is that the following things are not being done.
Caring for the flock
Strengthening the weak
Healing the sick
Bringing back the weak
Searching for the lost
These are the tasks that Peter and Paul challenged elders to do. Ezekiel’s warning may be relevant to pastors/leaders in the modern church.
Ezekial 34:1 And the wordof the Lord came to me, saying,
Ezekial 34:2 Son of man, be a prophet against the keepers of the flock of Israel, and say to them, O keepers of the sheep! this is the word of the Lord: A curse is on the keepers of the flock of Israel who take the food for themselves! is it not right for the keepers to give the food to the sheep?
Ezekial 34:3 You take the milk and are clothed with the wool, you put the fat beasts to death, but you give the sheep no food.
Ezekial 34:4 You have not made the diseased ones strong or made well that which was ill; you have not put bands on the broken or got back that which had been sent away or made search for the wandering ones; and the strong you have been ruling cruelly.
Ezekial 34:5 And they were wandering in every direction because there was no keeper: and they became food for all the beasts of the field.
Ezekial 34:6 And my sheep went out of the way, wandering through all the mountains and on every high hill: my sheep went here and there over all the face of the earth; and no one was troubled about them or went in search of them.
Ezekial 34:7 For this cause, O keepers of the flock, give ear to the word of the Lord:
Ezekial 34:8 By my life, says the Lord, truly, because my sheep have been taken away, and my sheep became food for all the beasts of the field, because there was no keeper, and my keepers did not go in search of the sheep, but the keepers took food for themselves and gave my sheep no food;
Ezekial 34:9 For this reason, O you keepers of the flock, give ear to the word of the Lord;
Ezekial 34:10 This is what the Lord has said: See I am against the keepers of the flock, and I will make search and see what they have done with my sheep, and will let them be keepers of my sheep no longer; and the keepers will no longer get food for themselves; I will take my sheep out of their mouths so that they may not be food for them.
The greatest irony of the church is that, although there are pastors everywhere, the greatest problem is inadequate pastoring. The modern church is full of immature Christians. The reason is that only a faction of new Christians are fully discipled. Many remain immature, entrapped in problems, and only a few move into a ministry. Most churches are full of half-done Christians. This problem is the consequence of inadequate pastoring. Many voices are saying that God is restoring the apostolic and prophetic ministries. That may be true, but I believe that the greatest need is for the restoration of a true pastoral ministry to the church. Considering the large numbers of Christian who remain immature, and the equally large number who fall from the faith, we urgently need God to restore the ministry of the pastor.
Yes God will do it…
Ezekial 34:11 For this is what the Lord has said: Truly, I, even I, will go searching and looking for my sheep.
Ezekial 34:12 As the keeper goes looking for his flock when he is among his wandering sheep, so I will go looking for my sheep, and will get them safely out of all the places where they have been sent wandering in the day of clouds and black night.
Ezekial 34:13 And I will take them out from among the peoples, and get them together from the countries, and will take them into their land; and I will give them food on the mountains of Israel by the water-streams and wherever men are living in the country.
Ezekial 34:14 I will give them good grass-land for their food, and their safe place will be the mountains of the high place of Israel: there theywill take their rest in a good place, and on fat grass-land they will take their food on the mountains of Israel.
Ezekial 34:15 I myself will give food to my flock, and I will give them rest, says the Lord.
jesussavesministry.wordpress.com 