Luke 3Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Be content, Trinity, T.D. Jakes is a modalist, Boaz Ruth, Who Created God?, human DNA, Luke 3:1, Tiberius CaesarLuke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,Only mention of Tiberius Caesar, yet Imagine the surprise when in 1961, an archaeological dig on the shores of Caesarea produced a huge flat stone discovered in the rubble of an amphitheater, where it had been used as a step. This is the humor -- the irony -- of God that 2000 years later blew worldwide ridicule out of the proverbial water. Chiseled into a dusty, ancient stone was a dedication written to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, a dedication clearly signed by Pontius Pilate... http://www.olivetreeviews.org/http://www.olivetreeviews.org/http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs138/1101818841456/archive/1116698360473.htmlPontius Pilate Dr. Eli Lizorkin-EyzenbergThe illustration is a unique Latin inscription. It is called thePilate Stone and itis a block oflimestonewith a carved inscription attributed toPontius Pilate, prefect of the Roman-controlledprovince of Judaeaduring the life of Jesus. The stone was found in 1961 by a team of Italian archeologists and is unique because it is the only universally accepted archaeological find with an inscription mentioning the name Pontius Pilatus to date look at the end of the second line. It was found in the ancient theater built by Herod the Great, in the present-day city of Caesarea, which was the capital of the Province of Judaea at the time that Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor.

Dr. Eli Lizorkin-EyzenbergJewish Studies Department, Dean of the facultyeTeacherBiblical, Israeli Academy of Linguisticsand HistoryLuke 3:2, Lukes PrecisionNAU Luke 3:2 in the high priesthood of Annas and CaiaphasNAU Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, anatassomaiMeaning: to arrange in order diegesisMeaning: a narrativeNAU Acts 1:1 The first account I composedLuke 3:2, John, the son of ZachariasNAU Luke 3:2 the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.Who dat?NAU Matthew 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.NAU Luke 16:16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. [the kingdom of God is at hand]NAU Acts 2:22 Jesus 24 God raised Him#1; Johns gospel, #2; Jesus gospel, #3; Peter and Pauls gospel, #4; Revelation 14:6 eternal gospelLets read Luke 3:3-14NAU Luke 3:2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.Jerusalem Daily Photo, Photographer Uri Baruch features the Ein Karem neighborhood in Jerusalem. This area is identified as the location of Beth HaKerem (Jeremiah 6:1), where the traditional name comes from. According to Christian tradition, John the Baptist was born in Ein Karem, leading to the establishment of many churches and monasteries.

Luke 3:3, John, Jesus and Our GospelNAU Luke 3:4 READY THE WAY OF THE LORD 6 AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD7 "You brood of vipers 8 Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham 10 what shall we do?... [salvation by works]NAU Luke 3:16 John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.NAU John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. Luke 3:4, Whose Path?NAU Luke 3:4 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.NAU Isaiah 40:3 A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. [Only Luke give all flesh]All 4 Gospels; John 1:23, Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3Luke 3:9, Fig Tree Will Be Cut Down NAU Luke 3:9 "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.NAU Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel And the men of Judah His delightful plantNAU Matthew 21:19 Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, "No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you." And at once the fig tree withered.http://www.slideshare.net/dkooyers/matthew-21b-vs12-45-ad-70-prophecy-fig-tree-vineyard-all-things-ask-receive-authority-slaves-fruitfulness-stone-rock-2013-ss

Luke 3:9, Cut TreesLuke 3:9 "Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Loggers and the giant Mark Twain redwood cut down in CA,1892.the National Geographic archives ,seeherefor details2 Kings 6:4 Jeremiah 6:6 Matthew 3:10 Luke 3:9 Deuteronomy 20:19, Cut TreesLoggers and the giant Mark Twain redwood cut down in California, 1892.This photo and others from the National Geographic archives are being auctionedby Christies in an exclusive, online-only sale from July 19-29, seeherefor detailsLuke 3:14, Be Content, Wise, StrongNAU Luke 3:14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.Be honest, truthful, and content.The Talmud asks,Who is a wise man? -He who studies all the time. Who is strong? -He who can limit himself.,Who is rich? -He who is happy with what he has.Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power.Proverbs 24:5 1 Corinthians 1:27 2 Corinthians 12:10 Philippians 4:11 1 Timothy 6:8 Hebrews 13:5 Luke 3:14, Be Content, Wise, StrongLuke 3:14, So, Be Content! NAU Luke 3:14 be content...NAU Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.NAU 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.NAU 1 Timothy 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.NAU Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,Epictetus once said, I am always content with what happens, for I know that what God chooses is better than what I choose.Luke 3:19, John Locked Up In PrisonNAU Luke 3:19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, 20 he added this also to them all, that he locked John up in prison.NAU Mark 6:25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. [Matthew 14:8]

Luke 3:21, Jesus Was BaptizedNAU Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,Only Luke tells us that Jesus was prayingRemember, Lukes emphasis is on Jesus humanity.Luke 3:22, The Holy Spirit Descended NAU Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.Trinity alert!Modalism is a heresy! T.D. Jakes is a modalist, his website says, GodThere is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three manifestations: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.God of the Bible is 3 persons, not three manifestations (Matthew 3:16 -17, Mark 1:10-11, John 1:32 )http://www.thepottershouse.org/Local/About-Us/Belief-Statement.aspxhttp://www.thepottershouse.org/Local/About-Us/Belief-Statement.aspxLuke 3:23, Thirty Years Of AgeNAU Luke 3:23 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of ageGen 41:46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt..1 Sam 13:1 Saul was [thirty] years old when he became king2 Sam 5:4 David was thirty years old when he became kingLuke 3:23, The Supposed Son Of JosephNAU Luke 3:23, Jesus being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli,NAU Matthew 1:16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.In Matthews genealogy, he uses the father of (1080 gennao, to beget) 15 times, Luke, not once.Both genealogies trace to David, thereby dissolving any challenges. In the OT the genealogy was patristic, now its maternal. Either way, Jesus is THE Son of David, the Christ. Matthew traces the begatting Luke crosses over to the adoption line.NAU Matthew 22:41-46, 42 "What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?" They said to Him, "The son of David. [Ps 110:1, Matthew 12:23, 21:9-15, Mark 12:35-38] Luke 3:32, BoazNAU Luke 3:32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,Only 2 NT uses of Boaz the 1st. was in;NAU Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Luke 3:32 1 Chronicles 2:11 1 Kings 7:21 Ruth 2:1, 1st. Mention Of BoazLuke 3:32, Boaz Married RuthA grandmother recounts that..My granddaughter asked me what kind of man Boaz was before he married Ruth he was Ruthless.

1 Kings 7:21 1 Chronicles 2:11 Matthew 1:5 Luke 3:32 Ruth 2:1, 4:13, Boaz Married RuthLuke 3:35 Ancient Egypt Confirms: Genesis Is History

Creation Magazine Genesis 10:25

1 Chronicles 1:19 Luke 3:35 Genesis 10:25Ancient Egypt Confirms: Genesis Is History, Creation Magazine Volume 35, Number 4, 2013, back coverCreation MomentsPO Box 839Foley,MN56329Ancient Egypt Confirms: Genesis Is History

Creation Magazine

Luke 3:35, Ancient Egypt Confirms: Genesis Is History, Creation Magazine Volume 35, Number 4, 2013, back coverCreation MomentsPO Box 839Foley,MN56329Luke 3:38, Who Created God? Where did God come from? GotQuestions.orgAnswer:A common argument from atheists and skeptics is that if all things need a cause, then God must also need a cause. The conclusion is that if God needed a cause, then God is not God (and if God is not God, then of course there is no God). This is a slightly more sophisticated form of the basic question Who made God? Everyone knows that something does not come from nothing. So, if God is a something, then He must have a cause, right?The question is tricky because it sneaks in the false assumption that God came from somewhere and then asks where that might be. The answer is that the question does not even make sense. It is like asking, What does blue smell like? Blue is not in the category of things that have a smell, so the question GotQuestions.orgnoreply@gotquestions.orgviaicontact.com1 Chronicles 1:1 John 1:1 Luke 3:38 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 1:1, 5:1 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Isaiah 46:9, Who Created God? GotQuestions.orgLuke 3:38, Who Created God? Where did God come from? GotQuestions.orgitself is flawed. In the same way, God is not in the category of things that are created or caused. God is uncaused and uncreatedHe simply exists.How do we know this? We know that from nothing, nothing comes. So, if there were ever a time when there was absolutely nothing in existence, then nothing would have ever come into existence. But things do exist. Therefore, since there could never have been absolutely nothing, something had to have always been in existence. That ever-existing thing is what we call God. God is the uncaused Being that caused everything else to come into existence. God is the uncreated Creator who created the universe and everything in it.

GotQuestions.orgnoreply@gotquestions.orgviaicontact.com1 Chronicles 1:1 John 1:1 Luke 3:38 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 1:1, 5:1 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Isaiah 46:9, Who Created God? GotQuestions.orgLuke 3:38, Who Created God?I like to come at it a little differently. Jesus always answers these kind of questions with a question. SoWho created God?What do you mean by God?Most people define God like the dictionary does, theoneSupremeBeing,thecreatorandruleroftheuniverse and by that we mean the First Cause. The universe had a beginning. If He created the universe, He cant be part of the universe. Jesus is, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end Revelation 21:6 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/God?s=tTODAY'S CREATION MOMENTHOW OLD IS HUMAN DNA?Mitochondria generate energy inside each of your cells. They have their own DNA, which is passed directly from mother to child. This fact and the known rate at which mitochondrial DNA mutates has led to some conclusions which would be expected by those who accept the biblical history of mankind.Both creationists and evolutionists who study mitochondrial DNA are agreed on several conclusions. They agree that at some time in the past there was a single dispersal of humankind. They also agree that there are three mitochondrial DNA lines represented in all of mankind. (Evolutionists, however, would not connect these three lines to Noah's three sons' wives.)Both are also agreed that the dispersal of the human

TODAY'S CREATION MOMENTHOW OLD IS HUMAN DNA?http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/how-old-human-dnaHOW OLD IS HUMAN DNA?inGod's DesignListenGenesis 11:8"So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city."TODAY'S CREATION MOMENTHOW OLD IS HUMAN DNA?population happened fairly recently in the Middle East. The pattern indicates that this dispersal from a common place led to small, related groups or clans moving into new territory. Creationist researchers, seeing a parallel between the agreed-upon scientific conclusions and biblical history, have explored the evidence further.Human mitochondrial DNA mutates at a known rate. Based on this known rate, the human genome is very young much younger than evolutionary theory says it should be. It is only thousands of years old.Notes: Acts/Facts, 5/08, p. 6, Larry Vardiman, "Mitochondrial DNA and a Recent Human Origin." Photo: Electron microscopy of mitochondrial DNA. Courtesy of Francisco J Iborra1, Hiroshi Kimura2 and Peter R Cook. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/how-old-human-dna

TODAY'S CREATION MOMENTHOW OLD IS HUMAN DNA?http://www.creationmoments.com/radio/transcripts/how-old-human-dnaHOW OLD IS HUMAN DNA?inGod's DesignListenGenesis 11:8"So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city."So, as we conclude the Christmas season look toward His second comingIsaiah 16:5 A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness.Luke 1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."

May God Bless You As You Seek Him This New YearTHE ENDLuke 3:38, Who Created God? Where did God come from? GotQuestions.orgAnswer:A common argument from atheists and skeptics is that if all things need a cause, then God must also need a cause. The conclusion is that if God needed a cause, then God is not God (and if God is not God, then of course there is no God). This is a slightly more sophisticated form of the basic question Who made God? Everyone knows that something does not come from nothing. So, if God is a something, then He must have a cause, right?The question is tricky because it sneaks in the false assumption that God came from somewhere and then asks where that might be. The answer is that the question does not even make sense. It is like asking, What does blue smell like? Blue is not in the category of things that have a smell, so the question itself is flawed. In the same way, God is not in the category of things that are created or caused. God is uncaused and uncreatedHe simply exists.How do we know this? We know that from nothing, nothing comes. So, if there were ever a time when there was absolutely nothing in existence, then nothing would have ever come into existence. But things do exist. Therefore, since there could never have been absolutely nothing, something had to have always been in existence. That ever-existing thing is what we call God. God is the uncaused Being that caused everything else to come into existence. God is the uncreated Creator who created the universe and everything in it.

GotQuestions.orgnoreply@gotquestions.orgviaicontact.com1 Chronicles 1:1 John 1:1 Luke 3:38 1 Corinthians 15:45 Genesis 1:1, 5:1 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Isaiah 46:9, Who Created God? GotQuestions.orgInfancy Scriptures, Infancy Gospels, Lords ChildhoodThe Infancy GospelsThursday, May 1st, 2014Bible And HistoryJesusQ. My question is about the so-called Infancy Scriptures. I recently saw a special on them and was surprised at how the Lord was depicted, supposedly as an angry and unruly child. The special said that Jesus had to learn how to master His emotions as any child would and that later He became a great leader. Do you buy any of this? What exactly are these Infancy Scriptures? They seem disrespectful to me!A.Both Thomas, of doubting Thomas fame, and James, the half brother of Jesus, are said to have written about the so-called missing years in the Lords life.These infancy gospels were not included in the Bible because its been determined that they werent written by their purported authors, they contain historical and theological errors, and were not in use in the early church.The oldest copy of Thomas has been dated in the 6th Century while the work of James didnt show up until the 10th century. Theyve become popular in liberal circles where the divinity of Jesus and the accuracy of the Bible are often called into question and are trotted out around Easter time when interest in the Lord is higher. Youre right to be offended by these purely fictional accounts.The Bible gives one actual account of the Lords childhood and thats inLuke 2:41-52when He was 12 years old. InPsalm 69Kind David recorded a prophetic overview of the Lords life describing how He was misunderstood and mocked due to His piety.Psalm 69:8foretold that even His own brothers would not understand Him and would treat him like a stranger, possibly indicating a difficult home life. These are the only Biblical references to the time between His birth and the beginning of His ministry at about age 30 (Luke 3:23).http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/the-infancy-gospels/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/the-infancy-gospels/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29Do We All Have The Same DNA?Do We All Have The Same DNA?Saturday, July 26th, 2014CreationIsraelQ.If we are all descended from Adam and Eve, do we all have the same DNA? I always thought that as far as races go, the Jewish race is different from all other races. Was the DNA of the Jewish people changed, I wonder?A.Most of human DNA is identical, the exception being individual physical characteristics. (This is what makes DNA identification possible).A few years ago, scientists learned that theres a special marker in the DNA of the descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses and the first Jewish High Priest. All priests have to be descended from him so this marker can be used to determine who will be qualified to serve as a priest in the coming Temple to be built in Israel.http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/do-we-all-have-the-same-dna/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/do-we-all-have-the-same-dna/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29menorahArchaeologists Discover Ancient Bracelet Fragment With Image Used in Biblical TempleDecember 26, 2014 |Filed under:Science,Top Stories,World|By:Heather Clark

20861802138HAIFA, Israel Archaeologists in Israel have discovered an ancient bracelet fragment that is embossed with an image that was used in the holy temple described in the Bibles Old Testament.Last week, while excavating in Mount Carmel National Park in Haifa, the Israel Antiques Authority found what is believed to be a 1,600-year-old artifact in the midst of other glass pieces that had been thrown into a trash pile.While examining the contents of one of the boxes which contained hundreds of glass fragments that had been discarded in the refuse pit, we found to our surprise a small fragment of a bracelet, representativesLimor Talmi and Dan Kirzner told reporters. Naturally it was extremely dirty, but still, you could see it was decorated.After cleaning, we were excited to discover that the bracelet, which is made of turquoise colored glass, is decorated with symbols of the seven-branched menorahthe same menorah which according to tradition was kept alight in the Temple for eight days by means of a single cruse of oil, they continued.The menorah, or candlestick, is described in Exodus 25, as God provided instructions to His people regarding the Ark of the Covenant.And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same, it reads. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side. And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.The image is also referenced in Numbers 8 in discussing the works of Aaron, the high priest.Connectwith Christian NewsAnd Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the Lord commanded Moses, it reads. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.The archaeologists state the piece was a rare find.Jewelry such as this was found in excavations, usually in the context of funerary offerings, Yael Rosen-Gorin, who leads theAncient Glass Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, told the Jewish Press. It is unusual to find such objects in settlement strata, and even rarer to discover them in an ancient refuse pit.But he also noted that that the bracelet fragment is not the first of its type to be unearthed.Bracelets and pendants made of glass that are decorated with symbols of a menorah or lion or different images of gods and animals, are known during these periods in Israel, Lebanon and Syria, Rosen-Gorin stated. So far, three fragments of bracelets with menorah decorations have been discovered in archaeological excavations in the country: in an excavation at Bab el-Hawa in the northern Golan Heights, at Banias, and another bracelet that was discovered years ago in the excavations at Shiqmona, Haifa.Photo:Yoli Shwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority- See more at: http://christiannews.net/2014/12/26/archaeologists-discover-ancient-bracelet-fragment-with-image-used-in-biblical-temple/#sthash.JM0DamM0.dpuf

http://christiannews.net/2014/12/26/archaeologists-discover-ancient-bracelet-fragment-with-image-used-in-biblical-temple/Isaiah 16:5 A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness.

Luke 1:31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."Pontius PilateThe Sign on the CrossBy Judith Green, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Jesus the Nazarene,the King of the Jews.Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew,in Latin, and in Greek.(John 19:19-20)

An intriguing passage in the Gospel of John, describing the crucifixion in great detail, including the sign written by Pilate himself and affixed to the cross. The official charge against Jesus seems to have been his challenging the authority of the Romans in Judaea by proclaiming himself, or being proclaimed, King of the Jews. It is quite plausible that there was such a sign, proclaiming the crime of the man being punished, as we know of this practice from other Latin historical sources of the period in which criminals are described as wearing signs around their neck, or above their bodies, describing their crime and punishment.In fact, all four of the Evangelists mention the sign on the cross, but only in John is the sign, called thetitulusin Latin, reported as being in three languages.While the discussion rages about what language Jesus himself spoke (maybe more than one?), this verse makes clear the tri-lingual nature of his Palestinian environment. The fresco below, by the Italian Renaissance painter, Fra Angelico, from a Dominican Monastery in Fiesole (1434), illustrates the languages of the inscription itself on the crossbar of the cross. This careful depiction reflects the new interest in ancient languges during the Renaissance.The Latin version mentioned in John,IESUSNAZARENUSREXIOUDAEORM, gives us the acronymINRI, an abbreviation which is found over the cross in so many images. The Greek, = Jesus the Nazaraean, the King of the Jews, gives rise to an argument between the Jews and Pilate in the following verses in John:So the High Priests of the Jews kept saying to Pilate, Do not write The King of the Jews, but He said I am King of the Jews. But Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. (John 19:21-22)What upsets the High Priests?Here is a point of Greek grammar!In English, there is a difference between saying the book and a book. The is called the definite article, and it indicates one particular, definite, book. Whereas a is the indefinite article, and it indicates any book, not yet specified. In Greek, there is also a definite article and it is used in Pilates inscription, referring toTheKing of the Jews, an absolute title. Of course, the High Priests dont accept this title for Jesus; they are only willing to accept the fact that he could have called himself A King of the Jews, perhaps one of many people taking this title upon themselves. It is very insightful of John, both in terms of Jewish psychology, the Palestinian linguistic environment, and in his understanding of Greek grammar! Again, he is set apart from the synoptic gospels in this description of the cross. The Hebrew version given by Fra Angelico is also quite correct: = Jesus the Nazarite and the King of the Jews. (hard to see these on the reproduction, but believe me!).The final illustration is a unique Latin inscription. It is called thePilate Stone and itis a block oflimestonewith a carved inscription attributed toPontius Pilate, prefect of the Roman-controlledprovince of Judaeaduring the life of Jesus. The stone was found in 1961 by a team of Italian archeologists and is unique because it is the only universally accepted archaeological find with an inscription mentioning the name Pontius Pilatus to date look at the end of the second line. It was found in the ancient theater built by Herod the Great, in the present-day city of Caesarea, which was the capital of the Province of Judaea at the time that Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor.

Dr. Eli Lizorkin-EyzenbergJewish Studies Department, Dean of the facultyeTeacherBiblical, Israeli Academy of Linguisticsand HistoryLife, death,conscious intelligence, energy, gravity, light, space, physical universe, encoded information, DNAGreat Is The MysteryDave Hunt (May 2003)

In spite of thousands of years of inquiry into the universe, and the super-technology of today's computer-aided science, we still know almost nothing in comparison to all there is to know. We don't know what energy is, or what gravity or light or space are. Referring to the physical universe, British astronomer Sir James Jeans declared that "we are not yet in touch with ultimate reality."Much less do we know what life is. Living things are made up of chemical machines. The secret of life, however, lies not in the correct combination of the chemicals of which living things are built. Science seeks to discover how life is imparted to otherwise dead matter, hoping to reverse the death process and thereby create eternal life. The right conglomeration of chemicals that moments before was alive is still intact, but no scientific process can restore the life that has left a corpse. That secret will never be found by examining living creatures because the life they have is not their own.

We now know what Darwin never imagined, that life is based uponinformationencoded on DNA (SeeTBCAug '02). Indisputably, no information is originated by the medium in which it is communicated (printed page, audio- or videotape, DNA, etc.).

Information can originate only from a conscious intelligence, a quality found only in personal beings. Clearly, the information that provides the instructions for constructing and operating the incredibly small and complex machines that make up living cells could only originate with an Intelligence beyond our capacity to comprehend.Jesus claimed to be the Source of life: "I am the resurrection, and the life" (Jn 11:25)--and He proved it by laying down His life and rising from the dead. He said, "No man taketh [my life] from me, but I lay it down of myself...and I have power to take it again..." (Jn 10:17,18). And so He did.There is, however, something more vital than physical life. Unquestionably, there is a nonphysical side to man. Words and the conceptual ideas they express (including those imprinted on DNA) are not a part of the dimensional, physical universe. The idea of "justice," for example, has nothing to do with and cannot be described in terms of any of the five senses. It lies in another realm.Thoughts are not physical. They do not originate from matter nor do they occupy space. Our brains do not think, or we would be the prisoners of that few pounds of matter inside our craniums, waiting for the next orders it might give us. Man has not only physical but "intelligent" life. What could be its source?Of Jesus, John said, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (Jn 1:4). Christ declared, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn 8:12). The reference is not to physical light but to the spiritual light of truth--another abstract concept without any relationship to the physical universe."Truth" takes us beyond animal life; it has no meaning for animals. Their "intelligence" knows nothing of love, morals, compassion, mercy, or understanding but is confined to instinct and conditioned responses to stimuli. B. F. Skinner tried to fit man into the same mold, but our ability to form conceptual ideas and express them in speech cannot be explained in terms of stimulus/response reactions. There is an impassable chasm between man and animals.Intelligence is nonphysical because it conceives of and uses nonphysical constructs that clearly do not originate with the material of the brain or body. This takes us beyond the physical universe into the realm of spirit. We do not know what a soul or a spirit is, or what it means that God "is a Spirit" (Jn 4:24) who "created man in his own image" (Gn 1:27).God has given us sufficient proof in what we can verify to cause us to trust completely whatever His Word declares concerning things we cannot fully comprehend. That is where faith enters. There is much that, although we cannot understand it, we know is true. This is the case, for example, with the fact that God is without beginning or end. It boggles our minds, but we know it must be.While seeking to unravel the secrets of the universe, science neglects its Creator. The universe can lead man only to a dead end, since ultimate knowledge is hidden in the God who brought all into existence.

Though not idol worshipers in the primitive sense, scientists, university professors, business executives, and political leaders, no matter how brilliant, who do not know Christ fit the description in Romans 1 of those who reject the witness of the universe and worship the creation instead of the Creator. It is possible for Christians also to be caught up in this same materialistic ambition and to misswhat God offers us in Himself.

Paul's earnest desire was that all believers might attain unto "the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col 2:2,3).Our knowledge of both the physical and spiritual is limited at best. But one day we will fully know when we are with Christ in our glorified bodies: "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Cor 13:12). When in His presence we wholly know Christ as He truly is, all limitations will have vanished, even our lack of power to fully overcome sin: when we see him, "we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (1 Jn 3:2). Knowing Christ is everything!Secular knowledge pursued in our universities looks in the wrong direction. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ can never be discovered by scientific inquiry but can only be revealed by His Spirit through His Word to those who believe in Him.The concept of one true God who exists eternally in three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is rejected even by some who claim to be Christians. Yet this is taught all through Scripture, in the Old Testament as well as in the New. Consider: "I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I...." Surely the speaker who has been in existence forever must be God himself. Yet He declares, "the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me" (Is 48:16). We cannot comprehend the mystery of the Trinity; yet that is no more reason to doubt it than to doubt anything else that we know is real but cannot comprehend.

If God were a single being (as Muslims believe Allah to be and most Jews believe Yahweh is), He would have had to create creatures in order to experience love, fellowship and communion. The biblical Godislove in Himself, manifesting plurality in the Godhead: "The Father loveth the Son..." (Jn 5:20). God must be one; but He must comprise both singularity and plurality.

Only God could pay the infinite penalty His justice demands for sin. But that would not be just, because "God is not a man..." (Nm 23:19). The incarnation is therefore essential--but impossible if God were a singular being. "The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 Jn 4:14). It was Jesus who died on the cross, not the Father nor the Holy Spirit.Neither could a mere man, being finite, pay that infinite penalty. All through the Old Testament, Yahweh declares that He is the only Savior (Is 43:3,11; 45:15,21; 49:26; Hos 13:4, etc.). Thus Jesus had to be Yahweh but also a man. When God the Son became a man He did not and could not cease to be God. Jesus was both God and man.How could God become a man? Again that is only possible through the Trinity. The Father didn't become man, nor did the Holy Spirit. Even though we cannot understand this, we know it must be so. The penalty for our sins is infinite because God and His justice are infinite. Consequently, those who reject Christ's payment on their behalf will be separated from God forever.How evil could arise in God's "good" universe (Gn 1:31) is a mystery--"the mystery of iniquity" (2 Thes 2:7). It will reach its fullness in Antichrist through whom Satan will rule the world. In Antichrist, Satan will be manifest in the flesh, as God was, and is, in Christ.Satan must be brilliant beyond our comprehension, apparently second only to God in power and understanding. It is a mystery that Satan, having known intimately the holy and glorious presence and power of God on His throne, could ever have dared, much less desired, to rebel. How could he have imagined that he could ever defeat God? Surely this is a great mystery!Satan was not raised in a "dysfunctional family" or in a ghetto, nor was he "abused as a child." None of the standard excuses for rebellious and selfish behavior accepted by today's Christian psychologists applies to Satan--or to Adam and Eve. To accept any explanation for evil that doesn't fit them is to be deceived. Certainly today's popular diagnosis of "low self-esteem" or a "poor self-image" was not Satan's problem!Scripture says he was lifted up with pride: "O covering cherub....Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness" (Ezk 28:16-17). He is apparently a self-deceived ego-maniac, blinded by pride in his own power and abilities.Here is the mystery of iniquity: In the very presence of God, in the heart of the cherub closest to God, the ultimate evil was conceived. By one fateful choice, the most beautiful, powerful, and intelligent angelic being became for all time the ultimate in evil: the arch enemy of God and man, the "great dragon...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world" (Rv 12:9; 20:2).Paul warns that a man should not become an elder until he is mature in the faith, "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Tm 3:6). This tells us again that pride was Satan's downfall--and is man's besetting sin as well. "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prv 16:18).

It is also a mystery that Eve would believe the serpent's lie contradicting what her gracious Creator had said. Adam was not deceived (1 Tm 2:14). No doubt out of love for Eve and not wanting to be separated from her, he joined her in disobedience, knowing the consequences. It remains a mystery, however, that anyone would rebel against God, thatanyonewould choose the pleasures of the moment in exchange for eternal separation from God.

The heart of this mystery is the autonomy of intelligent created beings who clearly have something called self-will. At least some angels (Satan and those who joined his rebellion) and all men have the power of choice. In deciding upon beliefs or actions, though evidence may be weighed, ultimately reason is set aside in order to bow before the throne of self. We are our own worst enemies.Self had its awful birth when Eve made the choice of disobedience for all of her descendants. Christ said there is no hope except we deny self (Mt 16:24). And the only way that can be done effectively is to embrace the cross of Christ as our own so that we can say with Paul, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." (Gal 2:20).The solution to evil through the incarnation is also a mystery: "...great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Tm 3:16).

"God was manifest in the flesh." What a mystery! God could become a fetus in Mary's womb? John the Baptist as a 6-month-old fetus leapt in the womb of Elizabeth in recognition that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah. Amazing!

"Seen of angels." These heavenly beings must have watched in astonishment. The One whom they had known as God the Son, one with the Father, for at least 4,000 years by earth time (we know not how much earlier angels were created), was growing in the virgin Mary's womb, soon to be born a babe needing a mother's milk and care--truly man, yet at the same time truly God. Mystery of mysteries!

"Believed on in the world." The Apostle John speaks in awe of this One whom "we have heard...seen with our eyes...looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us)" (1 Jn 1:1,2). In his Gospel John says, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14).

Yes, "Believed on in the world." Certainly John believed, as did Paul, that Jesus the Messiah of Israel was truly "God manifest in the flesh." To be a Christian one must believe that Jesus Christ is God come as a man to redeem us. What love to come from so high to stoop so low--to be rejected, hated, misunderstood, mocked, maligned, stripped, scourged, and crucified by those He came to redeem!

"Received up into glory." His sacrifice accepted by the Father, He is glorified at the Father's right hand and interceding there for us (Rom 8:34). But even before that great meeting in His presence in the Father's house, "beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, [we] are changed into the same image...by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor 3:18).

Surely if the incarnation is the great mystery of godliness, then for us to live godly lives we must have Christ dwelling within us and living His life through us: "Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we preach..." (Col 1:27, 28). This is the "hope of his calling" which Paul prayed that the Ephesian saints would understand. Peter explains that God "hath called us unto his eternal glory" (1 Pt 5:10). We are going to be like Christ. The glory that the disciples beheld in Christ will be manifested in us!We are transformed by His Word, the Word of Truth upon which we feed for spiritual nourishment. The written instructions which God spoke into DNA and which are essential for physical life present a powerful picture of the "words that...are spirit, and...life" (Jn 6:63). This is the living Word of God which when believed (1 Pt 1:23-25) creates and nourishes spiritual life.TBC

I Hope God Has Blessed You Folks With A Very Merry ChristmasA Few Closing Christmas Verses To Ponder

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,KJV Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Luke 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.Matthew 1:23 , Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. Exodus 1:22 , "Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile