"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."-John 3:16
(chag pascha same'ach) חג פסחא שמח فِصْح سعيد Maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay! ¡Felices Pascuas! Христос воскресе (Xristos voskrese) З Великодніми святами (Z Velykodnimy sviatamy) Happy Easter!
Bunny Rabbit? Colorful eggs? Spring-time celebration! Growing-up, I remember going to church on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as part of the Easter celebration. I actually thought it was a good time to remember what Jesus did for me. I would then look forward to watch the "Ten Commandments" or "Sound of Music" (my siblings thought I was cheesy watching this sing-a-long movie all them time). All this were seeds of faith growing inside of me to get where I am (personal relationship). I look back and want to continue the festivities-making sure "Jesus is the reason for the season" (like Christmas) and that we celebrate it every season all year round! I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend and may you reflect what He did for you on that cross!
*wrote this during a winter strom on Tuesday, April 3rd of 2007
Would Jesus Christ Celebrate Easter?
For millions of people Easter Sunday is the most important religious holiday of the year. But if Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee today, would He observe Easter?
by Jerold Aust (Goodnews Magazine of Understanding)
".Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words notes: "The term 'Easter' is not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean [Babylonian] goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch [Passover] held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast . . . From this Pasch the pagan festival of 'Easter' was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity" (W.E. Vine, 1985, "Easter")..."
"is a moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates an event reported by all four Canonical Gospels Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19: the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in the days before his Passion.
The difficulty of procuring palms for that day's ceremonies in unfavorable climates for palms led to the substitution of boughs of box, yew, willow or other native trees. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as Yew Sunday or by the general term Branch Sunday."
"http://www.maozisrael.org
Is it true that Yeshua(Jesus) celebrated Passover? Is it true that He was actually crucified on Passover? Is it true that His last supper was a Passover meal? Yes, yes and yes. The story of Yeshua and the story of Passover are inextricably connected. The Bible teaches that Yeshua is indeed the Passover lamb or sacrifice for all mankind. In this video, see how Israel is celebrating the holiday of Passover in 2010 and how believers in Yeshua are celebrating Passover in their hearts, every day!"
"...Many people assume that Jesus' Last Supper was a Seder, a ritual meal held in celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover. And indeed, according to the Gospel of Mark 14:12, Jesus prepared for the Last Supper on the "first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb." If Jesus and his disciples gathered together to eat soon after the Passover lamb was sacrificed, what else could they possibly have eaten if not the Passover meal? And if they ate the Passover sacrifice, they must have held a Seder.
Three out of four of the canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) agree that the Last Supper was held only after the Jewish holiday had begun. Moreover, one of the best known and painstakingly detailed studies of the Last Supper—Joachim Jeremias's book The Eucharistic Words of Jesus—lists no fewer than 14 distinct parallels between the Last Supper tradition and the Passover Seder.
The Jewish holiday of Passover commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. The roots of the festival are found in Exodus 12, in which God instructs the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb at twilight on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, before the sun sets (Exodus 12:18). That night the Israelites are to eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The lamb's blood should be swabbed on their doorposts as a sign. God, seeing the sign, will then “pass over” the houses of the Israelites (Exodus 12:13), while smiting the Egyptians with the tenth plague, the killing of the first-born sons.
Exodus 12 commands the Israelites to repeat this practice every year, performing the sacrifice during the day and then consuming it after the sun has set. (According to Jewish tradition, the new day begins with the setting of the sun, so the sacrifice is made on the 14th but the beginning of Passover and the meal are actually on the 15th, although this sequence of dates is not specified in Exodus.) Exodus 12 further speaks of a seven-day festival, which begins when the sacrifice is consumed (Exodus 12:15)....
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Religion: Judaism, Hebrews/Israelites, Torah, Bible-"Old" Testament, etc...
"...From this text we learn that those divine services under the Old Testament were shadowy images of divine services that would be established under the New Covenant. As such, they possess the stamp of Divine approval. God did not establish those institutions under the Old Testament just for the sake of doing something. No, He established them as shadowy images of what He had in mind for the coming age. Yet, as Paul indicated, they were not the same things. God just did not establish something for the sake of doing some thing, rather He had a plan, a design, a purpose for the thing. Such things would be fulfilled in Christ. "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Heb 8:5) ..
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Mark 14:22-25 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Like the Passover, the Lord's Supper was instituted to help us remember what Christ has done for our salvation. Those of us who partake of the Lord's Supper do so to remember. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come." (1 Cor. 11:26)
As we remember the death of Christ, we must also remember that through the death of Christ we have established the covenant that enables us to be reconciled to God. God has never dealt with His children except through a covenant. As we view the death of Christ, we see the establishment of a covenant. There are three things necessary to establish a covenant, and we see in the death of Christ all three of these things.
Do I plan to see it-yes! I haven't had the chance yet. Before viewing it myself, I wanted to search Scriptures and research some of the topics that I've heard on this movies so far...
Crucifixion
" 7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth."-Isaiah 53:7
"This video is set to Nicole Nordeman?s song ?Why? and depicts the crucifixion of Christ. This is a pretty moving clip."
Did you know that the crucifixion scene was filmed in Italy, while the rest of the scenes were filmed in a built set? Also, did you know that the Bible's Old Testament had some verses on the detail "gory" description of Jesus' crucifixion? It was written many years (1,000?) before Jesus came to earth! (for more on prophecies in the Bible-click) Read some of the following verses in let the Holy Spirit speak to you and decide yourself=>
Bible Verses: -Isaiah 52:13-15 "disfigured-unhuman look" Isaiah 53 "oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word..." Psalm 22 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me..."
"Crucifixion sometimes began with a scourging or flogging of the victim�s back. The Romans used a whip called a flagrum, which consisted of small pieces of bone and metal attached to a number of leather strands. The number of blows given to Jesus is not recorded; however, the number of blows in Jewish law was 39 (one less than the 40 called for in the Torah, to prevent a counting error). During the scourging, the skin was ripped from the back, exposing a bloody mass of tissue and bone. Extreme blood loss occurred, often causing death, or at least unconsciousness. In addition to the flogging, Jesus faced severe beating and torment by the Roman soldiers, including the plucking of His beard and the piercing of His scalp with a crown of thorns. "
Nothing But The Blood of Jesus
"A message on the cleansing blood of Jesus set to several images of the crucifixion and the things that Jesus died for."
-Other Prophecies: Micah 5:2-"...will be ruler over Israel.." Zechariah 9:9-"..See, your king [a] comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey, .." Isaiah 7:14-"Therefore the Lord himself will give you [a] a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and [b] will call him Immanuel. " Isaiah 62:11-"...See, your Savior comes! .." Psalms 16:9-10-"...because you will not abandon me to the grave, [a]
nor will you let your Holy One [b] see decay..."
"This statement by the Apostle Paul refers to the Jewish Feasts as a "mere shadow" of things to come, the substance of them being found in Yeshua, the Messiah. What Paul is saying here is that the feasts were prophetic types, or symbols, that pointed to the Messiah and which would be fulfilled in Him. (NASB)
Before we pursue that point to see how the feasts were fulfilled in Jesus, let's first of all familiarize ourselves with the feasts...."
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hand..."-Luke 24
I went to see "The Life Giver: A Passion Play" at Redeeming Love Church in Maplewood-St. Paul, Minnnesota this day (Saturday, April 10th of 2004) before Easter Sunday. I actually had some watery eyes (like the movie) during several scenes of the play that was well performed by the 100+ cast. Awesome job as the play touched me any many others (over 30+ came forward to accept Christ as their "savior" during the 2pm matinee show). A touching moment during the play was out in the audience when a little girl behind me kept repeating, "Is it over", "Is it over"...during the flogging and crufixion scene.
Passion Play 2004
7:30p.m. Thurs. & Fri., 3p.m. Sat. at North Heights Lutheran Church, Hwy 96 & Hwy 10 in Arden Hills. A 16-year tradition, the Passion Play at North Heights powerfully displays the life, death & resurrection of Jesus! Over 700 participants, dozens of live animals, rain, "lightening," inspiring music & much more. Tickets, $19 or $11. Reserved seating by mail only, after Feb. 27. For an order form, please visit
www.nhlc.org or call 651-639-9777. (Additional dates: April 15-18, April 22-25, April 29-30 & May 1-2)
"3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...-1 Peter 1:3
"Cartoon showing how Christ's resurrection took place. The tomb was rolled away. Angels told Mary that Jesus was among the living, not the dead." He Is Risen, from youtube.com
' Resurrection Appearances by Dr. William Lane Craig
"Dr. William Lane Craig (http://www.leaderu.com/office s/billcraig/index.html) discusses the resurrection appearances of Jesus. See more videos at http://youtube.com/profile_...
"Production
Traditionalist Catholic priest Stephen Somerville was on set during the entire filming.[citation needed] Jim Caviezel, the American actor playing Jesus, is, like Mel Gibson, a devout Catholic.[citation needed]
Caviezel suffered numerous injuries and ailments during the production.[2]. He separated his shoulder while filming a scene in which Jesus falls and the cross lands on his back. The complex full-body makeup required the actor to be awake at 2 a.m. to undergo several hours of application of the appliances that would make it look like he had been viciously flayed.
Caviezel also was struck by lightning during the shooting; upon rising from the hit without major damage, he reportedly said, "I guess He didn't like that take." Key production assistant Jan Michelini was allegedly struck by lightning twice and given the name Jan "Lightning Boy" Michelini in the film's closing credits. [3] and [4]."
-Worship & Praise
(Live) Celebrate Jesus Celebrate-Don Moen-Mabee Center
"Celebrate Jesus Celebrate-Don Moen & Music Ministries Congregation live Mabee Center - Oral Roberts University Lyrics: Celebrate Jesus celebrate Celebrate Jesus celebrate Celebrate Jesus celebrate... "
Michael W. Smith - Above All (With Lyrics)
How Beautiful- Passion of Christ - Today's Christian Videos
He Is Risen - Shift Worship - Inspirational Videos
"Download at http://www.shiftworship.com Celebrate Easter with this artistic, moving depiction of Christ's sacrifice and triumph over the grave. The original song was written and recorded by Riley Friesen and the band Staggerford."
DANCE WORSHIP BOCACHURCH.COM Boca Church Of All Nations
"BOCACHURCH.COM PUT ON A GREAT OUTREACH TO THE CITY TO WIN PEOPLES HEARTS FOR CHRIST BOCA CHURCH CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS"
how beauitful
"this is a skit that me and some of the other kids in my youth group dose to the song how beauitful. it's much more moving in person but i hope that u can get the idea here."
"God must have been smiling down the day that Christians from around the world all united together to lift up praise dances to celebrate the resurrection of the One who died for our sins. 39 cities from all across the globe participated in this exciting
dance--which is quite possibly the biggest flash mob in the world! Hallelujah He is Risen!!! Download the song for Free at http://www.UptoFaith.com"
The Daraja Children Choir performs "Mighty to Save" at NewSpring Church
ASIAN
-Filipino
Mighty to Save
"Recorded on June 12, 2010 using a Flip Video camcorder.
Loma Linda Tagalog SDA Church VBS Graduation." Mighty to Save(Tagalog Version) , from youtube.com
CAUCASIAN
Hillsong United - Mighty to Save (Live) - Today's Christian Videos
Mighty to Save in Portuguese - by Ministério Christian Life
"Ministério Christian Life cantando Mighty to save em portugues em Londres U.K. (London U.K.)"
LATINO
-Portuguese
Mighty To Save (Hillsong United) - Letra em português - Lyrics in English
Mighty to save(Poder pra Salvar) , from youtube.com "Me playing might to save in portuguese during our practice in New Life Brazilian Christian Church. God Bless You..."
MODERN CRUCIFIXIONS
"Crucifixion, while rare in recent times, was used at Dachau during the Holocaust and in a number of wars, such as in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and during the Sino-Japanese war, where it was used among the many methods of torture and execution used by Japanese soldiers against Chinese civilians -- largely in emulation of medieval Japanese military practices, says the website http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Crucifixion.
During World War I, there were persistent rumors that German soldiers had crucified an Allied (Canadian) soldier on a tree or barn door with bayonets or combat knives, the website says. The event was initially reported in 1915 by private George Barrie of the Canadian First Division. After the war, investigators tried to determine the veracity of the story of the crucified soldier, but it was inconclusive.
Thenazareneway.com website reports there are persistent stories that crucifixions continue to occur in certain parts of Africa, particularly in Sudan.
Amnesty International reported on August 22, 2002 its �grave concern that time was running out for 88 people, including two children, sentenced to death by hanging or crucifixion in Sudan, for their alleged role in ethnic clashes in Rizeigat, Southern Darfur.
"Everything is wrong with this case. Not only have death sentences been passed, which Amnesty International opposes unconditionally, but they were passed after an obviously unfair trial. Those sentenced include two children, despite the worldwide ban on sentencing children under the age of 18 to death," the organization said at the time.
Amnesty said that Emergency Courts, sometimes known as the "special courts" sentenced the 88 people to death by hanging or crucifixion in Nyala on 17 July 2002, on charges including murder, armed robbery and public disturbances. The charges were all related to recent clashes between the Rizeigat and Maalayia ethnic groups in Southern Darfur.
Africa Newswire Network citing IRIN, the United Nations Integrated Regonal Information Networks, from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said international human rights organizations expressed concern over the fate of 88 people, including two children, who were sentenced to death by hanging or crucifixion in Sudan's Darfur region for taking part in ethnic clashes.
The report stated the Sudanese government reportedly said it would not overturn the death sentences against the 88 people convicted of taking part in May clashes between the ethnic al-Muraalia and Reizagat tribes. At least 50 people were killed in the clashes.
According to Amnesty, the "emergency courts" sometimes known as "special courts," were established in Darfur under a 1998 state of emergency, which grants wide powers to circumvent Sudan's Criminal Procedures Act. The courts are headed by two military judges and one civilian judge and do not permit legal representation for the accused, the agency said.
The Geneva-based International Secretariat of World Organizations Against Torture (OMCT) said it was deeply concerned over the health of the detainees and the "continuing wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions" in Darfur.
In a statement, the OMCT urged the Khartoum government to carry out an impartial investigation into the "arbitrary circumstances" under which some of the prisoners were arrested and detained, as well as reports of the use of torture.
"More generally, OMCT is concerned by the reported worsening human rights situation in Darfur, which includes mass arrests, harsh detention conditions and the continuing persecution of the people from the African tribes native to the region," it added.
"The government of Sudan must now ensure that the sentences are not carried out," Amnesty International said. "It should put an end to this cruelty."
Paul H. Liben contributed the article "Science Within the Limits of Truth" to the December 1991 issue of First Things, the Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life, which was posted to the Firsthings.com website.
He said Jubilee Campaign, a Christian human rights organization, noted "mounting evidence of the crucifixion of the male populations of entire villages."
When the Vatican protested in 1992, Khartoum replied: "The Catholic Church has become the enemy of the Sudanese government. We know how to deal with it."
Liben said: �What was meant was apparent. Last summer, according to Vatican Radio, four Catholics were arrested, flogged a hundred times, and then crucified.�
Liben wrote that according to a 1993 State Department report, the "government of Sudan forces routinely steal women and children. Some women and children are kept as wives. Others are shipped north where they perform forced labor or are exported, notably to Libya."
He said that in his scathing 1994 report to the UN Commission on Human Rights, special investigator Gaspar Biro confirmed that �the (Sudanese) north is kidnapping women and children and selling or using them as concubines or slaves. Biro also notes that the present regime allows the crucifixion of children as young as seven.�"
Religion
-Orthodox
Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! (Pascha)
"Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!
Христос Воскресе! Ваистину Воскресе!
Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη! "
Scenes
Israel - Garden of Gethsemane
"See the actual ground where Jesus agonized before his crucifixion and prayed that the cup may p%#, not his will but may God's will be done."
Theater
CFC Youth For Christ Winnipeg Creative Dance
"This is a creative dance showing people in harships without Jesus, his crucifixion, and much more. I hope you enjoy it!"
*see Canada
Good Friday Passion Play
"The 2007 Good Friday Passion Play at the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds, England. Re-enactment of the Last Supper, Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ"
Turramurra Passion - Scene 1
As Mel (My Space Site) shared in an interview with Diane Sawyer the Monday before it opened, he hopes that viewers will not just comment on the gore and graphic details on this movie. Instead, he hopes (based on my view of the interview) that people would come out and think twice about the message of the cross..forgiveness and that the rest of the story of the Good News will be shared to them.
I pray that many will come to a new or renewing personal relationship with Jesus after seeing this movie.
God sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ for us, so what sacrifices can we make for Him? I know He doesn't expect anything from Him-except our love, but how can we show this love to Him?
Want can I give what can I brings is an offering?...I'll offer up my love in spirit and truth.."-?
Old Testament:
"Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God."-Exodus 18:12
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."-Romans 12:1
"The Resurrection-
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here;he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.
9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened."-Luke 22-24 (New International Version)
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