A TREE OF LOVE = THE WOODEN CROSS

04-09-23 This message may be viewed live streaming video at youtube.com or tabernacleofmoses.org commencing at 11:00 am today and repeated 24/7 thereafter. The video, audio, and study notes are archived.

 

I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

(Luke 2:41-49) Now his parents [Joseph and Mary] went to Jerusalem every year, at the feast of the Passover [the first feast (don’t we all want to “pass over” unto the other “side” (the good side?)]. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned [in a caravan toward their home], the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company [of the caravan], went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after [searching for] three days [symbolizing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ] they found him [they experienced a sudden Epiphany, a type of revelation akin to salvation] [1] in the temple, sitting [in the common teaching position] in the midst of the doctors [Gk: instructors: doctors, masters, teachers], both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they [Joseph and Mary] saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing [Heb: grieving]. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist [Gk: understand] ye not that I must be about my Father's business? [2]

1.    Epiphany = Dict.: an appearance or manifestation of God or other supernatural being.

2.    (Matt 13:55) Is not this [Jesus] the carpenter's [Joseph’s] son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 

a.     carpenter = Gk: an artificer, (specifically) a craftsman in wood.

b.    carpenter = Dict.: a workman who builds and repairs wooden things. [that’s us]

 

TREES, WOODEN THINGS

(Psa 1:1-6) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and nightAnd he shall be like a tree planted [Heb: transplanted] by the rivers of water [by the Holy Spirit], that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf [covering] also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. ///// The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff [Heb: chaff (as pressed out, winnowed (or rather threshed loose)] [Dict.: the husks of wheat or other grain separated in threshing or winnowing] which the wind [of the Holy Spirit] driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish [Heb: wander away, to lose oneself, be destroyed: not escape, be undone]

 

(Jer 17:5-8) Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm [Heb: power, strength], and whose heart departeth [Heb: withdraws] from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath [a dry plant] in the desert, and shall not see when good [Heb: beautiful] cometh; but shall inhabit the parched [Heb: arid /// melt, burn, dry up] places in the wilderness [Heb: a desert], in a salt [Heb: barren] land and not inhabited [i.e., desolate, and all alone]. ///// Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted [Heb: transplanted] by the waters [of the Holy Spirit], and that spreadeth out [Heb: sends forth] her roots [of love] by the river [of the Holy Spirit], and shall not see [experience] when heat cometh [“For our God is a consuming fire.” Heb 12:29] [i.e., Jesus Christ is coming (returning) as thermo-nuclear war], but her leaf shall be green [Heb: flourishing]; and shall not be careful [Heb: anxious: afraid] in the year of drought [Heb: restraint (of rain)], neither shall cease from yielding fruit

 

TREES OF LOVE

(Rev 22:1-5) And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear [Gk: radiant, fig. magnificent: bright, gorgeous, white] as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street [(a conceptual picture of length and width)] of it, and on either side [Gk: on both sides] of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits [1,2], and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves [Gk: sprouts /// offshoots, races or clans] of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads [in their thoughts]. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light [Gk: brighten: illuminate, enlighten, make to see]: and they shall reign [Gk: rule] for ever and ever [3,4]

1.    (Gal 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithMeekness, temperance [Gk: self control]: against such there is no law. [9 fruits]

2.    (Eph 5:8,9) For ye were sometimes darkness [Heb: fig. misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness], but now are ye light [Gk: to shine: luminousness, especially by rays] [rays, i.e., revelations] in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) [3 fruits]

a.     Commentary: The wonderful destiny of every saved born-again child of God is that you will become a tree of life, i.e., a tree of love. (see blackboard drawing)

3.    (Matt 5:14) Ye are the light [illumination] of the world [Gk: kosmos; “cosmos” (universe)]. A city [an assembly of Saints] that is set on an hill [elevated, risen] cannot be hid.

4.    (John 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world [Gk: kosmos; “cosmos” (universe)]: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness [Heb: fig. misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness], but shall have the light [peace, happiness, joy] of life [eternal]

 

 

 

HAPPY EASTER,

KNOWING BY HIS PERSONAL SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS

THAT HE LOVES YOU

 

 

Amen

 

 

love covereth all sins” (Prov 10:12)