One Year Bible Challenge, Week 7

Week 7

February 12 – 18, 2011¹

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

Themes and stories: God told Moses to chisel two new stone tablets so God could replace the ones that Moses broke. God renewed his Covenant with the Israelites. He would continue to produce great miracles and would help them defeat their enemies. The Israelites must not make treaties with their enemies, nor worship their false gods. In fact, God told the Israelites to destroy the altars and images of the false gods worshiped by foreigners. God reminded the people to celebrate the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, to give God the firstborn, to celebrate the Sabbath and their other Feasts. Moses brought the new set of tablets, with the Commandments to the Israelites. The skin on his face shone because he had spoken to God.

The Israelites brought together the materials to build the Tabernacle. Moses selected skilled craftsmen and their leaders to make the Tabernacle. Construction of the Tabernacle, Ark, Lampstand, Altar, and Courtyard required a lot of skill and attention to God’s detailed instructions. The inventory of materials used was considerable. Next, the craftsmen made the priestly garments, according to God’s detailed specifications. Finally, when all the work was complete, Moses inspected the Tabernacle, and its accessories. He was pleased, because everything was exactly as God had commanded.

The glory of God filled the Tabernacle. During all of their travels, the Israelites only moved when a cloud lifted from above the Tabernacle.

Leviticus. God instructed Moses on making the burnt offerings. The instructions were passed to the priests. There were instructions for bulls, sheep, goats, doves and pigeons. The animals were to be male and without defect. There were also grain offerings, fellowship offerings (a male or female animal from the herd), sin offering (bull, lamb, goat, doves or pigeons, depending on the sin and the sinner) and guilt offerings. The Israelites were instructed to not eat the fat or blood of any animal.

Discussion points: Why does God caution the Israelites to have nothing to do with the foreigners they will encounter (Exodus 34:11-16)? Is this instruction contrary to what Jesus Christ later says is the second most important commandment–“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 ESV)?

Psalms: Psalm 33:12-37:11

Proverbs: Proverbs 9:1-10:4

Themes and stories: Jesus was brought before Pilate. There was a custom at the Passover festival for the governor to release one prisoner for the crowd—anyone they wanted. Pilate asked the crowd if they wanted him to release Barabbas or Jesus. “[W]hile he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.'” (Matthew 27:19) Too late. The chief priests and elders persuaded the mob to demand Barabbas, and to have Jesus killed. Pilate asked him again. They responded, “crucify him!” Pilate asked what Jesus had done. The mob’s response was to shout all the more, “crucify him!” Mobs haven’t changed much in the past 2,000 years.

[24] So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” [25] And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” [26] Then he released for them Barab’bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:24-26 (RSV)

The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus. They stripped him. They put a crown of thorns on his head, spat on him, struck him. As they lead him to be crucified, they compelled a man from Cyrene named Simon to carry his cross. They crucified Jesus at a place called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.”

Jesus was crucified between two bandits, who, unlike Jesus, deserved to die for their crimes, according to the criminal laws of the day. People passing by mocked Jesus, as did the other men being crucified. Darkness came early, at noon, that day.

After three hours of daytime darkness, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus is quoting from Psalm 22:1. Jesus cried out again in a loud voice before he died. As he did so, there was an earthquake. The curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

[51b] The earth shook, the rocks split [52] and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people

A rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own tomb. He rolled a great stone in front of the door. The religious leaders were afraid that Jesus’ followers would steal the body and claim that Jesus had been resurrected. Have you ever noticed that dishonest people are often the first to accuse others of dishonesty? Pilate placed a guard detail outside the tomb.

On the third day there was a great earthquake. An angel rolled back the stone blocking the door to the tomb. Jesus arose from the dead. He appeared first to the women who had followed him. Later he appeared to the eleven remaining disciples. He gave them a great commission:

[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV).

Mark. The gospel writer begins by quoting the prophet, Isaiah:

“Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight — ” (Mark 1:2-3, which is quoting Isaiah 40:3)

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. John baptized Jesus. A dove ascended from Heaven onto Jesus. A voice came from heaven saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11 (RSV). Jesus went to the wilderness for 40 days. Satan tempted Jesus. After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus began to preach.

Jesus asked two fishermen, Simon and Andrew, to follow Him, saying, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” Two more fishermen, James and Zebedee, also followed him. Jesus began teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. He spoke with such great authority that the people were astonished. Jesus healed many people, and cast out demons. He preached throughout Galilee. He healed a man with leprosy. The crowds grew so great, that it was hard to get close to Jesus. One group of friends cut a hole in the roof and lowered a paralyzed man through the roof to Jesus. Jesus healed the paralyzed man. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy because he told the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 (RSV)

The religious leaders complained that Jesus dined with sinners. Jesus told them that it was the sinners who needed Him most. The religious leaders looked for other ways to criticize Jesus. They complained that his followers weren’t fasting, that the disciples picked wheat on the sabbath, and that Jesus healed a man on the sabbath. Crowds followed Jesus in such large numbers that it was difficult for him to move about. Jesus selected his twelve disciples:

[13]And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. [14]And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, [15]And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:  [16]And Simon he surnamed Peter; [17]And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:  [18]And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, [19]And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. Mark 3:13-19 (KJV)

The religious leaders continued to deny Jesus. They accused him of being Satan.

Discussion points: What is the importance of the Resurrection to Christians?

• Why does God caution the Israelites to have nothing to do with the foreigners they will encounter? (Exodus 34:11-16) Is this instruction contrary to what Jesus Christ later says is the second most important commandment–“You shall love your neighbor as yourself?” (Matthew 22:39)
• What was the significance of the curtain in the Temple splitting from top to bottom? (Matthew 27:51)
• What is the importance of the Resurrection to Christians? (Matthew 28:1-10)
• Why did Jesus need to be baptized, if John’s baptism was for the repentance of sin?

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, February 19, 2011 are now online — ”The Offering”. When the Israelites constructed the Tabernacle in Exodus, they began the formalized system of animal sacrifices. This week we look at those practices and at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which ended the need for animal sacrifice Discussion verses: Exodus 34:11-16 and Matthew 28:1-10

A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.