God's Appointed Feasts (pt. 6)
In today's lesson, we explore the Feast of Weeks holiday. The holiday is called Shavuot in Hebrew, and in Greek, Pentecost.
This is the holiday we see in Acts chapter two when God delivers the Holy Spirit as a gift from Heaven. What's going on at this event? What does this event tell us about the power of community? We see tonight how in a very concrete act, God is showing us that His presence has moved out of the "Temple" in Jerusalem and now resides wherever there is a group of "living stones" (1 Peter 2:4-5) gathered together in worship. Finally, we explore evidence from the first-century Jewish culture that helps us build a foundation for the background of this event and some of the traditions surrounding the events of God coming down on Mount Sinai.
For more on Act 2 Pentecost in light of first-century interpretation of the events on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20), see this journal article from Scandinavian Jewish Studies:
Theresa Abell haynes, "Voices of Fire: Sinai Imagery in Acts 2 and Rabbinic Midrash" https://journal.fi/nj/article/view/102389 ![]()
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God's Appointed Feasts (pt. 5)
Today's lesson explores the "counting of the omer."
This is a ritual that happens during the time between Passover and the next major holiday – the festival of Weeks. This holiday is called Shavuot in Hebrew or Pentecost in Greek. The ritual is a 49-day countdown leading you to the Festival of Weeks. In Jewish tradition, Pentecost celebrates God delivering a gift from heaven - the Torah - at Mount Sinai. In Acts 2 - on the same holiday - God delivers another gift from heaven in the form of the Holy Spirit. Each year, this celebratory ritual provides the opportunity to prepare ourselves and our communities to receive God's Word and his Holy Spirit once again during the "counting of the omer" that leads up to that holiday. ![]()
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God's Appointed Feasts (pt. 4)
Today's video continues our exploration of the Passover holiday and takes us into the evening after the Passover meal.
According to Exodus 12:42, this evening is a "night for watching," a vigil to be kept by the Israelites for all generations. The events of this night happen at a place called Gethsemane. But does the Bible call it the "Garden of Gethsemane" as we do in our Christian lingo? The short answer is no. Then what is a Gethsemane, and how does it connect to what is happening with Jesus that evening? Join us and be enlightened by learning about a Gethsemane - the place of Jesus' agony. ![]()
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Fig Tree Five
Jesus heals a blind man with his saliva! What are we supposed to make of this miracle?
Why does Jesus use saliva to heal eyes, and what would that first-century audience have thought about his use of spittle? And what would be the message for a Jewish audience? Join us as we explore the cultural context of the first-century to see what others would have thought about healing eyes with spittle.
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God's Appointed Feasts (pt. 3)
In today’s lesson, we explore the meal that Jesus had with his disciples – what we refer to as the Last Supper – and see how it compares to the elements found in the traditional Passover celebration meal that today we call a Seder.
We’ll also look at a seating chart of the meal and see how knowing the basic seating arrangement in the first century helps us understand some things going on in the Gospels. In particular, we will see the absolutely genius manner in which Jesus interacts with Judas. I believe you will find it most enjoyable once you understand the Passover table and the references from the Old Testament. ![]()
God's Appointed Feasts (pt. 2)
Today's lesson is the second in our series on God's Appointed Feasts – sometimes called God's holidays.
Today's lesson focuses on the first of the seven Biblical holidays – Passover. Passover was the central holiday in the collective consciousness of the Jewish people in the first century. This holiday celebrates when God overthrew the Pharaoh and delivered the nation of Israel. Many in Jesus' day longed for God to once again show up on Passover to deliver the Israelites from the oppressive rule of the Roman empire. "God has done it in the past," they said, "and he can certainly do it again!" It is this holiday – the Passover – that Jesus is going to the cross as the Lamb of God – God's Passover lamb. And just like that first Passover lamb from Exodus 12 - those covered in the blood of Jesus will be set free from the tyranny of sin! Jesus IS our Passover Lamb who was sacrificed on our behalf (1 Cor. 5:6-7). ![]()
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God's Appointed Feasts (pt. 1)
Today's lesson kicks off our upcoming series on God's Appointed Feasts found in Leviticus 23.
These holidays are central to Jesus' ministry and God's plan of redeeming the world! In this video, we will briefly introduce the holidays and then look at the concept of redemption! God is redeeming the world. The Bible is a book about redemption. But what does the word redemption mean? Do we have a sufficient enough understanding of this ancient concept that we can begin to see it all over the Bible? Join us as we introduce God's Appointed Feasts and unpack the concept of redemption. ![]()
Free Resource: God's Appointed Feasts - Spring Holidays - click here.
Free Resource: God's Appointed Feasts - Fall Holidays - click here.
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Fig Tree Five
The phrase "Daughters of Jerusalem" is a Hebrew idiom.
This short video explores this phrase's linguistic and cultural context and what Jesus means when he uses it in Luke 23:28. Judgment is descending on Jerusalem. In 66 AD, the Zealots pushed Israel into a war with Rome. By 70 AD, Jerusalem was under siege, and the villages outside the city walls were destroyed. The words spoken by Jesus as he is on his way to be crucified are prophetic, and concern Jerusalem's coming judgment. Understanding the phrase "Daughters of Jerusalem" helps us understand the overall meaning of what Jesus is saying in Luke 23:28-31.
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Fig Tree Five
Understanding God's Appointed Feasts is critical to understanding Jesus, the New Testament, and God's plan of redemption.
This is an introductory video to highlight how Jesus is fulfilling God's redemptive plan through action on each of the holidays.
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Fig Tree Five
It's not always easy to understand the messages from the book of Genesis.
Since Genesis is presented to us in narrative form, we must do some work to find meaning or principles that we can apply to our lives. Join us in this short lesson as we discover a message on the power of forgiveness and what it takes for a people group to come together as a nation.
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Fig Tree Five
Today's video is part of our Fig Tree Five series - five-minute videos to help broaden your understanding of the Bible!
Join us as we learn about the amazing Hebrew word - Midbar! Midbar is the Hebrew word for wilderness or desert but is derived from the Hebrew word DBR which means "to speak" (verb) or "word" (noun). The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the "wilderness" (Matt. 4:1) in the desert east of Jerusalem (see photo below).
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In today's lesson, we look at the connection between the events in Exodus, where God delivers the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the Acts chapter 2 – Pentecost event – where God delivers the Holy Spirit.
To make this connection, we must know about the Biblical holiday system God implements in Exodus and Leviticus. The holiday of Pentecost (Acts 2:1) is not a Christian holiday, and Pentecost is the Greek word used for the holiday of Shavuot - the feast of Weeks - found in Leviticus chapter twenty-three. When we understand the holiday system and the associated symbolism of each holiday, the world of the New Testament opens up in ways that most cannot imagine! God commanded the holidays, and Jesus and the disciples observed the holidays. And most important, Jesus fulfills the holidays! How much more then should we be paying attention to God's canlendar? ![]()
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Exodus Study (pt. 29)
In today's lesson, we use Jesus' parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) as a tool to review the book of Exodus.
The parable of the Ten Bridesmaids is about redemption and reflects the story of Exodus and the common Rabbinic interpretations of Exodus found in the first century. As with Jesus' other parables, we must pay close attention to the symbols and what they represent. Understanding these symbols is the key that unlocks the meaning that not only applies to that first-century context but to our own lives. ![]()
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Exodus Study (pt. 28)
In this week's lesson, we look at the Golden Calf incident found in Exodus 32.
The sin of idol worship - placing an idol or false god ahead of God - is the most common sin for humanity to commit and the sin that Israel will struggle with throughout the Old Testament. What can we learn about this type of sin? What can we learn about ourselves and why false idols still plague us today? We attempt to answer these questions and more, as well as the Biblical solution to overcoming the inherent suffering we experience in the world. ![]()
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Exodus Study (pt. 27)
Exodus 34:6-7 - the divine attributes of God - includes three different words for the types of sin God is willing to forgive.
The Hebrew language has numerous words that denote different aspects of sin - whereas, in English, we tend to use one word - sin - that covers all violations of God's will. In this lesson, we explore these words for sin and how the Hebrew mind conceptualizes the nature of sin. How does sin interact with a human being, and what are the ramifications often felt beyond the individual that committed them? All of these questions and more are addressed in these two verses. Understanding the underlying Hebrew words - and their implication for the human soul - helps us understand our own walk with God and why we must seek his voice to avoid the many pitfalls that surround us in the world. ![]()
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Teacher Scott Broberg - I have a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from Bethel Seminary - San Diego - Biblical Studies with and emphasis on the Old Testament. Categories
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