2 Kings 13-17

Northern Kingdom (Israel)

Ahab-->Ahaziah-->Joram-->Jehu (2 Kings 10:30)-->Jehoahaz

The Lord said to Jehu, "Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the 4th Generation."

The Reign of Jehoahaz (1st Generation after Jehu)
1. He reigned for 17 years
2. He did evil
3. The Lord kept his kingdom subject to Hazael, King of Aram (And Ben Hadad, his son)
4. Eventually, he sought the Lord's favor and God listened b/c He saw Israel's suffering
5. But the Israelites didn't turn away from their idolatry
6. Jehoahaz' kingdom had very little left in terms of military resources
7. He was succeeded by his son, Jehoash

The Reign of Jehoash (2nd generation after Jehu)
1. He reigned for 16 years
2. He did evil
3. He went to war against the Souther Kingdom (Judah) and its king Amaziah
4. He was the King when Elisha died, and he wept over him for the depleted army
5. He was promised 3 victories over Aram, but b/c of his half-heartedness, only 3
6. He did, in fact, gain 3 victories and reclaimed some of the former land
7. He was succeeded by his son Jeroboam

The Reign of Jeroboam (3rd generation after Jehu)
1. He reigned for 41 years
2. He did evil
3. He was, however, quite successful by military standards, regaining much land
4. His success was in accordance with God's words through the prophet Jonah
5. He was succeeded by his son Zechariah

The Reign of Zechariah (4th generation after Jehu)
1. He reigned for 6 months
2. He did evil
3. He was assassinated by Shallum, who succeeded him as king

So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled

The last 5 Kings of Israel:
1. Shallum reigned 1 month and was assassinated by the General, Menahem
2. Menahem reigned for 10 years, evil the entire time, bribed his enemies with his own people's money
3. Pekahiah, son of Menahem, reigned for 2 years, did evil, and was assassinated by his own officer
4. Pekah reigned for 20 years, did evil, lost much ground, and was assassinated by Hoshea
5. Hoshea reigned for 9 years, did evil (but not as much as the others). He sent envoys to Egypt and stopped paying tribute to Assyria. Therefore, he was put in prison, his land was under seige for 3 years. Eventually, the Israelites were exiled to various lands.

An Explanation for the End of Israel
Their end came because they had sinned against the Lord their God
--worshipped other gods
--followed practices of the other nations
--worshipped in high places
--ignored warnings from prophets
--rejected God's laws
--bowed down to the starry host
--sacrificed their own sons
--practiced divination and sorcery

What became of the land of Israel?
Assyria placed people from other lands into the land of Israel
--these people did not worship the Lord
--God sent lions to kill some of them
--the Assyrians, believing in regional deities, wanted to learn how to please this god
--the Assyrians sent back an Israelite priest to teach the people how to please God
--nevertheless, the people continued to worship false gods as well

Southern Kingdom (Judah)

Jehoshaphat-->Jehoram-->Ahaziah-->Joash-->Amaziah

The Reign of Amaziah
1. He reigned for 29 years
2. He did what was right, but not completely
3. He executed the officials who had murdered his father, but not their sons
4. He defeated 10,000 Edomites
5. He became very arrogant about his military accomplishments
6. He challenged Jehoash, King of Israel, to a duel
7. He was routed by Israel and captured
8. Jerusalem lost a 600 foot section of its wall as a result
9. He was conspired against and killed in Lachish
10. His son, Azariah, succeeded him as king

The Reign of Azariah
1. He reigned for 52 years
2. He did what was right, but not completely
3. Success made him proud, he put on priestly garments and was struck with leprosy
4. His son, Jotham, took over day to day rule and eventually succeeded him as king

The Reign of Jotham
1. He reigned for 16 years
2. He did what was right, but not completely
3. The Lord began to send enemies against Judah during his reign
4. He was succeeded by his son Ahaz

The Reign of Ahaz
1. He reigned for 16 years
2. He was wicked like the kings of Israel
3. He sacrificed his own son in the fire
4. He was, militarily, able to resist being overpowered
5. He paid off his stronger enemies with temple wealth
6. He reproduced, in Judah, a pagan altar he had seen in Damascus
7. He was succeeded by his son Hezekiah

2 Kings 11-12

Chapter 11

*With so many names and relationships, the family tree can be quite hard to follow, so I will first provide a visual aid to refer back to throughout the chapter



So when Athaliah realized her son (Ahaziah) was dead, she saw it as an opportunity to eliminate Jehoshaphat's (and David's) entire line and seize power herself. She nearly succeeded, unknowingly failing to murder only one baby boy. Athaliah ruled for the next 6 years.

Meanwhile, the baby was protect by his aunt (Jehosheba) and her husband (Jehoida, the priest). After 6 years of protecting the boy, Jehoida decided it was time to reveal the true King. He made a covenant with the commanders of the southern soldiers to aid him in protecting the boy as the truth was revealed. They annointed Joash as King and the people began to celebrate.

Athaliah, of course, heard the commotion and went to investigate. She shouted 'Treason, Treason', but it soon became obvious that her servants were now servants to Jehoida & Joash. She was put to death outside the temple.

This brought a new beginning for the people of Judah (the southern kingdom). Jehoida made a covenant between the Lord and the people and between the people and the king. The people tore down the temple of Baal and smashed the alters and idols. Joash was transferred from the Temple to the Palace and began to reign at the age of 7 (though, Jehoida, most likely, practically ruled the kingdom while the boy was young.)

Chapter 11 was background information for chapter 12, the reign of Joash

Chapter 12

Joash reigned in Jerusalem for 40 years. Below are the highlights of his reign:

1. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but only so long as Jehoida advised him
2. Joash raised funds to restore the temple
3. When it became obvious that the priests were not putting the money to use, he hired workers for the job
4. Joash used a 'piggy-bank' of sorts to raise funds and provoke the project to action
5. After Jehoida died, Joash's righteousness quickly declined
6. Zechariah (Jehoida's son and the new priest) denounced Joash's wickedness
7. Joash had Zechariah stoned in the temple
8. God sent Hazael against Jerusalem as judgment for Joash's sin
9. Joash bribed Hazael not to attack by giving him all the sacred objects and much gold
10. Zechariah's officers/friends had Joash killed
11. Amaziah, son of Joash, became King of Judah

The Gospels: A Reliable History

The Gospels: A Reliable History

The Gospel According to Matthew
50’s-60’s

“Matthew put together the oracles in the Hebrew Language, and each one interpreted them as best he could” (Papias, 120)

“Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and paul were preaching at Rome” (Irenaeus, 180)

“We will begin with Matthew, who is reported by tradition to have published his Gospel before the others. He wrote it to the Hebrews, namely, those of the circumcision who believed”
(Origen, 228)

The Gospel According to Mark
50’s-60’s

“Having become the interpreter of Peter, Mark wrote down accurately whatever he remembered. However, he did not relate the sayings or deeds of Christ in exact order. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwords, as I said, he accompanied Peter.” (Papias, 120)

“After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also handed down to ous in writing what had been preached by Peter” (Irenaeus, 180)

“In order that thereby they might be able to commit to memory what was spoken by Peter, Mark wrote entirely what is called the Gospel according to Mark” (Clement, 195)

The Gospel According to Luke
60’s

“Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded the Gospel in a book” (Irenaeus, 180)

“By the style of writing, Luke may be recognized both to have composed the Acts of the Apostles and to have translated Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews” (Clement, 195)

“The third book of the Gospel is that according to Luke” (Muratorian Fragment, 200)

The Gospel According to John
80’s-90’s

“The fourth Gospel is that of John… it was revealed to Andrew that John should narrate all things in his own name, as they called them to mind” (Muratorian Fragment, 200)

“What a mind, then, we must have to enable us to interpret this work in a worthy manner. This is so even though it has been committed to the earthly treasure house of common speech” (Origen, 228)

The Fourfold Gospel
Late 100’s

“The Ebionites, who use only Matthew’s Gospel, are refuted out of this very same work…But Marcion, mutilating the Gospel according to Luke, is still proved to be blasphemous…from those passages which he still retains. Those, again, who separate Jesus from Christ…prefer the Gospel of Mark. However, if they read it with a love of truth, they would have their errors rectified. Those persons, moreover, who follow Valentinus, make copious use of the Gospel according to John to illustrate their conjuctions. However, they, too, will be proved to be totally in error…It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number that they are. For, there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds…it is fitting that she should have four pillars” (Irenaeus, 180)

“The Gospel of Luke that we are defending with all our might has stood its ground…the same authority of the apostolic churches will afford defense of the other Gospels also…I mean the Gospels of John and Matthew—while that which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter’s, who interpreter Mark was. For men usually ascribe Luke’s form of the Gospel to Paul” (Tertullian, 207)

“Concerning the four Gospels which alone are uncontroverted in the church of God under heaven… Matthew was written first. The second one written was that according to Mark, who wrote it according to the instruction of Peter… Third was the one according to Luke…This is the Gospel commended by Paul. Last of all, there is the one according to John” (Origen, 245)

Testing the Eye-Witness Evidence

1. The Intention Test – Did the NT authors intend to write factual history?
Yes (Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31, Detail Specific)
2. The Ability Test – Did the oral tradition survive for 2-3 decades?
Yes (Oral Culture, Poetic Form, Flexible Memorization Standards)
3. The Character Test – Were the NT authors men of integrity?
Yes (10 of 11 Disciples died for their faith)
4. The Consistency Test – Aren’t there contradictions in the 4 Gospels?
No (Uniformity would provoke suspicion, seeming contradictions explainable)
5. The Bias Test – Didn’t they have a vested interest in skewing the data?
No (Disciples had little to gain except criticism, ostracism & martyrdom)
6. The Cover-Up Test – Didn’t they just make their faith more attractive?
No (Embarrassing Facts & Hard Sayings were included)
7. The Corroboration Test – Do the details survive archaeological scrutiny?
Yes (Archaeology has consistenly confirmed Scripture)
8. The Adverse Witness Test – Did people in the know reject their testimony?
No (Antagonistic Witnesses do not deny the facts, but re-interpret them)


AUTHOR/BOOK-------DATE------OLDEST COPY-------# OF COPIES
Homer’s Illiad----------800BC---------400AD----------------643
Plato-------------------400BC---------900AD------------------7
Julius Caesar-----------44BC-----------900AD-----------------10
Tacitus-----------------100AD---------1100AD----------------20
Pliny-------------------100AD----------850AD-----------------7
New Testament--------40-100AD------60’sAD (debated)-----5,686
-----------------------------------------130AD (fragments)
-----------------------------------------200AD (whole books)
-----------------------------------------250AD (most of NT)
-----------------------------------------325AD (complete NT)

Similarity b/w 2 most 'different' texts: 99.5%
In Addition, even if we had 0 NT manuscripts, we could reproduce 99% of the NT just from the quotations of the church fathers.

***Statistics gathered from Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel & F.F. Bruce***

Luke 23:26-43

Luke 23:26 – 23:43
The Characters of the Cross

Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26)
1. He was from Cyrene, North Africa
2. He was almost certainly a Jew visiting for the Passover
3. He may have been a leader in the church in Antioch (Acts 13:1)
4. His family was changed by this event (Mark 15:21, Rom. 16:13)
5. We are called to carry a cross as well (Matthew 16:24)

The Weeping Women (Luke 23:27-31)
1. Jesus’ death should cause us to consider our own fate
2. The time was coming when barren women would be envied
3. The time was coming when death would be preferred to life
4. If judgment can come upon ‘the Life,’ imagine ‘the dead!’

The Man Who Missed His Cross (Luke 23:18-19)
1. He was the leader of a rebellion and a murderer
2. ‘Barabbas’ was his last name, his first name may have been Jesus
3. He probably heard the crowd shouting his name and ‘crucify him’
4. But when the guards came, they set him free
5. Jesus took the cross of Barabbas

Between 2 Thieves (Luke 23:32-43)
1. Even amidst mockers putting him to death, Jesus was forgiving
2. One thief had a hard heart, the other had a soft heart
3. As long as you are here on earth, it is never too late to be saved
4. This is the only example in Scripture of a death bed conversion

Luke 22:63-23:25

Luke 22:63-23:25
The Jesus Trials

Trial #1
1. John 18:13-23
2. Before Annas, the former High Priest
3. Annas was probably the most respected religious leader
4. The trial was illegal (at night, no charges, violence)
5. He was found guilty of irreverence toward & rushed to Caiaphas

Trial #2
1. Matthew 26:57-68, Mark 14:53-65, John 18:24
2. Before Caiaphas, son-in-law to Annas, and current High Priest
3. He was the current religious leader in Jerusalem
4. The trial was illegal (at night, false witnesses, violence)
5. He was found guilty of blasphemy & sent to Sanhedrin

Trial #3
1. Mark 15:1a, Luke 22:66-71
2. Before Sanhedrin
3. They were the 70 ruling men of Israel
4. The trial was illegal (accusation switched, no witnesses, improper voting)
5. He was declared guilty of blasphemy & sent to Pilate

Trial #4
1. Matthew 27:11-14, Mark 15:1b-5, Luke 23:1-7, John 18:28-38
2. Before Pontius Pilate
3. Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea, being closely watched by Rome
4. The trial was illegal (kept under arrest though found innocent, violence)
5. Mob over-ruled Pilate, sent to Herod

Trial #5
1. Luke 23:8-12
2. Before Herod Antipas
3. Herod was the governor of Galilea
4. The trial was illegal (no grounds, mockery, no defense attorney, violence)
5. Jesus was mistreated and mocked & sent back to Pilate

Trial #6
1. Matthew 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:18-25, John 18:29-19:6
2. Before Pontius Pilate
3. Pilate was the Roman Governor of Judea, being closely watched by Rome
4. The trial was illegal (No evidence of guilt, allowed innocent to be condemned)
5. Jesus was found innocent, but the mob ruled and Pilate ‘washed his hands’

2 Kings 9-10

* Chapters 9-10 cover approximately 28 years

The prophet Elisha, more and more, is taking a secondary role in these chapters. Here, he sends a fellow prophet on the dangerous mission of annointing Jehu as future King of Israel.

1. He tucks his cloak in order to run, showing the urgency of this mission
2. He brings a flask of oil for the annointing, fulfilling Elijah's obligation (1 Kings 19:16)
3. He goes to Jehu in Ramoth Gilead, a strategic 'border' town east of the Jordan
4. He was to leave quickly after delivering the message (because it was, technically, treason)

DOOM COMING

1. Jehu is annointed and commanded to destroy the entire house of Ahab
2. Jezebel, specifically, will be eaten by dogs
3. Jehu seems initially reluctant to believe the annointing, but is encouraged by his friends response
4. Jehu sets out almost immediately to complete the task at hand

DOOM NECESSARY

The destruction of Ahab's household is necessary because of the idolatry and witchcraft

DOOM FULFILLED

1. Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram and throws him into the field of Naboth (an ironic ending 1 Kings 21:19)
2. Jehu's fleet wounded Ahaziah enough that he later died and was buried in the city of David. It was 'negative providence' that Ahaziah was even there (visiting his sick relative).
3. Jehu commands that Jezebel's servants throw her down from a window, killing her immediately. She is then eaten by dogs before she can even be buried, fulfilling 1 Kings 21:23
4. Jehu has the officials of Jezreel kill the remaining 70 children of Ahab
5. In another example of negative providence, relatives of Ahaziah come to visit and are subsequently killed at Jeh's command.
6. He has all the remaining Baal worshippers killed at once by tricking them to come to a 'great sacrifice'

Jehu's Wise Strategy
1. He challenges them to a fight they know they can't win
2. He challenges them to do his dirty work for them
3. Once they've killed the 70, he shows them that they are all in this together now
4. He gainst he confidence of the highly respected moral leader Jehonadab (Jeremiah 35)
5. He deceives the remaining Baal worshippers into gathering together

* This was the end of Baal worship in Israel, but Jehu failed to eliminate other forms of idolatry and so "the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel."

Extra-Biblical Evidence of Jesus

Jesus: A Man of History

“Historically it is quite doubtful
whether Christ ever existed at all”
~Bertrand Russell

SECULAR SOURCES

Tacitus (Roman Historian)
“To relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time, broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also”

Lucian (Greek Satirist)
“The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account”

Suetonius (Roman Historian)
“As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he (Claudius) expelled them from Rome”

“Punishment by Nero was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.”

Pliny (Roman Governor)
“They (Christians he was persecuting) affirmed, however, that the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verse a hymn to Christ as to a god”

Thallus (Secular Historian) & Phlegon (Secular Historian)
Thatllus, in the third book of his histories, explains away this darkness (at the crucifixion) as an eclipse of the sun—unreasonably, as it seems to me.” (quoted by Africanus)… “During the time of Tiberius Caesar an eclipse of the sun occurred during the full moon.”

Mara Bar-Serapion (Stoic Philosopher)
“What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that they their kingdom was abolished…nor did the wise King die for good; He lived on in the teaching which He had given.”

JEWISH SOURCES

Babylonian Talmud (Early Rabbinical Writings)
“On the eve of the Passover they hanged Yeshu. And an announcer went out, in front of him, for forty days (saying): ‘He is going to be stoned, because he practiced sorcery and enticed and led Israel astray.”

“His mother was Miriam, a women’s hairdresser. As they say…’this one strayed from her husband’…who was the descendant of princes and governors, played the harlot with carpenters”

Josephus (Jewish Historian)
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; and the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”

“The brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as law-breakers, he (Ananus) delivered them over to be stoned.”


Established History from Antagonistic Sources
1. Jesus was a historic person
2. Jesus taught in Palestine in the first century
3. Many people believed that he performed healings and exorcisms
4. Jewish leadership was involved in the death of Jesus
5. Jesus was crucified by the Romans under Pontius Pilate
6. His followers believed that he was still alive
7. All kinds of people throughout the empire worshipped him by the beginning of the second century

CHRISTIAN SOURCES

Early Oral Tradition (likely creedal statements)
Luke 24:34
Philippians 2:6-11
Romans 1:3-4
1 Timothy 3:16
Romans 4:24-25
1 Timothy 6:13
Romans 10:9-10
2 Timothy 2:8
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
1 Peter 3:18
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
1 John 4:2

2 Kings 8:1-29

In chapter 4:8-37 we were told the story of a Shunammite woman.

1. She was a well-to-do woman
2. She offered hospitality to Elisha
3. She had respect for righteousness
4. She was rewarded with a son
5. She demonstrated great faith
6. She was rewarded with a resurrected son

Here, in chapter 8, we pick up her story

7. She was sent away for 7 years to survive famine
8. She came back with nothing to her name
9. The King restored her to her belongings

The power of this story, though, is in the providence of God. At just the moment this woman returned to Israel, Gehazi and the King were talking about her former story! It also causes me to think of the importance of 'little' steps of faith. If she had never responded to the Holy Spirit's calling for her to offer hospitality to the prophet, perhaps she would never have had a son, survived the famine, or had her fortune restored to her.

....................

Perhaps remembering the story of Namaan, Ben Hadad looked to the prophet Elisha his fate regarding a serious illness. Sending his servant, Hazael, Ben Hadad simply wanted to know if he would recover. Bearing gifts, Hazael, brought this question to Elisha.

Elisha's response may seem confusing. His message to Ben Hadad is:
1) You very well may recover from this illness
2) But you will in fact die

Mysterious as it seems, Elisha was certainly not lying. Ben Hadad, in fact, would have recovered from the illness. But he would not survive another attack about to come his way. Elisha knew the heart of Hazael and stared at him, causing shame. Elisha knew that Hazael would soon be king of Aram and then attack Israel. Low and behold, the very next day Hazael assassinated Ben Hadad and succeeded him as king.
.....................

Next, in chapter 8, we are told some stories from the lives of the Kings of Judah (southern kingdom). Further details are found in 2 Chronicles 21.

Jehoram (Joram)
1. Son of Jehoshaphat (mostly good king)
2. 32 years old when he became king
3. Had an 8 year reign
4. Was like a king of Israel (up until then, southern kings were mostly good)
5. Married a daughter of Ahab (thus linking himself to northern kings)
6. Did evil in the eyes of the Lord
7. Killed all his brothers and some others (2 Chron. 21)
8. Spared only because of God's promises to David
9. Was rebelled against by Edom
10. Eventually died of a disgusting disease to fulfill prophecy
11. Succeeded by his son, Ahaziah

Ahaziah
1. Son of Jehoram
2. 22 years old when he began to reign
3. Had a 1 year reign
4. Followed in Ahab's steps
5. Did evil in the eyes of the Lord
6. Was related by marriage to Ahab's family
7. Went to fight with Ahab's son (Joram) against Hazael
8. Visited a wounded Joram in Jezreel
9. This visit resulted in his death (Negative providence, 2 Chronicles 22:7)

2 Kings 6:24-7:20

24 "some time later"
There is obviously some gap between verse 23 and 24 since 23 ends with Aram stopping their raids against Israel and 24 starts with another raid.

25 "a great famine"
Whatever natural famine there was, it was intensified by the seige which prevented trade causing great inflation in the northern kingdom, even among the most unclean or miniature portions.

30 "he tore his robes"
The woman's story was distressing on multiple counts. First and foremost, the reality that women were eating their own children was a devestating reality. It was a sign of curse from God toward Israel for breaking the covenant (Deut. 28:53-55). Secondly, the injustice of the one woman toward the other proved the point of their moral corruption.

31 "the head of Elisha"
Why did the king blame Elisha for the depravity of Israel? There are a few possibilities
1) Perhaps Elisha had told the king to trust God for deliverance and the king was now growing impatient of this promise
2) Simply put, kings and prophets just didn't get along that well in general
3) The king may have thought that Elisha could end the famine at any time

7:1 "about this time tomorrow"
Thus, Elisha predicted a quick end to the economic depression. The officer doubted this speedy resolution to the nations problems and subjected himself to a further prophecy that he would see the change, but not be able to enjoy it

3 "why stay here and die"
These 4 men with leprosy properly evaluated their predicament. There options were as follows
1) Do nothing and die of starvation/leprosy
2) Go into the city (breaking quaranteen), to lengthen their life perhaps a few days, but ultimately die of starvation their as well
3) Surrender to the enemy. This option had 2 possible results
--a. they spare us
--b. they kill us

Thus, of the 4 possible conclusions they could envision, only 1 resulted in life. And it stood the longest shot of coming to pass. But they took it, it being their only hopeful option (as faint a hope it was).

5 "not a man was there"
Shockingly, a 5th possibility presented itself in that the enemy camp was empty of enemies. Only food and supplies remained. The Arameans had, miraculously been scared away by the sound of armies coming. They suspected the Israelites had hired the Hittite's AND Egyptians. The noise must have been overwhelming. It is unknown whether the noise was a facade from God OR if the enemy army was simply given the ability to hear the 'army of God' we saw in past chapters. In either case, they ran for their lives.

9 "we're not doing right"
The 4 lepers enjoyed the resources available to them for some time, but the consciences got the best of them and caused them to share their wealth with their relatives. Thus, the unclean from Israel's camp became its salvation.

12 "they know we are starving"
The king of Israel had concerns that this miracle was a trick of the enemy. A plan was suggested to investigate the enemy camp. The reality of the enemies departure proved true and the Israelites plundered their camp. The prophecy of economic relief was fulfilled. But on their way to the food, the Israelites stampeded the aforementioned office, fulfilling, also, the prophecy that he would see, but not partake in the vast resources of that day.

Luke 22:24-62

Luke 22:24-62
The Falling Disciples

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
~ Proverbs 24:16 ~

We all stumble in many ways
~ James 3:2 ~

So, if you think you are standing firm,
be careful that you don't fall!
~ 1 Corinthians 10:12 ~

The Falling Disciples…

1. They didn’t understand Jesus’ mission
“They did not understand what he meant, and were afraid to ask him about it”

2. They were too self-centered (Luke 22:24-30)
“A dispute arose among them as to which was considered to be the greatest”

3. They were too self-confident (Luke 22:31-34)
“I will never disown you”…And all the other disciples said the same

4. They were too tired to Pray (Luke 22:39-46)
“Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation”

5. One of them Betrayed Jesus (Luke 22:47-53)
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

6. They tried to take matters into their own hands
“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck”

7. Peter Denied Jesus 3 times (Luke 22:54-62)
“Then Peter remembered…And he went outside and wept bitterly”

Luke 22:1-23

Luke 22:1-23
The Last Supper

Judas (Luke 22:1-6)
1. He was a thief (John 12:6)
“He was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,
he used to help himself to what was put into it”
2. He was a betrayer (Matthew 26:16)
“From then on Judas watched
for an opportunity to hand him over”
3. He was possessed (John 13:27)
“As soon as Judas took the bread,
Satan entered into him”
4. He was a liar (Matthew 26:25)
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said,
"Surely not I, Rabbi?"
5. He was a murderer (Matthew 27:5)
“So Judas threw the money into the temple and left.
Then he went away and hanged himself”
Why do you think Judas did what he did?

The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-23)

1. Why do you think Jesus’ directions are so veiled? (Luke 22:7-13a)
2. What was the Passover Festival? (Luke 22:13b-14)
What did the bread represent?
What did the cup represent?
3. Jesus gave a new (fulfilled) meaning to Passover
He marked this particular Passover as significant (22:15-18)
He said the bread now represented His body! (22:19)
He said the cup now represented His blood! (22:20)

Terms for this Ritual
1. The Lord’s Supper
2. Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16, KJV)
3. The Eucharist (Luke 22:17)

But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.