Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was written and recorded by John Mark. More specifically today’s passage is found in verses twenty-seven through fifty-two of the fourteenth chapter of this New Testament book. “And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny my thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all” (Mark 14:27-31). “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepiest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come: Behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand” (Mark 14:32-42). “And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lad him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, master, master; and kissed him. And they laid their hands on him, and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his hear. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled. And they all forsook him and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked” (Mark 14:43-52). When you come to this particular passage of Scripture you will not only find the continuation of Jesus’ time in the upper room with His disciples but you will also find the second account of Jesus and His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane. In order to truly understand the words which are found in this passage of Scripture there is a great need for us to recognize the words which preceded it concerning the time which the disciples would spend together with the Lord Jesus in the upper room. If you begin reading with and from the seventeenth verse of this particular chapter you can and will be brought face to face with the evening coming and how the Lord Jesus would partake of the Passover meal together with His disciples. Undoubtedly at this particular time many of the Jews in Judaea and Galilee were themselves partaking of the Passover meal in their homes as husbands would lead their wives and as parents would lead their children in the participation of the Passover meal. It is truly something unique when reading the words found within this passage of Scripture and consider how at this particular time it wouldn’t be Jesus and His disciples alone who would be celebrating and partaking of the Passover meal. It would be very easy to allow ourselves to be caught up in thinking that only Jesus and His disciples were celebrating the Passover meal at this particular time and yet the truth of the matter is that the Passover was something which had been celebrated among the children of Israel from the time of Moses and their fathers in the land of Egypt. I am sitting here today thinking about and considering the awesome truth surrounding this very night and how the Lord Jesus would celebrate the Passover together with His disciples and yet the Passover meal itself pointed to and spoke of Him. Pause for a moment and consider how the disciples were celebrating the Passover meal this very night—perhaps alongside countless other Jews throughout Judaea, Galilee and Jerusalem—and they were all celebrating the Passover which would point to the very One sitting at the table together with them. On this particular night countless Jews would be gathered together in their homes or in the homes of friends and/or family members as they would celebrate the Passover. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for the Passover was something that would be present among the children of Israel from the time of Moses and their fathers in the land of Egypt. In fact the Passover has its roots and foundations in the narrative of the exodus from the land of Egypt for the word “Passover” by its very nature literally means and speaks to the angel of death which moved throughout the land “passing over” the houses which had the blood upon the top and sides of the doorposts. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for the Passover was celebrated before the death angel would even enter into the land of Egypt and smite the firstborn throughout the land from the firstborn in the palace to the firstborn among the servants. The LORD would give Moses very specific instructions concerning the Passover and not only what it would mean but also how they were to celebrate it. It would be the Passover celebrated in the land of Egypt that would indeed be a wonderful and powerful celebration among the children of Israel—not only of their deliverance from the bondage, slavery and oppression within the land of Egypt but also of how the angel of death would pass over their houses because of the presence of the blood upon the doorposts. The more I think about and consider the account of the Passover which was set in motion and began during the days of Moses and the children of Israel while still in the land of Egypt the more I am brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the Passover meal which Jesus would celebrate together with His disciples. The Lord Jesus would indeed celebrate the Passover meal together with His disciples which would not only look back to that first Passover that would be celebrated by Moses, Aaron, Miriam and the children of Israel but it would also look ahead to that time when the Lord Jesus would partake of the fruit of the vine together with them in His Father’s house and kingdom. Moreover the Passover meal which was being celebrated by the Lord Jesus and His disciples on this particular night would indeed point to His own death as He would suffer in the flesh and would ultimately be put to death. Oh there is something truly unique and astounding about the words found in this passage of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding the Passover meal which was celebrated by the Jesus and His disciples on this very night. There in the upper room Jesus and His disciples would indeed celebrate the Passover meal which looking back would ultimately point to Him and being in the present would be a mystery of the death which He Himself would experience the very next day. It would be on this particular night the Lord Jesus would celebrate the Passover meal together with His disciples and it would be that meal which would indeed look back in time and history upon the Passover meal which Moses and the children of Israel would celebrate while still in the land of Egypt. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding the Lord Jesus and His disciples celebrating the Passover meal which would look back upon that first Passover meal which would be celebrated by Moses and the children of Israel in the land of Egypt. Having said all of this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in the Old Testament book of Exodus. It is in the Old Testament book of Exodus we encounter the first ever Passover being celebrated by Moses and the children of Israel while they were still present in the land of Egypt. The children of Israel were still slaves in the land of Egypt and had not yet been delivered and yet they were instructed to celebrate the Passover which would be in and of itself a prophetic portent and sign of that which was to come. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it is for the LORD God would give Moses the command and instruction for the children of Israel to celebrate the Passover meal in the land of Egypt while they were still slaves and were technically still living in bondage within the land under Pharaoh’s cruel and oppressive hand. On this particular night, however, the LORD would instruct them to celebrate and partake in something that would indeed point to their deliverance and freedom from their bondage, slavery and oppression. What we must needs understand is that their deliverance would come as a direct result of a series of ten plagues which would strike the land of Egypt, however, it would be because of and as a direct result of the tenth plague which was death itself that Pharaoh would rise in the middle of the night and order Moses to take the children of Israel together with their woman, their children, their possessions, their flocks and their herds and get them up out of the land of Egypt. Pharaoh would rise in the middle of the night and command and demand Moses get himself and the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt after the land of Egypt had been decimated by nine other plagues and now as death itself had moved throughout the midst of the land of Egypt. Oh how there is something truly astonishing about this particular Passover for this Passover meal would indeed be the first of many which were celebrated by the children of Israel. The Passover which was celebrated on this particular night would indeed be celebrated as the children of Israel would anticipate the angel of death passing over their houses upon seeing the blood upon the doorposts. Oh imagine being the children of Israel huddled together in their houses knowing that death itself was moving outside their doors throughout the land of Egypt entering into the homes of all those whose doorposts did not have the blood upon it. The children of Israel would be huddled together in their homes together with their families and/or friends and they would be celebrating the Passover while at the same time the angel of death would be present in the midst of the land striking down the firstborn of all those whose houses did not have the blood upon the doorposts. Pause for a moment and consider the incredible reality of the children of Israel being inside their homes celebrating the Passover meal while the angel of death was outside the doors of their homes moving throughout the land striking down the firstborn of all those whose houses did not have the blood upon the doorposts. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for the Passover meal which was celebrated on this particular night would not only look forward to their deliverance from the slavery, bondage and oppression in the land of Egypt but it would also be an ordinance that would carried out and observed throughout the years. In fact there would be two mighty and profound Passover’s that would be celebrated in the days of the kings for when you read the Old Testament books of Second Kings and Second Chronicles you will find two mighty and powerful Passover’s which were celebrated during the days of Hezekiah king of Judah as well as Josiah king of Judah. Before we rehearse the Passover which was celebrated during the times of these two kings who sat upon the throne of David in the midst of the city of Jerusalem I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the Old Testament book of Exodus: “And the LORD speak unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: and if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the venting. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your l ions girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and e shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: Ai am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a fast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put way leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that souls hall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread” (Exodus 12:1-20). “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the Passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and one of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORd’s Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they” (Exodus 12:21-28). “And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading thoughts being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment; and the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians” (Exodus 12:29-36). “And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the drought which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations” (Exodus 12:37-42). “And the LORD said unto Moses And Aaron, This is the ordinance of the Passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: but every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourner among you. Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies” (Exodus 12:43-510). It is absolutely necessary we recognize and pay attention to the words which are found in this particular passage of Scripture for what we find here is the account of the very first Passover which was celebrated by the children of Israel. It would be on this particular night the children of Israel would not only take of the blood of the lamb and strike it upon the side posts of the door as well as the top of the doorposts but it would also be as a direct result of seeing that blood the LORD would not suffer the destroyer to enter into those houses and put to death any of the firstborn. Oh there is something truly astonishing and powerful about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for it bring us face to face with the very first Passover which was celebrated—and not only celebrated but also celebrated in the land of Egypt while the children of Israel were still living as slaves in the midst of the land. It’s important to note that the Passover wasn’t celebrated after the children of Israel departed from the land of Egypt and after Pharaoh har ordered them to depart from the land but rather it was celebrated while they were still slaves in the midst of the land under the cruel and oppressive rule of Pharaoh. The children of Israel were instructed to celebrate the Passover meal which was present in the midst of the land of Egypt as a powerful and prophetic picture of that which was to come. The LORD deliberately and intentionally told Moses what He was going to do—and not only what He was going to do but also provided very clear instruction on what they ought to do and their responsibility. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of the words we find here in this passage of Scripture for it would be the first celebration of the Passover ever recorded in the history of the Jewish people. This Passover would mark the foundation and beginning of countless other Passover’s which would be celebrated in the midst of the land of Israel—and not only in the land of Israel but also for forty years in the wilderness. For forty years in the wilderness the children of Israel would celebrate the Passover as they would look back upon their slavery, their bondage and their affliction in the land of Egypt. What’s more is the celebration of the Passover would not only look back upon their slavery, their bondage and oppression in the land of Egypt but it would also look upon their deliverance from that slavery, bondage and oppression. The children of Israel would celebrate the Passover as they would look back and remember how the LORD would not suffer the destroyer to enter into any of their houses upon which the blood of the Lamb was upon the side posts and the top of the door posts of the house wherein they dwelt and resided. The Passover meal would be an ordinance for all generations as the living and eternal God would ordain and appoint this to be something which was celebrated by the children of Israel for generations which were to come. The LORD would instruct the children of Israel to celebrate this Passover beginning with this fateful night when the LORD would not only allow the destroyer to strike down the firstborn among all those in the land of Egypt but the LORD would also protect the children of Israel and the firstborn among them. It would be this particular Passover that would be for an ordinance that would be celebrated throughout the generations as a memorial of the LORD delivering the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt through death—not not the death of the firstborn within the land of Egypt but also the death and the blood of the Lamb. Oh it is with this in mind I invite you to now consider the Passovers which were celebrated during the days of Hezekiah king of Judah as well as during the days of Josiah king of Judah which would be the last Passovers celebrated before the Babylonian captivity and exile. Consider if you will the following words which are found in each of these passages beginning with the days of Hezekiah: “And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel. For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-Sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written. So the apostle went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria. And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD god of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manassseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 30:1-13). “And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron. Then they killed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing for the killing of the Passover’s for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD> For a multitude of the peopl, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart so seek God, the LORD good of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bead seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD. And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness. For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, the strangers that came out for of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoice. So there was a great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem. Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven” (2 Chronicles 30:14-27). The words which are found here must be carefully understood for during the days of Hezekiah it wasn’t merely about calling the people to celebrate the Passover which was something that had not been done in years. What we find within the very next chapter also describes how in addition to celebrating and keeping the Passover there was also a process of cleansing which took place in the midst of the land. It is in the thirtieth chapter of the book of Second Chronicles we find the people celebrating the Passover and making confessions of their sins as well as cleansing themselves that they might celebrate the Passover. In the thirtieth chapter we find the people cleansing themselves that they might celebrate the Passover, making confession for their sins and ultimately celebrating the Passover. If there is one thing we must needs recognize concerning this passage is that this Passover would be celebrated on the heels of the LORD God delivering the people of Judah out of the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria. The king of Assyria would send a massive army unto the city of Jerusalem and with words meant to induce fear, terror and dread sought to bring them to the place where they would give up and surrender themselves unto his army. Of course we know that the LORD God would not permit the city of Jerusalem to be delivered into the hand of the Assyrians for He would first cause the army of Sennacherib to retreat and fight an entirely different war after hearing a rumor of impending conflict from other nations and lands. Ultimately, however, the LORD God would send His angel who would kill and slaughter one-hundred and eighty-five thousand men of the army in a single night. While the people of Judah weren’t delivered out of slavery, bondage and oppression they were nonetheless delivered out of the hand of Sennacherib and the army of the Assyrians. This is something we must needs understand for not only was this Passover a celebration as they looked back on the days of their fathers in the land of Egypt but I would also dare say it was gratitude to the LORD God for delivering them out of the hand of Sennacherib and the army he sent unto Jerusalem to lay siege to it. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the thirty-first chapter of the Old Testament book of Second Chronicles for within it you will find that accompanying the confession of the people as well as the celebration of the Passover would also be works meet for repentance and that which would line up with the confession they made. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this particular truth for it calls and draws our attention to the celebration of the Passover and its direct link to confession of sin(s) as well as an engagement in cleansing of the land from that which was displeasing in the sight of the living God. Having said this I invite you to consider if you will the following words which are found in the thirty-first chapter of this Old Testament book beginning with the first verse: “Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities. And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priest and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. He appointed also the king’s portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD> Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD. And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them, and brought in the offerings and the tithes and the decimated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next. And Jessel, and Ahaziah, and Namath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Emile, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of HEzekieh the. King, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. And Kore the son fo Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things. And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office to give to their brethren by courses, as well as to the great as to the small: beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses; both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites form twenty years old and upward in their charges by their courses; and to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness: also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites. And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:1-21). There is a great need to recognize and understand the words which are found in these two passages of Scripture for within them we are brought face to face with the first major Passover celebrated by the children of Israel since perhaps the time of Moses and the children of Israel while in the land of Egypt. Within these two chapters we find Hezekiah king of Judah calling on all the people of Israel and Judah—all those from Ephraim and Manasseh as well—to come unto the city of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It would be during the days of Hezekiah we encounter this righteous king who sat on the throne of David calling an entire nation and people to return to the LORD and celebrate the Passover. During this time the priests, the Levites and all the people would not only cleanse themselves that they might celebrate the Passover but they would also make confession of their sins as a token and symbol of returning to the LORD. What’s more is that almost in direct connection with the celebration of the Passover we find Hezekiah leading the people in a cleansing of the land. How absolutely incredible it is to read the words found in this passage of Scripture and to consider how there would not only be a celebration of Passover but there would also be a cleansing of the land and hearts in addition to confession of sin(s). It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the Old Testament book of Second Kings and the days of Josiah. It is within the days of Josiah when there would be another clarion call to celebrate the Passover—and not only a call to celebrate the Passover but also a cleansing of the land. It’s important to note that directly linked to the celebrating of the Passover during the days of Josiah and HEzekiah there would be a cleansing of the land as well as confession that would be made before and unto the LORD of sin, transgression and rebellion. For us to truly understand the celebration of the Passover during the days of Jesus together with His disciples we must also consider this Passover celebration in addition to the days of Hezekiah: “And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shahanna the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shahanna and he read it. And Shahanna the scribe camer to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD> And Shahanna the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the rest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king’s saying, Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: For great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah went unto the Hilda’s the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read: because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. But to the king of Judah which sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORDE, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee saith the LORD. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again” (2 Kings 22:8-20). This particular passage reveals to us how the book of the Law was found in the Temple of the LORD by Hilkiah the priest and how it was delivered unto Shaphan who would in turn read it in the ears and hearing of the king. It would be when Josiah heard the words written and recorded in the book of the Law he would not only rend his clothes but would also weep and mourn in the sight of the living God. Not only this but Josiah would send certain of those in his court and council to go unto the prophetess to inquire of the LORD concerning the words which were found in the book of the Law. Not only would Josiah weep and rend his clothes but he would also inquire of the LORD concerning what he ought to do in response to it. What we find in the twenty-third chapter is similar to what we found in the days of Hezekiah for within it we find Josiah moving throughout the land bringing cleansing to it. Josiah would move throughout the land launching a campaign of cleansing, holiness and righteousness as he would rid and remove from the land all the idolatrous practices and that which angered and offended the living God from the time of Solomon king of Israel until the time of Manasseh king of Judah and his sons who would come after him. It is with this in mind I invite you to continue reading the words which are found in the Old Testament book of Second Kings beginning with the first verse of the twenty-third chapter: “And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of of Jerusalem. And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. And the king commanded HIlkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el. And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hanging for the grove. And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, and Geba to Beer-Sheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man’s left hand at the gate of the city. Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren. And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinton, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-Melchi the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire. And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron. And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men. Moreover the altar that was at Beth-el, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he break down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove. And as Josia turned himself, he spied the sepulchered that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchre, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. Then he said, What title is this that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el. And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria. And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth-el. And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem” ((2 Kings 23:1-20). “And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the Passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant. Surely there was not Holden such a Passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the k Ins of Judah; but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this Passover was Holden to the LORD in Jerusalem. Moreover the workers with familiar with spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him” (2 Kings 23:21-25). There is something truly astonishing about the language surrounding the days of Hezekiah and Josiah for here we have the two final righteous kings who would sit upon the throne of David in the city of Jerusalem. I am absolutely and completely convinced we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it is for both of these kings would lead the people into a corporate place of collective worship—and not only a place of corporate worship but also a place of celebration. Each of these kings within their own generation would lead the people of the land into a place of worship before the true and living God as they would lead them into the place of celebrating the Passover. It would be their celebrating the Passover that they would engage themselves in looking back upon generations of those who would celebrate the same Passover meal—and not only this but these two kings would lead the people to celebrating the Passover in a greater measure than had ever been done before. What makes this truly unique when you think about it is when you consider how these two kings would lead the people of the land into a place of celebrating the Passover which was something ordained and appointed by Moses the servant of God generations earlier while their fathers were still in the land of Egypt. It would be unto Moses the servant of the LORD instruction would be given unto the children of Israel on the night in which the destroyer would enter into and move throughout the land of Egypt for one purpose and one purpose alone—to kill the firstborn of every living thing in the land of Egypt whether beast or man and from the greatest to the least. If there is one thing we must needs understand when considering this language it’s how the children of Israel would celebrate the Passover on the night in which the LORD God would pass over all those houses whereupon the blood of the lamb was marked upon the side posts of the doors as well as upon the tops of the doorposts. It would be on this particular night the LORD God would through Moses instruct the children of Israel to mark their houses with the blood of the Lamb for it would be the sight of the blood of the Lamb that would keep the destroyer at bay and from entering into the homes of those who placed the blood upon them. Oh how absolutely incredible is the words found in the Old Testament book of Exodus for directly linked to the Passover was Gods execution of judgment against the gods of Egypt. In addition to this the Passover would be linked to the blood of the lamb for it would be the blood of the lamb that would be used to mark the houses of the children of Israel and all those who feared and trembled at the word of the LORD. Moreover the Passover would be directly linked to the destroyer whom the LORD would send within and throughout the land of Egypt to completely and utterly destroy the firstborn of all those who were present in the land of Egypt from Pharaoh’s palace all the way to the lowest of the lowest servant’s home. What’s more is that in addition to this the Passover would indeed be linked to the deliverance of the children of Israel from their slavery, their bondage, their affliction and their oppression. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for there is something truly unique and powerful when you take the time to think about this particular reality. This is something we have a great need to pay close attention to for when the children of Israel celebrated and partook of the Passover they were celebrating their deliverance and freedom on the night it would take place before it would actually take place. The celebration of the Passover would itself be a sign and symbol of their deliverance and freedom before it actually take place as the LORD God would on that night unleash His final plague and judgment upon the land of Egypt which would cause them to be released after more than four centuries of slavery and bondage. I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in this passage of Scripture in the New Testament gospel written by John Mark for what we find within it is Jesus celebrating the Passover meal together with. His disciples. If there is one thing I can’t help but be absolutely captivated with it’s that on this particular night it would not merely be Jesus and His disciples who would celebrate the Passover for I would dare say there were countless households throughout Galilee, Judaea and Jerusalem who would indeed celebrate the Passover on this particular night. On this particular night countless families and married couples would indeed be huddled together in their homes as they celebrated the Passover meal and did so with bitter herbs, unleavened bread and lamb roasted with fire. What makes this truly astonishing when you think about it is how countless households within Judaea, Galilee and Jerusalem would celebrate the Passover meal which would indeed look back to that fateful night centuries and generations earlier when their fathers would celebrate the Passover at first in the midst of the land of Egypt. On that night centuries earlier families would take of the blood of the lamb and mark their homes with it thereby safeguarding and protecting their homes and those inside from the destroyer who would move within and throughout the land. What we find on this particular night during the days of the Lord Jesus is men and women celebrating the Passover meal with the very One whom the Passover meal itself celebrated and pointed to not only being present among them but also having walked among them. On this particular night countless households would be celebrating the Passover at the same time with Jesus and His disciples. Pause for a moment and consider how absolutely incredible this truly is for on this single night there would be a solidarity and corporate and collective celebration that would take place in the midst of the land as Jesus would celebrate the Passover meal together with His disciples and as households throughout the land would celebrate it as well. With this being said I would dare say that there is something tragic about the celebration of the Passover meal on this particular night for out of all those who celebrated the Passover there would be one single group of twelve men who would celebrate and partake of it in the very presence of the One whom the Passover pointed to and foretold. There would be countless households and families that would celebrate the Passover without recognizing that there was a different Lamb among them—this despite the fact that on two different occasions John the Baptist would profess and proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. On this particular night there would be countless households and families who would indeed celebrate the Passover without realizing and recognizing that the very One whom they were celebrating the Passover for was present among them and had taught in their synagogues and healed in their streets, their synagogues, and even the Temple. This is something we must needs recognize and understand when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the incredible truth surrounding the celebration of the Passover and how the Passover pointed to the Lamb of God who would Himself be a sacrifice and offering for sin. Countless households would celebrate the Passover on this particular evening without even recognizing that the One whom the Passover pointed to was present among them. I find it absolutely incredible to read the words found within this passage of Scripture for on this particular night Jesus would celebrate the Passover as He would share the bread and the cup together with His disciples. On this particular night the Lord Jesus would bless and break the bread and distribute it to His disciples as a symbol of His body which would be broken on behalf of them. On this particular night the Lord Jesus would partake of the fruit of the vine as He would give the cup of the New Testament which represented the blood which would be shed for them. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the incredible truth surrounding the Passover meal which was being celebrated as the Passover meal would indeed be celebrated by Jesus and His disciples—something that would indeed look back to the deliverance of the children of Israel from the slavery, bondage, oppression and affliction within the land of Egypt as well as look ahead to that which would be accomplished on the very next day. The Passover meal would indeed be celebrated on this particular night and would point to the work which be done the following day as the Lamb of God would be scourged, beaten, mocked, ridiculed, and have His face punched and slapped before He would ultimately be forced to carry His cross unto the place of Golgotha where He would be killed and crucified. It would be on the very next day the Lord Jesus would indeed be scourged to the point of being unrecognizable before having His hands and feet nailed to a cruel Roman tree before His physical body would be suspended between earth and sky as He would hang upon the cross. Oh this is something we have a great need to recognize for when the Lord Jesus would give the bread which He would bless and break unto the disciples He would instruct them to take and eat for this was His body. Moreover the Lord Jesus would take the cup which was filled with the fruit of the vine and after having given thanks He gave it to them and drank of it before declaring unto them that this was the blood of the New Testament which was shed for many. What I must needs call and draw your attention to when you read the words and language found in this passage of Scripture is how on this particular night the Lord Jesus would also make another declaration as both He and the disciples celebrated the Passover meal. In addition to making the declaration that the bread was His body which would be broken, and in addition to the Lord Jesus declaring of the cup that it was his blood of the New Testament which was shed for many He would also declare that He would no more drink of the fruit of the vine with them until that day when he drank it anew with them in the kingdom of God. This is something we must needs recognize and pay close attention to when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture for within it we are brought face to face with an additional factor of the celebration of the Passover for directly linked to the time when the Lord Jesus would drink of the cup once more with them in the kingdom of God. If there is one thing we must needs understand concerning this it’s that the Lord Jesus would not merely drink of the fruit of the vine with the twelve disciples in the kingdom of God alone but would drink of the cup together with all those who worshipped and served the living God from the time of Adam until the time of the end. It would be in the kingdom of God when the Lord Jesus would participate in the drinking of the fruit of the vine together with His disciples in the presence of His Father and all the holy angels. Oh how we must needs recognize and understand that the celebration of this Passover would not only look ahead to the work which would be accomplished by and through the death of the Lord Jesus but it would also look ahead to that which would take place in the last day when the Lord Jesus would celebrate the Passover and drink of the fruit of the vine together with His disciples in the kingdom of God. Oh I can’t help but be absolutely and completely captivated when I read the words found in this passage of Scripture for the words which we find here call and draw our attention to the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding the celebration of the Passover on this particular night and how it would indeed look ahead to an initial work that would take place on the very next day as well as a future expectation. The Lord Jesus would celebrate the Passover meal together with His disciples on this particular night when countless families and households would themselves celebrate the Passover together with their loved ones and friends. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the body of the Lord Jesus would be blessed and broken for the remission of sins. On this particular night the Passover would be celebrated throughout the land as the very One whom the Passover spoke of would prepare Himself to suffer many things at the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people before being delivered into the hands of sinners who would indeed mock and scourge Him before ultimately putting Him to death and crucifying Him. On this particular night there would be a looking ahead to that which the Lord Jesus had already taught His disciples concerning His suffering and death before being raised from death to life on the third day. This night would be one of incredible celebration as the Passover would not only look back to the LORD’s deliverance of their fathers from the slavery, bondage and oppression of the land of Egypt but would also look ahead to a new deliverance—deliverance not from physical and natural slavery but a deliverance from a spiritual slavery and bondage. On this particular night the Passover would be celebrated as the Lord Jesus would prepare to be the sinless and spotless Lamb of God which would be slain for the atonement and remission of sins. The Lord Jesus would on this night be betrayed by one of His own into the hands of the chief priests and scribes who would in turn deliver Him into the hands of sinners who would kill and crucify Him. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand about the celebration of the Passover on this particular night it’s that the Lord Jesus would indeed prepare His disciples for His suffering and death which He taught them about earlier during their time walking with and following Him. The Lord Jesus had already taught His disciples how He must needs suffer many things in the flesh at the hands of the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of Israel before being delivered into the hands of sinners who would scourge and crucify Him. On this particular night, however, there would be a new element the Lord Jesus would teach His disciples—namely that their celebrating of the Passover would point to a reality which would take place in the kingdom of God. The celebration of the Passover on this particular night would be incredibly unique and powerful when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to a future hope whereby we would celebrate the Passover so to speak in the kingdom of God. The Passover would indeed be celebrated on this particular night as a sign and symbol of a future hope—one that would be actualized and brought to pass in the kingdom of God when the Lord would partake of the fruit of the vine together with His disciples. That which was celebrated and partaken of on this particular evening would indeed carry with it the expectation of the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus but it would also carry with it the hope and expectation of fellowship in the kingdom of God—something which the Lord Jesus would teach His disciples on this particular night. Oh the more I read the words and language found in this passage of Scripture the more I can’t help but think about how on this particular night the Lord Jesus would also prepare His disciples for something which they perhaps were not expecting. On this particular night the Lord Jesus would further prepare His disciples for His suffering and death and how they would all be offended because of Him. The Lord Jesus would prepare His disciples for one of them betraying Him, Simon called Peter denying Him three times and all of them forsaking and fleeing from Him. What’s more is that it would also be on this particular night the Lord Jesus would also prepare and make His disciples ready for His departure from them and from the earth. It is within chapters thirteen through sixteen of this New Testament gospel we encounter and are brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the Lord Jesus and His preparing the disciples for His ascension unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. The Lord Jesus would indeed prepare and make ready his disciples for his departure from this earth—and not only His departure from this earth but also His preparing a place for them that where He is they might be as well. What we must needs recognize and understand when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture is how the Lord Jesus would teach and prepare His disciples for something they had not yet thought about much less expected—namely His departure from among them. The simple fact the Lord Jesus spoke of drinking the cup of the fruit of the vine together with them in the kingdom of God thus revealing that His suffering and death would not be the end but would rather merely be the beginning. It would be through His suffering and death that resurrection would indeed be made possible—and not only resurrection but also ascension. If we read the words found in this passage of Scripture we must needs understand that this Passover would indeed point to that moment in the future when we would be together with the Lord Jesus in the kingdom of God and in the Father’s house. The celebration of the Passover on this particular night would set in motion a wonderful and beautiful expectation of a future hope whereby the disciples of the Lord Jesus and all those who have worshipped and served the LORD throughout the generations would be together in the kingdom of God. Oh that we would read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and not only recognize the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus but also how Jesus was raised from death to life on the third day, ascended to the right hand of the Father and is preparing a place in His Father’s house right now that where He is we might be together with Him.