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 the beloved physician Luke. More specifically today’s passage begins with the twenty-eighth verse of the nineteenth chapter and continues through to the nineteenth verse of the twentieth chapter. “And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, wherein yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? Thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they boroughs him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:28-40). “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, Eve eh thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:41-44). “And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that ought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, and could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him” (Luke 19:45-48). “And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us; for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things” (Luke 20:1-8). “Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandman, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandman, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandman beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandman saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? HE shall come and destroy these husbandman, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them” (Luke 20:9-19). When you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find it taking place on the heels of Jesus’ journey from the city of Jericho unto the city of Jerusalem. If you begin reading with and from the first and opening verse of this passage of Scripture you will find Luke writing how Jesus entered and passed through Jericho—Jericho which was a city that was conquered during the days of Joshua and the conquest of the land of Canaan. Jericho you will recall was the first of the cities which were present in the midst of the land of Canaan which was conquered by the children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua the son of Nun. It would be Joshua and the children of Israel who would march around the city of Jericho once each day in complete silence for six days before something completely and utterly different took place on the seventh day. On the seventh day the children of Israel would march around the city and its walls—not once but seven times—with the priests going before them and the Ark of the Covenant. The priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant upon their shoulders would lead the procession of the congregation of the children of Israel around the walls of the city of Jerusalem while the priests with their trumpets would follow behind them and then the men of war. As the seventh day approached the children of Israel were not only to march around the city once but rather seven times before doing something on the seventh time they had not done the previous twelve times. Each time they marched around the city during the first six days the children of Israel would march in silence before returning back to their camp on the western edge of the Jordan River. The seventh day would come and the instruction given unto the children of Israel was that they were to march around the city and its walls seven times before they would shout with a great shout and shout with a voice of triumph after the seventh time. It would be at this particular time the priests would blow the trumpets before the LORD and the children of Israel would shout with a great shout outside the walls of the city of Jericho before the supernatural work of the LORD would take place in the midst of the city. I am absolutely convinced that before we delve into the words which are found in this passage of Scripture we must needs recognize that two of the greatest victories for the children of Israel in the midst of the land of Canaan would be against the city of Jerusalem as well as the city of Jerusalem. If you take the time to read the words which are found in the Old Testament books of Joshua and Second Samuel you will find that the first of the major fortified cities to fall and be conquered by the children of Israel after the parting of the Jordan River would be the city of Jericho. With this being said we must also recognize that there would be a second city that would be conquered in the midst of the land—a city which wouldn’t be conquered until the days of David. There is something truly astonishing to think about and consider the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for Jesus journeying through the cities of Jericho and Jerusalem is actually quite astonishing when you think about how He passed through cities which were conquered by the children of Israel during two different generations and several centuries apart from each other. It would be when the children of Israel entered into the land of Canaan they would indeed be able to conquer the city of Jericho after the supernatural work of the living God while it would be during the days of David king of Israel the city of Jericho would be conquered and the Jebusites would be displaced—those who dwelt in the midst of the city. With all of this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to additional words and language which are found in the Old Testament books of Genesis, Second Samuel, First Chronicles and Second Chronicles. It is in these particular Old Testament books we find wonderful and powerful language which concerned mount Moriah which was the place the LORD God would instruct Abraham to take his one and only son Isaac that he might offer him as a sacrifice before the Lord upon the altar. There upon mount Moriah Abraham would indeed bind his son and lay him upon the altar before he would take the knife which he brought with him to slay his son. The narrative, however, describes how as Abraham was about to plunge the knife into the heart of his one and only son the angel of the LORD spoke to him and commanded him to abstain from laying a hand upon Isaac. Oh if there is one thing we must needs recognize concerning mount Moriah is that it was not only the place where Abraham was led by the LORD to offer his one and only son Isaac upon the altar but it was also the place where David would offer a sacrifice before the LORD to stay the plague which the LORD would unleash in the midst of the city of Jerusalem after David had sinned and transgressed against the LORD by numbering the children of Israel. It would be there upon mount Moriah where the LORD God would answer David by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice as a sign that He was pleased with his offering and sacrifice. What’s more is that it would be on mount Moriah in the midst of the city of Jerusalem where Solomon would not only build the Temple of the living God but also where the fire of the living God would come down from heaven and consume the sacrifices which were upon the altar. Not only this but we also find the glory of the living God filling the Temple on the day of the dedication of the Temple—and so much so that the priests could not stand to minister in the midst of the Temple for the glory of the LORD. Having said this I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention first and foremost to the words and language that is found in the sixth chapter of the Old Testament book of Joshua. It is within this particular chapter we are brought face to face with the supernatural victory of the children of Israel over the city of Jericho according to the word and command of the living God. In order to truly understand the words and language found in the nineteenth and twentieth chapters of the New Testament gospel narrative written by Luke I firmly believe we must needs consider the following words which are present in this passage of Scripture for it describes the conquer and fall of the city of Jericho before it would eventually be rebuilt centuries and generations later by one at the expense of his first and second born sons. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the sixth chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis beginning with the first verse: “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of VALOUR. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:1-5). “And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD. And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD> And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant followed them. And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into he camp, and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD> And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rerereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD> So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out of the country, Go into the ahrlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye swear unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the example of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spay out Jericho. And Joshua adjure them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country” (Joshua 6:6-27). Here in this passage of Scripture we encounter the first major battle and conquest of the children of Israel during the days of Joshua when they would enter into the land of Canaan after the LORD would part the waters of the Jordan River that the men of war might pass over and begin the process of conquering the land sworn on oath unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the sixth chapter of the Old Testament book of Joshua we are brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding this first of several major victories that would take place in the midst of the land of Canaan—and not only the first of several major victories over the cities of the land but also the first of several major victories over the kings which ruled and reigned in the midst of the land. It’s actually quite unique and interesting to think about the fact that when Joshua and the children of Israel entered into the land of Canaan west of the Jordan River they not only contended with cities with fortified walls, not only did they have to contend with the sons of Ana’s but they also had to contend with the kings which ruled and reigned in the midst of the land. As Joshua and the men of war journeyed throughout the land of Canaan they would capture and take possession of several major cities throughout the land as they would conquer the inhabitants which dwelt in and occupied the land. What’s more is that it would be during the days of Joshua the son of Nun there would be a total of thirty-one kings that would be conquered and overcome by Joshua and the children of Israel. I sit here today thinking about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I can’t help but think about the countless cities which Joshua the son of Nun and the men of war among the congregation of the children of Israel had to march against and conquer and take possession of. Although the land had indeed been given unto the children of Israel according to the oath and promise that was given unto Abraham according to the covenant of the living God it would not come without and apart from conquering and taking possession of the land. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for Joshua would lead the men of war throughout the land of Canaan conquering and taking possession of the land according to the word of the LORD and the command given unto Moses the servant of the LORD. What makes this all the more interesting when you take the time to think about it is when you consider how when Joshua and the men of war would enter into the land of Canaan to conquer and take possession of it—not only would they take possession of it according to covenant and promise which was given unto Abraham but they would also take possession of it according to the command and word that was spoken unto Abraham. COVENANT AND COMMAND! CONQUERING ACCORDING TO COVENANT AND COMMAND! TAKING POSSESSION ACCORDING TO COVENANT AND COMMAND! There is something truly wonderful and powerful about the Old Testament book of Joshua for within it we find the conquering and taking possession of the land of Canaan under and during the leadership of Joshua the son of Nun. The first of several major cities to be conquered and taken possession of was the city of Jericho and it would be the city of Jericho that would be supernaturally destroyed by the divine work of the living God. It would be after the priests blew the ram’s horns outside the walls of the city and after the people shouted with a great shout the walls of the city would fall down flat—something which no soldier or man within the army of the children of Israel could accomplish themselves according to their own strength. If there is one thing I absolutely love about the days of Joshua and David is that it would be during these generations when conquering and conquest would characterize the activity of the children of Israel. It would be during the days of Joshua the son of Nun the children of Israel would conquer and take possession of the land while it would be during the days of David king of Israel the enemies and adversaries within the land and round about the land would be conquered and dispossessed. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how incredibly important it is for when you consider the days of David you must needs recognize that they were days which were characterized by conquest of the enemies and adversaries of the nations of Israel—not only those enemies which were present in the midst of the land of Canaan but also those enemies which dwelt round about the nation and land of Israel. Oh with this being said we must needs recognize and understand that it would be during the days of David when the city of Jerusalem would indeed be conquered and taken from the Jebusites who had dwelt in the midst of the land—not only since and from the days of Joshua the son of Nun but even before Joshua and the children of Israel would enter into the land of Canaan. Oh it is absolutely necessary we recognize and pay attention to the words present in the Old Testament concerning the conquest of the city of Jerusalem for with the city of Jerusalem being conquered—not only would it be considered the city of David but it would be the seat of the Temple of the living God as well as the throne of the king. It would be in the city of Jerusalem where the place of the government of the nation would be set up and established as well as the place where the glory of the living God would indeed be set up and established. The city of Jerusalem would be that place in the midst of the land where the Temple of the LORD would be built by Solomon son of David and where the throne of David would be established—both of which would be present and in existence for several generations and during the reigns of several kings who would sit upon the throne of David. With this being said I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the Old Testament concerning the victory and triumph of the city of Jerusalem. I am absolutely convinced that if we want to truly understand the movement and activity of the Lord Jesus within these chapters—and not only within these chapters but also within the four gospels—there is a great need to recognize the conquest and victory over the inhabitants of the city of Jerusalem and the taking possession of the land. There is something incredibly unique and powerful about the narrative and account of the conquering and taking possession of the city of Jerusalem for the city of Jerusalem would not only play an important role for the nation of Israel from the times of David until the time the Babylonians and Chaldeans laid siege to it and exiled the inhabitants of the land but it would play an important part in the midst of the nations ever since it was invaded by the Romans in the year 70 A.D. and ever since the children and people of Israel would return to the land in 1948 after a declaration was made that would grant them the right to return—and not only return but also establish their own sovereign nation and state in the midst of the earth. Oh with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the fifth chapter of the Old Testament book of Second Samuel before turning and directing your attention to the words which are found in the Old Testament prophetic book of Zechariah: “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou was he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah” (2 Samuel 5:1-5). “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Neverhtless David the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David said on that day. Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame, and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David build round about from Millo and inward. And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house. And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake” (2 Samuel 5:6-12). Consider if you will the following words which are found in the prophetic book of Zechariah concerning the city of Jerusalem and how the LORD God would use it in the last days as a source of contention and strife among the nations. It would be through the prophet Zechariah the living and eternal God would emphatically declare and proclaim concerning the city of Jerusalem that it would indeed be a cup of trembling unto and among the nations and would indeed be means of drawing the nations of the earth against it that they might encounter and come face to face with the eternal and living God. Oh it is absolutely undeniable that the city of Jerusalem is perhaps the single greatest contested and sought after tract of land and city on the face of the earth and it has been the source of two great conflicts and sieges—the first which would come from the Babylonians with the second coming from the Romans. What’s more is that not only would the city of Jerusalem itself be a source of great contention and strife among the nations of the earth but so also would the Temple of the Mount be the most coveted and contested piece of real estate on the earth. It would be here upon the Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock which is one of Islam’s holiest sights would sit and would sit for several centuries and generations; Oh having said this I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the twelfth chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Zechariah beginning to read with and from the first verse: “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, Which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants o fJerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORd before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, and one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart; all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart” (Zechariah 12:1-14). Please don’t miss and lose sight of the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for within it we are brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the city of Jerusalem and how the city of Jerusalem would indeed be and is in fact going to be a cup of trembling in the midst of the nations in the last days. The living and eternal God made it abundantly clear concerning the city of Jerusalem that it would be a cup of trembling unto the nations and that he would enter into contention and conflict against those nations which marched against it to destroy them. Oh what makes this all the more intriguing when you take the time to think about this is when you consider the words and language found in the twentieth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by Luke. It is within the twentieth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by Luke we are brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding Jesus’ coming unto the city of Jerusalem and actually weeping over it. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it would be in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew Jesus would describe unto His disciples how one stone from among the buildings of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem would not stand upon each other. Not only this but here in the twentieth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the beloved physician Luke we find Jesus weeping over Jerusalem because they missed, ignored, despised and rejected their hour of visitation. Oh before we delve into this particular truth I find it absolutely necessary to draw and call your attention to the words which are found in the Old Testament books of Genesis, First Chronicles and Second Chronicles. It is within these Old Testament books we are brought face to face with the awesome and incredible truth of Abraham’s journey unto mount Moriah where he would obey the command of the LORD to offer his one and only son Isaac as a living sacrifice upon the altar. What’s more is that it would be in these passages of Scripture we find David offering a sacrifice before and unto the living and eternal God to steady the plague which was present in the midst of the city of JEurslaem. What’s more is that it is within these passages of Scripture we find Solomon king of Israel in the state of his father David building the temple of the living God upon mount Moriah—the very place where Abraham built an altar before the LORD to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice and in the very place where David his father had offered a sacrifice and offering upon the altar he built in the presence and sight of the living and eternal God. With this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in these passages of Scripture beginning with the Old Testament book of Genesis and the twenty-second chapter: “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the world for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the land will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went boryh of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand,a nd took the knife to slay his son. Ands the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. So Abraham returned unto his young men, and thy rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba” (Genesis 22:1-19). “And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD. And JOrnan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed h itself to David with his face to the ground. Then David said to Norman, Grace me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: Thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all. And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof” (1 Chronicles 21:15-27). “At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. But David could not go before it to inquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 21:28-30). “Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel. And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God. And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builder for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and or glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death” (1 Chronicles 22:1-5). “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign” (2 Chronicles 3:1-2). “Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: for the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubs is covered the ark and the staves thereof above. And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were n to seen without. And there it is unto this day. There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (For all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Herman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets) It came even to papas, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” (2 Chronicles 5:2-14). “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because of the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Please don’t miss and lose sight of the words which are found within these passages of Scripture for they call and draw our attention to the incredible truth surrounding the importance of mount Moriah—and not only the importance of mount Moriah but also the city of Jerusalem and the temple which Solomon himself had built. It would be here in these passages of Scripture we encounter and are brought face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding Abraham’s journey unto mount Moriah to sacrifice his one and only son Isaac before the LORD. It would be there in that place where not only would the angel of the LORD prohibit Abraham from laying a hand on his one and only son but the LORD God would also provide for Abraham a ram which was caught in the thicket in place of his son. There in the place of mount Moriah Abraham would call the place “Jehovah-jireh” for it would be in that place the living and eternal God would provide for Abraham a lamb and offering in the place of his son. What we must also recognize concerning this place is that it would be in this place where David himself would build an altar and sacrifice and offering before the LORD in response to the word which the angel of the LORD commanded Gad the seer to proclaim unto David. There upon mount Moriah the angel fo the LORD would answer by sending fire from heaven upon the sacrifice to consume it as a sign of pleasure and delight with the offering and sacrifice of David. There upon mount Moriah David would build an altar before the LORD where he would offer a sacrifice unto the LORD and it would be there in that place where we first find the fire of the LORD falling upon an altar. Oh Abraham would indeed build the first altar in that place and would offer a ram in place of his son, however, the second altar which was built would be built by David as he himself offered a sacrifice before the LORD. I absolutely love the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for within it we encounter and are brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding David being the second one to build an altar upon mount Moriah. There upon mount Moriah at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite David would build an altar before and unto the living God in direct response to the word and command given unto Gad by the angel of the LORD. What’s more is that it would be in that place the LORD GOD would answer from heaven by sending fire upon the altar and upon the sacrifice that it might consume that which was offered upon the altar. Oh this is something we have a great need of recognizing for David’s altar would be the second altar which would stand upon mount Moriah, however, there would be another altar that would be present in that place—the altar of burnt offering. It would this altar that would not only be for Abraham nor for David but would be an altar of worship and of burnt offering and sacrifice unto the nations of the earth. The Temple which Solomon would build would indeed be in the very place where Abraham built an altar and offered his one and only son and where David would build an altar and offer a sacrifice in the sight of the living God. It would be during the days of Solomon when the Temple of the Lord would be built in the very same place where Abraham built his altar and where David built his altar before and unto the LORD. Not only this but we must needs recognize and understand that after the Temple was completed and after the priests and the Levites would minister before the Lord the glory of the LORD would fill the Temple. Moreover—not only would the glory of the LORD fill the Temple but so also would the fire of God come down from heaven upon the altar and consume the sacrifice. There in the very same place where Abraham and David would build altars before the LORD and there in the very same place where the fire came down before David in the sight of the LORD the glory of the LORD would fill the Temple and the fire would come down upon the altar of burnt offering and sacrifice which was present in the court of the Temple which Solomon the son of David had built. As you come to the words which are found in the nineteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the beloved physician Luke you will find that after Jesus had made an end of speaking in Jericho He made his way unto the city of Jerusalem. Beginning with the twenty-eighth verse of the nineteenth chapter we find Luke writing how Jesus went before ascending up to Jerusalem. Oh if there is one thing we must needs recognize concerning this journey which Jesus made it’s that this journey was not one that was absent purpose—and not only absent purpose but absent and apart from the will of the Father. The gospel authors make it very clear that after Jesus’ interaction and exchange with the disciples at Caesarea Philippi where He asked them who they said that He the Son of man was and after Simon called Peter emphatically declared that He was the Christ and the Son of the living God Jesus began to teach and show the disciples that He must needs suffer many things at the hands of the chief priests and the elders of the people before being put to death and being raised from death to life on the third day. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the ascent Jesus would make unto Jerusalem knowing full well what would befall and come upon Him there in the midst of the city. Jesus knew that by journeying up unto Jerusalem He would suffer many things at the hands of the chief priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, the elders of Israel and the like. Jesus knew and understood that He would indeed be betrayed by one of His own into the hands of those who hated and abhorred Him because of His words, because of His words and because of His actions. Oh when we read the words found in this passage of Scripture concerning Jesus ascending up to Jerusalem we must needs realize that this journey was unlike any other He had made unto the city. This journey and this ascent unto the city of Jerusalem would indeed be one that would be marked by tremendous and intense suffering at the hands of the chief priests, the scribes, the elders of the people and the religious system. The more I think about and consider the words which are present in this passage of Scripture the more I am brought face to face with the incredible truth that is found in the fifty-third chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah. If you turn and direct your attention to this prophetic word spoken by Isaiah the prophet of the Lord you will find him emphatically and boldly proclaiming unto the southern kingdom of Judah the truth surrounding the coming of the Messiah. What’s more is that not only did Isaiah speak of and prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah but he also prophesied concerning the suffering of the Messiah. It might very well be said that if Paul was the apostle of Christ then Isaiah might be the prophet of Christ since he saw and prophesied more concerning the Messiah than any other prophet. Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah would indeed be that prophet who would idenity with the sufferings and affliction of the Messiah, however, it would be the prophet Isaiah who would indeed see and hear the most concerning the coming of the Messiah. The fifty-third chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah is one that is incredibly unique and captivating when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous and incredible suffering of the Messiah. What’s more is that not only does it draw our attention to the suffering of the Messiah but it also draws our attention to the truth that the suffering of the Messiah was not without authorization from the living and eternal God. The fifty-third chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah is one of the most profound chapters concerning the suffering of the Messiah for within it we not only find a picture of the divine pleasure of the living God to bruise and crush the Messiah but the apostle Paul would also draw from this passage to describe the children and people of Israel who had rejected the Messiah who had come unto them. With all of this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in this particular passage of Scripture beginning to read with the first verse. It is here in this passage we are brought face to face with the awesome and wonderful truth surrounding the suffering of the Messiah and how it pleased the living God to bruise and crush the Messiah according to His good pleasure, his will and His plan and purpose. Beginning with the first verse of this chapter we are indeed brought face to face with the incredible beauty of the divine pleasure and will of the Father to bruise and crush the suffering Servant and Messiah for the iniquities and transgressions of men. It is within this passage where we find one of the most profound Old Testament references that so closely aligns itself with the words which are found in the first chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John as well as the words which Jesus Himself would speak in the third chapter of the same New Testament gospel. Having said this I now invite you to turn and direct your attention to the following words which are found in the fifty-third chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah beginning to read with the first verse: “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul and offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of man, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:1-12). With these words found in the fifty-third chapter of the Old Testament prophetic book of Isaiah I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the first and third chapters of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John. It is within the first chapter we find John the Baptist emphatically proclaiming Jesus of Nazareth as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world while it is in the third chapter we find Jesus Himself speaking of His own divine mission and assignment. What’s more is that not only do we find Jesus speaking of His divine mission and assignment but we also find Him speaking of the love and will of the Father which were intrinsically and directly connected to His mission within the earth. The words presented in in the fifty-third chapter must be carefully considered in light of the words we see in the gospel written by John for they help us to understand Jesus’ divine mission and assignment which was according to the divine will, plan and purpose of the Father. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the first and third chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John beginning with the first verse of the first chapter: “IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bottom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:1-18). “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: For he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I k new him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34). “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:35-36). “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind blowers where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst no tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.k For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:1-21). We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for when we come to the twenty-eighth verse of the nineteenth chapter we find Jesus ascending up to Jerusalem. At this particular time Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to be received up to the Father and that the path back to the Father was through suffering, death and burial. Pause for a moment and consider the tremendous weight, burden and truth of that for Jesus did indeed come from the Father and He would indeed return to the Father and yet the path back to the Father would not come apart from and without suffering and death. Stop and truly take the time to think about how absolutely astonishing and captivating that is for although Jesus was indeed preparing to return to His Father which was in heaven that path would not come apart from and without suffering and death. It would be suffering and death that would not only teach Jesus the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God obedience but it would also be through suffering and death that He would be prepared and made ready for His ascension unto the right hand of the Father. We know from Scripture that after Jesus ascended unto heaven and unto the Father He sat down at the right hand of the Father however the path to the Father would lead directly and straight through the cross. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for how many of us are seeking our own path and journey unto the Father and fail to recognize and understand that this path might very well lead through suffering, through afflictions, through persecution, through trials, through trouble, through tribulation and the like? There are countless men and women among us who are deceived and naïve in thinking and somehow believing that the path to the Father cannot and will not come apart from and without suffering and affliction. Remember the words which the apostle Paul spoke when he declared that we must through much afflictions enter into the kingdom of heaven. As you read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you can and will encounter and come face to face with the incredible truth surrounding Jesus’ path and journey to the Father. It would be Jesus’ journey unto Jerusalem that would prepare Him for His return to the Father, however, there would be no return to the Father without and apart from Jerusalem. Jesus knew that His hour had indeed come for Him to be glorified and to return unto His Father, however, the path to the Father would lead Him straight through the city of Jerusalem and even unto Moriah itself where Abraham would offer his one and only son Isaac upon the altar. Just as Abraham laid the wood for the altar upon the back and shoulders of Isaac as they made their journey unto the place where the Lord would show them so also would the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God have the wood of His sacrifice and offering upon His back and shoulders. Isaac would indeed carry the wood of the sacrifice upon his shoulders and back and it would be Jesus Himself who would carry the wood of His sacrifice and His offering upon His shoulders and back unto the place of the skull. What we find within these two chapters is not only the sacrifice and suffering of the Messiah and Christ but we also find the siege and the destruction of the city of Jerusalem as well. It is absolutely impossible to read the words present within these chapters and not see the destruction of two temples which would take place during those days. It would be during the days of Jesus the Christ He would experience the destruction of His physical temple through crucifixion before He was raised from death to life on the third day and it would be nearly forty years later when another temple would be destroyed—this temple which was made with and by human hands and would also be destroyed by human hands. It would the destruction of the physical temple of the body of the Lord Jesus that would indeed pave the way for the destruction of the earthly temple which was made with human hands. In bringing this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call your attention to the words which are found in the final verses of the chapter beginning with the forty-first verse. It is in these final verses where we not only find Jesus drawing near unto the city of Jerusalem and weeping over it but we also find Jesus entering into the Temple and casting out those which sold therein and those which bought. In all reality the words which we find here in this passage of Scripture are incredibly unique and powerful when you consider that in Jesus’ weeping over the city of Jerusalem He would speak of their being unaware of their hour of visitation and the things which belonged unto their peace. Jesus would speak of how the days were coming when their enemies would cast a trench about it, would compass them round and keep them in on every side and would lay them even with the ground. What’s more is Jesus would also go on to declare that they would not leave one stone upon another because they did not know the time nor the hour of their visitation. Not only this but we find in the final few verses of this chapter Jesus entering into the temple and cleansing it of the money changers, the tables of money, those who bought and those who sold. It would be this cleansing of the Temple that would indeed serve as a portent—not only for the destruction of the physical Temple of his own body but also the destruction of the earthly temple which was present in the midst of the city. During those days there would be the destruction of the physical temple of Jesus’ body through suffering and death while there would also be the destruction of the physical temple which stood upon the Temple Mount. With this being said we must needs recognize that during those days there would be a new and living temple that would be established in the earth—one that was not made with human hands and one that would house the person, the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh that we would recognize and understand the words found in this passage of Scripture and the tremendous work the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation and that He was indeed and was in fact willing to endure suffering and the cross that we might be redeemed, pardoned, reconciled, restored and saved by the power of the eternal and living God.