SIGN OF JONAH PUZZLE?

 MYSTERIES OF THE CROSS ~ PART ONE

WHERE DOES THIS PIECE FIT?

On the first day of the Isreal trip, Pastor Dave take his college group to the town of Joppa outside of Simon the Tanner's house.  

Pastor Dave, says, "On our vaction in Israel we are going to examine the Mysteries of the Cross.  Like a puzzle, we are going to look at piece by piece.  

Today we are at the town of Joppa.  Does anyone know what happened here?

Mary speaks, "Isn't this where the prophet Jonah paid for a boat ride to Tarshish to flee from God.  And during a storm he was thrown into the sea and swallowed up by a whale?"

James remarks, "Or a large fish."

Sally speaks, "What about Michael Packard a lobster diver who was swallowed by a whale in by Cape Cod in 2021, and a video of Adrian, a kayaker being swallowed by a humpback near Chile, February 2025.  And in 1891 James Bartley was swallowed by a Sperm whale."

Peter blurts out, "A woman named Tabitha was ill and died in Joppa.  Peter prayed and God brought her back to life."

Matthew adds, "Peter slept on the roof of Simon the tanner's house and had a vision of eating unclean animals.  What God has made clean, do not call unclean.  After that he ate with Gentiles, preaching the Gospel to them."

Pastor Dave replies, "Wonderful!  Today we are going to look at a piece of the puzzle of the picture of the cross, that nobody knows where to put it.   The puzzle piece is the SIGN OF JONAH?   Exactly what was the sign?  Why was it important?  Who was it for?  And what was the fulfillment of the sign?  Now let's look at the back story.

Cindy reads, "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.  When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”  (Matthew 12:1-2  NIV ~ New International Version)

Susanna reads, "Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue.  There he saw a man who had a shriveled hand, and in order to accuse him they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”  (Matthew 12:9-10  CSB ~ Christian Standard Bible)

Pastor Dave remarks, "Jesus was stirring up the Pharisees on the Sabbath day!"

Susanna continues reading, "Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other.  But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him. 

(Matthew 12:13-14  CSB ~ Christian Standard Bible)

Pastor Dave adds, "What happened right before Jesus proclaimed the sign of Jonah?"

Susanna reads more, "Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see.  All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”  (Matthew 12:22-24  CSB ~ Christian Standard Bible)

Dan remarks, "They were accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the Lord of the Flies!"

Pastor Dave continues, "He told the Pharisees that the careless words they said, will be used against them on Judgement day."

Matthew reads, "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”  

"But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet;  for just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.  

The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here."  (Matthew 12:38-41 NASB ~ New American Standard Bible)

James talks, "This was the only sign that Jesus gave to the angry scribes and Pharisees who didn't believe Jesus.  While the multitudes didn't need a sign, because they believed, watching Jesus heal and do miracles."

Pastor Dave concludes, "Now you know what the sign of Jonah is, and who it was given to. What was the fulfillment of the sign and how did the scribes and Pharisees react?  

And finally, where do we fit this piece of the puzzle in the Holy Week?"

WAS PASSOVER ON GOOD FRIDAY?

 MYSTERIES OF THE CROSS ~ PART TWO

WHAT DAY WAS PASSOVER?

Pastor Dave and the college group are at Gorden's Calvary Garden tomb, looking at the cliff wall, Golgotha the place of the skull.

Dave says, "How many of you believe that Passover was on Good Friday?"  Everyone but Dan and Sally raise their hands.

Sally says, "I was taught it was on Tuesday.

He was put in the tomb Wednesday before Sunset, and rose 72 hours later on Saturday's Sabbath."

Dan speaks, "I believe it was on Thursday. 

Pastor Dave says, "Anyone here believe it was Monday?  Does anyone here know what days Passover in Israel was on between 28 AD to 33 AD, if Passover was on Nisan 14th?

James states, "Tuesday March 30th 28 ad, Monday April 18th, 29 ad; Friday April 7th, 30 ad; Tuesday March 27th, 31 ad; Sunday April 13th, 32 ad; and Friday April 3rd, 33 ad."

Cindy asks, "Was Passover on Nisan 14th or Nisan 15?  It seems like there are a lot of confusion here and Biblical scholars come up with different dates for Passover."

John reads: "‘These are the appointed times of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them.  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.  Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.  On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.  But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.’”  (Leviticus 23:4-8  NASB ~ New American Standard Bible)

Pastor Dave speaks, "How can we figure out which year Jesus was crucified?"

Susanna reads, "When Herod found out that the wise men from the east had tricked him, he was very angry. He gave orders for his men to kill all the boys who lived in or near Bethlehem and were two years old and younger. This was based on what he had learned from the wise men."  (Matthew 2:16  CEV ~ Contemporary English Version)

Debra adds, "Jesus was under two years old when Herod the Great ordered to kill the toddlers in Bethlehem."

James continues, "Herod the Great died shortly after one of the three lunar eclipses in Jerusalem that occurred on  Saturday March 13th, 4 BC; Wednesday January 10th, 1 BC; or  Saturday December 29th, 1 BC."

Peter remarks, "If Jesus was born in 3 BC and Herod the Great died in 1 BC, Christ would be 33 years old when Passover was on Good Friday, 30 AD."

Pastor Dave says, What about the Sign of Jonah.  Does this piece of the puzzle fit in with Good Friday?

Debra answers, "Jesus answered and said unto them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  (John 2:19  KJ21 ~ 21st Century King James Version)  "Friday, Saturday and Sunday!"

Paul answers, "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."  (Mark 8:31  ASV ~ American Standard Version)

"Friday, Saturday and Sunday!"

Mary answers too, "...and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day,"  (Luke 24:46  NET ~ New English Translation)  "Friday, Saturday and Sunday!"

Pastor Dave concludes, "Is the case closed, or are there other things we might have missed? Read your Bible, and we'll dive into mystery of the cross tomorrow."

TWO OR THREE WITNESSES?

MYSTERIES OF THE CROSS ~ PART THREE

WHO WHERE THE WITNESSES?

Pastor Dave and the College group are outside the Church of the Holy sepulchre in the old city of Jerusalem.

Pastor Dave says, "The church was built over the place where Jesus was crucified.  Inside is a small chapel over the garden tomb."

My questions today, 'How important is it to have two or three witnesses?  Did Christ have witnesses for his death, burial and resurrection?"

James says, "A single witness does not have legal standing to convict a person of any guilt or sin in connection with any wrongful action he may have committed. A case is to have standing only on the testimony of two or three witnesses."  (Deuteronomy 19:15  EHV ~ Evangelical Heritage Version)

Pastor Dave asks, "Who were the four witnesses that remained by the cross until Jesus died?"

John reads: "Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son.”  (John 19:25-27  GNT ~ Good News Translation)

Dan said, "After Jesus died there was a big earthquake.  The women moved, watching  further away from the cross."

Mary reads: "There were several women there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee, helping to look after his needs.  They included Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons."  (Matthew 27:55-56  NTFE ~ New Testament For Everyone)

Pastor Dave says, "There were witnesses watching Nicodemus and Joseph place the body of Jesus in the new tomb."

Cindy reads: "So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth  and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb."  (Matthew 27:59-61  NRSVUE ~ New Revised Standard Version Updated)

Pastor Dave adds, "There were witnesses Sunday at the tomb."

Sally reads: "...but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living One among the dead?  He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,  saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead.”  And they remembered His words,  and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.  Now these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles."  (Luke 24:3-10  NASB ~ New American Standard Version)

Pastor Dave says, "I don't know how anyone can believe in a Saturday resurrection, because it was the sabbath.  The women are not going to carry bags of spices to the tomb before sundown.  And certainly they are not come at night after the sabbath with all the Roman guards protecting the tomb.  If Jesus resurrected on Saturday and the Roman guards were the only witnesses, would they have told the truth?"

"Tomorrow we will look at Dan's view of a Thursday Passover."

WAS PASSOVER ON THURSDAY?

 MYSTERIES OF THE CROSS ~ PART FOUR

ROAD TO EMMAUS

Pastor Dave takes the college group for a walk through the Kidron Valley and finds a place where they can relax.  He says, "When I was on jury duty we heard the prosecution side of the story and because we heard it first, we believed that the man on trial was guilty.  After hearing the man's story, we found him innocent.  It's always good to hear both sides of the story before coming to a conclusion."

Dan speaks, "I think you'll believe in Good Friday, but I want to tell you why I believe the crucifixion was on Thursday."

Pastor Dave asks, "Can somebody tell me what the Sign of Jonah was?"

Debra reads: "An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign; and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.  (Matthew 12:38-40   NASB ~ New American Standard Bible)

Dan smirks, "I'll give $20 to the first person who can prove to me there are three days and three nights between Friday and Sunday morning."

Pastor Dave adds, "Do we start counting the three days and three nights from when Jesus' body was place in the tomb?"

Dan replies, "No, what does the scripture say?

Peter says, "Jesus was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  After Jesus died, His spirit went to the heart of the earth!"

Mary says, Look at the two thieves on the cross." "Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”  

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”  (Luke 23:39-43  NKJV ~ New King James Version)

Pastor Dave adds, "Do you know the story of Lazurus and the Rich Man?"

Matthew reads; " Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day: and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table; yea, even the dogs came and licked his sores.  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.  And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.  And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house;  for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.  But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead."  (Luke 16:19-31  ASV ~ American Standard Version)

Dan add, "Some people believe that the Paradise Jesus was refering to was Abraham's Bosom, where He spent three days and nights in the heart of the earth.  Jesus wasn't resurrected yet and didn't ascend to His Father in heaven until 10 days before Pentecost."

Peter adds, "Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God. But though his body died, his spirit lived on,  and it was in the spirit that he visited the spirits in prison and preached to them— spirits of those who, long before in the days of Noah, had refused to listen to God, though he waited patiently for them while Noah was building the ark. Yet only eight persons were saved from drowning in that terrible flood."  (1 Peter 3:18-20  TLB ~ The Living Bible)

Pastor Dave speaks, "What about the Sunday conversation on the 7 mile hike to Emmaus?"

Dan smiles, "You know I was going there."

Sally reads: " Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.  

While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them  (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him).  Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.  Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?”  He said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people;  and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him.  But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.  Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning,  and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.  Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”  (Luke 24:13-24  NET ~ New English Translation)

James speaks, "Cleopas' wife was one of the witnesses at the cross, and resurrection.  She was hiking with her husband to Emmaus."

Dan smiles, "If Sunday is the third day since these things happened, Saturday would be the second day since these happened, and Friday would be the first day since these things happened...it happened on Thursday!"

Pastor Dave concludes, "We have a strong case for Good Friday. But Passover Thursday maybe our best fit for the Sign of Jonah.  Tomorrow we are going to let you come to your own conclusion and do a deep dive into the Mystery of the Cross."   

IS JESUS THE PASSOVER LAMB?

 MYSTERIES OF THE CROSS ~ PART FIVE

LAMB IN JERUSALEM

Pastor Dave and the college group gathers in the Upper Room in the old city of Jerusalem.

He says, "What did John the Baptist say about Jesus?"

John answers, " The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"  (John 1:29 ESV ~ English Standard Version)

Susanna adds, " 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." (Isaiah 53:5  Darby)

Peter states, "Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who died for our sins."

Pastor Dave says, "I think part of our confusion concerning Good Friday and Passover comes from the fact that we are looking at the Roman calendar and not the Jewish lunar calendar, where days were from sunset to sunset and not from midnight to midnight."

Cindy speaks, "Nisan was considered the first month of the year.  It was Spring, a time of new beginnings, miracles and freedom from bondage."

Pastor Dave continues, "Now let's look at individual days, before and after Passover."

James talks, "On the 10th day of Nisan it was known as 'Lamb Inspection Day.'  Families would chose a male lamb of the first year without any blemish."

Paul adds, "The lamb shall be without blemish, a male of one 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 between the two evenings.

And they shall take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses in which they shall eat it."  (Exodus 12:5-7  JUB ~ Jubile Bible 2000)

Paul states, "Passover is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a week long celebration."

Debra talks, "Nisan 16 day is known as 'The First Fruits."  A priest would wave a sheaf of Barley, dedicating this harvest to God.  From this day, there were 49 days until Pentecost."

Pastor Dave smiles, "Now let's look at the Sign of Jonah and see if we can fit this piece of the puzzle into Mystery of the Cross."

Mary blurts out,  "I thought we all ready decided that Good Friday fell on Passover, because that's when the full moon occurred."

Pastor Dave tells, "What if on Palm Sunday, Jesus rode the donkey on "Lamb Inspection Day into Jerusalem. And was he inspected up to the day of the crucifixion by the multitudes, scribes, Pharisees, Priests, Pilot, Romans and Herod? 

James reads, "Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover."  (John 18:28  LSB ~ Legacy Standard Bible)

Matthew says, "On preparation day, before Passover, at 3pm all the lambs would be sacrificed on the Temple mount."

Debra remarks, "Jesus died on the cross at 3pm.  The dark sky became bright, shining on Jesus hanging on the cross.  Then there was an earthquake that ripped the veil in the temple from top to bottom!"

Dan adds, "Our Sun was a dark star from noon to 3pm.  I don't think Jesus suffered on the cross during a storm, slowly dying of hypothermia; when He could speak one word to calm the storm."

John states, "Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement—but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.  Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Look, your King!”  So they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”  (John 19:13-15  NASB ~ New American Standard Version)

Pastor Dave remarks, "The arrest, trial and execution of Jesus happened before Passover which fell on Good Friday."  Was the sign of Jonah fulfilled?"

Dan smirks, "Yes!  Jesus died on the cross at 3pm Thursday afternoon!"

Peter adds, "Perhaps Jonah was thrown overboard during an afternoon storm around 3pm."

Dan continues, "The sign that Jesus gave us was fulfilled by the two earthquakes...one at Jesus death and one at His resurrection before sunrise on Sunday the first day of the week."

Susanna speaks, "Early Sunday morning everyone in Jerusalem were rattled and woke up at the time of Jesus' resurrection."

Sally remarks, "The Pharisees must have been upset from all the broken clay pots they had to throw away, before Passover dinner."

Peter blurts out, "The priests may have been surprised seeing into the Holy of Holies and finding the Ark of the Covenant missing; which possibly could have been hidden before the destruction of the first temple."

James adds, "The gold lid on top of the Ark of the Covenant was known as the Mercy Seat.  On the day of Atonement the High Priest would sprinkle sacrificial blood upon it."

Pastor Dave adds, "Where is the Ark?"

John reads, "But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she cried, she bent over to look into the tomb.  She saw two angels dressed in white. They were seated where Jesus’ body had been. One of them was where Jesus’ head had been laid. The other sat where his feet had been placed."  (John 20:11-12  NIRV ~ New International Readers Version)

Susanna in tears says, "The Ark of the Covenant with the blood of Jesus sprinkled on the Mercy Seat and two angels, has come to life in the tomb!"

Matthew add, "Jesus is the First Fruit of the Barley Harvest, and we are apart of that harvest."

Paul reads, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12  ESV ~ English Standard Version)

Mary reads, "And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”  (Revelation 5:12  NLT ~ New Living Translation)

Pastor Dave concludes, "Did we find a good fit for The Sign of Jonah puzzle piece?  

Was Passover on Good Friday?  

Was Jesus in the heart of the earth three days and three nights?

Is Jesus the Lamb of God who was sacrificed before the evening of the Passover Seder on Thursday evening?

IT HAPPENED ON PALM SUNDAY

 PARABLE OF PALM SUNDAY

JESUS RIDES A DONKEY 

THROUGH THE EASTERN GATE

Pastor Dave, leader of the college group has an informal discussion saying, "Tonight we are going to look at the events of Palm Sunday."

Mary adds, "Is that were Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem and every shouts,  'Hosanna?'

Peter blurts out, "Hosanna means, 'Save us!'

Pastor Dave speaks, 'Let's look at the back story before Palm Sunday.  Where was he staying?'

Susanna smiles, "Staying at Mary, Martha and Lazarus' home during sabbath day, before Palm Sunday."

Mary speaks, "6 days before Passover, Mary annointed Jesus' feet with expensive oil."

Matthew adds, "2 days before Passover, a woman annointed Jesus' head with Spikenard at Simon the Leper's home in Bethany.  Perhaps his wife or daughter, happy to see him healed."

Cindy says, "Jesus was annointed head to toe."

Pastor Dave speaks, "Now let's look at Palm Sunday."

James reads, "When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’”

So they went and found a young donkey outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it,  and some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the donkey?”  They answered them just as Jesus had said, so they let them go.  Then they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it.  (Mark 11:1-7 HCSB  Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Ruthie adds, "Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them."  on the road.  Now the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:8-9  NASB ~ New American Standard Bible)

Dan adds, Jesus borrowed the donkey to fulfill prophecy.  "Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion; cry out, daughter of Jerusalem!  Look! Your king is coming to you.  He is righteous, and he is able to save.  He is humble, and is riding on a colt, the foal of a donkey."  (Zechariah 9:9  ISV ~ International Standard Version)

Ruthie reads: "As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,  saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”  (Luke 19:37-40  ESV ~ English Standard Version)

Debra, "I like that part!  Everyone praises the King of Kings, descending down the Mount of Olives."

Pastor Dave remarks, "Now this is where it get's interesting.  Jesus stops  half way down to look at the Temple and Jerusalem at the same area where the red heifers were sacrificed on the Mount of Olives and weeps!

John reads, "And as He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He cried over it, saying, "If you knew in this day, even you, the things which make for peace!  But now they have been hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognized the time of your visitation."  (Luke 19:41-44 LSB ~ Legacy Standard Bible)

Paul says, "Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD."

Dan speaks, "We are not sure if Jesus rode his donkey across the Red Heifer bridge or went down to the Kidron Valley and climbed up to the Eastern Gate.

Susanna says, "The Eastern Gate was also known at the Golden Gate or the Mercy Gate."

Sally blurts out, "Is that the Beautiful Gate?"

Paul remarks, "People mistake the Eastern Gate for the Beautiful Gate, which was an ornate gate inside the city, near the Temple."

James adds, "The Eastern Gate is where the Priest would take the scape goat out on Yom Kippur. And he also carried out ashes of the Red Heifer from this gate for ritual purification."

Pastor Dave remarks, "In the second coming, Jesus will return on the Mount of Olives and ride his white horse through the Eastern Gate."

Matthew says, "Most people didn't use the Eastern Gate.  The Huldah Gates on the south side of Jerusalem was the popular way to enter the city."

Matthew continues, "When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”  And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”  (Matthew 21:10-11  NASB ~ New American Standard Bible)

Pastor Dave adds, "What did Jesus do next?"

Paul continues, "Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.  He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers!”

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.  But when the chief priests and the experts in the law saw the wonders he performed and heard the children calling out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant. They said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?”

“Yes,” Jesus told them, “Have you never read, 'From the lips of little children and nursing babies you have prepared praise?'  He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there."  

(Matthew 21:12-17  EHV ~ Evangelical Heritage Version)

Pastor Dave concludes, "After a full day of excitement, they leave Jerusalem, returning the donkey and head back to Lazarus' home in Bethany." 

John concludes, "Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him."  John 12:9-11  (NIV ~ New International Version)

Dan concludes, "Maybe that's the reason why Jesus and his disciples moved from Lazarus' home to Simon the Lepers home in Bethany."

Pastor Dave concludes, "Tomorrow, we're are going to look for figs on the tree."   

WHAT DO FOOLS BELIEVE?

 PARABLE OF APRIL FOOLS

CELEBRATING APRIL FOOLS DAY?

On a sunny day in Southern California two men walk over to a street preacher.  Bob the street preacher greets them, "Are you celebrating April Fools Day?"

Joe the black man replies, "Yes, we're searching for the biggest fool at Huntington Beach.  Only a fool would be holding a microphone preaching to the seagulls on a sunny day like this."

Jack the Asian man adds, "Only a fool believes in God.  Where is he?  Bring him down right now, I want to talk to him." 

Bob speaks, "Would you like to hear what God says about fools?  'A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.'"  (Proverbs 18:2  HCSB ~ Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Jack bursts, "I want you to say, there is no God."

Bob continues, "A stubborn fool considers his own way the right one, but a person who listens to advice is wise."  (Proverbs 12:15  GW ~ God's Word Translation)

Joe huffs, "I want to talk to this comic book superhero from heaven right now!"

Bob smiles, "Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn."  (Proverbs 1:7 ERV ~ Easy to Read Version)

Jack insists, "Just say there's no God and we'll leave you alone."

Bob continues, "When a fool speaks, he is destroying himself.  His own words are a trap that catches him."  (Proverbs 18:7 EASY ~ Easy English Bible) 

Joe ponders, "Say something, Mr. Preacher man."

Bob smiles, "Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt and commit evil deeds;  not one of them practices what is good."  (Psalm 14:1  ISV ~ International Standard Version)

Joe replies, "Can you be honest and say there is no God?"

Bob speaks, "Who made the stars, moon, earth, all the animals, plants, minerals and you?   This is evidence of a designer, who not only created you, but loves you so much that he let his one and only son die in your place for your sins."

Joe speaks, "Show me."

Bob replies, "You being an athesist, can you show me there is no God?  Have you search everywhere around the earth and everywhere in the Universe to know for certain there is no God?  What if you're wrong.

Jack pulls on Joes' arm to leave.  "One last word before we go.  If you're God is so great and powerful, can he create a rock bigger than he can lift?"

Bob gives Gospels of John to each man before they depart saying, "Read this when you get home.  Jesus is the chief cornerstone, and the rock of our salvation.   You would be a fool not to accept everlasting life with God."