“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an EXAMPLE, that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21 beautifully records!

Jesus, our Example!

Though I think I must first emphasize that Jesus is our Saviour! We must be born again, washed in the Blood of Jesus. Our sins gone! John 3:7 and Revelation 1:5 are my Proof Texts for these assertions.

Then, truly, we Christians are to follow Jesus. “In His steps,” as Simon Peter just told us.

I want to share a fact with you about the word “example” Scripture just used, the Holy Spirit did.

It is in Greek, as the Lesson Title says, “hupogrammos.” Literally it means a “writing under.”

You might even translate it “underwriting!”

Culturally speaking, it is a term from the Greek schoolroom. The teacher would write a sentence on the board. The students would then (one by one) go to that board and “underwrite” those exact words, form perfect and without error!

That very sentence was their “pattern.” Their “example!” Their pens wrote straight when the letters on the board were straight! And they wrote with slants or curves whenever the letters did as well!

Now, let’s think about Jesus again. He is more than a Sentence. He is the entire Word of God! And I (with the pen of my life) am to follow, to copy, virtually to trace His every Move!

Underwriters … with Jesus being the Perfect Pattern!

And oh, what an “example” He has left us!

The dear Holy Spirit aids in our classroom penmanship, too! He’s making sure that we are being “conformed” into the very image of God’s Son, Who is Jesus Christ the Lord! (See Romans 8:29.)

Let’s get back to class now!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

God, in His Law, required this of the Nation of Israel as a perpetual ordinance …

“Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even.” Exodus 29:38-39

Yes, a morning sacrifice then an evening sacrifice!

Little lambs, at that!

And “continually!”

Was this still happening in Jesus’ lifetime?

Yes!

Now understand this. Jewish history says that the morning sacrifice occurred at the third hour of the day. That would be 9:00 AM, so to speak.

And the evening sacrifice at the ninth hour of the day (expressing the chronology in Roman time) … which would be 3:00 PM.

(Jesus was nailed to the Cross at the third hour of the day! Mark 15:25 says: “And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.”)

(Jesus died at the ninth hour! Again, Mark tells us. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.” Mark 15:34-37)

Amazing!

Jesus began His Calvary Ordeal at the time of the morning lamb’s dying! And He laid down His Life at the time of the evening lamb’s dying!

In fact, Jesus IS the True Lamb of God!

An Israel was to continue this two-lambs-a-day procedure for how long?

“Continually!”

The Hebrew word for “continually” is “tamiyd.”

It means perpetually, always … potentially forever!

I am told the priests literally called this morning and evening sacrifice ritual the “tamiyd!”

But now that Jesus has come and died and has been raised from the grave and has even ascended to Heaven … there is no need for two lambs a day to be slain incessantly!

Why?

Jesus’ Blood has eternal Power!

Jesus is the Tamiyd!

His Blood covers me, cleanses me, empowers me … every morning, every evening, every hour, every minute … eternally!

Think of this glorious fact day by day!

Haeellujah!

What a Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

The Book of Proverbs is such a character-building Document, godly character that is.

One of its themes is the godly “young man – harlot woman” dichotomy. It sternly warns the young man to stay away from that sexually promiscuous woman, though she may be perky and pretty!

Here is an example … “Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the DOOR of her house.” Proverbs 5:8

See that little noun “door?”

You can’t get into trouble with her if you refuse to darken her door! It is, in fact, a dangerous door!

So, to stay away from narcotics, dope … do not even enter the door of that particular “house!”

Stay, so to speak, several “steps” away from that sin that which easily tempts you! Don’t even get near its “door!”

The “door” is not the sin itself, but it is the way into the sin. Thus, avoid that “door” in every situation!

Some supporting Bible verses …

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22

“Keep thee far from a false matter.” Exodus 23:7

“Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

The name occurs 811 times in the King James Version of Scripture. (It also is called by other names in our Holy Book, but right now I am particularly interested in the word “Jerusalem” itself.) For example, it is the “City of the Great King,” Whom I take to ultimately be Jesus!

This little nugget I learned recently. Though I should have already deduced the obvious fact!

The Name of Israel’s best-known City is actually “plural” in Hebrew. (In the English language we generally pluralize our nouns by simply adding an “s.” But in Hebrew most often one adds an “im,” pronounced “eem.”

So actually, by grammatical definition “Jerusalem” (here “em” in English duplicates “im” in Hebrew) means “Jerusalems!” (My spell checker is having to learn this fact right now!) Yes, “Jerusalems!”

I am so thankful that our wise (KJV) translators did not try to pluralize this major Bible noun 811 times. That would have been confusing. (In fact, I cannot find the plural form even once in our Bible!)

But still, the grammar is unrelenting, “plural!”

How is this truth to be explained?

Could there somehow be “two” Jerusalems?

In fact, YES!

An earthly one, with which everybody is cognizant.

And a heavenly one!

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven …” Revelation 21:4

Actually, the last two chapters in the Bible give quite a tour of that coming heavenly “Jerusalem!”

This “prepared” City comes down to earth, probably the new earth of Revelation 21:1 and 2 Peter 3:12. (As well as Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22!)

It will be our eternal home with our dear Saviour!

Bible theology, Bible eschatology … wrapped up in a plural noun!

Amazing!

I may never see the literal Jerusalem. I’ve never been there. But I shall see the “new Jerusalem” someday. And live there perpetually!

I just found this interesting and though you might as well!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

But Preacher Bagwell … a “plural” in any language can be two or more! Which is correct, of course. But in this case another Hebrew rule of grammar prevails. If the word ends in “ayim,” as does our “Jerusalem” example (when spelled in Hebrew) it then consists of two and only two!

Two Jerusalems!

.

Israel was at one of her lowest points ever! Seventy years of Babylonian captivity had just about broken her spirit as a nation.

Even when give the opportunity to return “home” to the Jerusalem area … only a relative few attempted the journey. So many obstacles, so little love for the things of God.

That’s when God did one thing (among others of course) to encourage them, at least the faithful remnant among them.

He sent them a Prophet named Zechariah!

A Preaching man and an writing man, author! We have the book he gave us (via the Holy Spirit’s inspiration) in the Old Testament yet today. Next to last place in order, just before Malachi. Yes, it bears the Prophet’s very name … ZECHARIAH!

Zechariah preached to Israel about a future God was going to give her! I mean short-term and long-term, all the way to the Second Coming of Messiah! An ultimately bright future! How very encouraging!

Oh, i need to tell you … Zechariah’s name (also a booster for Israel) means “God remembers!” (In detail … zakar means “to remember” and Yah is God’s Name “Jehovah!”)

Israel, here he is, a man sent from God just for you at this particularly “low” time!

GOD REMEMBERS!

He has not forgotten you!

He never will!

As in Isaiah 49:15 … “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”

And if you will allow me to superimpose a New Testament verse here … “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Hebrews 6:10, God’s Memory promised yet again!

GOD REMEMBERS!

And it well may be that some discouraged saint of God is reading right here today (or tonight), feeling all alone. Wondering of God still fondly thinks about you …

I have good news!

ZECHARIAH!

GOD REMEMBERS!

He is “good” for every Promise He’s ever made!

You are not forgotten!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Thank you, Zechariah!

More so, we thank Thee Lord!

.