‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
INTRODUCTION Up to 1996 I believed, and had been taught during my life, that the time for the Jewish Nation to receive Jesus as their Messiah was before his death on the cross at Calvary. The Jewish people themselves believed that the Messiah would come and save them from their enemies, the Romans, and that he would remain forever, setting up God’s Kingdom on the earth. God hid it from their understanding about the Messiah’s death and that is why the book’s title is ‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.’ Note: Some scriptures are repeated to expound them more fully in another situation. What is the Messiah’s Secret? Jesus used the term ‘Son of man’ one of the names associated with the Christ. Jesus asked the man who had been healed of blindness, “Do you believe in the Son of man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir that I might believe in him?” Jesus replied, “You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you.” 1 Jesus discreetly told the man that he was the Messiah, the Son of man. “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” 2 The crowd were confused when Jesus said that the Son of man would be lifted up from the earth. The Jews expected the Messiah to be a man like Moses who had led the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt, so who was this Messiah? Jesus had described being lifted up to show by what death he was to die. 3 They did not expect that the Son of man would die before saving them from the Roman occupation. The Son of man was telling them about his death, but he did not reveal the reason for his death, it was hidden from their understanding. Jesus asked his disciples who did the people think the Son of man was? The crowd had said that the Son of man was John the Baptist; others had said Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets, believing that God had raised one of the prophets from the dead. The Jews were taught from the law that the Christ would come and remain for ever. Peter answered Jesus’ question saying that he is, "The Christ." Jesus told his disciples that God had revealed this to Peter and he told them to tell no one. 4 During his ministry Jesus told his disciples and others that they were not to make it widely known that he was the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus did not want the people to publicise their healing. Jesus gave evidence through his teaching, healing and miracles that he was the Messiah. "And many followed him, and he healed them all, and ordered them not to make it known." 5 Jarius' daughter when she was raised from the dead, Jesus told her family not to make it known. 6 There are several other accounts were Jesus has told the person not to tell anyone. 7 "And he healed those who were
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John 9 v 35-37 John 12 v 34 3 John 12 v 33, 34. 4 Matthew 16 v.13-20 5 Matthew 12 v.15-16 6 Luke .8 v.56 7 Mark 1 v.44 & Mark 7 v.36 2
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him." 8 Jesus did not reveal openly that he was the Messiah. At the Feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem, the Jews gathered around Jesus saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ tell us plainly." 9 When Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man he had told them that he was the Messiah but they did not believe. It was impossible for the nation to receive Jesus as their Messiah before he had fulfilled the Hebrew Scriptures concerning his death, resurrection and ascension. The people discussed whether he was the Messiah saying, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?" 10 The healing and miracles were evidence that Jesus was the Christ. His own brothers wanted him to make himself known, but he would not. “For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. For even his brothers did not believe in him." 11 Lay hidden in the teaching of the kingdom of God the Messiah’s secret. Jesus taught his followers many things in parables, a parable is a word derived from the Greek verb ‘paraballo’, to lay by the side of, to compare; and so a likeness, similitude. In Mark’s Gospel the parable of ‘the Sower’ those who were listening did not understand this parable. Jesus had to explain its meaning but he remarked to his disciples, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven.” 12 From this we learn that instead of giving understanding, explaining his teaching, the parables were puzzling; their meaning could not be easily understood. “With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything." 13 The people hearing these parables would probably spend many hours discussing, trying to work out their meaning. The hidden secret in the teaching in the kingdom of God was that a seed had first to die before it could start to grow and produce many more seeds. Jesus the seed that died on the cross, through his death he was the first fruit of the resurrection of the dead. 14 “And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” 15 Jesus foretold of his death and resurrection. St Matthew wrote in chapter 16 verse 21, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes. He would be killed, and on the third day be raised from the dead.” Peter’s reply would indicate that they did not believe that the Messiah would come and die. “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 16
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Mark 1 v.34 John 10 v.22-25 10 John 7 v.31 11 John 7: 5 12 Mark 4: 11 13 Mark 4 v 33. 14 John 12 v 24. James 1 v 18 15 John 12 v 23, 24. 16 Matthew 16 v 21, 22. 17 v 22, 23. Mark 9 v 30-32. Luke 9 v 44. 9
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
Jesus gave indication as to the way that he would suffer and die in his conversation with Nicodemus when he pointed to his death and resurrection. During the Exodus from Egypt, in the wilderness the people were complaining about having no food or water and they were tired of eating manna, the bread from heaven which God provided. God in response to their impatience and murmuring sent deadly snakes into the camp and as a result people were dying. They recognised that they had sinned and were sorry, so they asked Moses to pray interceding to God to take away the snakes from the camp. Moses prayed and God told him to make a replica of a snake attach it to the top of a pole bronze and those who looked at the serpent would be healed from the deadly snake bite and live. Those who look to Jesus cross will find forgiveness of sin against God and be healed and live for eternity. (Numbers 21: 9 John 3: 14.) Jesus said that he had not come to cast a fire upon the earth, judgement, the fire was not yet kindled because he had to go through the baptism, the baptism of his death and he felt constrained until this was accomplished. 17 St Luke wrote,”Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men. But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them.” 18 Jesus knew that he had to die, he told his disciples that he would be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes they would condemn him to death. The understanding of his words was concealed from the disciples. Jesus could have opened their minds but at that time, before his death, he did not. Caiaphas the high priest prophesied that one man should die for the people so that the whole nation would not perish. 19 The understanding of what this meant was hidden from the council, because if they had they known that they were about to deliver their promised Messiah to a terrible death on a cross I’m sure they would have not have done so. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus knew of his coming death. “And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death; remain here and watch.” 20 Jesus himself quoted scripture concerning his death when before his arrest he told the disciples, “For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with the transgressors;’ for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” 21 Jesus said that he would be delivered to the Gentiles who would mock him, spit upon him and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he would rise from the dead. The disciples did not understand what rising from the dead meant. After they had witnessed the Transfiguration Mark wrote that the disciples were told by Jesus not to reveal what they had seen until after his resurrection they did not understand what he meant by his resurrection. 22 After Jesus’ death and resurrection Jesus opened the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures concerning his death and resurrection. After his resurrection Jesus told his disciples. “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was with you, that everything that is written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.” 23 In the months and weeks before his arrest Jesus had not opened his disciples understanding about the scriptures concerning his death and resurrection. Jesus’ death was hidden, concealed from their
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Luke 12 v 49,50 Luke 9 v 44, 45, 53. 19 John 11 v 49, 50. 20 Mark 14 v 34 21 Luke 22 v 37, Isaiah 53 v 12. 22 Mark 9 v 10, 16 v 11, 13. 23 Luke 24 v 44-46 18
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
understanding this was the Messiah’s secret. They were for the first time now able to understand for themselves that the Messiah had to die and be raised from the dead. The prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures were fulfilled in the Messiah’s death and resurrection. The apostles witnessed through these scriptures from the Psalms and the prophets after Pentecost when they proclaimed Jesus as the Christ that the Messiah had to suffer and be raised from the dead and the coming of the Holy Spirit. 24 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he has thus fulfilled.” 25 Isaiah’s prophecy was confirmed by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. “And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.” 26 Philip was instructed by an angel to go from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip met an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. The Ethiopian was seated in his chariot reading from Isaiah chapter 53 verses 7-8. Led by the Spirit, Philip joined him. The Ethiopian asked Philip whether Isaiah was writing about himself or someone else. Philip expounded the scripture and told the Ethiopian the good news about Jesus. The prophet spoke of Jesus, he was the Lamb of God, the Messiah, the Saviour of Israel, and only his blood could be shed to save us from our sins. In his suffering he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, to a cross where he paid the price for the redemption of all creation. God raised him from the dead and he ascended into heaven. Having accepted in faith Philips interpretation of the scripture and he was baptised by Philip into Jesus baptism in water for the forgiveness of sin and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. The Ethiopian continued on his journey rejoicing. Luke the writer of the Acts recorded this incident perhaps to convey to Luke’s friend Theophilus, and the Jews reading his account, that these verses that were prophesied by Isaiah were definite references to the suffering and the death of the Messiah. 27 The Messiah’s secret revealed in St Mark’s Gospel. St Mark has given us the complete picture of the Messiah’s secret, when in chapter 8 verse 29 in reply to Jesus’ question “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said that Jesus is the Christ, and then Jesus then told them to tell no one about him. Jesus didn’t want the disciples to reveal his identity amongst the people and leaders of the Sanhedrin before his death. In verse 31 of the same chapter, Jesus told them about his coming death and resurrection, he was going to be killed and on the third day rise from the dead. Then in verse 38 he spoke of his second coming with the holy angels, after his resurrection and ascension he was going to return and in chapter 9 verse 1 Jesus said to those listening that some of them would not taste death before they saw the coming in of the kingdom of God with power. This would indicate that he meant within their life time he would return. St Mark chapter 9 verses 30, 31 and 32, Jesus has told his disciples about his coming death, but they did not understand. At this time the understanding of these words about his death was hidden from them by God. Earlier in the same chapter in verse 10 Jesus had told them to keep quiet about the transfiguration until after he had been raised from the dead, here they questioned what rising from the dead meant. Also this understanding about his resurrection was hidden from them. It was not in God’s plan for the Jewish nation to receive Jesus as their Messiah before his death.
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Acts 2 v 17-39. 3 v 22, 25. Acts 3 v 17,18 26 Acts 3 v 24 27 Acts 8 v 26 - 40 25
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
St Peter and St Paul teach that the Messiah had to suffer and be raised from the dead. At Pentecost Peter declared that, “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.” 28 Peter continued to quote from Psalm 16 v 8 – 11 the prophecy of King David. St Paul speaking in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia told them, “For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognise him nor understand the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning him. They fulfilled what had been written about him.” Paul quotes from the Psalms and from Isaiah. 29 In the synagogue at Thessalonica Paul argued with the Jews from the scriptures, “Explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to be raised from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 30 Jesus prophesied of his coming with the angels. For the last two thousand years Christians have been baffled as to why Jesus had told his followers that he would return within the disciple’s lifetime with the angels of God. 31 Even more recent times I believe that the New Testaments expectation of Jesus’ ‘coming’ within the apostles’ life time was still a mystery to biblical scholars. For example, Alfred Edersheim wrote “For John also had his life work for Christ. It was to ‘tarry’ while he was coming- to tarry many years in patient labour, while Christ was coming. But what did it mean? The saying went abroad among the brethren that John was not to die, but to tarry till Jesus came to reign, when death would be swallowed up in victory. But Jesus had not so said, only: “If I will tarry while I’m coming.” What that ‘Coming was, Jesus had not said, and John knew not. So, then, there are things, connected with his Coming, on which Jesus has left a veil, only to be lifted by his own hand – which he means us not to know at present, and which we should be content to leave as he has left them.” 32 From this we can conclude that biblical scholars, such as Alfred Edersheim, had not considered that the time for the Jewish nation to receive Jesus as their Messiah was after Jesus had accomplished the plan of God in his death, resurrection and ascension, and had Alfred Edersheim realised that the apostles were proclaiming for the first time publicly that Jesus was the Christ and if they repented their sins would be blotted out and God would send the appointed Jesus The apostles and followers of the first century anticipated Jesus’ immediate return. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus said, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 33 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” 34 Luke Gospel states “Then you will begin to say,’ we ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets. But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!” 35 Mark’s Gospel goes on to say “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass 28
Acts 2 v 22-36 Psalm 2 v 7. Isaiah 55 v 3. Psalm 16 v 10. Acts 13 v 14 30 Acts 17 v 3 31 Matthew 10 v 23. 24 v 34. John 21 v 21-23. Mark 9 v 1. Luke 21 v 32 32 The Life and Times of the Messiah, page 632. 19th Century 33 Mark 8 v 38. 34 Mark 9 v 1. 35 Luke 13 v 26,27 29
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
away before all these things take place.” 36 “But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 37 In John’s Gospel we read “When Peter saw him (John), he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me. The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?” 38 Ed Saunders recently wrote “In the decades after Jesus’ death, then, the Christians had to revise their first expectation again and again. This makes it very probable that the expectation originated with Jesus. We make sense of these pieces of evidence if we think that Jesus himself told his followers that the Son of man would come while they still lived. The fact that this expectation was difficult for Christians in the first century helps prove that Jesus held this view himself. We also note that Christianity survived this early discovery that Jesus made a mistake very well.” 39 Ed Saunders confirms in his book that the early church had been expecting the immediate return of Jesus. If Ed Saunders had realised when writing his book that Jesus could only be received by the nation as the Messiah after his death and resurrection and ascension he would have known that Jesus had not made ‘a mistake.’ The Messiah’s Secret is revealed through the appointed time of Jesus’ coming. For the first time after the ascension at Pentecost the early church were proclaiming for the first time publically that Jesus as the Christ. They believed that if the leaders of the Sanhedrin had accepted that Jesus was their Messiah through faith, he was ready to return - that it was the time for his coming within their generation. Peter, the leader of the apostles at Pentecost, called the people to repentance and acceptance of Jesus as the Christ. “Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he for saw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God rose up, and of that we all are witnesses.... Let all the House of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." 40 Peter also said “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ’ ... and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.” 41 Paul message stated “I mean brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they have none.” 42 He also said “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not proceed those who have fallen asleep.” 43
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Mark 13 v 30 Mark 14 v 61-62 38 John 21 v 21-23 37
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The Historical Figure of Jesus, Ed Saunders page 180. Published 1993.
Acts 2 v 29-36 41 Acts 3 v 17-20 42 1 Corinthians 7 v 29 43 1 Thessalonians 4 v14-18
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
James’ message to the early church was “Be patient, therefore brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” 44
Peter in his second letter wrote, “First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.” 45 There are numerous other texts in the Letters and Epistles which indicate that the first century Christians had expected Jesus’ immediate return - the ‘Day of the Lord.’ 46 The apostles were setting up the kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts “To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.” 47 The apostles during Jesus’ ministry did not understand that Jesus had to die and that God would raise him from the dead. After his resurrection Jesus opened the minds of his disciples concerning his death and resurrection and spoke to them of the kingdom of God. After they had spent some time in Galilee they then came together at Jerusalem. God’s plan for the Messiah was of his return with the angels of God, he would bring into the world the ‘Day of Wrath’ 48 Jesus said, “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” 49 Jerusalem, the Holy City of the Jews, covered approximately four square miles. In Jerusalem no house might be hired. The houses belonged as it were to all; for they all must be thrown open, in free hearted hospitality, to the pilgrim- brethren that came up to the feast. No dead body might remain in the city over night; no sepulchres were there, except those of the house of King David and the prophetess Huldah. Not even domestic fowls might be kept, nor vegetable gardens be planted, lest the smell of decaying vegetation should defile the air; no furnaces be built for fear of smoke. Never had rain extinguished the fire on the altar, nor contrary wind driven back the smoke of the sacrifices; nor yet, however great the crowd of worshipers, had any failed for room to bow down and worship the God of Israel! The population of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus recorded by historian Tacitus as being 600,000 and the attendance at the Passover between 2 and 3 million Jewish people. 50 Luke wrote that the apostles and followers of Jesus were instructed by Jesus to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit and not in their home town of Capernaum in Galilee. After the apostles returned to Jerusalem from Galilee they were together in the upper room, Luke records that there where 120 people present in the upper room. Peter told those present that the scripture had to be
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James 5 v 7-8 2 Peter 3 v 3-4 46 Romans 13 v 11. 1 Corinthians 1 v 7, 8. 4 v 5. 5 v 5. 7 v 29. 11 v 26. 2 Corinthians 1 v 14. Philippians 1 v 6, 10. 2 v 16. 4 v 5. Colossians 3 v 4. 1 Thessalonians 1 v 10. 3 v 13. 4 v 14 – 18. 5 v 2, 23. 2 Thessalonians 1 v 7 – 10. 2 v 1, 2. 1 Timothy 6 v 14. 2 Timothy 4 v 1, 8. Titus 2 v 13. Hebrews 9 v 28. James 5 v 7, 8. 1 Peter 4 v 7, 13, 17. 5 v 4. 2 Peter 3 v 4, 12. 1 John 2 v 28. Isaiah 61 v 2. Amos 5 v 18-20. Joel 3 v 14-16. 47 Acts1 v 3 48 Zephaniah 2 v 2. Luke 3 v 17. Romans 2 v 5 Colossians 3 v 6 49 Matthew 25 v 31 - 46 50 Extracts from “The Temple and its Ministry and services as they were at the Time of Jesus Christ.”A Edersheim 45
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
fulfilled concerning Judas; his death reduced the number required by the Mishna. 51 The Mishna rules permit the setting up of a town with 120 people, one tenth to be the officers. Luke quotes the scripture, ‘His office let another take.’ The apostles deliberately brought their number up to twelve again, Matthias took Judas’ place. Jerusalem was already the City of God at the heart of the Jewish faith. The leaders were being asked to accept that in Jesus the prophecies concerning the resurrection of the Messiah had been fulfilled. However the death of Jesus, defilement by a Gentile death was too great an obstacle for them to overcome because they did not believe that the Messiah would come and die. Part of the prophecy of Joel was fulfilled at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was not a mystery to the Jews as they knew that some of the prophets had visions, dreams, and prophesied in the Holy Spirit. The priest Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, filled with the Holy Spirit prophesied of his sons’ ministry of preparation for the coming Messiah. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from before his birth whilst in his mother’s womb; he grew and became strong in spirit. The prophecy of Joel, God said that he would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh in the last days. This prophecy was in association with the coming of the Messiah. John the apostle wrote that the Holy Spirit was not given until after Jesus was glorified that was after his resurrection. On the evening of the first day of the week Jesus came and stood among them in the upper room at Jerusalem saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained.” 52 John the Baptist’s prophecy that the Messiah would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire was now fulfilled. The Apostles baptise people with the Holy Spirit and the fire of judgement. On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in power 53 and all present were filled with the Holy Spirit. 54The Holy Spirit was given to those who repented and accepted Jesus as the Christ. Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 55 After repentance the baptism for the forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit was given as a gift. Thousands joined the apostles, the mission began at Jerusalem the hub of the Jewish nation, and the apostles were in direct confrontation with the leaders of the Sanhedrin. They witnessed that Jesus was the Christ through the fulfilment of the Hebrew prophesies to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The apostles and followers met daily in the temple, those who believed their word were baptised and became followers sharing all their possessions and wealth, giving to all those who were in need. The apostles were following the teaching that Jesus taught during his ministry.
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Acts 1 v 16, 20. John 20: 23 53 Luke 24 v 49 54 Acts 2 v 1 55 Acts 2: 38 52
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
Ananias and Sapphira: the Adam and Eve of the New Testament. This account, recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, has a very significant message to the church. Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin and there is no other name in which we can be saved from sin. Adam and Eve had a choice to make in the Garden of Eden to either respond to the devil’s temptation, or to be obedient to the will of God. The snake tempted them to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil so they would become like God knowing good and evil. God had forbidden them to have this knowledge. They chose to follow the devil’s lead, which resulted in separation from God and they were cast out of the garden. Ananias and Sapphira joined the community in Jerusalem and had come to know God like Adam and Eve knew God. Ananias and his wife sold a piece of land and the proceeds were to be given to the community. But when it came to handing the money over they lied about the amount that they had received (like Adam and Eve deigned their action). Individually they came before Peter; he discerned their deception (God discerned Adam and Eves deception) and told them that they had lied to him, but also to God. In turn they fell dead at Peter’s feet, “The feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 56 This was the fulfilling of Jesus’ anointing of his disciples to have the power to forgive or retain the sins of people. It also confirms that it was the ruling rod of iron of the kingdom of God that the disciples were setting up in readiness for Jesus return. The nations’ call to repentance and the Messiah would return. Peter speaking to the crowd at Solomon’s portico said, “And now brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus.” 57 During Jesus’ ministry he did not allow the disciples to proclaim him as the Christ, but now they were doing so. The ministry of Jesus, his crucifixion and his resurrection would be still fresh in the minds of those who had known him or had heard about him. The high priest and his family were Sadducees and they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. When it was reported to them that the followers of Jesus were witnessing of his resurrection they took steps to stop them there Peter and John were arrested at Solomon’s portico by the temple guards. A persecution began against the followers of Jesus after the death of Stephen, they were dispersed throughout Judea and Samaria, but the apostles stayed in Jerusalem. It was Israel’s national calling to accept Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus prophesied that the leaders of the nation of their generation would reject him as their Messiah. Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew’s Gospel, “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes and finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be with this generation.” 58
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Acts 5: 9. Acts 3 v 11-26 58 Matthew 12 v 43 - 45 57
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‘The Messiah’s Secret Revealed’ by Dorothy Newton, 2013
www.messiahs-secret-revealed.co.uk
As a result of being baptised by John the Baptist, Jesus or his disciples asking for repentance for their sins, the majority of the people of Israel had been cleansed from their sin. 59 As a result of an internal decision by the leaders of the Sanhedrin to reject Jesus as their Messiah, the nation was brought to its knees within a short period of time. Indeed by A.D. 70 Jerusalem was destroyed and the people were scattered throughout the world. Jesus’ prophecy of the Days of Vengeance The prophecy foretelling that the people of Israel would suffer because they had known the time of the Messiah’s visitation has been fulfilled. Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled. The Jewish people have suffered greatly over the last 2,000 years; they have been accused by some of crucifying their Messiah. The accusers, through their own ignorance, believed that the time for the Jews to accept Jesus was before his death. For have not Christians persecuted and killed Jews for centuries? Has not the cross been a symbol of death to the Jews? Arnold Fruchtenbaum in his book ‘Jesus was a Jew’ wrote “Israel’s objection to the Messiahship of Jesus is not so much an objection against Jesus himself as it is against the way his name has been used throughout Jewish history. For have not Christians persecuted and killed Jews for centuries? Has not the cross been a symbol of death to the Jews? Has not the church issued discriminatory laws against the Jews? Has not the name of Jesus been used to scorch Jewish homes and bodies? Has not in baptism been used in forced conversions to Christianity and as an excuse to separate Jewish children from their families? All of this is true and so is a lot more. It may be questioned whether those who perpetrated these atrocities were really Christians, but they certainly called themselves that.” 60 In November 2009, I went to listen to Singer Helen Shapiro she sang and also told us her life story. Helen is of Jewish decent born in London in 1946. At the age of six she went to a state school. She told us of how she remembered a child coming up to her in the playground and saying, ‘You killed Jesus.’ She was devastated and never forgot those hurtful words. In the late 1980’s she discovered Jesus as her Saviour and the promised Messiah to the Jewish people. The Jewish people themselves believed that the Messiah would come and save them from their enemies, the Romans, and that he would remain forever, setting up God’s Kingdom on the earth. God hid from them the understanding of the Messiah’s death. Therefore, it was impossible for the leaders of Israel to accept Jesus as their Messiah before his death, resurrection and ascension.
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Acts 13 v 24 Jesus was a Jew by Arnold G Fruchtenbaum, page 92, first edition 1981
Introduction 03/01/2014
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