Biblical Moment 14: Jesus Declares Scriptures Fulfilled; I Am the One Isaias Prophesied!

Biblical Moment No. 14 of Andy’s Spiritual Journey to Israel & Palestine… early in the ministry of Jesus after being baptized by John and tempted by the devil… Jesus in the Synagogue in Nazareth utilizes the reading from the Prophet Isaias in the Old Testament to reveal that He is the Messiah that Isaias prophesied…

Reading in the Synagogue in Nazareth:

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written (Reference Isaias 61:1-3),

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set free those who are oppressed,

To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

The Reaction of the People:

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

Jesus Speaks to the People:

And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.

But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

The People Attack Jesus:

And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way. (Luke 4:16-30).

Reference: Isaias 61:1-3

The Mission of Christ:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

Because the Lord has anointed me

To bring good news to the afflicted;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives

And freedom to prisoners;

To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

(Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 36 Pics, 1-1-2019)

Comment Highlights:

Barbara Helfer: Awesome post! Happy New Year

Melissa Teske: Thanks for sharing – very moving

(Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 36 Pics; 1-1-2019)

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Biblical Moment 15: Celebrating Jesus’ Miracle at the Wedding Church of Cana!

Day 8: Biblical Moment No. 15 of Andy’s Spiritual Journey to Israel & Palestine… visiting the Wedding Church of Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine…. here are the Scriptures from John:

Miracle at Cana

John 2:1-11: “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him.

When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

(Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 36 Pics; 1-14-19)

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A sign of God’s Covenant with US! A rainbow over the Sea of Galilee!

Biblical Moment No. 16 of Andy’s Spiritual Journey to Israel & Palestine!

A Sign of God’s Covenant with Us: A Rainbow Over the Sea of Galilee!

Genesis 9:13,14 & 16:   “I do set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud… And the rainbow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

(Andy Reistetter; Facebook Post with 1 Video; 12-20-18)

Brendan Sweeney: I hear they have a great all you can eat fish fry

Andy Reistetter: Yeah, the fish are jumping in the boat and there is a great side of bread too! Merry Christmas my friend! Happy 2019!

CLICK HERE for Video of Rainbow over the Sea of Galilee—God’s Covenant with US!

A sign of God’s Covenant with US! A rainbow over the Sea of Galilee!

Biblical Moment 21: Being Baptized in the Jordan River at Yardenit by Pastor Komolate!

Biblical Moment No. 21 of Andy’s Spiritual Journey to Israel & Palestine (don’t miss the Scriptures below)…

Coming down into Tiberias, a rainbow appeared over the Sea of Galilee to greet me to this historic and spiritual place!

Seeing the rainbow as a sign of God’s renewed covenant with me I figured that it was time to renew my baptismal commitment to Him, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit and be baptized in the Jordan River at nearby Yardenit.

Baptized in the Jordan River at Yardenit by Pastor Komolate of Nigeria! Alleluia!

A special thank you to Pastor Komolate of Nigeria for taking the time to baptize me at closing time while a bus load of pilgrims waited for him! Back to Haifa to celebrate a great day of life on the festive Yafe Nof Street! TROML Baby (an exclamation of joy)!

We can be baptized anywhere at any time… all that is needed is an open heart and an open mind… and a willingness to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and leave sin behind… to live in the Law of God and the Love of Jesus as your Splendid Spiritual Self in The Holy Spirit as best you can as a human being in this secular world…

Here are the Scriptures of this Biblical Moment…

John Proclaims the Savior’s Arrival: “John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16

John Exalts Christ: “John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:27-30

The moment of peace & tranquility of my Jordan River Baptism will always be with me!

The Baptism of Jesus: Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17

The Third Prediction of the Passion: “But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.” Mark 10:38-39

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Jerusalem—A Place to Come to Cleanse & Purify One’s Heart!

Sunset over the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

My introduction to the Old City of Jerusalem was measured, gradual, and exponential. First to drive around its perimeter outside the walls, find a parking spot, walk in the Dung Gate to experience the Western Wall on the Sabbath. Upon returning to Jerusalem a second time then finding and ascending to the Mount of Olives just in time to see a majestic sunset over the Old City. The next day journeying to Bethlehem and then back to find the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and in the same day to witness and pray where Jesus was born, crucified at Calvary and resurrected from the dead.

Great parking space!

Now to come back for a third time and take an amazing tour that started at the Jaffa Gate and took us along our winding way through the nooks and crannies of a place 40,000 people call home. First through the Armenian and Jewish Quarters then emerging at the Western Wall and upwards to the Dome of the Rock. Down through the Muslim Quarter we found the Via Dolorosa which led us through the Christian Quarter to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Inside was Calvary and the Empty Sepulcher (Tomb)–where Jesus rose from the dead—the Cornerstone of Christian faith.

Join me on this tour as I relive this spiritual experience in the picture gallery below of 88 pictures…

The Jews, Muslims, and Christians all have a spiritual home in the Old City of Jerusalem. For me I felt the presence of Jesus and a cleansing and purifying of my heart that left only love compassion, and mercy for any relationship—Divine—with my self—and with others whether family, friends, or strangers.

This spiritual experience would continue throughout this Christmas Eve visit and again later in the Spiritual Journey to Israel & Palestine when I would come and stay for three nights within the walls of the Old City at the Christ Church Guest House.

I walked in the Old City of Jerusalem where Jesus walked near the Temple area and later where Peter performed miracles:

“The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. “—Mark 10:22-23

“Now Peter and John were going up to the Temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer. And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the Temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he asked for alms. But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him. As he clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called “Solomon’s Portico.””—Acts 3:1-11

“Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.”—Acts 5:12-16

Jerusalem—A Place to Come to Cleanse & Purify One’s Heart!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”—Acts 1:8

The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat As-Sakhrah) is the spot from which the Islamic prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. For Jews and Christians this stone is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19).

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.”—Psalm 125:2

“Thus says the LORD: “I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain.””—Zechariah 8:3

“Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.”—Psalm 122:3-5

The Western Wall or Wailing Wall (Kotel) is an ancient limestone wall that is considered to be closest to the former ‘Holy of Holies,’ which makes it the most sacred site recognized by Judaism outside the ancient Temple itself.

“At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart.”—Jeremiah 3:17

“But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.” —Joel 3:20

“And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”—Zechariah 12:9

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified at Calvary (Golgotha) and Jesus’s Empty Tomb where he was resurrected from the dead.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!”

—Psalm 122:6

“And he carried me away in The Holy Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven from God, having the Glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.”—Revelation 21: 10-11

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”—Revelation 21:2-3

With All Credit for the abover ten Jerusalem Bible Verses to ChristianQuotes.Info.

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Biblical Moment 19: Jerusalem—Site of the Redemption of Abraham & Isaac!

The Dome of the Rock is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19).

The Dome of the Rock is the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22:1-19).

Here is the Biblical Story of the Redemption of Abraham and Isaac:

“Some time afterward, God put Abraham to the test and said to him: Abraham! “Here I am!” he replied. Then God said: Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There offer him up as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will point out to you. Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey, took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac, and after cutting the wood for the burnt offering, set out for the place of which God had told him.

On the third day Abraham caught sight of the place from a distance. Abraham said to his servants: “Stay here with the donkey, while the boy and I go on over there. We will worship and then come back to you.” So Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham. “Father!” he said. “Here I am,” he replied. Isaac continued, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” “My son,” Abraham answered, “God will provide the sheep for the burnt offering.” Then the two walked on together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he bound his son Isaac, and put him on top of the wood on the altar. Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the Angel. “Do not do the least thing to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you did not withhold from me your son, your only one.” Abraham looked up and saw a single ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named that place Yahweh-yireh; hence people today say, “On the mountain the Lord will provide.”

A second time the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from Heaven and said: “I swear by my very self—oracle of the Lord—that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your son, your only one, I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth will find blessing, because you obeyed my command.”

Abraham then returned to his servants, and they set out together for Beersheba, where Abraham lived.