Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Haggai Overview and the Key Passage of the Prophecy.

Haggai Chapter 1

  • This prophet speaks into the early leaders who returned from captivity with the People of God, Zerubbabel and Joshua. These two leaders came to Israel with 40K refugees to rebuilt the Temple and begin to restore Israel.
  • And Haggai preached to them and encouraged them to follow God, trust in His care and power, and continue the work. He may have preached all the way into the days of Ezra when he returned to Israel – at least Ezra recorded the impact Haggai had on the rebuilding of the Temple.

The Big Issue: The work on the house of worship stalled for more than a decade, but the people of God were convicted and drawn back to His purposes through Haggai. V.12-15 is the turnaround passage.

  • Haggai is a book of questions? Do you build your house before you build your God a place of worship? Why the drought? Who can compare the former house to the latter one? Is there anything left in the barn?

Haggai Chapter 2

This prophet saw the big picture.

  • The People of God were returning to Israel to rebuild the Temple, restore the city and nation, all to accomplish the mission – to be a light to the nations and a place of worship for all people (2:5)
  • All that God wants from the nations will come to Jerusalem and it will be a place filled with His glory and a house of peace.

(PRT) Haggai 1:12-15

v. 12 They all obeyed the voice of the Lord their God: Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel, Jehozadak’s son Joshua the High Priest, along with all the remnant, and they heeded the words of the prophet Haggai that the Lord their God had sent.  And the people honored and reverenced the Lord.

v. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord spoke the Good News of the Lord, and said to the people: “I am with you,” says the Lord.

v. 14 And the Lord awakened the spirit of Shealtiel’s son, Zerubbabel, Judah’s governor and the spirit of Jehozadak’s son, Joshua the high priest and collectively the spirit of the remnant of the people. Then they came together to accomplish the work on the house of their God, the Lord of hosts.

v. 15 On the 24th day of the sixth month of the second year of Darius’ reign.

Study Notes:

v. 12 They all obeyed the voice of the Lord their God: Shealtiel’s son Zerubbabel, Jehozadak’s son Joshua the High Priest, along with all the remnant, and they heeded the words of the prophet Haggai that the Lord their God had sent.  And the people honored and reverenced the Lord.

The opposition they faced was discouragement, change, want, and the enemy.

  • And because of this discouragement, the people had simply become indifferent, ambivalent to the things of God.
  • They went through the motions because they had built the altar and the priests could make their sacrifices; but the fire of that altar hadn’t consumed them to the point that all they were and all they desired were the Lord’s.
    • What do you do when discouragement threatens your faith in action?
    • What do you do when defeat seems to characterize your life more than victory?
    • What do you do when disappointments overshadow and rob you of the joy you’ve known in the Lord?

v. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord spoke the Good News of the Lord, and said to the people: “I am with you,” says the Lord.

  • This is the only time the word the New Testament translated as The Message, The Good News, or sometimes, The Messenger, is used in the OT.
  • It is Good News that God is with us.
  • In fact, The first part is the Lord’s Name – the great “I AM.” And the second part echoes Isaiah’s prophecy concerning Jesus – “His name shall be called Immanuel, God with us.”

v. 14 And the Lord awakened the spirit of Shealtiel’s son, Zerubbabel, Judah’s governor and the spirit of Jehozadak’s son, Joshua the high priest and collectively the spirit of the remnant of the people. Then they came together to accomplish the work on the house of their God, the Lord of hosts.

And the fire was reignited, first one person (the Governor), then another (the Priest) – then he awakened the whole remnant and their culture was changed.

v. 15 On the 24th day of the sixth month of the second year of Darius’ reign.

And all this happened in three months. Haggai hung around and taught and shows up in Ezra. But his faithfulness to speak to the authority and encourage the people changed their direction.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Nehemiah 8:1-12

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Chapter 1

After at least three starts on the wall under Zerubbabel and Ezra, Nehemiah gets permission to take the immigrants and travel to Jerusalem.

Chapter 2

Prayer for grace in the moment- Nehemiah breathed a powerful prayer:

Chapter 3

When the building began, it was an all-hands operation. Each section was built by a different group and it is a great example of how diverse the work of the Kingdom can be: 1) religious leaders and their people, 2) families and extended families, 3) a group of sons, 4) a group of daughters, 5) different trade groups like perfume-makers, goldsmiths, 6) groups of neighbors, 7) politicians, 8) worshipers, 9) merchants and marketers.

Chapter 4 & 5

Don’t fear; keep building. To the vigilant, to the multi-tasker is the victory.

Chapter 6 and 7

Discourage their hearts, confuse their minds, weaken their hands.

52 Day project to complete the wall.

Chapter 8

Ezra read and the people were enthralled.

What happened at the first Water Gate.

Men and women, later sons and daughters – all who could get it, got it.

Mic drop in Jerusalem.

Revival in the city.

v. 11 Key verse.

(PRT – Nehemiah 8:1-12)

7:73 And so the priests, Levites, doorkeepers, singers, and a remnant of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities. And on the first day of the seventh month (around October) the children of Israel lived were living in their hometowns.

8:1 And the people came together in unity with a purpose in the streets in front of the Water Gate and the pleaded with Ezra the scribe to bring out Moses’ Book of the Law that the Lord has commissioned and given to Israel.

Ezra was part historian and annalist, part accountant, part teacher, and part priest. The word scribe has a complicated meaning. He kept up with the people, the story God was working out in them, and how His Word related to their story.

He had been in Jerusalem since the beginning of the return from captivity. He’d weathered the accusers, deceivers, and obstructors from the outside; and he’d encouraged the complacent, greedy, and selfish from the inside.

  • Nehemiah 1 God breaks his heart for his city and God’s people, they are just a remnant.
  • In Nehemiah 7 Only a few but God brings them together.
  • In Nehemiah 8 all who could came together. But God was still not done with gathering His people.

8:2 Then Ezra brought the law out on the first day of the seventh month (around October) to the gathering of men, women, and all who could grasp its meaning.

This day is the beginning of the celebration of Tabernacles and the Day of Atonement. The wall is finished; the people takes a few weeks to resettle; and they return to worship.

God’s Word is for all; God’s Spirit comes on all; even the children and anyone who could comprehend.

8:3 And he read from the book right there on the street before the Water Gate to the men, women, and all the people from daybreak to noon and those who could grasp its meaning were focused on the Book of the Law.

The word for “all” is used ten times in these 12 verses. The gathering has gone from a remnant of faithful, a few who would not give up, to all who lived there. But God was not done; the gathering of His people continued as more and more returned to Jerusalem. The same today: God’s people are still being gathered.

8:4 And Ezra stood on the wooden stage they had made for this very purpose. Standing to his right were: Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. And standing to his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

These were the qualified leaders and teachers from among the Levites. The significance of six on one side and seven on the other is likely scribal – someone got moved or left out.

8:5 They stood above the people so all could see them, and when Ezra opened the Book from the stage, they all stood up.

The people prepared for God’s servants to be heard. They built a stage. At dawn at the Water Gate, the sun would be streaming down on the faces of the listeners. The sight for those on the platform must have been awe-inspiring.

8:6 And Ezra kneeled and worshiped before the Lord, the Great God; and the people responded “Amen! Amen!” They lifted their hands and they bowed down with faces to the ground all while they worshiped the Lord.

And his response at the sight was humility. He was down on his face worshiping. The people did likewise, not because they wanted to do what Ezra did, but because they were overcome by God’s presence. They heard truth, they worshiped, they lifted hands, they shouted, and they fell down before God’s presence.

8:7-8 Also, Jeshuah, Bani, Sheribiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Henan, Pelaiah, and all the Levites helped the people understand the meaning of the Law. And the people stood still as they read from the Book of God’s Law; and they gave clear insight to help the people comprehend what they were reading.

“Clear insight” could also mean that they “translated” to those who had been in foreign lands.

8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and scribe made sure that the Levites taught the all the people: “This day is holy. This is from the Lord your God so do not grieve or cry, for all the people wept as they listened to the Words of the Law.”

The people were so loudly grieving and overcome by tears that the leaders were concerned the would miss the most important element of worship: joy.

8:10 And he said to them: “Go, eat and drink richly, and share your abundance with those who are without. For this day is holy to our Lord; don’t be sorrowful, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Our joy is our strong place of refuge. When we are tempted, run to the refuge. When we are accused, run to the refuge. When we face dark times, run to the refuge and rejoice that Jesus is near and loves us.

8:11 So the Levites soothed all the people: “Be at peace and don’t be sorrowful, for this day is holy.

When God’s Spirit falls in awakening power, convicting and persuading His people to know and seek Him above all, it changes His people forever. Nothing like it; no experience compares.

8:12 And all the people left there to eat and drink, and to share from their abundance, and to celebrate gladly, for they understood the words that were taught to them.

This was the day before Tabernacles begins and celebration is in order. And celebrate, they did! It was an eight day worship service.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 16:9-20

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT)

v. 9 Now, when Jesus was raised early on the first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, from who he had thrown out seven demons. vv. 10-11 She left there and told those who had been with Jesus and were now grieving and weeping; and they couldn’t believe that he was alive, even after hearing the news that she had seen him. vv. 12-13 And even after all this, two of them showed up and reported to the other disciples that while they were just now walking through the countryside, Jesus appeared to them in a different outward appearance; and they still didn’t believe it. v. 14 But not long afterwards, while the eleven were eating dinner, he showed up and then scolded them for their disbelief and hard-heartedness since they had not trusted those who had seen him risen from the dead. v. 15 Then he said to them: “As you journey into all the world, tell the whole creation the Good News. V 16 The ones who believe and are baptized will be saved; but the ones who remain unbelieving will be condemned.” vv. 17-18 Additionally, miraculous signs will show up around the ones who believe: in my name, they will throw out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will remove serpents with their hands; they will not be harmed even if they drink something deadly; and they will place their hands on the sick and they will be restored.” v. 19 Then, with all assurance, after speaking to them, Jesus was taken up into the heavens and then sat down at God’s right hand. v. 20 And they left there, declaring the Lord everywhere. The Lord was working through them and validating the word through accompanying miraculous signs. Amen.

Study Notes:

v. 9 Now, when Jesus was raised early on the first day of the week, he appeared first of all to Mary Magdalene, from who he had thrown out seven demons.

The rock removed wasn’t for Jesus to escape. The power to keep Jesus from corruption and decay and raise him from the dead wasn’t so weak that a rock would stop it. The rock was removed by the angel afterwards, so the women would see and have faith.

Jesus’ resurrection in v. 8 is framed by his crucifixion. His sacrificed life is integral to the new life we are given in Him.

There were two choices for Jesus being “not there:” His body was taken, or He rose from the dead. No other options are there.

In this summary verses of the telling of the story, Mary Magdalene returned to the sepulcher to try to make sense of all she’d discovered.  And Jesus appeared to her. (Confirmed by John 20.)

vv. 10-11 She left there and told those who had been with Jesus and were now grieving and weeping; and they couldn’t believe that he was alive, even after hearing the news that she had seen him.

This is confirmed in the other Gospels that they couldn’t wrap their minds around this story either. They were slow in coming to believe that Jesus was alive.

vv. 12-13 And even after all this, two of them showed up and reported to the other disciples that while they were just now walking through the countryside, Jesus appeared to them in a different outward appearance; and they still didn’t believe it.

These would be the two walking toward Emmaus to whom Jesus appeared. They rushed back to tell the disciples they had seen Jesus. In sync with the two witnesses, word comes back from others that Peter has seen Jesus, too. (Luke 24)

In his resurrected body, Jesus is the same, yet not the same. He is not subject to the rules we are. He appears as and when and through whatever closed door He wishes. And He does so in the next verse.

That Jesus appeared to a woman and to two who were not of the inner circle shows that status isn’t the qualifier. Each of us has this revealing of the truth and presence of Jesus in our salvation.

v. 14 But not long afterwards, while the eleven were eating dinner, he showed up and then scolded them for their disbelief and hard-heartedness since they had not trusted those who had seen him risen from the dead.

Mark names the new set of apostles minus Judas, The Eleven. They were known here in the context of the one absent but also by the rest remaining faithful and together.

Jesus shows up at dinner, calms their fears, shows them his wounds, has a bite. and calls them out for not believing Mary or the two from Emmaus (or even what has been prophesied – Luke 24).

v. 15 Then he said to them: “As you journey into all the world, tell the whole creation the Good News.

Even the ending of Mark 16:8 fulfills the three prophecies Jesus gave: 8:31, 9:31, 10:32-34. He will complete the work and hand off the work to tell everyone to us. Good News experienced and share in discipleship.

The whole creation contrasts with what Jesus sent them to do earlier as they went out in twos to the Jewish people. Now, all creation, Jews, Samaritans, and the nations.

V 16 The ones who believe and are baptized will be saved; but the ones who remain unbelieving will be condemned.”

This passage is interesting in including baptism in the numbers of the ones who are saved. This isn’t adding the act of baptism to make salvation happen. It is saying, “you believe and of course baptism what you do to show it” but if you don’t believe, of course you wouldn’t be baptized. If you believe, you are also baptized, and in community. The NT concept doesn’t entertain the loner Christian. Other Christians are our community; the ones we rely on, relate to.

vv. 17-18 Additionally, miraculous signs will show up around the ones who believe: in my name, they will throw out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will remove serpents with their hands; they will not be harmed even if they drink something deadly; and they will place their hands on the sick and they will be restored.”

All of this is witnessed in Acts but one: Philip, Paul, others threw demons out of people; Pentecost and the house of Cornelius prayed in new tongues; Paul shook the snake into the fire on the trip to Rome; numerous people were healed from the hands of the early church. Early church fathers tell us that John was poisoned as a way to dispatch him; but he lived.

v. 19 Then, with all assurance, after speaking to them, Jesus was taken up into the heavens and then sat down at God’s right hand.

This is the position of both authority and serving. The timing for His return is known only in the heavenlies. I remember the movies always had trouble making this real; how does one imagine what this was like? I will get to ask the disciples who were on the hillside watching this.

v. 20 And they left there, declaring the Lord everywhere. The Lord was working through them and validating the word through accompanying miraculous signs. Amen.

The main character in this passage is neither the angel resting with confidence on the bench to the right of where dead people lay, nor the women who come to anoint the body, nor the disciples, nor Peter. It is the culmination of the Good News of the Kingdom. It’s about Jesus just like it started with verse one: The Good News starts with Jesus; Our Hope begins here.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 15:42-16:8

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Good Friday & Easter Sunday 2022

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

Mark 15:42-16:8

(PRT)

vv.15:42-43 And evening had already arrived, and now that it was the Preparation Day before the Sabbath, and Joseph of Arimathea who was a respectable member of the Jewish Council and was waiting patiently for the Kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. vv. 44-45 This made Pilate wonder if Jesus was already dead, so he called the captain of the guard, asked him whether or not he had already died; then, learning from the captain that Jesus was dead, he gave Joseph the body. v. 46 And he brought a linen burial cloth he’d purchased and lowered Jesus from the Cross and wrapped him in the burial cloth. Then he laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock and then rolled a boulder against the entryway of the tomb. v. 47 Now, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

vv. 16:1-2  And awhile past the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices and scented oils hoping to return and anoint Jesus. Then, very early as the sun was rising, they come to the tomb. vv. 3-4 And they talked among themselves: “Who will roll back the boulder away from the entryway of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw the boulder was indeed very large, but was rolled away. v. 5 And when the women entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe seated to the right and they were totally overwhelmed with amazement. v. 6-7 Then he said to them: “Do not be distressed! Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are looking for who was crucified? He is risen and no longer here. See! Here’s the place where they laid him. But, you need to go and announce and explain to his disciples and to Peter that he going on ahead into Galilee. That’s where you will see him, just like he explained it all to you.” v. 8 So they got out and ran from the tomb gripped and trembling with amazement they spoke to no one for they were afraid.

Study Notes:

vv. 42-43 And evening had already arrived, and now that it was the Preparation Day before the Sabbath, and Joseph of Arimathea who was a respectable member of the Jewish Council and was waiting patiently for the Kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Joseph did the risky thing. He was respectable and known and “in the know.” Now he was a Jesus-lover. Now he has risked his reputation to do the honorable thing.

vv. 44-45 This made Pilate wonder if Jesus was already dead, so he called the captain of the guard, asked him whether or not he had already died; then, learning from the captain that Jesus was dead, he gave Joseph the body.

Even Pilate, who condemned Jesus to the Cross, wondered that Jesus had already died after only around 5-6 hours. Some would later use this “quick” notification of death as the reason that Jesus was “resurrected (e.g. that he was not really dead.) That has real problems. 1) the Centurion cohort killed him by nailing him to the cross and raising a spear through his side. 2) All the witnesses there saw him die. 3) Joseph brought him down dead from the cross. 4) The cohort of guards buried and sealed him. 5) Most importantly, each Christ-follower there went to his death with the same proclamation: Jesus is risen. There was nothing normal about Jesus’ death. A convicted man would last a while then would be flung into the group burial pile. No one mourns. No one lays claim. Ignored. Gone. For Jesus, Not in the group burial pile. Not ignored. Not mourned. Not long on the cross.

It’s almost as if Jesus saw “the day’s work completed” and moved on to complete the sacrifice by breathing his last. Tetelistai, last breath.

v. 46 And he brought a linen burial cloth he’d purchased and lowered Jesus from the Cross and wrapped him in the burial cloth. Then he laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock and then rolled a boulder against the entryway of the tomb.

He came prepared to risk it all. The cloth he brought him down with may have become the cloth he wrapped him in.  All that time and money Joseph invested in his own tomb, he gave up for the one who loved him,

v. 47 Now, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

I’m so glad we have Mark 16:1-8. Otherwise, the Mary’s are left grieving. They followed Joseph to the tomb with a plan but had no clue what the Father planned. Remember, they heard the same clear teaching over the ministry of Jesus. I’m here to be taken by evil men, to die, to be buried, to conquer death, and to return to the seat of power and the seat of intercession.

vv. 16:1-2  And awhile past the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices and scented oils hoping to return and anoint Jesus. Then, very early as the sun was rising, they come to the tomb.

Keep the timeline in mind here. They saw Jesus taken in the dark of what we would call Thursday, but for the Jewish week, sundown begins the new day (evening and the morning). So Jesus is handed over to evil people (Friday), abused, tried, convicted and crucified (Friday). Died and quickly buried before sundown (Friday). In the grave all the Sabbath (our Saturday – or day two of his “Passion.”) That night, most likely, (Sunday – evening and morning is the day, right) the Mary’s shop and gather what they need for the early morning walk in the dark (Sunday.) Jesus risen (Sunday) just before the Mary’s return. Three days in the grave.

vv. 3-4 And they talked among themselves: “Who will roll back the boulder away from the entryway of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw the boulder was indeed very large, but was rolled away.

They chatted about their plan as the made their way in the dark toward the cliffside where Joseph had been preparing what he thought would be his own tomb. Salome looks at the Mary’s “but you know that stone will be a huge boulder.” And they turn the corner: “It is a huge boulder; but has already been moved!”

v. 5 And when the women entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe seated to the right and they were totally overwhelmed with amazement.

Amazed as in overwhelmed and all but falling over.

v. 6-7 Then he said to them: “Do not be distressed! Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are looking for who was crucified? He is risen and no longer here. See! Here’s the place where they laid him. But, you need to go and announce and explain to his disciples and to Peter that he going on ahead into Galilee. That’s where you will see him, just like he explained it all to you.”

I like to think angels have accents (like a New York downtown cabbie). “Wait you’se. Don’t blow a gasket! Jesus, you know, the Nazarene. (snaps fingers under nose) Hey. Pay attention here: the one you’re here looking for? He’s not hear. Nope. That’s his tomb, but he ain’t here. Now, here’s the plan. Go get the disciples (and make sure Peter gets this, too, right). Get to Galilee. He’ll meet you there. Hey. Weren’t you listening? It’s what He told you’se all along.”

v. 8 So they got out and ran from the tomb gripped and trembling with amazement they spoke to no one for they were afraid.

And the news was out. That’s a hard place to end the original Good News account. But in some ways, what if this is where it ended. They got the story, believed it, and went away processing it. Afraid to speak because they didn’t want to break the sense of amazement. Then Luke picks up the rest in Acts 1. The oldest manuscripts of Mark stop here. Later manuscripts add a verse or two to summarize the rest of the story or even expand on Jesus’ commissioning of the disciples. But these continuations are not in the style, vocabulary, or flow of Mark’s writing. They aren’t wrong and are read in the context of the other Gospels. Some say a scribe took liberties; others that the original ending was lost and someone replaced it the best they could; and others that the New Testament church culture filled in the gap. My take is, the gap is there to remind us we walk away from the salvation story amazed, and with a lifetime to live out the Gospel story. The Kingdom is coming all through the church age; breaking in, amazing us, showing us the evidence of the risen Lord.

Pastor Rick’s Passage Translation for Palm Sunday

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Mark 15:20-41

(PRT)

v. 20 And while the soldiers humiliated and taunted him, they dressed him in his own clothes in place of the purple robe, and they led Jesus out so they could crucify him.

v. 21 Then they conscripted Simon from Cyrene, Alexander and Rufus’s father, as he passed by while visiting from the surrounding farmlands and they made him carry his cross.

v. 22 And they goaded him toward Golgotha – the name translated as the place of the skull.

v. 23 They gave him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it;

v. 24 And once they had crucified him, they then divided his clothes by casting dice to see who would get what item.

v. 25 They crucified him at 9 in the morning;

v. 26 And the crime inscribed against him was this: The King of the Jews.

v. 27 They also crucified with him two thieves, one to his right and one to his left. (v. 28 And this fulfilled the Scripture that says: “He was numbered among the criminals.”)

v. 29-30 And those parading by disparaged and cursed him. They shook their heads and exclaimed: “See here! It’s the one who claimed to tear down the temple and build it back in three days! Save yourself! Come down from that cross!”

v. 31-32 In the same way, the chief priests scoffed among themselves along with the scribes: “He delivered others, but he can’t even save himself! The Messiah! The King of Israel! Let him come down from the Cross so we might see and believe!” And those being crucified with Him berated him, too.

v. 33-34 Then, at noon darkness covered the land until three in the afternoon. Jesus, at that hour, cried loudly: “’Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani!’ (Which translates as: ‘My God, my God, why have your abandoned me?’”

v. 35 And some of those standing nearby heard Jesus and said, “Listen, he’s calling on Elijah!”

v. 36 Then someone again ran over and soaked a sponge in soured wine, put in on the end of a staff, and gave it to Jesus to drink, while saying: “Leave him alone and let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down!”

v. 37 Then, Jesus groaned aloud and breathed his last breath.

v. 38 At that moment, the curtain in the temple was ripped open from top to bottom into two pieces.

 v. 39 Also, the captain of the soldiers who was standing across from him, saw the moment Jesus breathed his last, exclaimed: “Without a doubt, this man was the son of God!”

v. 40-41 And there were also women watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (Little James’ and Joseph’s mother), and Salome; they were the ones who followed him when Jesus was in Galilee. They attended him along with many others who came up with him to Jerusalem.