TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 16:9-20
Repentance and forgivness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations....You are witnesses of these things. - Luke 24:47-48
TODAY IN THE WORD
'Before believing in Jesus my life was miserable, full of sadness,' an Algerian believer wrote recently to a Christian radio station. 'One day Christ came, without my even calling Him, and He knocked at the door with His broad smile. He came into the house and He changed my thoughts from despair to happiness. Now despite the misery and poverty, I am happy in my heart and in my head. Now I have a goal in my life, to please God and to grow in my life with Christ....Christ's love for us makes us the richest people on earth.'

After Christ comes through the door of your heart, your life is never the same! The incredible difference He makes cannot be counted or measured. Doesn't that truth make you want to run out and share the good news?!

It should be noted that these final verses of Mark are not found in the earliest reliable manuscripts of Scripture. Additionally, there are some stylistic differences that suggest they were added later. Under the circumstances, it seems best to mentally 'bracket' these verses as possibly not belonging to Mark's Gospel.

The other three Gospels have more detailed and authoritative accounts of Jesus' post-Resurrection appearances. The report of the women, the conversation on the Emmaus road, and the encounters of the risen Christ with His disciples all seem to be alluded to in Mark's extra verses, but the stories are better told elsewhere.

The list of 'signs' involving snakes and poison is highly suspect (vv. 17-18). Why? This teaching is not found in any form in the other Gospels, nor anywhere else. Nor are these practices found in the history of the early church in Acts. Perhaps these 'signs' should be interpreted as figures of speech about God's power.

Despite this somewhat ragged ending to Mark, we can focus on one exciting, certain truth: It is our duty, joy, and honor to take the good news of Jesus Christ to the world (v. 15)!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Our prayer at Today in the Word is that this month's study of Mark has caused you to fall in love with Christ in a new way and to pursue Christ-likeness with a fresh passion.

We recommend that you testify to a friend, your study group, or your church congregation of what you've learned from Mark about Christ and what it means to be His disciple. This assignment may lead you to reflect on this month's study in order to reach some general conclusions. Or you might use your list of Christ's attributes (see 'Today Along the Way' for March 3rd) as the basis for what you say.

Don't keep your insights to yourself spread the Word!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 22:7-20
You were redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. - 1 Peter 1:18-19
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to Steven Ger, a fourth-generation Jewish believer in Jesus Christ, seminary graduate, and director of Sojourner Ministries, there are at least three reasons that Christians should learn more about the Jewish Passover.

The first reason is that learning about the Passover will help us understand our faith in a deeper way. Peter's reference to Jesus as the Passover lamb offered for our redemption is a perfect illustration of this fact. Paul also uses the Passover to illustrate the Christian faith when he writes, ""For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed"" (1 Cor. 5:7; we will study Passover in more detail on April 9).

A second reason for studying the Passover, says Ger, is because ""it is the most important Jewish holiday, the single most observed tradition in Judaism."" Passover speaks of God's redemption and deliverance for His people. Plus, the Passover in Egypt marked the beginning of the Jewish people as an independent nation.

The third reason we need to understand the Passover is that it was very important to Jesus Christ. We can see this in today's reading, which tells the familiar story of our Lord's Last Supper with His disciples before His crucifixion. Jesus said to them, ""I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer"" (v. 15).

The close relationship between the Jewish Passover and our Christian faith typifies what Steven Ger calls ""the Jewish heart of Christianity."" We are going to explore that heart this month as we consider the Jewish roots of Christianity, our rich heritage of faith.

If you have glanced at your calendar today, you know that this is also the perfect day to discuss Passover.

Today is Passover for Jews around the world; the observance will begin at sundown this evening. As we read in Luke 22, Jesus was crucified during the Passover season, when Jerusalem would have been packed with visitors coming to observe this sacred festival.

It was no coincidence that God selected this time for His Son to be sacrificed. There were many times during Jesus' ministry when He could have been killed. But He wanted to observe the Passover, and then become our sacrificial lamb.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We are praying that this month's studies on the Jewish roots of our Christian faith will be both enlightening and uplifting to all of our readers.

Why not join us in that prayer today? Let's ask God to reveal truths we had not previously understood. Since this is also Holy Week, as we anticipate the celebration of Christ's resurrection let's join in thanking God for the ""indescribable gift"" of His Son.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Mark 14:53-65; 15:21-41
They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).... And they crucified him. - Mark 15:22, 24
TODAY IN THE WORD
Today is that holy day which has come to be known as Good Friday, the day on which our Lord was betrayed, arrested, tried in both Roman and Jewish courts, condemned, and nailed to the cross.

The good of Good Friday refers to the benefits that flow to us from Jesus Christ's death on Calvary. We were reminded yesterday that Jesus died as God's Passover lamb, sacrificed to make atonement for the sins of His people.

This is reminiscent of the night God ordered the Jews in Egypt to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on the doorposts of their houses to deliver themselves from His death angel. This ceremony became a type, or symbol, pointing forward to a reality that was realized on Good Friday. Jesus came to die as ""the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"" (John 1:29).

The details of Jesus' arrest, trials, beatings, and crucifixion are painful to read about again when we remember that ""He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities"" (Isa. 53:5, see tomorrow's study).

Jesus offered no defense to His accusers. But when the high priest asked Him directly, ""Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"", Jesus replied, ""I am"" (vv. 61-62). Here is more evidence of the Jewish roots of our faith, because our Savior is also the Messiah, the promised Redeemer of Israel who was anticipated and prophesied throughout the Old Testament.

Mark's description of the scene at Calvary is grim, from a human standpoint. We know that the crowd shouted insults and taunts at Jesus as He hung on the cross. And apparently, the two thieves began the ordeal by reviling Him. Later, however, one of the men turned to the Lord in faith (Luke 23:39-43).

The tearing of the temple curtain when Jesus died (Mark 15:38) has tremendous meaning for our faith in relation to its Old Testament roots. The curtain separated the holy place from the holy of holies, the inner sanctuary into which Israel's high priest came once a year with a blood sacrifice on the Day of Atonement (see the April 14 study). Jesus' death fulfilled the purpose of the sacrificial system, and provided us with a way into God's presence.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
There is so much more to the story of Good Friday than we can include in this study. We encourage you to read more in each of the four Gospels.

As you read, take special note of Jesus' cry in John 19:30: ""It is finished."" This was an announcement that the debt of our sins had been paid in full. The ""bill"" we owed to God for violating His law, which we could not pay, was paid by Jesus Christ with His precious blood. Meditate on the wonder of this truth, and then express your thanksgiving to the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 53:1-12
We all, like sheep, have gone astray.... and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a recent issue of Worldwide Challenge magazine, Erik Segalini relates this story from the life of Andrew Murray, the South African pastor and author whose works still have great influence today.

Murray was once riding to the aid of someone who needed him, crossing seventy miles of wolf-infested plain to do so. At one point Murray stopped to let his horse graze, but the animal sensed the presence of wolves and galloped away. Murray was forced to continue the dangerous journey on foot. ""I prayed to God to keep me and walked straight on,"" Murray explained. ""The wolves snapped at me but did not touch me.""

Andrew Murray's experience in the wilds of nineteenth-century South Africa provides a helpful illustration of Jesus Christ's journey on earth. Jesus moved among ""wolves"" as the innocent Lamb of God, withholding His lion-like power. His enemies sought to attack and harm Him. And while they did tear His flesh (Ps. 22:13) and hang Him on the cross, they could not keep Him from accomplishing His mission of redemption.

Isaiah 53 is one of the most remarkable prophecies in the Old Testament. It is a panorama of Jesus' life from His incarnation to His death, resurrection, and exaltation by God. Jesus' rejection by the nation of Israel is explained, though not excused, by the fact that He was unremarkable in His physical appearance (v. 2). The Messiah was ""despised and rejected"" rather than receiving the esteem He was due (v. 3).

But this man who was considered to be unimportant by those in power died as a substitute for the sins of the entire human race. All of us had gone astray like sheep, so Jesus became the lamb who willingly subjected Himself to suffering and humiliation to save us.

The prophet also wrote that Jesus would be cut off in the prime of life with no descendants (v. . And, even though God's Servant died, Isaiah prophesied that He would again see ""the light of life"" (v.11) and enjoy exaltation among the great and strong (v. 12)--because He was willing to give His life for the sins of the world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
""Who has believed our message?"", Isaiah asked (v. 1). This was a lament for the relative few who would believe the prophecy concerning Israel's Messiah.

Believing the message about Jesus Christ is still the most important issue anyone could face today. This Easter season is a wonderful time to bring lost friends and family members to the Lord in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to the truth about the Savior who died for them on the cross. Also, pray that God will use you as a witness to those around you this month.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:1-32
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! - Luke 24:5-6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Those who heard the late pastor and author A.W. Tozer preach in his church on the south side of Chicago said that his sermons were powerful. One listener reported, ""Tozer had a way of making his audience want what God wanted, no matter what the cost."" Countless readers of Tozer's books can also testify that his writings about the knowledge of God made their hearts burn with a new desire to know the Lord.

Although no human teacher can be compared to Jesus Christ, we know that those who listened to Jesus' teachings never forgot His words. On the day of His resurrection, Jesus reached back into the Old Testament to teach two of His doubting disciples the prophetic truth about Himself. And their hearts burned with His message.

Of course, Jesus came out of the grave that first Easter Sunday in fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures. David had written that God would not abandon His ""Holy One"" to the grave, nor allow His body to undergo any decay before bringing Him back to ""the path of life"" (Ps. 16:9-11). Today we remember and rejoice in the glorious fulfillment of this prophecy concerning Jesus Christ.

While the eleven remaining apostles and the women who served Jesus were left in awe and puzzlement at the empty tomb, Luke records an unusual trip Jesus made later that day to a village called Emmaus. Bible students know the story well. Jesus joined two discouraged disciples as they made their way back home after a hectic day in Jerusalem.

These two knew that God's Word promised Israel a Redeemer (v. 21). They had hoped that Jesus was the realization of this promise, but now He was gone--the victim of the nation's own leaders.

But Jesus had a message for His followers, and for the world. He began on ""page one"" of the Old Testament and gave His companions an unforgettable Scripture lesson. Today, we wish Luke had recorded what Jesus said. But the impact was clear. Coupled with Jesus' sudden disappearance at the table that evening, the Emmaus disciples became convinced of the truth about Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul said that if Jesus were still in His grave, our faith would be ""futile"" and we would be objects of pity (1 Cor. 15:17, 19).

But because Christ's resurrection is a glorious reality (v. 20), we are the most blessed of all people. Consider these benefits of Jesus' resurrection from the dead: Our faith is solid, we are guaranteed of our own resurrection someday (vv. 22-23), and our last and greatest enemy, death, has been destroyed (v. 26). Before the day is over, why not share these blessings with your family or friends?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us. - 1 Corinthians 10:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
An article in U.S. News & World Report says researchers have discovered that ants have an incredible sense of direction. They can calculate their direction and the distance they travel in gathering food, allowing them to come directly home after picking up dinner. Using more than a million neurons, these tiny marvels can also memorize the visual landmarks and the twists and turns along the route.

Many of us would be happy to have an ant's sure sense of direction and accurate memory of where it has been. Skills such as these would not only help us when we're lost on the highway, they would be a real asset in the spiritual realm, too. But the tendency to forget is wired into our human nature.

That's why Paul felt it necessary to warn believers of the pitfalls that most of their spiritual ""forefathers,"" the Israelites, fell into during their long trek through the wilderness. Today's reading is a great example of the Jewish roots of our Christian faith, as well as a timely warning for us in our walk with Christ.

These verses show Paul's knowledge of the Old Testament. Of course, we would expect that from one of the most brilliant and well-trained rabbis of his day, which is what Paul was before his conversion to Christ (Phil. 3:4-6). He reminded his readers that through Moses, God sustained the Israelites with manna and water when they were in need (see Exod. 16:13-15, 31; 17:6).

The manna came down from heaven every day except the Sabbath. Paul says that Jesus Christ was the true source of this provision. What a great picture of Jesus as the bread of life!

But the Israelites forgot God's goodness, and Paul mentioned four specific occasions when the people sinned (vv. 7-10). They made and worshipped a golden calf while Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, committed sexual sin, and tested the Lord in other ways. For these offenses, all but two of Moses' generation died in the desert.

Why do we need to be reminded of these failures? So that we will not become self-assured and self-reliant (v. 12).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How many Christians have fallen into temptations to which they thought they were immune? Their number is probably legion.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We have several thousand years of biblical history to teach us what happens when God's people become arrogant and think they can do things themselves. We don't have to worry about God letting us face more than we can handle. He has promised not to do that (v. 13). Our responsibility is to ""be careful"" and watch where we are going so we aren't tripped up. What are your plans for avoiding needless temptation today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 12:1-3; Romans 9:1-5
I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.... And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. - Genesis 12:2-3
TODAY IN THE WORD
By the time it was completed, the famous Lincoln Highway stretched 3굥 miles from New York to San Francisco. But at its inception in 1913, the highway was simply a line drawn across a U.S. map and a vision of what the roadway could become. In the early days, critics said the Lincoln Highway connected America's worst mud holes. One photo of the road from 1919 shows a Model T mired up to its axle in a long, muddy rut in Ames, Iowa.

This is how things must have looked to the patriarch Abraham as he obeyed God's call to go to a new land and a new way of life. Ur of the Chaldeans (Gen. 11:28), Abraham's home, was the New York City of its day in terms of urban sophistication. By contrast, Palestine must have seemed like a barren stretch of desert roadway.

All Abraham had to go on was a line on a map, so to speak, and a summons from a God his ancestors had not worshipped. Once he set out on the journey to Palestine, Abraham received God's promise that he would become the father of a great nation--a vision of what would happen someday.

Like the beginning of a great highway, this promise marked the beginning of a line that would eventually reach all the way from Abraham to Jesus Christ, and include people of faith in every generation. It was in Genesis 12 that the Jewish roots of our Christian faith were first established.

Both Jews and Christians call Abraham ""father"" because he is ""the father of all who believe"" (Rom. 4:9). The covenant God made with Abraham was unconditional, meaning that no human failure could nullify it. We will be eternally grateful for this, because God's promise to bless all peoples through Abraham was fulfilled in the life and death of Abraham's descendant, Jesus Christ.

In his lament over the spiritual blindness of Israel (see the April 25-26 studies), Paul says the Jewish people were the human vehicle through which Christ came (Rom. 9:5). He is Israel's Messiah, and all believers share in the blessing that was first given to Abraham. The nation of Israel should be close to the heart of every believer.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One way to keep Israel close to our hearts is by praying for ""the peace of Jerusalem"" (Ps. 122:6).

This includes our prayers for the nation of Israel and for the many Jewish people living in other lands such as the republics of the former Soviet Union, where anti-Semitism is on the rise. Let's ask God today to protect His people Israel, and open their eyes and hearts to the Messiah, Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Genesis 15:1-6; Galatians 3:6-9
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. - Galatians 3:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
It has been said that tradition is the living faith of those who are now dead, while traditionalism is the dead faith of those who are now living.

If we understand tradition in the positive sense as the passing on of a body of beliefs or teachings, then this statement helps to explain the difference between the vital faith of Abraham and his spiritual descendants. It also gives us insight into the agenda of those who were always trying to hang the yoke of the Jewish law on the necks of believers.

The close connection between the Old and New Testaments, and the rich heritage of our Christian faith, stand out clearly when today's texts are placed side by side. Despite the centuries that separated Paul's life from Abraham's, Abraham was saved, or justified (to use two New Testament terms), in the same way that believers are saved on this side of the cross--by faith.

When Abraham believed God's promise that he would have descendants as numerous as the stars, the Bible says God credited His righteousness to Abraham's account. This is legal language; God was handing down His verdict on Abraham: ""Not guilty.""

That's exactly what God does for those who believe today. When we put our faith in Christ, we were declared not guilty by God because the blood of Christ was applied to our sin debt and it was paid in full.

The difference is that Abraham, and all the Old Testament saints, looked forward to God's Redeemer by faith. As Christians we look back to that Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and put our faith in His finished work on the cross.

Abraham was the ""man of faith"" because his faith was the model for all believers, and because his faith helped open the way of salvation to all nations. This is Paul's point in Galatians 3:8-9 when he says God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him (see Gen. 12:3).

What was it about Abraham that pleased God so much that He ""announced the gospel in advance"" to Abraham (v. ? It was his faith, which started an incredibly rich heritage of trust in God that all believers are still inheriting today.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Glance back at Galatians 3:1-5 and you'll see that Paul's great teaching about Abraham was part of an argument against letting anyone put Christians under the bondage of legalism--which is trying to please God by your own efforts.

We know that salvation is by faith alone. But sometimes we can fall into the trap of trying to force others to conform to our ideas. Are you judging another believer by a personal list of do's and don'ts? Why not tear up the list and allow your fellow Christian the freedom to follow Christ?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Matthew 5:17-20
The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. - Romans 7:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
We are told that the main library at one of America's large state universities is sinking at the rate of one inch per year. The reason for the problem is that when engineers designed the building, they failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy its shelves.

Spiritually speaking, that's similar to what happened to the system that Israel's religious leaders had built in the years before Jesus' coming. Adding to God's law, these leaders had developed a complex system of laws and rules, many of which regulated outward behavior but had little impact on the inner life.

This was not the system Jesus came to fulfill by His sinless life. When He said He had come to the fulfill the Old Testament, He was referring to the ""holy, righteous, and good"" commands of God, which had the power to justify the person who could keep them perfectly. No one could, however--until Jesus came. He lived the perfect righteousness that God's law requires, which qualified Jesus to be our Savior.

What about all the regulations and additions the Pharisees and teachers of the law taught and defended so passionately? Jesus once said of this system and the ones who perpetuated it, ""They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders"" (Matt. 23:4). Jesus came to set people free from that burden. But He did not come to push aside or ignore God's righteous requirements.

Paul reminds us that the problem is not God's commandments, but our sinful response to God's holy demands (Rom. 7:7-12).

Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees might lead us to think He saw nothing good in them. But as one Bible teacher pointed out, the problem was not that the Pharisees were not good.

Instead, they were not good enough. Their rules could make people outwardly good, but could not satisfy the law's demand for absolute righteousness. That's why Jesus said anyone who hoped to enter God's kingdom would have to possess a righteousness greater than that of the Pharisees. In the final analysis, only Jesus could meet this requirement.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Many people are trying to please God by their good behavior. But the gap between us and Him can't be closed by our own works.

Do you believe you are going to reach heaven on your good record? If so, it's possible that you have never come face-to-face with your sin and its consequences (Rom. 3:9-10, 23; 6:23). If you have any doubt at all about your salvation, talk with your pastor or a Christian friend. And if your relationship with Christ is secure, you may want to talk with your family and make sure each member knows the Lord.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 12:1-17; Leviticus 23:4-8
The blood will be a sign for you...and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. - Exodus 12:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
At the beginning of the month we learned something about the importance of Passover to the Jewish people and to Jesus Christ (see the April 1 study). Our Lord knew He had come to be the paschal (Passover lamb) who would die to bring God's people redemption.

Like the Old Testament festivals and Jewish symbols we will study this month, Passover finds its fulfillment in the death of Jesus Christ for sin. Today we want to look at the original Passover in Egypt, which could be considered the first great event in Israel's history. It was, in fact, the Passover and exodus from Egypt that gave birth to the nation.

In case it has been a while since you last studied the book of Exodus (our subject next month), recall that the Passover was an integral part of God's tenth and final plague on Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, for refusing to let the children of Israel go. The death of every firstborn child and animal in Egypt (Exod. 11:1-10) would be undeniable evidence of the Lord's power.

The blood of the Passover lamb, applied to the top and sides of the door, was required for an Israelite home to be spared God's judgment of death on the eldest son. The spotless perfection and death of the lamb, and the application of its blood to avert judgment, are wonderful pictures of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin.

God instructed the Israelites to prepare and eat the Passover meal in haste, as if ready to leave at any moment. No leaven, or yeast, was allowed to be used in making the bread for the Passover, which gave the seven-day celebration following Passover its name--the Feast of Unleavened Bread (v. 17).

The people obeyed God, eating the meal with their sandals on and their outer robes tucked in their belts for better mobility (v. 11). That night, God struck every house in Egypt with death. A stunned Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said to them, ""Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites!"" (Exod. 12:31).

Passover became one of the three annual feasts that required every male Israelite to go to Jerusalem. The city must have been packed with worshippers during the Passover season in which Jesus died as the fulfillment of this great festival.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Yeast was often used in the Bible as a symbol of sin (see Matt. 16:6). The Jews were careful to rid their houses of all traces of yeast during their preparations for the Passover.

The symbolism of yeast teaches us a powerful lesson. Just as a small amount of yeast spreads through an entire loaf of bread, sin has a way of spreading through our spiritual lives and making its presence felt when we ignore or tolerate it. Today, let's sweep our hearts clean of unconfessed sin (1 John 1:9).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 1:29-37; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - John 1:29
TODAY IN THE WORD
It's always amusing, and usually a little disturbing, when someone publishes the results of a survey designed to measure people's knowledge of the Bible.

One recent poll indicated that although 93 percent of American homes contain the Bible, God's Word isn't sinking in. This poll showed that 54 percent of adults could not even name the writers of the four Gospels; 63 percent did not know what a Gospel was, and 58 percent could not name five of the Ten Commandments. And 10 percent of the respondents said Joan of Arc was Noah's wife!

John the Baptist and his disciples would have fared well on a ""survey"" of their Scripture knowledge. John knew the Old Testament prophecies concerning Elijah (Mal. 4:5) and ""the Prophet"" (Deut 18:15, see the April 18 study), and answered his questioners based on that knowledge (John 1:19-21).

John also knew who Jesus was, and understood the Savior's coming as the true Passover lamb to deal with sin. John's public identification of Jesus as God's lamb is another of the truths that draw the two Testaments together and show us the Jewish heritage of our faith.

Andrew and John, the writer of this Gospel, also knew the Old Testament and were looking for the Messiah. So the next day, when John the Baptist announced, ""Look, the Lamb of God!"" (v. 36), that was all the biblical clue these two men needed to recognize Jesus Christ as someone very special.

We have mentioned the Passover several times, but this feast and what it symbolizes is so crucial that we can't overemphasize its importance. God has always required blood to pay for sin. The blood of the Passover lamb, and the animals of the Old Testament sacrificial system, covered, or atoned for, sin until the perfect Lamb of God would come to take away sin for all time with His one sacrifice (Heb. 9:28).

Paul was not directly discussing the Passover when he referred to ""Christ, our Passover lamb [who] has been sacrificed"" (1 Cor. 5:7), but the statement he made is still true. The Corinthians had allowed the ""yeast"" of arrogant boasting to corrupt their lives. As people redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, they were made for better things, such as ""sincerity and truth.""
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The people in the survey mentioned earlier might be surprised to learn that one brief phrase from John the Baptist's lips could cause two of his disciples to get so excited about Jesus.

But that one phrase about the Lamb of God was loaded with meaning, and blessing, for people like Andrew and John the apostle. They found Jesus, the Messiah. Talk about the benefits of Bible study! We hope today's study encourages you to stay in the Word each day. Don't let anything cancel your appointment with God.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20
You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. - Leviticus 23:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
Every feast that God gave Israel to observe in the Old Testament had a definite purpose behind it. Each celebration was an object lesson and a reminder of God's love, care, and provision for His people. These feasts were also designed to teach the Israelites important lessons about God's character and holiness, and about the place of priority He deserved in thelives of His people.

The Feast of Firstfruits is a good example of the way a feast fulfilled these teaching purposes. This ceremony of dedication to God was held on the second day of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (v. 11), leading some Bible teachers to believe that Firstfruits was simply a part of the larger festival rather than a distinct occasion.

Regardless, this ceremony retains its importance. That's obvious from the first words of today's reading: ""The Lord said to Moses"" (v. 9). This was a command from the throne room of heaven.

The ceremony involved bringing the priest a ""sheaf of the first grain"" from the harvest to be waved as an offering before the Lord. This act dedicated the entire harvest to the Lord and served as a promise or pledge of the full harvest to come. After the offering, this portion then belonged to the priests as part of the provision for their needs (Num. 18:13).

Today's verse reveals the verity of the firstfruits offering. God was to receive His portion first, before anyone tasted a bite of the harvest. By obeying this command, the people were acknowledging that all of the harvest came from the Lord and belonged to Him. God blessed the ""firstfruits"" given by His people in the Old Testament, and He still does so for us today. By honoring God first, we are declaring our trust in Him.

In the Old Testament, the principle of firstfruits reached beyond this one-day observance. Several of Israel's feasts included firstfruit offerings, because this principle applied to ""all that you produce from the soil"" (Deut. 26:2).

Paul applied the principle of firstfruits to Christ's resurrection--a wonderful reminder that His victory over death is the promise of our resurrection when He returns!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Imagine what would happen if more Christians made it their utmost priority to give God His portion of their time, money, abilities, and other resources.

It's a revolutionary concept, at least as far as our society is concerned. But firstfruits giving is the kind God has always required of His people. Many believers practice this principle, and can testify to God's blessing. Where do God and His work rank in your priorities?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:15-22; Acts 2:1
Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. - Exodus 23:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
You may have noticed that the passage you read for today and the verse quoted on this page call the same Jewish feast by different names. Actually, Moses did not really assign the feast a specific name in Leviticus 23, but described its duration and various offerings instead. It was known by several names, including the ""Feast of Weeks,"" because of God's instruction to count off seven weeks from the firstfruits offering before holding the festival.

The fact that this feast was observed fifty days after the firstfruits offering is a clue to its more familiar New Testament name. In later generations this special day came to be known as Pentecost, derived from the Greek term for ""fifty.""

Pentecost was an early summer feast to celebrate the arrival of the wheat harvest. The specified number of days between Firstfruits and Pentecost tied the two harvests together, since Firstfruits was an early spring feast to celebrate the barley harvest.

The place this festival holds as part of our heritage of faith is obvious from Luke's statement that it was the ""Day of Pentecost"" on which the Holy Spirit was given. Pentecost became the birthday of the church, as the symbolism of this harvest festival received new meaning in the fulfillment of Jesus' promise of the Spirit (Acts 1:4).

It's interesting to note that Jewish tradition identified Pentecost as the day when Moses received the law from God on Mount Sinai.

The offerings of Pentecost were more elaborate than those commanded for the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread. These included bread made with yeast or leaven. Pentecost was the only time that leavened bread was allowed to be brought in offering to the Lord. After the birth of the church, Pentecost must have taken on new meaning for believers. Paul had a strong desire to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost after being delayed on his trip (Acts 20:16). This feast was another witness to God's provision, which we enjoy today in the ministry of the Spirit through the church.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometimes it's easy for us to criticize the church and focus on its shortcomings.

But we need to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ loved the church and gave His life for it (Eph. 5:25). At Moody Bible Institute we are committed to serving, strengthening, and helping the body of Jesus Christ fulfill its holy calling. Today, let's pray together that Christ will protect and empower His church in a special way during this historic year.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 23:23-32
[Christ] entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. - Hebrews 9:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
Steven Ger of Sojourner Ministries (see the April 1 study) says one benefit of studying the Old Testament feasts is that they help us overcome what he calls the ""Leviticus Syndrome."" Ger says the problem comes ""when we decide to read through the Bible but get wiped out trying to plow through Leviticus."" It's safe to say that few believers spend much time studying the third book of Moses.

This is our loss, however, since the feasts of Leviticus are key to understanding much of the Old Testament. And as we are finding out this month, the feasts of Israel help us better understand our Christian faith. They helpexplain why Jesus said and did some of the things we read about in the Gospels. The apostle Paul also drew on the symbolism of the feasts in his writings.

Take the two feasts we read about today, for example. The Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement were crucial to Israel's worship. And the Day of Atonement appears in the book of Hebrews, as the writer explains the importance of Jesus' sacrifice.

The command to blow the shofar, or ram's horn, signaled the beginning of the Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah (literally, the ""head of the year"") in Hebrew. This ""sacred assembly"" (v. 24) also begins what is known in Judaism as the ""ten days of awe"" between Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, which is Yom Kippur in Hebrew.

These were holy days of soul-searching and repentance before God, and our Jewish friends still observe them as such today. These holidays occur this year on September 11 and 20, and many calendars list them by their Hebrew names.

We'll study the Day of Atonement in more detail tomorrow and Thursday, given its importance for Israel and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Steven Ger points out that amid all the prayers of repentance and seeking of God's grace that occur during these solemn days, Jewish worshippers can only find forgiveness in the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel's Messiah and the Savior of all who believe.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We hope these studies in the Jewish roots of our faith are helping you overcome any ""Leviticus Syndrome"" you may have about reading or studying the Old Testament.

We need to remind ourselves regularly that ""All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness"" (2 Tim. 3:16). The goal of our study is that we might be ""equipped for every good work"" (v. 17). Ask God to apply His Word to your heart in a powerful way this week, and be alert for opportunities to do His ""good work.""

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 16:1-28
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. - Hebrews 9:28
TODAY IN THE WORD
If you were an ""average"" Israelite standing by your tent on the Day of Atonement, you would be witnessing and participating in a very solemn and important event.

First of all, you would have been fasting since the evening before. This was to prepare your heart before the Lord, and because even minor household activities such as lighting a fire and cooking were prohibited.

You would also see the high priest in his special garments as two goats were brought before him at the door of the tabernacle, the ""Tent of Meeting"" (v. 7). He would cast lots for the goats, choosing one for sacrifice and the other to be the ""scapegoat"" that would be released into the wilderness.

But the real focus and concern of this holy day was the moment when the high priest, carrying the blood of the sacrifice, stepped behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place by himself to make an atonement for the sins of Israel for another year (vv. 15-17).

It doesn't take much imagination to sense the hushed tension the Israelites must have felt as they waited to see if the Lord would accept the sacrifice and cover their sins for the coming year.

No one was allowed to go with the high priest into this small room where the presence of God resided. Since the priest faced death if he failed to follow the Lord's requirements, his garment was fringed with bells so the people could hear that he was still moving around. There was also a rope tied around his ankle, so he could be pulled from the inner sanctuary if anything went wrong.

What a relief it must have been when the high priest pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, and the word spread, ""The atonement has been made!"" The people also had a visible testimony to this when their sins were confessed over the head of the scapegoat and it was released in the wilderness, symbolically carrying away Israel's sins.

It's hard for us to imagine this ritual happening every year, with our forgiveness before God hanging in the balance each time. Praise God for Jesus' ""once-for-all"" sacrifice!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Although we do not have to bring animals or food to God as sacrifices to atone for sin, we are not empty-handed worshippers.

One of the sacrifices we, as New Testament Christians, can make is ""to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased"" (Heb. 13:16). Is there someone in your neighborhood or church who has a need you can help meet? Do what you can in the name of Christ, as a witness to the other person and a sacrifice of gratitude to Him.