THE LIVING WATERS (Zechariah 14:8)
Suggested Reading: Zechariah 13-14
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
As you enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher you can climb a set of stone stairs on the right. This stairway, according to tradition, leads to Calvary and contains a huge rock which is believed to have been split when Jesus uttered the words, "It is finished!" The rock can be seen under glass on both sides of the altar, and beneath the altar there is a hole said to be the place where the foot of the cross was lodged. Due to the significance of this, it is the most visited site in the Holy Sepulchre church. A friend of my son Ron is Greek, and he says the words on the front of the communion table say, "I SEE YOUR GARMENTS ARE EMPTY, ALMIGHTY CHRIST," referring to His burial clothes which remained in the tomb after HIS RESURRECTION!!!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Zechariah 13:1, 6
In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness... And one will say to him, “What are these wounds in your hands?” Then he will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.”
Zechariah 12:10 tells us that the Messiah will be pierced, and those who look on Him shall grieve deeply. In today’s reading we learn that this piercing is the source of a fountain for cleansing, “For sin and for uncleanness.” The redemptive work of Jesus on the Cross gave rise to a new and purified people of God, a spiritual Israel wherein there is no idolatry and no false worship. These are difficult words to understand in this chapter: “The sword against My Shepherd.” Read Isaiah 53:10-12 for another statement as to why the sword was turned against the Messiah Shepherd. What love!!! “It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.” How can our limited human minds grasp this?
The final chapter of Zechariah appears to describe the terrible atrocities that will happen just prior to the coming of Jesus Christ in power and glory. He will cut short those days of terror. Zechariah 14:12, “…flesh dissolving while they stand on their feet,” is as close as one can come to describing what happens to the human body which is in the detonation area of a nuclear bomb. The animals present will suffer the same fate (14:15). The Lord will put the final period to the book of human history. In three more days our readings move into the Revelation, the Apocalypse. The final victory over evil, and the eternal establishment of good is coming!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Keep me faithful, Lord God, I pray! Give me the clarity of thought to be able to understand as much of these challenging Scriptures as my mind and Your Spirit can enable me to grasp. I rejoice in the promise of Your first coming when You opened a fountain for cleansing from sin. I also rejoice in the promise that reveals that You are coming again to rule and reign. In the Name of Jesus I approach You with “HOLINESS TO THE LORD!!!” Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When Jesus, resurrected out from among the dead, made His second appearance to the disciples in Jerusalem, Thomas, who doubted Jesus’ resurrection, was present. Jesus said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side” (John 20:27). Immediately, Thomas believed and testified to the fact that Jesus is 100% God. He said, “My Lord and my God!” The Scripture found in Luke 24:33-43 expands on Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection. Jesus says, “‘Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I, Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet!” There were many appearances of Jesus, one time to over 500 people. I find it remarkable that the “Mishna,” minutes of the Sanhedrin, the ruling religious council appointed by the Romans, did not in any way record a refutation of the claims of Jesus’ appearances. It was politically impossible, as thousands had seen the resurrected Christ (Messiah). Approximately 5,000 Jewish men, including many priests, believed in Jesus after Peter’s message in the Temple court. Read Peter’s preaching…Acts 3:12 to Acts 4:4. In Acts 6:7 we read, “And the Word of the Lord spread, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” These Jewish priests, now followers of Jesus, continued to function in the Temple for almost 40 more years. The tradition of priests in the Church evolved directly from these priests who had experienced, through Jesus, the Fountain opened in the house of David “for sin and for uncleanness.”
Yours, looking forward to that day when “His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives” once again (Zechariah 14:4). Jesus changes everything!!!
David
In the past century past century technology has revealed how scripture can be realized. It is requiring less imagination to envision in the words of the prophets. It is possible by such world events as archeological findings and tests, the growth of extremist Islamic thought and increased population, we are moving at an exponential rate towards the fulfillment of biblical prophesies. Lord, may we do our part today to share the light of Your presence and Spirit in the world we live. Amen.
Amen!
Amen!
Today’s reading is so hopeful for us all. Thank you for your excellent explanations once again DM.
May we all have a blessed day.
Amen Lynda
http://www.andiesisle.com/ThisBlessingIsForYou.html
This is such a lovely blessing to get your day started, by Roma Downey.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men…Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Who gave Himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”(Titus 2:11, 13, 14). Thank you David and Beverlee for the song referral. God bless you saints!
Amen to that David.
“16 Everyone who is left from all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will come every year to worship the Melek, Yahweh Tsebaoth, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths.” What is the Festival of Booths?
The scripture is Amazing…May God’s Will be done in all our lives according to His riches in Glory! Amen!
Today I woke up almost at about 6am, but I am not discouraged because I know that soon and very soon The Lord will help me maintain the habit of waking up at 4am to pray! Amen.
Tomorrow, May 1st, Marks my 25th year here on earth, I want my fellow bloggers to help me pray for the gift I require most…THE TOUCH OF GOD UPON MY LIFE AND HIS DIRECTION. I WANT HIS PERFECT WILL TO BE DONE IN MY LIFE AND ALSO I WANT TO KNOW MY PREPOSE HERE ON EARTH. Thank you all and may we all have a blessed day! Amen:)
Patricia– you’re the gift God gave us so I thank you Precious Father for the gift that is Patricia and we ask You to grant her deepest desire to know You and Your Will for her life as fully as possible. Amen
Amen Donna M and Amen
Lord God may Patricia know you more and more. We will not be worshipping Angels (Melek) in that day, but we will be worshipping Yaweh, the Great Lord and Savior of the Universe, as will the Angels. The Festival of Booths is a Jewish Festival of remembrance. They live in Tents to remember that God brought them out of Egypt and that they were in the wildnerness living in tents. It is usually in Sept or Oct. God bless!
Amen! Thank you Sherry
Happy birthday tomorrow Patricia.
Heavenly Father thank you for the gift of Patricia. . May she feel your ever loving presence as she continues in your Word, seeking what you desire for her life. May she hear your voice through that Word guiding and directing her every step. We know You have a purpose for all of us, and I pray she will know the gifts you have blessed her with and she will use them for Your Glory. In the Precious Name of Jesus. Amen
Amen…Amen and Amen! Thank you Catherine and God bless you
Amen…Amen and Amen!!! Thank you Catherine and God bless you
Heavenly Father, we praise your Holy Name.
Patricia has come to you with petition… At 25 she is longing to be more Christ-like. May your Holy Spirit shine upon her and in her revealing a path of blessing and faithfulness in you Christ Jesus. Amen!
Amen!!! I receive it in Jesus name! God bless
Amen David M. Jesus changes everything!!! May the Holy Spirit of God shine through His faithful followers today!
It’s going to be an early season scorcher today here on the west coast. It’s supposed to get in the mid 20s today and almost 30 tomorrow. God willing, we should get a good start on the garden, before the rain comes back… Have a great day fellow bloggers…
Would you pray for me I have a cold and its not going away i know
this is small but I can’t do anything I want to do it just lags on
Thank you
Lianne Hogg
Father, would you touch Lianne and heal her from the cold she suffers from. Help her rest and feel better. Thank you Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord, You are the a Doctor above all doctors…we decree and declare healing for our dear sister according to your riches in Glory! Amen! It is Well Lianne
Wonderful reading today. Jesus indeed changes everything!!! We are so very blessed to be the children of The Most High God!!!
Thank you Saviour Jesus for your great obedience and sacrifice for mankind. Help us to share this with all we meet, in prayer and support for those who spread The True Living Gospel around the world. When You return in Glorious form, I pray we will be found serving you.
Amen!!!!
Dear Lord,
Thank you for your words & the explanations from D.M. I look forward to them each morning. Bless D.M. with continued good health & for his faithfulness. I use this blog to start my daily devotions. Father thank you for the many blessings which you have given me. All glory & honour belong to you.
Amen and Amen….