Worthy Brief - 4/22/2016
Friend, choose your passover lamb!
Exodus 12:3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Joshua 4:19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.
Matthew 21:8-9 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
The Temple Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem has been preparing temple articles, priestly garments and studying for years to prepare a priesthood for service in a proposed rebuilt temple on the Temple Mount. A recent news article reported that training had begun for the preparation of the Passover sacrifice. The day for the training was the 10th of Nisan, the day designated in the Old Testament for choosing the Passover lamb. Since the eyes of the Jewish people are still partially blinded to the true identity of their Messiah, most of them don't know that the ultimate Passover Lamb was already sacrificed 2000 years ago.
The 10th of Nissan was an historic day in the history of our faith. Not only was it the day the Passover Lamb was chosen and brought into the houses of the Israelites in Egypt – it was also the very day that the children of Israel, freed from slavery, finally crossed into Jordan entering the "Promised Land" for the first time. And one other significant event happened on this day: Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus, called Christ) entered Jerusalem on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah had said He would [Zech. 9:9] as crowds of Israelites shouted "Hosanna!" or "Save now!" to Him, confidently identifying Him as their savior and Messiah. In effect, the entire nation was choosing their "Passover lamb" who was to deliver them from sin and death! But the leaders of the nation rejected Him...
...and so modern Israel is still waiting for the Messiah, even here in the Promised Land, while He continues to be revealed as the Savior of the world in the Gentile nations. There is a remnant of Jews who have discovered Him, who have chosen their Passover Lamb carefully and who know He is without blemish, and a growing number have also come to live in Israel in fulfillment of God's promise to restore the nation in the latter days. But for most, Messiah's coming is still in the future...
Friend, there is a "Promised Land" for every soul who carefully chooses his Passover Lamb, Yeshua the Messiah, whether Jew or Gentile. It is the promise of deliverance from sin, death, and Hell, into eternal life in a New Heavens and a New Earth. Our Passover Lamb, Yeshua, is the only way of entry into this Land. Choosing Him has made us "priests" who offer spiritual sacrifices of prayer that His salvation will be known all over the world, and finally, once again, here in Israel.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Negev Desert, Israel
Editor's Note: Watch George's message: Which voice will you listen to in the last days?
Around the World
France announces global summit on Israel-Palestinian peace process
France will host a meeting of ministers from 20 countries on May 30 to try and relaunch the Israel-Palestinian peace process, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced on Thursday. He told the international press, however, that Israel and the Palestinian officials would not be invited to the meeting, which will take place in Paris.
Japanese prototype stealth plane makes first flight
Japan's first domestically manufactured stealth plane has made its first flight, making Japan one of only a handful of nations with airplane stealth capabilities.
China could build nuclear plants for South China Sea, paper says
China is getting closer to building maritime nuclear power platforms that could one day to used to support Chinese projects in the disputed South China Sea, a widely-read state-run newspaper said on Friday.
North Korea may have restarted tunneling at key nuclear site
Satellite images reveal North Korea may have restarted a tunnel-excavating project at its main nuclear test site signaling that another major launch could be on the way, a key monitoring website says.
UK issues travel warning about anti-LGBT laws in U.S. states
The U.S. is now one of a number of countries and territories about which the UK Foreign Office offers advice to LGBT travelers. 'The U.S. is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country,' it says. 'LGBT travelers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi.'
Talks stalled, Syrian opposition to stay in Geneva next week
The main Syrian opposition group says it's keeping 'technical experts' in Geneva next week to focus on humanitarian aid for the war-ravaged country, a wobbly cease-fire and a stepped-up push to win the release of detainees.
China Confirms Multiple-Warhead Missile Test in South China Sea
China's Defense Ministry on Thursday confirmed that Beijing fired its newest long-range missile into the South China Sea in a test this week, amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu hails 'very successful' meeting with Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday labeled his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day as “very successful,” adding that the two countries reached understandings over issues that had previously not been sufficiently clarified.
Russian forces fired on Israeli jets at least twice
Russian forces fired on Israeli Air Force planes at least twice in recent weeks, according to a Friday morning report in the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Israel will never leave Golan, Netanyahu tells Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday informed Russian President Vladimir Putin of his 'red lines' regarding the security of Israel's northern borders, and stressed that the Jewish state was determined to maintain its control of the Golan Heights.
Fearing terror attacks, IDF closes West Bank, Gaza ahead of Passover
Israel will close off the West Bank and Gaza Strip for 48 hours beginning Friday, amid fears of attacks by the Hamas terror group during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which begins Friday night, the army announced Thursday.
Inside the United States
Longest Cross-Border Drug Tunnel Discovered Had Elevator, Ventilation and Lighting, U.S. Atty. Says
Authorities on Wednesday revealed the details of the longest cross-border drug smuggling tunnel ever discovered in California. An estimated $1.2 million worth of marijuana and about $22 million worth of cocaine was seized.
FBI paid more than $1.3 million to break into San Bernardino iPhone
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said on Thursday the agency paid more to get into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters than he will make in the remaining seven years and four months he has in his job.
Pro-life group blasts Donald Trump for suggesting change to GOP platform on abortion
One of the largest pro-life groups in the nation on Thursday blasted Republican primary front-runner Donald Trump for saying he would work to change the GOP platform on abortion to include exceptions for rape, incest and threat to the life of the mother.
Pentagon to Counter Hypersonic Missiles with Lasers
The U.S. is moving to counter Chinese and Russian hypersonic strike vehicles using lasers, the director of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency revealed last week.
U.S. Politics
Trump's Harriet Tubman reaction highlights GOP problems with black voters
When the U.S. Treasury Department announced that they were bumping Andrew Jackson off the front of the $20 bill to be replaced by Harriet Tubman, most conservatives and Republicans praised the decision. But not Donald Trump.
Christian News
China: Pastor and Wife Bulldozed Alive
The wife of a church leader in China's Henan province was buried alive with her husband under the rubble of their demolished church where she suffocated and died on April 14.
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Hundreds of Hindus who were fiercely antagonistic toward Christianity have been turning to Christ.