The Timeline of Christ’s Passion

By Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for the sins of humanity with His own life. He laid down His life to show His love for us. Did you know that the end of Christ’s earthly life occurred during the Passover season? This was the season in which God chose to show His love for the world. The timeline of events from His last Passover through His resurrection is sometimes called the Passion of Christ.

Before we can understand this timeline of events, we must first understand the Passover Season. To delve deeper in this subject, we must first review some details from the Old Testament. The Old Testament is the foundation of knowledge for the New Testament. It is the backdrop for all events in the New Testament. The Old Testament is quoted hundreds of time in the New Testament. Thus, to FULLY understand events in the New Testament, we need a grasp on the Old Testament. This will make the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ come to life.

The second detail we must grasp is how time is reckoned in the Bible. When Jesus was on earth, He only gave us one sign. “39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:39-40). In Jonah 1:17, the Bible records that Jonah “…was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

If this was the ONLY sign, it seems that it would be important to know it. What does three days and three nights really mean? The Roman Catholic timeline of Christ’s Passion is as follows: He had Passover and was arrested on a Thursday evening. He then suffered and died on Friday afternoon; lastly, He resurrected on Sunday morning. Many non-Catholic Christians also accept this view. Do we simply accept the traditional view? Only the Bible can direct us in the proper understanding of days and nights and the timeline of Christ’s Passion.

Old Testament Background

As we get into this article, remember that Biblical days begin and end at sunset. Genesis chapter 1 informs us that evening and morning are one day. Sunset ends one day and begins another day. What a beautiful reminder of God’s daily cycle!

Our examination of this subject will start with an understanding of the first Passover. In Exodus chapter 12, the children of Israel honored their first national Passover. On the fourteenth day of the first month on the Hebrew Calendar they killed a one-year old lamb and placed its blood on the top and sides of the door post outside their homes. That same night they ate a meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. That same night the death angel came through the land of Egypt to slay the first born of those who did not follow these instructions. The people were commanded to stay in their homes until daylight (Exodus 12:22).

After the Passover is a seven-day period called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The First and Last Days of this seven-day period are annual Sabbaths. Annual Sabbaths are special days in a year in which no work or labor is to be performed (this is in the same manner as the weekly Sabbath, which is from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset).

Altogether, Passover and Unleavened Bread are eight days. Sometimes they are listed separately and at other times the entire eight-day period is called Unleavened Bread. We have some Biblical examples below:

“5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is the LORD’s Passover. 6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work” (Lev. 23:5-8).

“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God; for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night…3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. You shall eat unleavened bread with it seven days, even the bread of affliction; for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste; that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life” (Deut. 16:1, 3).

“Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tents. They shall not appear before the LORD empty” (Deut. 16:16).

“14 You shall observe a feast to me three times a year. 15 You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib (for in it you came out of Egypt), and no one shall appear before me empty…” (Exodus 23:14-15).

These details provide the necessary background information to understand the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Sometimes Passover is listed separately from Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:5-8; Deu. 16:1-3). In Deuteronomy 16:16 and Exodus 23:14-15, God gives a summary of the three Holy Day seasons. While it is not specifically mentioned, Passover was still observed the day before the Seven Days of Unleavened Bread.

As we read the gospels, we learn that Christ was not just keeping “the last supper” with His disciples. They were keeping Passover.

The Meaning of Three Days and Three Nights

The next step is to understand how time is calculated in the Bible. Christ said He would be in the tomb three days and three nights. There has been a debate about the meaning of these words. Was Jesus in the Tomb parts of three days (such as part of Friday, Part of Saturday, and Part of Sunday) or was He in the Tomb three whole days and three whole nights (72 hours). A series of verses will provide clarity.

“Jesus answered, ‘Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him’” (John 11:9-10). These verses describe events that happened just before Passover. Jesus plainly said that there were twelve hours of day. Night is juxtaposed as a separate time from the twelve hours of day.

Some would use Jesus’ words to proclaim that only the hours of day are counted. However, the hours of night and day are both counted in the Bible. “For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:15).  “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night” (Acts 23:23).

These two examples from Acts teach us that both the night hours and the day hours are counted. In fact, the night was divided into four watches of so many hours each. “In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:25).

In Mark 5:5, we learn about the man of Gedara, who was possessed by demons. “And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones.” Obviously, night and day are mentioned in the verse to describe a 24-hour period. The man was crying out at all times.

In Matthew 4:2, we learn that Christ fasted forty days and forty nights: “When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.” I have never heard anyone make the assertion that Christ fasted less than forty days with 24 hours each.

From these Biblical examples, the answer is plain. Jesus was in the tomb three days and three nights.

Now that we have the Biblical understanding of Passover and time, we will begin to map out the events that happened from the Passover through the Resurrection. As we go through the timeline, we will quote as many Scriptures as space allows. We will have references for summarized verses.

Tuesday Night – The Passover

Matthew 26:17-20 – “Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, ‘My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover. Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.”

The first day of Unleavened Bread mentioned in these verses is later clarified as the Passover. Matthew is clearly referring to the entire eight days as Unleavened Bread. Passover comes first. Notice that Passover began in the evening because that’s when days begin. While Jesus kept the Passover, the following events happened:

John 13:2-17 – As the meal was being served, Christ washed the feet of His disciples. He set an example for us to do the same.

Luke 22:17 – Jesus opened the Passover meal with the blessing of the first cup (historically this was called the Kiddush).

Matthew 26:23-25; John 13:18-30 – Judas eats the bread dipped in the dish. He left the meal to betray Jesus. “Therefore having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night” (John 13:30).

Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20 – Jesus took the unleavened bread and the last cup; He revealed and instituted that these elements represented His body and blood. Luke noted that this cup was taken at the end of the meal.

Matthew 26:31-35 – Jesus told the disciples that they would stumble this same night. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight’…” (Matthew 26:31). Peter contended that he would never fall away. Jesus then prophesied that Peter would deny Him three times.

John Chapters 14-17 – Christ taught the disciples about the meaning of discipleship and the coming of the Holy Spirit. He prayed for all those who would believe in Him.

Matthew 26:36-46; John 18:1; Luke 22:39-44 – Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with the disciples. He took on the sins of the world and suffered in great agony. In this angst, He sweat great drops of blood.

Matthew 26:47-56; John 18:2-12 – In the Garden, Judas arrived with troops and soldiers to betray Jesus. Our Savior was arrested and the disciples were scattered.

Matthew 26:57-68 – Jesus was led before the high priest, elders, and Sanhedrin; He was hastily put on trial and falsely accused.

Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter denied Christ three times. The rooster crowed; he realized his sin and wept.

Wednesday Morning

Matthew 27:1-2 – “Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.”

Matthew 27:11-26a; John 18:28-40 – Jesus was put on trial by Pilate; while many accusations came forward, Pilate declared Him innocent. The people refused this ruling and wanted a criminal released instead (Bar-abbas).

John 19:1-3; Matthew 27:26b-30 – Jesus was mocked and subsequently scourged by the Romans. He had a crown of thorns driven into his head. The people wanted His crucifixion; Pilate washed his hands of Christ’s blood and turned Him over to their demands.

Wednesday Afternoon

Matthew 27:31-38; John 19:16-24 – Jesus was led out to be crucified; He began carrying his own cross. At some point along the way, Simon of Cyrene helped him carry the cross. He was crucified along with two convicted criminals, who were placed on either side of Him.

Matthew 27:39-51 – Christ was mocked while He suffered. Darkness covered the land from the sixth hour unto the ninth hour of day (12 pm to 3 pm in our reckoning of time). About 3 pm, Christ breathed his last breath and died.

Wednesday Late Afternoon

John 19:31-33 – “Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Therefore the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.”

In Roman times, they broke the legs of those nailed to a cross because it hastened the process of death by suffocation. John’s gospel informs us why they wanted the bodies off the crosses.

John 19:31 reads: “…for that Sabbath day was a special one” The Greek word translated as ‘special one’ is megas. When megas is used with the word Sabbath, it refers to an Annual Sabbath (not the weekly Sabbath). Therefore, John 19:31 references the First Day of Unleavened Bread, which is the day after Passover. They did not want the bodies to remain on the crosses during this Holy Day. Jesus had already passed away before they could break His legs.

Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47 – In the late afternoon, Joseph of Arimathea asked for Jesus’ body. He wrapped the body in linen cloth and laid it in his own tomb, which was carved out of rock. Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin. This means he had to bury Jesus’ body, wash with water, and still attend the public celebration of Passover after sunset.

Mark 15:47 – “Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid.”

These details are very important. Our countdown to His resurrection begins Wednesday late afternoon.

Thursday Morning

Matthew 27:62-66 – On the First Day of Unleavened Bread, the priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to place a guard over the cover of the entrance to the Tomb for the next three days. They recalled Jesus’ words that He would rise from the dead after 3 days. Pilate agreed and sent troops. The tomb was also sealed to prevent anyone from rolling it away.

Thursday Evening or Friday Morning

Mark 16:1 – “And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”

The Sabbath which passed was the First Day of Unleavened Bread. No shops would have been open, so they had to wait until the Annual Sabbath was over before they could buy and prepare them.

Luke 23:56a – “They returned, and prepared spices and ointments…”

Friday at Sunset

Luke 23:56b – “…On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” The weekly Sabbath is a commandment.

Saturday Afternoon – Jesus resurrected from the dead. This was three days and three nights after He died and was buried. Most Jewish people would have been at synagogue or resting at home.

Saturday Evening – “Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!’ Mary came to the Tomb and found it empty. She ran to tell Peter and John. They ran to the tomb to see that it was empty” (John 20:1-2).

Recall that Biblical days begin and end at sunset. Therefore, early on the first day of the week while it was still dark would have been just after sunset on Saturday. As soon as the Sabbath ended they went to the Tomb. It was empty.

Thus, we can see that the only arrangement of time that allows for three days and three nights to elapse from Christ’s death to His resurrection is a Tuesday night Passover and arrest, a Wednesday crucifixion/death, and a Saturday afternoon resurrection. This arrangement also allows for an Annual Sabbath and weekly Sabbath to be included.

Now we can better understand the gospel accounts describing the timeline of Christ’s Passion.

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

BSA President – biblesabbath.org

Bibliography

Holy Bible. Kingdom Life Version.

Jewish Encyclopedia 1905: Kiddush; Seder

Sabbath Keeping in the Messianic Movement

Dr. Daniel Botkin

“My spiritual identity is centered in Jesus (Yeshua), not in Sabbath keeping. However, this does not lessen the importance of keeping the Sabbath, any more than it lessens the importance of keeping any of the other nine of the Ten Commandments. Keeping the seventh day Sabbath is very important to me and to others who, like me, are active in a movement that is usually called the Messianic Movement. Some people call this movement by other names — the Jewish Roots Movement, the Hebrew Roots Movement, the Torah Movement, the Messianic Israel Movement, and perhaps other names I have not heard. But the term most commonly used is the Messianic Movement.

The modern Messianic Movement grew out of the Messianic Jewish Movement, which grew out of the Hebrew Christian Movement of the 1800s. Of course Hebrew Christians/Messianic Jews existed long before the 1800s. Of course Hebrew Christians/Messianic Jews existed long before

the 1800s. As most readers of The Sabbath Sentinel probably know, the first-century ecclesia (church) in Acts started with Jewish believers in Jesus, and for several years consisted only of Jews and of proselytes who converted to Judaism.”

(this article is an excerpt from the May-June 2013 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel)

To read the rest of this article, which starts on page 5, click this link: http://biblesabbath.org/media/TSS_5-6-2013_561.pdf

 

Sabbath Meditation #7 – Living By Faith

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest” (Exodus 34:21).

“…the righteous shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17).

Of all the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is the chief commandment that governs our time. It is so important that all of our weekly activities are gauged by when the Sabbath starts and when it ends. Truly the Sabbath requires that we live by faith.

In Exodus 34:21, God explained that we are to rest on the Sabbath in plowing and harvest. These are two very different seasons, so this is an interesting instruction. For a farmer, the plowing season is a slower season whereas harvest is the busiest time. While most people today are not farmers, there are still lessons we can learn from this verse; we each experience busier and slower times in life. We want to avoid certain temptations that are present in both.

During a slow season of work, the human mind might be tempted to think: “Well, I didn’t do a lot of work this week, so I feel physically rested. I guess its ok to do a little work on Sabbath.” In Exodus, God is clearly saying – “NO! – don’t do that!”

Harvest time presents obstacles. When a crop is ripe for ingathering, there seems to be only so much time to gather it in. The crop can get exposed to bad weather, animals, or other factors. During busier times of work, the human mind might think: “I only have so many days to get the harvest in – I better get out there and work all seven days of the week.” In Exodus, God is saying – “NO! – don’t do that!”

What is the ultimate lesson to be learned from His instruction? God wants us to trust Him and walk by faith. During slower times of work when we might already feel physically rested, do we trust that the Sabbath will still have the physical and spiritual refreshing from God that we need? In busier seasons, do we trust that God will protect our harvest (physically and/or figuratively) while we continue to honor Him?

As I have honored the Sabbath over the years, I have seen this dynamic happen. Certain Fridays in the year, all sorts of work and problems crop up before Sabbath starts. I have learned to let God work those things out. After all, every bit of labor and work (mental and physical) we deem important will still be there for us after the Sabbath is over. All the work we deem important is never more important than the Words of God.

When life seems slower, do not neglect the full observance of the Sabbath. When life is extremely busy, do not neglect to rest on the Sabbath in the Biblically prescribed way.

If we obey Him, then by faith He will work the rest out.

“…the righteous shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17).

Selah.

Kelly McDonald, Jr

BSA President, www.biblesabbath.org

The Law is Not Completely Fulfilled: A Brief Explanation of Matthew 5:17-18

by Kelly McDonald, Jr.

In Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (KJV).

The Greek word translated as destroy in these verses is kataluo, and it means to dissolve, disunite, or to loosen something that has been joined together. By the time Christ came, the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders had loosened the Law’s requirements (see Matthew chapter 23 as an example). Widows and orphans were mistreated; reverence for God had been loosened by them. Christ’s words oppose such lax obedience. Instead of catering to them, Christ proclaimed that He came to fill the law’s meaning to the full or tighten its requirements.

Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 5 and indeed His entire life are a fulfillment of Isaiah 42:21: “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable” (KJV).

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus gave an entire chapter about how He magnifies the Law or tightens its requirements. For instance, Christ magnified “Do not commit adultery” by revealing to us that we should not even lust in our heart or mind. Thus, the inward component brings a full meaning to the outward requirement. One of the Ten Commandments is that we should not steal. In Christ, this is magnified so that we should also labor and give to others (Eph. 4:28). We also learn in the New Testament that Christ is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28). This means Christ is not disassociated or loosened from it, but eternally connected to it.

But there are people who have used Matthew 5:17-18 to propose that the entire law of God is fulfilled with the implication that it is negated. These claims are inconsistent with other verses.

For instance, when speaking about Passover, Jesus said, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom?” (Luke 22:15-16). From these precious words, we learn that Passover will not be completely fulfilled until the Kingdom of God comes. Elements of Passover have certainly been fulfilled, but not the entire celebration.

There has never been a king on earth that fulfilled every word of Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Christ is coming to rule the earth for 1,000 years. At that time, He will fulfill those verses with righteousness and justice.The Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day (and perhaps Pentecost) are also unfulfilled.

Ultimately, my point is that the law of God is not completely fulfilled. Christ came to fulfill it, but we forget that Christ’s coming happens in two stages. The first was His coming to earth to die as the sacrifice for our sins; the second was to come as the conquering King. In each return, elements will be fulfilled.

There are also those who claim that Christ fulfillment of the law led to its complete abrogation or negation. By extension, they also claim that Christians do not have to follow any of it.

First of all, this explanation contradicts the obvious words of Christ, which plainly state that HE did not come to abolish it.

Secondly, such arguments are not Scriptural based upon the previous verses viewed. The Law is not completely fulfilled. Secondly, most people with this viewpoint usually do not consistently apply it.

If the assertion that Christ’s obedience to the Law of God fulfills it and voids Christian expectation to obey any part of it, then the following items are now acceptable: murder, sexual immorality, theft, idolatry, etc. It also means tithing is void (but somehow they find a way to keep that one).

This interpretation leads to the law being loosened, which is contrary to Christ’s words in Matthew. The logic of this viewpoint cannot be consistently applied to the New Testament, since Christ and the early Apostles held the standard of God’s commandments in the early church (see I Cor. 6:9-10, Eph. 6:2, Rev 21:8 for some examples).

As we think about Matthew 5:17-20, let us consider how God’s commandments have a fuller, more meaningful application in Christ (not a loosened meaning).

Kelly McDonald, Jr.

BSA President – www.biblesabbath.org

Paul Preaches on the Sabbath

Acts 13:42-44: “42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

Acts 16:13: “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.” This is a great verse that confirms that the apostles kept the 7th Day Sabbath according to the Commandment and not the first day of the week. Paul goes out of the city to a quiet place by the riverside to pray on the Sabbath Day. He also meets some women there, who also retreated to this quiet place for the Sabbath.

Acts 18:4: “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” As we can see, Paul is not just going into the synagogue to reason with the Jews, he is also preaching to the Greeks (Gentiles) on the Sabbath Day!

Acts 25:7-8, Acts 28:17-18, 23-24

“7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, 8 while he answered for himself, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.’” “28:17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: ‘Men and brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go, because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.’ 23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.”

(this article is from the July-August 2012 edition of the Sabbath Sentinel)

This article was taken from page 17 of this edition. To read more articles from this edition, click this link: http://biblesabbath.org/media/TSSJulyAug2012.pdf

 

 

The Pursuit of Happiness

By Logan Moorer

In the Declaration of Independence, our founders wrote that God had given mankind unalienable rights, including “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. One must keep in mind that any one of these three items are not exclusive from each other. Said another way, one’s pursuit of happiness should not hinder the liberty or life of another.

Unfortunately, the direction of the nation has taken a drastic turn for the worst. Some seem to think that their ‘pursuit of happiness’ means the liberty to take the life of another.  Recently, the state of New York has just passed a that will allow for the termination of any fetus, even up to the point of birth.

I watched an entire room of people not just vote to pass this bill, but applaud their self-proclaimed “progressive” agenda. Our country is at the point, and has been for quite some time, where we have the audacity to praise immortality and savagery. These types of behaviors remind us of Jesus words “Because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). This perversion of the phrase ‘pursuit of happiness’ has brought us to this place. The phrase is pleasant but taken out of context has led to terrible behavior.

Human happiness is a conditional emotion determined by our circumstance. While it is not evil in and of itself, it does have the potential to lead us straight to death. Therefore the other two inalienable rights, “Life and Liberty” are necessary. Now that those are being jettisoned for the illusion of human happiness, evil is being revealed.

The Apostle John worded it this way: “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:16-17). When we choose to chase after something that’s fleeting, like the sinful desires of our flesh, to attain happiness, we fail to realize that such feelings are temporary.  What then are we to pursue if not human happiness?

Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ‘Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble’” (Matthew 6:33-34). The pursuit of human happiness in and of itself without restraint leads to a path of ease.

If you choose the path of least resistance then you are sure to face fewer trials, but fewer trials means less growth. Isn’t growth the point of life though? Especially for those of us who have committed our lives to the path of righteousness! “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). That joy James speaks of is an entirely different subject!

Joy is not conditional like happiness because joy is not an emotion. It is a mindset that is focused on not self, but something beyond ourselves – the will and plan of God and his purpose for our lives. While human happiness without restraint leads us away from the storms of life, the joy of the Lord leads us through them. The joy of the Lord has the power to lead us through the storm because it is the mindset of thankfulness. After all the verb form of the word joy is to rejoice!

Paul wrote, “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.’ And again it is said, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.’ And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.’ And again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:8-13). That is the message of our faith!

The fleeting and fickle happiness of our flesh will never stand against the trials of this life, but the joy and hope given to us by the sacrifice and promise of our Lord Yeshua will last for the eternity that he promised. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great” (Luke 6:46-49). As children of God and brethren to one another, let’s build the house of the Lord, not our own! Let us walk in Godly joy and not the unrestrained passions of the flesh. Let us strive for joy and not be content with human happiness.

Logan Moorer  was born and raised in Montgomery Alabama. He attended Little Flock Ministries, a private Christian school, and graduated in June of 2014. He has been a member of  Living God Ministries since 1999. https://thelivinggodministry.org/