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Showing posts with the label Passover

Blood and Water

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A Soldier Pierces Christ’s Side - James Tissot Blood and water flowing from the river of the temple. Lambs of the slaughter. Passover calls to the children. Pray as they did once, when Egypt was their prison. Now, to pray in the temple of God. Blood and water flowing from the heart of the temple. Sacrifice of the one lamb. The offering from creator to created. They pray as they will, forever freed from the bonds of every sin forgiven. copyright 2026 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author https://www.goodreads.com

The Rider

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Christ's Entry Into Jerusalem - Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin "Who is he?" Sara cried as she followed her father through the crowd. Since she was barely seven years old, her father held tightly to her hand.  Her older brother Caleb had moved ahead.  Her question went unanswered. "Is this to do with Passover?" she asked, confused by the apparent celebration. She felt her responsibilities were back home, with her mother.  The festival was near.  There would be many pilgrims coming to the city and flocking to the temple. She knew all the stories about her people being led out of Egypt.  She knew about the manna, the quail, the bitter water, and the golden calf.  Her mother would recite, from memory, words she had heard read from the scrolls.  She knew the blood of a lamb was important for the festival at hand, so was the wooden frame around their door.  Her father slowed.  The crowd ahead was shouting, chanting words about kings and the anointed....

In the Morning

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He has been left in the tomb. The Passover, His Passover, a lamb slaughtered, each doorpost etched with His blood. He was despised and rejected. His love, spat upon, by those who feared His truth. No political voice spoke in His favor. He was slain by the righteous. One from whom people hide their faces. Who can look at what they have done. He counts His bones and forgives. Those who know His love will find the wrappings where vacated flesh once laid. Doubt festers until a single question is asked, "Why do you shed tears?" They have taken the Lord's body. In the morning there is a dance of joy, delayed, until they understand, the blood and sweat on the linen and the words of an angel and the crucified Lord. copyright 2024 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

Dine With Us

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The Last Supper (1325-1330) - Ugolino da Siena Dine with us. Celebrate the night when lamb's blood was wiped on the doorpost. You'll not share another like this. The physical law has become a spiritual grace. We come to the upper room where everything is prepared. Blood of one perfect lamb becomes the wine of another. A sacrifice bringing life to you. Hold the bread in your hands for one moment. It is the flesh that will nourish your spirit. A covenant offered. Come and sit. Dine with us. Embrace what you are freely given. The pain of days to come will blend into joy. Cries made to Heaven for what has been lost will become shouts of rejoicing eternal. copyright 2024 - Donald P James Je https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Him

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Christ and the Pharisees - Alexander Bida The youth sits among the elders, quietly listening to the wisdom they share. They do not know Him. In twenty years some will. Some will listen to His words, they will see His works. Others will be deaf and blind. Does He interrupt them? For He has nothing to learn from them, and they have everything to learn from Him. But He listens. He knows these men with an intimacy we can never understand. Maybe a few of them will sit in judgement in twenty-one years. Maybe one will seek to wipe His brow. Soon the youth will no longer listen to men who wallow in their self-righteousness. He will confront their ideals out of love for the weak. But for now He listens knowing the Spirit of the Lord is upon Him. copyright 2024 - Donald P James Jr https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donald-P.-James-Jr./author