From the second to the third Passover festival 1 study
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week 2 studies
Contradictions 2 studies
From the second to the third Passover festival
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PER114
The praise of John the Baptist
Jesus pays tribute to John the Baptist in Capernaum (May–June AD31), according to Matthew 11.7-19 and Luke 7.24-35. Without seeking to recruit his disciples, he affirms John’s prophetic greatness, identifies him as the Elijah foretold by Malachi and signals the end of the old covenant. He contrasts the Kingdom of God with the kingdom built by the Pharisees according to their own rules.
Matthew 11.7-19 (King James Version) :And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
From the 3rd Passover to the start of the final week
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PER193
The transfiguration
The article explores the transfiguration of Jesus, in which he shines with divine light alongside Moses and Elijah on Mount Hermon. Peter, James and John are witnesses of it. This event reveals the divinity of Jesus.
Mark 9.2-13 (King James Version) :And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER195
The disciples’ question about the prophet Elijah
After the transfiguration, the disciples ask Jesus about the prophecy concerning Elijah. Jesus reveals that John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy, a connection that the Gospels develop progressively.
Matthew 17.10-13 (King James Version) :And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org
Contradictions
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CTD009
Was John the Baptist the Elijah who was to come?
Jesus regards John the Baptist as the prophesied Elijah, indicating a symbolic mission, but John denies this identity literally, according to John 1:19-21. This distinction between mission and personal identity clarifies an apparent biblical contradiction.
Luke 1.17 (King James Version) :And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
CTD046
Has anyone ascended to heaven apart from Jesus?
The article examines the apparent contradiction between Jesus' statements in John 3.13 and the account of Elijah being taken up in 2 Kings 2.11. It explains that Jesus is speaking of a unique divine authority and heavenly revelation that he alone possesses, whereas Elijah is miraculously transported by God. The term “heaven” has various meanings, and definitive access to the divine presence is linked solely to Jesus.
2 Kings 2.11 (King James Version) :And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org