The Twelve Days of Christmas

Everyone knows the Christmas song "The Twelve Days of Christmas." It can be a fun song, but sadly most of the times it is just one of those songs that just seems to drag on forever. Even though the song is so well know, few people realize why we sing it, or even when the 12 days are. Most assume it relates to 12 days of gifts leading up to Christmas day. I remember as a youth when our youth program took gifts to a struggling family of our congregation, one gift each night for 12 days until Christmas. I don't even remember the family we shared the gifts with, but I do remember the good feeling I had for helping someone else in need. Though this is a wonderful tradition of many families, the actual meaning of the 12 days of Christmas is quite different.

The 12 days of Christmas actually starts Christmas day and goes until January 5th (the day before the day of Epiphany, or the day of the Wise Men). The 12 days are days to remember Christ's birth, each day representing a specific feast, like the feast of the Holy Innocents, or the feast of the Holy Family. The days, or feasts, are designed to help the Christmas spirit last into the New Year, not just for one day. In a way the 12 days of Christmas are actually gifts for us, 12 days that we can continue to remember the birth of Christ, even after Christmas.

In the middle ages the 12 nights were filled with feasts, merriment, and celebration. William Shakespeare even titled one of his famous plays the Twelfth Night, after the last, and most anticipated of the 12 days. Today, some Christians will give gifts each of the 12 days, some will only give gifts on Christmas and the day of Epiphany, or the day of the Wise Men (January 6th, the 13th day). It is also tradition to leave your Christmas decorations up for the full 12 days (taking them down on the twelfth night). In short, Christmas, if celebrated properly, is not to end on Christmas day, it is to last for 12 days.

In an effort to make Christmas last into the New Year and beyond, I created this calendar of the 12 Days of Christmas. I invite you to study the story of each of these individuals, or groups of people found in the Nativity story. As you study their story, look for how they responded to learning about the birth of Christ. How did they worship the Lord? How did they honor the Savior?  Most importantly ask, what can I learn from how they reacted? How can I better come and worship the Savior this year and into the New Year?

Day 1 (December 25) - Gabriel (Luke 1:11-20, 28-38)
Day 2 (December 26) - Zacharias (Luke 1:5-23, 62-79
Day 3 (December 27) - Elisabeth (Luke 1:24-25, 41-45, 57-61)
Day 4 (December 28) - Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)
Day 5 (December 29) - Heavenly Angels (Luke 2:9-14)
Day 6 (December 30) - Mary (Luke 1:26-40, 46-56; 2:6-7, 19, 22-24, 33, 39)
Day 7 (December 31) - Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-5; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23)
Day 8 (January 1) - Jesus (Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:31; 2:21 - Jesus is named on the 8th day)
Day 9 (January 2) - Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
Day 10 (January 3) - Anna the prophetess (Luke 2:36-38)
Day 11 (January 4) - Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1-8, 12-13, 16-18)
Day 12 (January 5) - The Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12)

A Christmas Gift of Service

For the past five years I have been working on a book about my grandmother's artwork. It was a huge project, and is now finally finished! The book contains over 600 of her drawings and around 100 of her poems. One of the things she loved to draw was artwork about the birth of the Savior. Her work is fairly simple, yet beautiful. This video includes most of her artwork about the nativity and Christ. I hope you enjoy.

May the light of Christ rest upon each of you this Christmas Season, and may each of us reflect His light and life to others by living as He did. May each of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oh Holy Night

The script I wrote for our Christmas Program today in church.

One of the powerful messages of the Nativity story is the importance of making difficult decisions, and doing challenging things. Each of the characters of the story of the birth of Christ had a choice. They could choose the easy way by living a normal life, or they could choose the more challenging road by following and honoring the Lord. These stories of Elizabeth, Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and others are not only recorded in scripture so that we can learn of the birth of the Lord, but they are written so that we might ponder and internalize these important stories.

How would we have acted had we been there on that joyous night over 2000 years ago? Would we be like Mary, submissive and humble; would we be like Joseph, obedient yet merciful; would we be like the wise men who made great sacrifices to know the Christ child; or would we even be like King Herod, who was more concerned about his own power and glory, instead of knowing the true King of kings.

As we study the stories of these faithful witnesses of the birth of Christ, let us remember the sacrifices and the decisions they made to worship and bring honor to the infant Savior. But more importantly, let us remember that we too must be willing to make these same sacrifices and choices if we truly want to honor and worship Him during this Christmas season and throughout the year.
____

Mary is, and always will be the first and one of the greatest disciples of Jesus Christ. She is also perhaps one of the most powerful witnesses of the Savior, because she knew Him like no other person on earth. She was there at His birth; she was there as He grew to a man; and she was there at His death and resurrection. She was always faithful to her Son, and she always believed in His divine mission. As a young girl of about 12 or 13 Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and was told that she would bear a son who would be the literal Son of God. She had a choice. She could accept, which most likely would mean ridicule, estrangement from friends, and embarrassment, or she could choose not to accept the will of God, which would mean she would be able to live a normal life, a life like any other girl her age.

Yet Mary chose the more difficult path; she chose to be the mother of the Son of God. Because of her decision, she most likely lost many friends who assumed she had broken the law of chastity; she also lost the chance of having a normal wedding, but instead was quickly married to Joseph in a small private setting. For the rest of her life she had to face the scorns of those who did not understand, of those who would not believe. Mary was a young girl, yet she chose to do the right. She chose to believe! And because of her choice, she is called blessed among all women!

Each of us should ask ourselves, if I were Mary, how would I have acted? Would I have chosen the easier way, or would I, like Mary, be willing to do whatever it took to follow and serve God.
____

Joseph was a man who of strict obedience, yet slow to judge, and quick to offer mercy towards others. According to the Law of Moses, Joseph had two choices when he found that his betrothed wife, Mary, was with child. First, he could have had Mary publicly judged for her supposed crime, where if she was found guilty she could likely be stoned. Second, Joseph could divorce her in private, not requiring a public trial. By choosing the second option, Joseph would not only preserve the life of Mary and the unborn baby, but he would also save Mary from public humiliation and judgment by the town's people. Joseph obeyed the law, yet he was merciful by caring more about Mary than his own feelings of hurt and pain.

If I had been Joseph, would I have sought retribution for supposed wrongs committed against me, or would I seek mercy while still fulfilling the law? Would I be more interested in my own feelings of hurt and pain, or would I care more about being merciful to someone who had hurt me?
____

We often depict shepherds as humble servants of the Lord. We glorify them as gentle and kind, willing to give their life for the flock. Though this often was true, at the time of Jesus shepherds were not seen in such positive light. The people saw shepherds as poor, nomadic and uneducated. Many even despised shepherds because they allowed their sheep to graze on land that did not belong to them. Yet, we learn that when these simple shepherds were tending their flocks at night, and heard the glorious message of the angels, they "came with haste" to find the promised Messiah. We also learn that once "they had seen [Him], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." They may have thought that no one would listen to a shepherd. No one would believe their words because of who they were. Yet it is as if they did not care. They were not afraid or ashamed to testify of the Messiah.

If I were a shepherd, poor and despised, would I be willing to be a witness of the truth of Christ’s birth, even though people may not believe me?
____

In Matthew we learn of wise men, who traveled far, to come give gifts to the child who had been foretold. These wise men traveled from the East, and apparently took up to two years to find the promised King of kings. When they arrived, they bestowed gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, all gifts fit for a king. We know they arrived when Jesus was around one or two, meaning that they had traveled for many months, even years, after seeing the sign of the star. This teaches us that not only were they watching for the coming of the Savior, but they were also willing to go the distance to make him a part of their life.

Are we preparing and watching for the Savior's Second Coming? Are we ready, and willing to go the distance to make the Lord a part of our life? Are we willing to give great gifts of service, love, and devotion to the King of kings, or do we bring our store-bought gifts to the child with the hope that he will not notice?
____

This Christmas season, let our gift to the Savior be a willing heart and a keen desire to obey, honor and worship the Lord. Let us learn from these great women and men of the Nativity story by not only admiring their courage, but by following their example. No greater gift can be given to the Lord than to commit ourselves to following him and to serve others. Let us, like the wise men, bring gifts fit for a king, gifts of service, love and devotion to our fellow being. Let us like the shepherds be willing to go in haste to find Jesus, and when we know him, let us be willing to testify of him to others. Let us, like Joseph, be quick to obey, yet merciful in all our actions towards others. And let us, like Mary, be willing to accept the will of the Lord, even if the consequences may be difficult to bear. May this Christmas not only be a time of gifts given on one single day, but may our gifts towards God and towards others last the entire season and year! And most importantly, may we never forget the greatest gift, the gift the Savior gave to us in Gethsemane, on Calvary, and in the Garden Tomb.

As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explains, "You can't separate Bethlehem from Gethsemane or the hasty flight into Egypt from the slow journey to the summit of Calvary. It's of one piece. It is a single plan.... Christmas is joyful not because it is a season or decade or lifetime without pain and privation, but precisely because life does hold those moments for us. And that baby, [the] beloved and Only Begotten Son in the flesh, born 'away in a manger, [with] no crib for his bed,' makes all the difference in the world, all the difference in time and eternity, all the difference everywhere, worlds without number, a lot farther than your eye can see."

Truly, we have great reason to exclaim, joy to the world!

The Sacrament and the Atonement

"Greatest in the Kingdom II" by J. Kirk Richards

A talk I gave today in church about the Sacrament and the Atonement of Christ.

My purpose today, I hope, is to increase our depth of understanding of the Sacrament (also know as Communion, or the Lord's Supper), and thus increase the significance of this sacred ritual. Of all the ordinances of the gospel, it is the only one that is performed on a weekly basis, and performed on behalf of an individual more than once in their life. We are only given a baby blessing once, we are only baptized once, for men we are only ordained to the priesthood once, and we are only endowed and sealed once in the temple. We may return often to the temple to perform work for the dead, but once we have received one of these ordinances, we no longer receive them for ourselves again. Yet the ordinance of the sacrament is performed every week, and is for our benefit each time. It is the only ordinance that we are explicitly commanded to observe more than once in our life (see D&C 59:9-12).

Ordinances have been a part of the gospel since the foundation of the earth. They are an essential part of the process that must be completed in order to become one with Christ. Ordinances are a representation of an inner-change that must occur within ourselves prior to becoming truly unified with Christ. Ordinances are a sign or witness of the eventual destination that we each must have. Ordinances, such as baptism, in and of themselves, are not enough to bring us to exaltation. The ordinance is only a symbol of what we are to become. When we truly have faith in Christ, repent of our sins, and have been baptized of water and of the spirit, then we are truly born again as Christ commanded us to become.

The simple act of partaking of the sacrament, in and of itself, will do nothing for us. The actual saving power comes when the change represented by the sacrament, actually takes place in our lives.

As asked by Elder Orson F. Whitney: “Is there any sacred efficacy in the bread or water, taken alone? No; there is not water enough in the ocean nor bread enough in all the bakeries of the world, to constitute the Lord’s Supper. What, then, makes it effective as a sacrament? It is the blessing pronounced upon it by the Priesthood and the symbolism whereby those elements are made to represent something greater than themselves, namely, the body and blood of the Savior. What is done then becomes a holy ordinance, full of force and effect” (as quoted in The Sacrament, by Truman G. Madsen, pg. 23)

Historical Background

To better understand the symbolism of the Sacrament, we must first understand the roots, or historical background of the Last Supper which took place on the eve before the Lord was crucified. On that night of nights, the Savior of the world and his apostles gathered to celebrate the Passover feast.

Passover is the oldest continuously celebrated religious holiday that exists. For over 3,500 years Jews have celebrated the Passover every year during the spring, to remember the miraculous exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.

There are several key factors to celebrating the Passover, each of which also directly relates to the symbolism and significance of the sacrament.

First, a lamb was to be chosen for each family that was to be sacrificed on the day before the eve of Passover. The lamb was to be a unblemished male, a year old, and was to be taken into the home five days before Passover. This little lamb would almost surely become a favorite pet of the children as they played with it, slept with it, and ate with it for the five days before Passover. Then, without breaking any of the limbs, they were to kill the lamb. It must have been a sobering experience for the children to see this “pet” die that they might live. The blood of the lamb was to be poured into a vessel and then dabbed onto the three lintels of the front door using a branch of hyssop, a type of tough wiry branch. This blood was to mark the home so that the destroying angel would pass by, not harming the first-born of that home (see Exodus 12:3-7).

Second, the Passover meal was to be eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The bitter herbs represented the bitterness and hardship of the slavery of Israel. The unleavened bread represented the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt (see Exodus 12:8). In the Bible, leaven or yeast, also was a symbol of impurity, thus unleavened bread represented purity and un-defilement (see Matthew 16:6).

Lastly, the Passover meal was to be celebrated every year, in remembrance of the mighty hand of the Lord, who brought freedom to the oppressed Israelites through the death of the first-born of Egypt (see Exodus 12:14).

The Last Supper

Christ, as an observant Jew, likewise celebrated Passover every year of his life. This feast was considered the most sacred of feasts, and hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered every year in Jerusalem for this special feast. According to Josephus, a historian of the first century, there were around 2.7 million Jews that would gather in Jerusalem every year for Passover, with an estimated 250,000 sacrificed lambs. Though this number is likely exaggerated, the number of sacrifices, and the number of visitors to Jerusalem must have been staggering. Coming to Jerusalem for Passover would have been a memorable experience to put it lightly.

According to the gospels, Jesus had his apostles prepare an upper-room in Jerusalem where they were to partake of the feast of the Passover (see Luke 22:7-8). This was a joyous time, a time to celebrate freedom and liberty, similar to our Fourth of July celebrations with fireworks and barbeques. As the apostles sat down prepared for the feast that they had each experienced on numerous occasions, Jesus changed the ritual, and added new symbolism to this important feast. Instead of focusing on the redemption of Israel from Egypt, 1,500 years before, Jesus instead looked forward to a different kind of redemption, a spiritual redemption that would take place that night in Gethsemane, the next day on the cross of Calvary, and three days later in the Garden Tomb.

The somber, yet reverential attitude of Jesus must have surprised the apostles, yet the greatest surprise must have come when he took the unleavened bread, and wine, also a part of the Passover feast, and converted them into a new symbol to represent his body and blood. From the Gospel of Luke we read: “And [Jesus] took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 2:19-20).

The apostles must have been shocked. It probably would have been as surprising to us as if the bishop decided to sacrifice a lamb during our sacrament meeting today. For them, this was a sacred ritual and Jesus was now drastically changing it. However, Jesus, who gave the law to celebrate Passover, could also change the ordinance and give it new meaning. Truly in him the law was fulfilled.

In addition, Jesus also took the chance to wash the feet of his disciples, which was unthinkable for the master of the house to submit to such a task that was only suitable for slaves and servants. Then Jesus taught his disciples some of the greatest teachings contained in the scriptures. Teachings such as the second comforter, the great intercessory prayer, to love one another even as Jesus loved them, how the Father and Son are one, and how we might gain eternal life. All of these teachings were contained in the discourse following that last authorized Passover feast in the Gospel of John chapters 13-17.

Symbolism and Application

Now let us discuss the symbolism and application of the Passover, the Last Supper, and how it relates to the Sacrament. As I mentioned, there are three key elements to the Passover feast; the lamb, the unleavened bread, and the commandment to remember Israel’s redemption.

First, the lamb of course symbolized the Lamb of God, the Holy One. Christ was the firstborn of the Father, and the only sinless being born to this earth. He followed the command of the Father with exactness. Thus, he is the perfect fulfillment of the unblemished Pascal lamb. Like the Passover lamb, his blood was shed as a witness, or to give protection for those who covered their doorposts with the blood. As Christ was on the cross, his blood oozed down and covered the wood beams of the cross, symbolically creating a gateway, door, or entryway unto eternal life, similar to the blood that covered the protected Israelite home. According to the Gospel of John, even the hyssop branch, used to dab the blood on the doorposts, was used to administer vinegar, or cheap wine, to the Savior while on the cross (see John 19:28-29). Also according to John, Jesus was even sacrificed at the exact same hour as the lambs which would be sacrificed for the Passover meal (see John 19:14).

The bread (which is sanctified or made holy) represents the body of Christ. During the Last Supper the only bread available for the Savior to use would have been the unleavened bread. Being unleavened bread, the representation of purity directly relates to the Savior’s sinless life. As we partake, we symbolically become sanctified, pure, and undefiled, representing the actual change that should and can take place when we partake of the bread, worthily and with real intent.

The wine (likewise sanctified or made holy) represents the blood of Christ. Blood in the scriptures was considered sacred because it was what gave and took life, thus, the blood of Christ, or the water of the sacrament, represents the life giving power of the atonement of the Lord. As we worthily partake of the water, we symbolically gain life through the Savior’s death and resurrection.

Remembrance is the last key element to the Passover, Last Supper, and Sacrament. When the Lord commanded Israel to observe the Passover, the concept of remembering was used several times as part of the command. In fact the entire purpose of the Passover feast (after leaving Egypt) was to remember that great event. During the Last Supper, the Lord again used the word “remember” during his prayer, and in his teachings. During the sacramental prayer used today, the word “remember” is used four times, twice in each prayer, once again emphasizing its importance (D&C 20:77-79). In fact, the word remember is mentioned more than any other word or phrase in the prayers except the name of Jesus Christ.

An important part of remembering is to remember what the Sacrament truly represents. As I mentioned at the start of my talk, the symbolism behind ordinances are to represent the true inner-change that is to take place within our hearts. For the sacrament to have effect, we must first have this inner-change. What then is this inner change? Jesus, after feeding the five thousand, taught us of this important key. In the Gospel of John it reads:

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.” (John 6:53-57).

What is the partaking of the sacrament to represent if we truly want the blessings of eternal life? We must partake of the atonement of Christ and make it part of us, just as the bread and water nurtures us and provides strength, so too the atonement must become part of us and give us strength. When the atonement becomes part of us, just as literal as the bread and water becomes part of our very being, then too, the sacrament has fulfillment, and we are sanctified and purified through the Pascal Lamb, the Lamb of God.

Conclusion

I invite you to study and ponder the meaning and symbolism behind the Passover, the Last Supper, and the Sacrament. Study Exodus 12-14, John 13-17, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, 11:23-26, 3 Nephi 18-20, and the sacramental prayers found both in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. Look for similarities, patterns, repetition of words and phrases, and the symbolism behind this important ordinance. As you seek to better understand this important ritual, I promise that you will also likewise better understand the Savior and his atoning sacrifice that he made for each of us on that night, almost 2,000 years ago at the time of Passover.

As we study his life, our hearts will change. When that change of heart takes place we too will be redeemed from all physical and spiritual bondages. May we always remember the Lord, take upon his name, and always keep his commandments that we may always have his spirit to be with us is my prayer.

I testify of the reality of the atonement. I testify that the Savior died for us and that through the gospel of Christ we not only can be redeemed from physical and spiritual bondage, but can once again live with him and our Father in heaven again. Of this I testify in the name of the Lamb of God, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Sermon on the Mount

One of my favorite places to visit in Israel was the Sea of Galilee. This video (though not filmed in Israel) brought back good memories. Can't wait to go back.

Christlike Attributes: Respect for Women

For this Mother's Day, I decided to blog about Jesus' interactions with women. I chose this because of several experiences I have had over the last few weeks in regards to how men have treated women. Sadly, most of these stories have not been of how men should treat women, but how they should not. Most of these men have either mistreated, belittled, abused, or even tried to kill these women. Even sadder is that the culprit of many of these cases was the husband, the supposed protector of the home. The result has often been that the woman, who is not at fault, blames herself for the actions of the man. Low self esteem on the part of the woman almost always follows.

The intriguing thing about Jesus is that he always tried to break the mold. He was raised in a world where men ruled, women submitted to husbands, and wives were property. It is ironic that much of the basis for this supposed claim of authority by men came from the Laws of God, the Law that Jesus himself, as Jehovah, gave to Moses and the other prophets. If anyone could interpret the Law on how men ought to treat women, it was Jesus, the very Lawgiver. I will share only three examples of how Jesus showed his perfect attributes, by how he respected and honored women.

The first example can be found in John 4 when Jesus talks with the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus and his disciples had been traveling through Samaria and they stop at Jacob's well. Jesus' disciples leave him as they enter the city, and as he sits at the well, a Samaritan woman comes to draw water. The interesting thing is that she comes at noon, or the sixth hour (4:6). Women would normally draw water in the cool of the morning when they could meet with the other women of the village and share a brief moment. Why would this woman come at noon? It is hard to say, but it is very possible that she came at noon because she was fearful of seeing other women. She was fearful of their gossip. She may have been hurt in the past and now found that coming at the heat of the day meant she could come alone.

However, on this day she finds Jesus there. She seems reluctant to even talk with him. To her surprise he asks for a drink of water. In a way you might expect a man to ask this (after all he had nothing to draw with), except that Jesus is a Jew, and she is a Samaritan. The rift between these two people was so deep that both groups completely avoided any form of contact (4:9). Even to walk on the land of Samaria was considered by some defilement. If this was not enough, we also find out that this women was living with another man (not married) and had had five previous husbands (4:17-18). Perhaps this was only one of the many reasons she chose to avoid the women of the village by coming to the well at noon.

So how did Jesus interact with this woman? How did he treat a fornicator, a five time divorcee, an outcast, and a Samaritan? Quite simply, he asked her to provide service to him (4:7), and then he taught her of her true worth. He taught her that she, as a Samaritan, could worship God (4:21-23). He taught her, by never once condemning her, that it was who she could become, not what she had done, that marked her value as a daughter of God. Then, he offered the greatest gift he could give, he proclaimed his divinity (4:25-26). Very few in the scriptures were privileged to have the Savior personally testify of his own divinity, yet this woman, who most would call a vile sinner, was given this priceless gift.

The second example is of how Jesus treated his mother, Mary. The scriptures record several interactions of Jesus and his mother, but I will only share one. Though short in narrative, the words that Jesus gave on the cross about his mother are a powerful example of how men should treat women. In his agony on the cross, Jesus looked to his mother, to comfort and support her. John 19:26-27 reads, "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." When he himself was suffering and dying, he looked to his mother, and made sure that someone would care for her emotionally, spiritually, and physically. There is no better example than this.

The third, and most powerful story is in John 8:3-11. This is the story of Jesus and the adulterous woman. Jesus and his disciples were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. During the previous days, the scribes and Pharisees had been trying to entrap Jesus by his words or actions, but had failed miserably in each case. Now they had a foolproof way (or so they thought) to catch him, they would use the Law of Moses against him. A woman caught in the act of adultery was taken to Jesus and was cast before him. With a triumphant voice they asked how Jesus would respond. "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" (8:4-5).The ironic thing is that Jesus is the one who gave the Law to Moses. Does he not know the Law? Yet, as if he was rewriting the Law with his own finger, he stoops down and writes in the dirt on the pavement of the temple court. The silence only encourages them, he must have been caught, he is speechless! Yet, majesticlly Jesus replies, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (8:6-7). Each man, condemded by his own acts, leaves the temple court. Jesus once again writes in the dirt and as he lifts his head he asks, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (8:8-11). The powerful message of this story is this, Jesus was the one who gave the Law of Moses. He knew what was required for those who broke the Law, and yet, he chose not to condemn her. Even more, he who was without sin, was Jesus himself! The only one who could cast a stone (by his very own decree) chose not to.  How powerful!

This Mother's Day, may we be as the Savior, and honor and respect women the way He did. In our interactions with women, let us be slow to judge, let us teach with love and by example, and let us forgive unceasingly. How grateful I am for a father who taught me to honor and cherish my mother. How grateful I am for a mother who literally was willing to sacrifice her life for me, for a mother who has always been a friend, and for a mother who has always loved me unceasingly. Happy Mother's Day!

A Triclinium Passover 2012

For several years I have held Passover dinners with friends and family. I have mostly held a more traditional Jewish feast, with very few changes to the Hagadah text (the traditional Jewish text used at all Passover feasts). However, this year I wanted to try something different. I wanted to create a setting that may have been closer to what Jesus and his disciples would have had. To do this I decided to have everyone sit on the floor around tricliniums, while eating with their hands and reclining on their sides (if they chose to). I must say it was probably one of the more memorable Passovers I have had. Below are a few of the pictures from the evening, including the table setup and the actual dinner.

To create the short triclinium tables, I set each 8' table on two cucumber boxes (I got the boxes from my local grocery store).

I bought baskets, wood bowels, and striped sheets from Goodwill. The baskets were used to serve food, and the sheets acted as a kind of mat for people to sit on during the meal.

The table runners for the tricliniums were cut from long sheets (also bought at Goodwill) into pieces about 14" wide and 8-10' long. I did use plates (as it can be very hard to always be passing the main dishes around), but only had utensils available on a side table.

As part of the feast, I had two from each table (who were sitting on the far end, nearest the kitchen) serve during the feast. They poured the grape juice, and also were responsible for assisting with washing the hands (one having a basin of water, the other a towel) as part of the Passover. These were our "servants" for the night.

Each table could seat 16 comfortably, however, we could have squeezed in a few more.

The head (or host) of the table was on the opposite side of where the servants sat (see my video about the setting of a triclinium). The head (second from the end) was served first, and acted as the leader during the Passover feast. He or she was also served the wine (grape juice) first, and had their hands washed first by the servants.

Some of the food included entire fish (which was very popular), chicken strips, meatballs, shish kabobs, lentils, and many finger foods (including traditional Roman dipping sauces, grapes, plumbs, dates, olives, nuts, hard boiled eggs, etc). The unleavened bread and sliced apples, cucumbers, and peaches were used as a sort of utensil for the meal.

Overall, I think it was a very unique experience. I hope to have many more Triclinium Passovers in the future. I will also try to share more details on how to host your own Triclinium Passover. L'chaim! (meaning "to life" in Hebrew).

Titulus Crucis: The King of the Jews

In preparation for Holy Week, a couple weeks back I made a titulus. I had wanted to make one for about a year, and was originally going to make it with letters carved into wood (as is often seen in pictures of the crucifixion). However, after some research I found that the titulus that was placed above the cross, was more likely a board covered with gypsum with red or black lettering. Below are the sources I found and the pictures showing how I made the final product:

“It was customary at Roman executions, at least in the case of remarkable prisoners, for the charge under which the prisoner was suffering to be written briefly on a tablet covered with gypsum. This was usually hung round the neck of the criminal, or carried before him to the place of execution. It was afterwards hung from, or fixed to, the top of the cross.” (A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels; page 732)

“A plaque (tabula; Greek pinax) was prepared indicating the charge against the prisoner, i.e., the crime or causa poenae of which he had been convicted. ... Blinzer (Trial 254) imagines the writing would have been in red or black lettering on the white gypsum surface of a board. From our chief references to a titulus outside the NT, it appears that such an inscription was frequent but not necessary, that there was considerable latitude in the wording (which could contain a note of sarcasm), and that it could be displayed in several ways.” (The Death of the Messiah, Raymond E. Brown; page 963)

To make the titulus, I first cut a pine board to about 9x18. 

I then took a chisel and tried to make the wood look like it was hand hewn. 

Then came the fun part, aging the board. To do this, I went out, covered it with dirt, and spread the slightly wet dirt all over the board until it was colored and old looking. To get the aged look you do have to rub the dirt in quite a bit.

Next, I used Sheetrock Patching Compound (the dry kind) and created a mixture of "gypsum" for the board. I then added a very small handful of dry dirt to help add specks, and then spread a thin layer of the mixture over the surface of the board.

Next, I created the lettering in Photoshop and printed the image on a sheet of paper. I then placed the paper on the slightly wet gypsum, and with a mechanical pencil, scored the letters into the gypsum. I then painted the letters using red paint. The translation is as follows:

Hebrew: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
Latin: REX (King) IVDAEORVM (of the Jews)
Greek: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ (King) ΤΩΝ ΙΟΥΔΑΙΩΝ (of the Jews)

Finally, I hung the board with old looking flax twine, making sure to have enough space so that the titulus could be hung over the neck.

How ironic that the title that Jesus carried on that Friday morning, could not be more true. Truly, he was the King of Jews, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Good Friday to everyone!

Purim: Queen Esther

Tonight is the start of what Jews around the world call Purim. This festival commemorates the day the Jewish people were freed from extermination at the hands of the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus in the fourth century BCE. The royal vizier of the King, named Haman, requested that all the Jews in the kingdom be killed on a certain day, in part because of his deep hatred for the Jew Mordecai (the adopted father of the orphan Esther). Mordecai would not prostrate before Haman when he would pass by and thus inspired Haman to create the verdict. In the end Esther (now a queen) boldly went before the King and requested that her people be spared. This she did at the risk of losing her own life. Because of her intervention, the day that was set apart for the killing of the Jews instead became the day that Haman was executed by hanging and the Jews were spared.

Jews celebrate today by retelling the story of Esther as found in the book of Esther in the Old Testament. To help with the story, the children dress up and act out the various parts of the story. Each time the name of Haman is mentioned, the children will all yell and make as much noise as they possibly can, to drown out his name. Purim is kind of like Halloween for Jews (except more religious in nature, instead of satanic) and is often one of the holidays Jewish children enjoy the most.

Esther is a wonderful example to all people, especially women. She did something that was not only very dangerous, but something that saved the lives of thousands of Jews. It is because of her story that much of the Jewish race was preserved. Who knows, she may have saved one of the ancestors of the apostles, or the shepherds, or John the Baptist, or even Jesus Christ. It is courage like this that makes a difference for good in the lives of the entire world.