Hill Thread

Exodus 12:29-36
29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”
33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

Related Text:
Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Psalm 78:41-52
Psalm 105:26-38
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

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Some Thoughts
The Release of the Israelites is another example of how God remains faithful to His promises. There is no doubt that the Israelites wanted God to intervene a lot earlier. The screamed, cried, complained and prayed like crazy. But God had His own plans and His own timing, and demonstrated His power and goodness by protecting the Israelites release from Egypt. He proved that He is God and that His timing is perfect.

Most of us are just like the Israelites; we want God to work, but we want Him to work in the way and timing that we have figured out. We get in a hurry and want God to pick up the pace a little, all because we are convinced that our view of whatever situation we are in is the best view. We get tunnel vision and convince ourselves we already know whats going to happen, if we can just get God to do what WE want. We have to remember that He is God, He is perfect, His timing and His ideas about our lives are perfect, and we are told in His word that He will remain faithful. WE MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD, IT’S A 2-WAY STREET!

So if you’re having trouble today accepting that God is all knowing, that His plan is best, and that He knows what’s best for you, pray. Just start asking Him to show you how to trust in Him. Just talk to God about your worries or fears. Whatever you are struggling with, talk to God about it. Tell Him what you’re going through. Give Him some time of your life today!

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast-as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Peter 1:17-20
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

Related Text:
Exodus 12-13
John 1:19-36
Hebrews 2:11-18
Revelation 13:8

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Commentary
Not only did Jesus die in your place and save you from eternal death, but He also brought you into a NEW family. Check out Hebrews 2:11, “For the One who sacrifices and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brothers.”

As a Christian, you’re part of God’s family. I’m part of God’s family. We are all part of God’s family; we are all children of God. Congratulations, welcome to the family!

Think of that old yeast up there in the scripture like your old way of life before you turned it over to Jesus. Verse 8 says the old yeast is malice and wickedness. But Jesus is our sacrificial Passover Lamb, He gave His life to save ours. Once for all! So now we are encouraged, as new members in Gods family, as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, to live our new life in Christ, live with this new yeast penetrating throughout us. The new yeast is said to be like sincerity and truth (much different that malice and wickedness). It’s an attitude change, a heart change, and a mind change. It’s a overhaul of our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:12-22
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Related Text:
Job 19:23-27
Romans 6:1-11
Acts 2:22-36
1 Corinthians 15:23-58
Commentary
Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is the backbone of the Christian faith. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, if He didn’t come back to life, then He was a liar and just another body in the ground. Some try to say He was just a good teacher or prophet with some good ideas about love and peace. Well, that can’t be true. He taught and preached about being the Son of God and being able to forgive sins. He also prophesied that He would be destroyed and rebuilt. He couldn’t have been just a good teacher and prophet, because if he was JUST a teacher and prophet (and not the Messiah), then He would have been blasphemous because of what He taught and prophesied about. Blasphemy isn’t a good quality of a teacher or a prophet.

Praise God that His Son, Jesus, died for our sins and rose to life again. Praise Him that we may have new life in Jesus and be raised with Him!

Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.
5 But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.  7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Good morning!” They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.  10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there.”

Related Text:
Psalm 16:8-11
Mark 16:1-8
Luke 24:1-10
John 20:1-18
1 Corinthians 15

Commentary

He’s alive!  He’s risen from the dead!  NOT IN THE GROUND ANYMORE!  Say this out loud, go ahead, right now.  Just do it.  I’ll wait . . .

Celebrate this Easter Sunday with Jesus alive in your life.  Tell someone!  Live for Him who died for you and rose to life on the third day.

Mark 15:25-32
25It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left. 29Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30come down from the cross and save yourself!”
31In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Mark 15:37-39
37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

Related Text:
Psalm 22
Isaiah 53
Matthew 27:33-56
Luke 23:26-48
John 3:13-16
John 19:16-37

Commentary

First off, if you never read the related textx, today would be a wonderful day to start!

Crucifying someone on a cross was one of the most abusive punishments ever devised because of its slow, torturous death by suffocation. The inscription that was put over the head of Jesus was not uncommon. The signs usually informed onlookers of the crimes that were worthy of this type of brutal death. Typically, the people that were crucified were done so publicly so everyone could see the consequences of their time. Think of it like a public death by electric chair for a murderer. If you actually see someone cooked to death by electricity running through their body, you might be less likely to kill someone because you will have that visual image of what will happen to you if you are caught. The government hoped to instill fear and control in people by allowing them to witness what could happen if you got out of line.

(Take some time to think about the disciples. For those of them who didn’t stick around to even see Jesus on the cross, they surely heard about it. Think how scared they were, knowing that being crucified was the penalty their leader was experiencing. They were probably freaking out, wondering if someone was about to knock down their door and drag THEM right up on a cross too.) Jesus’ sign above His head meant that He was being crucified for being “King of the Jews”. Jesus died a real and painful death. He died to take away all of our sins. He died so you can take your next breath. Praise God for Jesus and thank Him for His sacrifice so that we may spend life with our Father in Heaven.

John 18:1-9
1When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
2Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
4Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
5″Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
8″I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me

Related Text:
Genesis 37
Matthew 26:47-56
Mark 14:43-50
Luke 22:47-54
John 6:35-40
John 17:1-12

Commentary

Judas (also known as Judas Iscariot) was one of the original disciples of Jesus; one of the main twelve. His primary job was to oversee money, but he is most widely known for his betrayal of Jesus.

He was a greedy man who deserted his commitment to Jesus. Judas led a crown of officers to arrest Jesus for money,for 30 pieces of silver. After Jesus was crucified, Judas felt awful and repented – giving back the money to the spiritual leaders who had hired him. Later, in his grief, Judas hung himself.

Unfortunately, even those guys closest to Jesus didn’t completely follow Him and change the way they lived their lives. The story of Judas is a reminder to all of us that we need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus! We musy be careful not to get “bribed” into quitting on our commitment that we made to Jesus when we accepted him as our Lord and our Savior. Don’t get conned into betraying the One who dies for you.

Luke 22:7-8
7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

Luke 22:14-22
14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.”
Related Text:
Jeremiah 31:31-36
Matthew 26:17-30
Mark 14:12-26
Revelation 19:4-9

Commentary

Since the death of Jesus, Christians have followed the model of Jesus’ last meal with His friends. It’s called the Lord’s Supper, or Communion. It’s intended to remind us of Jesus’ death on the cross, to remind us of His sacrifice for us. The cracker, or bread, used during the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of the body of Jesus which was broken, beaten, and destroyed for our sins. The wine or grape juice represents Jesus’ blood which was shed on the cross for all of humanity.

Celebrating the Lord’s Supper helps us to remember what Jesus did for us two thousand years ago. He died for everyone’s sins. He died for YOU! Take just a sec to remember and think of Jesus’ death and what it meant for you and for me. Live your life in the new life given to you by Jesus. Live for Him who died for you.

Matthew 22:41-46
While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them, “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose Son is He?”
“David’s,” they told Him.
He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord ‘:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies under Your feet ‘ ?
“If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how then can the Messiah be his Son”No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day no one dared to question Him any more.

Mark 9:2-3,7
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. . . .Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Related Text:
Psalm 110
Matthew 27:45-54
Mark 1:9-11
Luke 9:28-36
Acts 2

Little bit ‘O Commentary

“Transfiguration” is a big word used to describe the bodily change that Jesus went though on this day up on the mountain with Peter, James, and John. Way up on the hill, Jesus’ appearance was transformed or changed into a likeness of God’s presence. When this happened, it was evident to Peter, James, and John. His presence became like a radiant light that they believed to be God Himself. For a brief moment, Jesus’ radiance was allowed to shine through in the presence of His Father.

Unlike Jesus, we cannot be transfigured into the presence of God. But that’s not God’s desire for us anyway. God is more concerned about our hearts, about or minds, about our thoughts and attitudes which cause us to act. With God’s power, you can change into a new person. You can change your ways with His strength and wisdom and transform into the person God wants you to become, which is to be more like Jesus!

Luke 19:41-44 
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Matthew 21:12-16
12Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13″It is written,” he said to them, ” ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’”
14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16″Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
” ‘From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise’?”

Related Text:
Psalm 8
Isaiah 56
Jeremiah 7:9-11
Mark 11:15-18
John 2:13-17

You can get a feel for the anger of Jesus by reading this event. He was mad! His anger was directed at the people who had turned the temple into a place to make a profit for themselves. The anger was directed at those who were more concerned about selling their overpriced doves and sacrificial animals than they were for the house of God.

Jesus is concerned about your inner world, your motives and the condition of your heart. On this occasion, the merchants and the money changers didn’t have the motive to please God with their business. They intended to make a quick dollar by cheating the worshipers into buying unfit animals at high prices. Ask yourself, if He had the chance, what would Jesus clean out of you? What “tables” would He overturn? What areas of your life would He redirect?