Bible Speaks

According to John 19 Pilate then took Jesus and scourged him.+ 2 And the soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head and clothed him with a purple robe,+ 3 and they kept coming up to him and saying: “Greetings,* you King of the Jews!” They also kept slapping him in the face.+4 Pilate went outside again and said to them: “See! I bring him outside to you in order for you to know that I find no fault in him.”+ 5 So Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them: “Look! The man!” 6 However, when the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted: “To the stake with him! To the stake with him!”*+Pilate said to them: “Take him yourselves and execute him,* for I do not find any fault in him.”+ 7 The Jews answered him: “We have a law, and according to the law he ought to die,+ because he made himself God’s son.”+ 8 When Pilate heard what they were saying, he became even more fearful, 9 and he entered the governor’s residence again and said to Jesus: “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.+10 So Pilate said to him: “Are you refusing to speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and I have authority to execute you?”* 11 Jesus answered him: “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been granted to you from above. This is why the man who handed me over to you has greater sin.” 12 For this reason Pilate kept trying to find a way to release him, but the Jews shouted: “If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against*Caesar.”+ 13 Then Pilate, after hearing these words, brought Jesus outside, and he sat down on a judgment seat in a place called the Stone Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabʹba·tha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation+ of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour.* And he said to the Jews: “See! Your king!” 15 However, they shouted: “Take him away! Take him away! To the stake with him!”* Pilate said to them: “Shall I execute your king?” The chief priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 Then he handed him over to them to be executed on the stake.+ So they took charge of Jesus. 17 Bearing the torture stake* for himself, he went out to the so-called Skull Place,+which is called Golʹgo·tha in Hebrew.+18 There they nailed him to the stake+alongside two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.+ 19 Pilate also wrote a title and put it on the torture stake.* It was written: “Jesus the Naz·a·reneʹ the King of the Jews.”+20 Many of the Jews read this title, because the place where Jesus was nailed to the stake was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 However, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered: “What I have written, I have written.” 23 Now when the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the stake, they took his outer garments and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier, and they also took the inner garment. But the inner garment was without a seam, being woven from top to bottom. 24 So they said to one another: “Let us not tear it, but let us cast lots over it to decide whose it will be.”+ This was to fulfill the scripture: “They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.”+ So the soldiers actually did these things. 25 By the torture stake* of Jesus, however, there were standing his mother+and his mother’s sister; Mary the wife of Cloʹpas and Mary Magʹda·lene.+ 26 So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved+ standing nearby, he said to his mother: “Woman, see! Your son!” 27 Next he said to the disciple: “See! Your mother!” And from that hour on, the disciple took her into his own home. 28 After this, when Jesus knew that by now all things had been accomplished, in order to fulfill the scripture he said: “I am thirsty.”+ 29 A jar was sitting there full of sour wine. So they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop* stalk and held it up to his mouth.+ 30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said: “It has been accomplished!”+ and bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.*+ 31 Since it was the day of Preparation,+so that the bodies would not remain on the torture stakes+ on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath day was a great one),+ the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and those of the other man who was on a stake alongside him. 33 But on coming to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers jabbed his side with a spear,+ and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And the one who has seen it has given this witness, and his witness is true, and he knows that what he says is true, so that you also may believe.+ 36 In fact, these things took place for the scripture to be fulfilled: “Not a bone of his will be broken.”*+ 37 And again, a different scripture says: “They will look to the one whom they pierced.” 38 Now after these things, Joseph of Ar·i·ma·theʹa, who was a disciple of Jesus but a secret one because of his fear of the Jews,+ asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body away.+ 39 Nic·o·deʹmus,+ the man who had come to him in the night the first time, also came, bringing a mixture* of myrrh and aloes weighing about a hundred pounds.*+40 So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices,+according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Incidentally, there was a garden at the place where he was executed,* and in the garden was a new tomb*+ in which no one had ever yet been laid. 42 Because it was the day of Preparation+ of the Jews and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Memorial Bible reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 14) Mark 15:1-47 38 "Then he said to them: “I am deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and keep on the watch with me.” 41 "Keep on the watch and pray continually, so that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit, of course, is eager, but the flesh is weak.”(Matthew 26:38,41)

(Events after sunset: Nisan 14) Mark 14:17-72 12 "For that reason I will assign him a portion among the many, And he will apportion the spoil with the mighty, Because he poured out his life even to death And was counted among the transgressors; He carried the sin of many people, And he interceded for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:12) 16 "For dogs surround me; They close in on me like a pack of evildoers, Like a lion they are at my hands and feet." (Ps 22:16)

Memorial Bible reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 13) Mark 14:12-16; Matthew 26:20-25. 20 "When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the 12 disciples. 21 While they were eating, he said: “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Being very much grieved at this, each and every one began to say to him: “Lord, it is not I, is it?” 23 In reply he said: “The one who dips his hand with me into the bowl is the one who will betray me. 24 True, the Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who was about to betray him, replied: “It is not I, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it.” (Matthew 26:20-25)

Paul and Barnabas—Brothers Despite Differences To say that the man had intense emotions is an understatement. Before he became a Christian, Paul was “breathing threat and murder against the disciples of the Lord.” (Acts 9:1) In time, he described his former feelings toward Christ’s followers: “I was extremely furious with them.”—Acts 26:11. Paul made major changes after his baptism, but notoriety followed him. Some time after he became a Christian, the brothers in Jerusalem “were all afraid of him, because they did not believe he was a disciple.”—Acts 9:26. The congregation might have continued to be wary of Paul were it not for a Christian from Cyprus named Joseph. His loving manner was well-known, and the brothers gave him the descriptive name “Barnabas”—“Son of Comfort.” (Acts 4:36, 37) Those taking the lead respected him, and he helped Paul. We read: “Barnabas came to his aid and led him to the apostles, and he told them in detail how on the road he had seen the Lord, . . . and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 9:26-28) On hearing Barnabas’ testimony, the Jerusalem congregation accepted Paul. Soon, those two men began serving together as missionaries.—Acts 13:2, 3. Barnabas must have seen good in Paul’s intense drive and direct approach. On the other hand, Paul certainly would have appreciated Barnabas’ kindness and compassion. The Bible does mention that at one point they had “a sharp burst of anger.” Why? The account does not suggest that it was the result of a personality conflict. Rather, it reflected their differing opinions of John Mark’s qualifications for missionary service.—Acts 15:36-40. Despite the different personalities of Paul and Barnabas, they had been able to serve together before that event. And we read that Paul and Mark later worked together again. (Col. 4:10) Thus, different personalities need not produce conflict—not then, not today. “I . . . appeal to you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and mildness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to maintain the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3) May you have peace and enjoy the Memorial. Agape ???

4 moving pictures in Russia IMG_0818.MOV IMG_0821.mov IMG_0812.MP4 IMG_0829.MOV

He Loved Us First Show Your Love Jehovah’s Witnesses meet together each year to observe the anniversary of the death of Jesus. You are invited to learn how this important event affects you. You Are Invited On the night before he died, Jesus instructed his disciples to commemorate the sacrifice that he was about to make. He told them: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”—Luke 22:19 In 2017, the anniversary of Jesus’ death falls on Tuesday, April 11, after sundown. Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you, your family, and your friends to come on that date to listen to a brief talk explaining why Jesus’ death is so important. At a Kingdom Hall nearest you… https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/memorial/

"I am not talking about all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this was so that the scripture might be fulfilled: ‘The one who was eating my bread has lifted his heel against me.’" (John 13:18) 9 "Even the man at peace with me, one whom I trusted, Who was eating my bread, has lifted his heel against me." (Psalms 41:9)

Memorial Bible reading: (Events: Nisan 12) 20 "When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the 12 disciples. 21 While they were eating, he said: “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Being very much grieved at this, each and every one began to say to him: “Lord, it is not I, is it?” 23 In reply he said: “The one who dips his hand with me into the bowl is the one who will betray me. 24 True, the Son of man is going away, just as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who was about to betray him, replied: “It is not I, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him: “You yourself said it.” (Matthew 26:20-25)

4 "For all the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the comfort from the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4)

Memorial Bible reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 12) Mark 14:1, 2, 10, 11; Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16 "Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread was two days later. And the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to seize him by cunning and kill him; 2 for they were saying: “Not at the festival; perhaps there might be an uproar of the people.” (Mark 14:1) "And Judas Is·carʹi·ot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 When they heard it, they were delighted and promised to give him silver money. So he began seeking an opportunity to betray him." (Mark 14:10,11) "Now when Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples: 2 “You know that two days from now the Passover takes place, and the Son of man will be handed over to be executed on the stake.” 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caʹia·phas, 4 and they conspired together to seize Jesus by cunning and to kill him. 5 However, they were saying: “Not at the festival, so that there may not be an uproar among the people.” (Matthew 26: 1-5) "Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Is·carʹi·ot, went to the chief priests 15 and said: “What will you give me to betray him to you?” They stipulated to him 30 silver pieces. 16 So from then on, he kept looking for a good opportunity to betray him." (Matthew 26:14-16)

Christ's record of perfect integrity also upheld the rightfulness and righteousness of Jehovah's Universal Sovereignty. 9 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem. Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, bringing salvation, Humble and riding on a donkey, On a colt,the foal of a female donkey." (Zechariah 9:9)

Memorial Bible reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 13) Mark 14:12-16; Matthew 26:17-19 2 "You, O Bethʹle·hem Ephʹra·thah, The one too little to be among the thousands of Judah, From you will come out for me the one to be ruler in Israel, Whose origin is from ancient times, from the days of long ago." (Micah 5:2)

12 "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned." (Romans 5:12) 8 "But God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

@bruceq Thank you ?

19 "The Son of man did come eating and drinking, but people say, ‘Look! A man who is a glutton and is given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ All the same, wisdom is proved righteous* by its works.” (Matthew 11:19)

"Who do you say I am?"—Matt. 16:15. #JesusChrist #GodsKingdom #Apostles #LoveOneAnother? #LoyalLove

Memorial Bible Reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 9) (John 12;12-19; Mark 11:1-11) (John 12;12-19) "The next day the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and they began to shout: “Save, we pray you! Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name, the King of Israel!”14 When Jesus found a young donkey, he sat on it, just as it is written: 15 “Have no fear, daughter of Zion. Look! Your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”16 These things his disciples did not understand at first, but when Jesus was glorified, they recalled that these things were written about him and that they did these things to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Laz′a·rus out of the tomb and raised him up from the dead kept bearing witness. 18 This is also why the crowd went to meet him, because they heard he had performed this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said among themselves: “You see that you are not getting anywhere. Look! The whole world has gone after him.” (Mark 11:1-11) "Now when they were getting near to Jerusalem, to Beth′pha·ge and Beth′a·ny at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them: “Go into the village that is within sight, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied on which no man has sat until now. Untie it and bring it here. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.’” 4 So they went away and found the colt tied at a door, outside on the side street, and they untied it. 5 But some of those standing there said to them: “What are you doing untying the colt?” 6 They told them just what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus, and they put their outer garments on it, and he sat on it. 8 Also, many spread their outer garments on the road, but others cut down foliage from the fields. 9 And those going in front and those coming behind kept shouting: “Save, we pray! Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name! 10 Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our father David!

With this beautiful creations and pictures, how do you think they got there? By chance? No! We have a Creator and He made the beautiful earth and everything upon it! SEE and READ the FACTS! Admire the Design; Learn About the Designer YOU have probably heard of the Italian painter and sculptor Michelangelo. Though you may never have seen the original of any of his masterpieces, you most likely agree with the art historian who called the Italian genius a “marvellous and incomparable artist.” Michelangelo’s talents cannot be denied. Who would try to separate appreciation for Michelangelo’s art from acknowledgment of him as an outstanding artist? Now think of the mind-boggling complexity and diversity of life that thrives around us on earth. Appropriately, The New York Times quoted one professor of biological sciences as stating: “The physical marks of design are visible in aspects of biology.” He added: “Life overwhelms us with the appearance of design.” Is it intellectually honest to admire the design without acknowledging the designer? The apostle Paul, a keen observer of things around him, spoke of those who “honoured and served the creature more than him who had created it.” (Romans 1:25, Darby) Affected by pervasive evolutionary ideas, some refuse or fail to recognize that design certainly points to a designer. But does the theory of evolution represent true science at its best? Note the conclusion that Christoph Schönborn, Catholic archbishop of Vienna, presented in The New York Times: “Any system of thought that denies or seeks to explain away the overwhelming evidence for design in biology is ideology, not science.” The End of Science? There are, however, those who feel that accepting the position that there is evidence of a Creator would “stifle research.” An article in the magazine New Scientist expressed such fears, asserting that “science as an open-ended pursuit would come to an end, halted by an impenetrable barrier labelled ‘the designer did it.’” Is that fear well-founded? Not at all. In fact, the opposite is true. Why? To accept blind chance and subsequent evolution as the cause of our universe and life on earth would actually be to abandon any attempt to get a meaningful explanation. On the other hand, accepting that an intelligent Creator is behind what we see around us can lead us to investigate the nature and application of his intelligence manifested in the physical universe. Consider this: Knowing that Leonardo da Vinci painted the “Mona Lisa” has not stopped art historians from investigating his technique and the materials he used. Similarly, accepting that there is a Designer should not discourage us from inquiring into the details and complexity of his designs and creations. Rather than stifling further research, the Bible encourages the search for answers to both scientific and spiritual questions. Ancient King David reflected on the physical makeup of his masterfully formed body. As a result, he said: “In a fear-inspiring way I am wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, as my soul is very well aware.” (Psalm 139:14) In fact, the Bible presents the Creator as asking the patriarch Job: “Have you intelligently considered the broad spaces of the earth?” (Job 38:18) That certainly does not suggest any stifling of inquiry and investigation. On the contrary, the Master Designer here invited a study of his handiwork. Consider, too, the invitation penned by the prophet Isaiah that directs us to increase our understanding of the One responsible for the creation around us: “Raise your eyes high up and see. Who has created these things?” Indeed, Isaiah 40:26 then brings up a fact consistent with Einstein’s well-known formula E=mc2. That fact is that the universe was produced by a source of dynamic energy and power. Acceptance of the existence of a Creator does not hinder scientific progress. The quest for more comprehensive knowledge in both physical and spiritual matters is indeed open-ended and eternal. An ancient king noted for his broad knowledge humbly wrote: “He has put thoughts of the forever in man’s mind, yet man cannot understand the work God has done from the beginning to the end.”—Ecclesiastes 3:11, Holy Bible—New Life Version. www.jw.org #OurCreatorJehovahGod

Enjoy the Memorial! ?????

@John Lindsay Barltrop Enjoy your day! i have 1,000's more coming non witnesses. They are being drawn! Thank Jehovah more will come. Of course many speak other languages, I must translate but so far so good! ? I learned computers on my own and by mistakes! Ha! My Granddaughters taught me some too! if we had 20 million last year at Memorial maybe (?) I'm sure more, can't guess not that good ? Are you behind or ahead in time? It's 10:07 am here Monday? Take care, don't overdo, my famous words I must live by. ?????

@John Lindsay Barltrop Many more desirable things or people will come out. I have lots of religions following me, ministers, news commentators, it is amazing! Since I went public, they are all curious about us and what we believe. I can send you link it's Instagram. I also do Tumblr but less there. I enjoy photography so that's where I get my pictures. Have a good day! Soon Memorial ????

@JW Insider All nations will learn about God's Kingdom. They will know I am Jehovah, it says throughout the Bible. Psalms 2 answers all questions and reasons. I just read the Bible. Jesus spoke out at the religious leaders of his day and who His God was, Freedom of worship is in most countries, but that remains to be seen, if you believe in the Bible then you walk in the footsteps of Christ Jesus do you not? He said His Kingdom was no part of this world. They said he was a treasonous but he was not, he never claimed to be part of the world. Neither do we if we are truly Christians. @John Lindsay Barltrop Perhaps will get another book ? soon on events coming up with the fall of Babylon the Great? Enjoyable learning for sure. The Chariot is on the move! The finished mystery being solved before our eyes. ?

@John Lindsay Barltrop Yes, more blood guilty! Has she not Blessed the wars and guns before battle? Then orders her Armies to kill other Christians in the "name of God"? Has any nation been blessed by prostitution with Babylon the Great? Scriptural Questions Answered: 17:16; 18:9, 10—Why do “the kings of the earth” grieve over the very entity they themselves have devastated? The reason for their grief is strictly selfish. After the destruction of Babylon the Great, the kings of the earth evidently come to realize how useful she was to them. She provided a religious front for their oppressive deeds. Babylon the Great also helped them in recruiting youths for the battlefields. Moreover, she played an important part in keeping people in subjection. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2009124?q=rev+14%3A18&p=par @John Lindsay BarltropHitler was Catholic also, Raised in a Catholic school. He's another subject.... Read on the blog news how the Holocaust Museum is concerned about Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia!