1. Seven Awesome Weeks Brisbane Evangelical Church, 27 th May 2013

2. Seven Awesome Weeks From Easter, Ascension, to Pentecost

3. Seven Awesome Weeks Passover to “Feast of Weeks” [Pentecost]

4. John 11.49-52 Caiaphas: 49 Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

5. John 11.49-52 Gospel writer: 49 Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

6. John 11.49-52 Gospel writer: 49 Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

8. Passover

9. celebrates 1 out of Egypt; out of slavery

10. Passover celebrates 1 out of Egypt; out of slavery 2 barley harvest; offer firstfruits

13. Jewish burial customs [1] Same-day burial Wash body, anoint with spices, and wrap in a shroud Lay body in a bench/niche in a cave-tomb, with stone to seal, either square or round

16. Jewish burial customs [2] Same-day burial Wash body, anoint with spices, and wrap in a shroud Lay body in a bench/niche in a cave-tomb, with stone to seal, either square or round Seven days’ public mourning at/in tomb One year later, bones collected and placed in pottery urn or limestone ossuary; bench can be used again

17. Jewish burial customs [3] Same-day burial Wash body, anoint with spices, and wrap in a shroud Lay body in a bench/niche in a cave-tomb, with stone to seal, either square or round Seven days’ public mourning at/in tomb One year later, bones collected and placed in a big clay pot or limestone ossuary; the bench can be used again

19. Jewish beliefs about death [4] Direct contact with the dead leaves you unclean for seven days of purification

20. Jewish beliefs about death [5] Direct contact with the dead leaves you unclean for seven days of purification After death, the spirit remained near body for three days

21. Jewish beliefs about death [6] Direct contact with the dead leaves you unclean for seven days of purification After death, the spirit remained near body for three days On fourth day, decay sets in, the face alters, and body becomes unrecognisable

22. Special arrangements for executed criminals [7]

23. A criminal could not be buried in a place of honour or a family tomb Sanhedrin held two burial sites, one for hanged/strangled corpses; one for stoned/burnt corpses

24. Special arrangements for executed criminals [7] A criminal could not be buried in a place of honour or a family tomb Sanhedrin held two burial sites, one for hanged/strangled corpses; one for stoned/burnt corpses There was no public mourning After one year, family could remove bones to a family tomb

26. Last chapter of each Gospel Several women went to tomb They found the tomb opened But no body lying in it Peter + another disciple ran to see The other disciple outran Peter, stopped outside, and looked in Peter went right in—no body there … etc

27. Passover on Friday celebrated the nation coming out of Egypt, from slavery Resurrection on Sunday celebrated the first of the harvest

28. Acts 1.3-4 Jesus was seen for forty days: 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

29. Acts 1.9-11 Ascended into heaven: 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

30. Acts 1.9-11 Coming again: 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

31. Seven full weeks after Passover …

32. Feast of Weeks [Pentecost]

33. Pentecost [‘Feast of Weeks’] Commemorates Journey from Egypt to Sinai Making Covenant Giving of the Law

34. Pentecost [‘Feast of Weeks’] Completion of wheat harvest Offering harvest thanksgiving

35. Acts 2 Pentecost [‘Feast of Weeks’] Coming of the Spirit to the believers

36. Acts 2.31-32 The very first Christian sermon ever:

37. Acts 2.31-32 The first Christian sermon of all time: Our ancestor David, … 31 seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

38. Acts 2.39 The first Christian sermon of all time: 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

39. As we look back over the most awesome seven weeks in the Calendar, and the events that took place, let’s affirm what we believe in the Apostles’ Creed

40. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

41. It is still not the end of the story …