The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Change of Venue" by Rev. Wayne Palmer for Sunday, March 13, 2016

The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Change of Venue" by Rev. Wayne Palmer for Sunday, March 13, 2016

And when he (Pilate) learned that He (Jesus) belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time (Luke 23:7).
Read Luke 23:5 But they persisted. “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Y’hudah — he started in the Galil, and now he’s here!” 6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was from the Galil; 7 and when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who at that time happened to be in Yerushalayim too..
The judge pronounced his verdict, yet permits the prosecution to challenge that verdict and continue raising objections. Clearly, Pilate is intimidated.
The Jewish high priest is urgent. He has brought along the full high court and a large company of guards and servants. But not even their sheer number is enough to convince Pilate of the seriousness of this matter. Perhaps Pilate thinks Jesus only has a local following that his Roman squads can easily put down. So they report the wide scope of Jesus' ministry to convince the governor that Jesus is a greater danger. They claim Jesus has been stirring up people all over Judea, from Galilee, even here to Jerusalem.
Suddenly, Pilate sees an opening, an opportunity to get rid of this whole sorry affair. If Jesus is a Galilean, the trial can be switched to Herod, the Roman governor over Galilee. Fortunately, he is staying in Jerusalem for the feast. Let Herod deal with the Jewish high priest and Jesus.
Pilate watches the procession head over to Herod's palace. As the footsteps die away in the distance and silence descends over his courts, Pilate may well breathe a sigh of relief. But by taking this action he has completely undercut his own verdict. He declared Jesus not guilty, so why is He still on trial? Why is His life still in jeopardy?
And one more thing Pilate fails to consider: if somehow Jesus is returned to him, it will be clear to the Jewish leaders that all they have to do is keep pressing, and Pilate will eventually give in.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You suffered such injustice to fulfill God's righteous plan and set free sinners like me. Give me a grateful heart, and genuine love for the people around me that need to hear of Your love. Amen.

Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Numbers 7:1 (A: v, S: iv) On the day Moshe finished putting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it, all its furnishings, and the altar with its utensils. After anointing and consecrating them, 2 the leaders of Isra’el, who were heads of their father’s clans, made an offering. These were the tribal leaders in charge of those counted in the census. 3 They brought their offering before Adonai, six covered wagons and twelve oxen — a wagon for every two leaders and for each an ox — and presented them in front of the tabernacle.

4 Adonai said to Moshe, 5 “Receive these from them; they are to be used for the service in the tent of meeting. Give them to the L’vi’im, to each as needed for his duties.” 6 So Moshe took the wagons and oxen and gave them to the L’vi’im. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the descendants of Gershon, in keeping with the needs of their duties. 8 Four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the descendants of M’rari, in keeping with the needs of their duties, directed by Itamar the son of Aharon the cohen. 9 But to the descendants of K’hat he gave none, because their duties involved the holy articles, which they carried on their own shoulders.

10 The leaders brought the offering for dedicating the altar on the day it was anointed. The leaders brought their offering before the altar, 11 and Adonai said to Moshe, “They are to present their offerings to dedicate the altar, each leader on his own day.”

(S: v) 12 Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav, from the tribe of Y’hudah, presented his offering on the first day. 13 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 14 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 16 one male goat as a sin offering, 17 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav.

18 On the second day N’tan’el the son of Tzu‘ar, leader of Yissakhar, presented his offering. 19 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 20 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 21 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 22 one male goat as a sin offering, 23 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of N’tan’el the son of Tzu‘ar.

24 On the third day Eli’av the son of Helon, leader of Z’vulun, presented his offering. 25 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 26 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 27 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 28 one male goat as a sin offering, 29 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eli’av the son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day was Elitzur the son of Sh’de’ur, leader of the descendants of Re’uven. 31 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 32 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 33 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 34 one male goat as a sin offering, 35 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elitzur the son of Sh’de’ur.

36 On the fifth day was Shlumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai, leader of the descendants of Shim‘on. 37 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 38 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 39 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 40 one male goat as a sin offering, 41 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Shlumi’el the son of Tzurishaddai.

(vi) 42 On the sixth day was Elyasaf the son of De‘u’el, leader of the descendants of Gad. 43 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 44 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 45 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 46 one male goat as a sin offering, 47 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elyasaf the son of De‘u’el.

48 On the seventh day was Elishama the son of ‘Ammihud, leader of the descendants of Efrayim. 49 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 50 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 51 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 52 one male goat as a sin offering, 53 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of ‘Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day was Gamli’el the son of P’dahtzur, leader of the descendants of M’nasheh. 55 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 56 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 57 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 58 one male goat as a sin offering, 59 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamli’el the son of P’dahtzur.

60 On the ninth day was Avidan the son of Gid‘oni, leader of the descendants of Binyamin. 61 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 62 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 63 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 64 one male goat as a sin offering, 65 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Avidan the son of Gid‘oni.

66 On the tenth day was Achi‘ezer the son of ‘Ammishaddai, leader of the descendants of Dan. 67 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 68 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 69 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 70 one male goat as a sin offering, 71 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Achi‘ezer the son of ‘Ammishaddai.

(vii) 72 On the eleventh day was Pag‘i’el the son of ‘Okhran, leader of the descendants of Asher. 73 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 74 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 75 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 76 one male goat as a sin offering, 77 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pag‘i’el the son of ‘Okhran.

78 On the twelfth day was Achira the son of ‘Enan, leader of the descendants of Naftali. 79 He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; 80 one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; 81 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, 82 one male goat as a sin offering, 83 and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Achira the son of ‘Enan.

84 This was the offering for dedicating the altar which was given by the leaders of Isra’el on the day of its anointing: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver basins and twelve gold pans. 85 Each silver dish weighed 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and each basin seventy shekels [one-and-three-quarters pounds]; all the silver of the vessels weighed 2,400 shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [just over sixty pounds]. 86 The twelve gold pans, full of incense, weighed ten shekels apiece (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-quarter pound]; all the gold of the pans weighed 120 shekels [three pounds]. (Maftir) 87 The livestock for the burnt offering consisted of twelve bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs in their first year, with their grain offering. There were twelve male goats for a sin offering. 88 The livestock for the sacrifice of peace offerings consisted of twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs in their first year. This was the offering for dedicating the altar after it had been anointed.

89 When Moshe went into the tent of meeting in order to speak with Adonai, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony, from between the two k’ruvim; and he spoke to him.

8:1 Adonai said to Moshe, 2 “Tell Aharon, ‘When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to cast their light forward, in front of the menorah.’” 3 Aharon did this: he lit its lamps so as to give light in front of the menorah, as Adonai had ordered Moshe. 4 Here is how the menorah was made: it was hammered gold from its base to its flowers, hammered work, following the pattern Adonai had shown Moshe. This is how he made the menorah.

5 Adonai said to Moshe, 6 “Take the L’vi’im from among the people of Isra’el and cleanse them. 7 Here is how you are to cleanse them: sprinkle the purification water on them, have them shave their whole body with a razor, and have them wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. 8 Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering, which is to be fine flour mixed with olive oil; while you take another bull for a sin offering. 9 You are to present the L’vi’im in front of the tent of meeting, and assemble the entire community of the people of Isra’el. 10 You will present the L’vi’im before Adonai, the people of Isra’el will lay their hands on the L’vi’im, 11 and Aharon will offer the L’vi’im before Adonai as a wave offering from the people of Isra’el, so that they may do Adonai’s service. 12 The L’vi’im will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; the one you will offer as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Adonai to make atonement for the L’vi’im. 13 You are to place the L’vi’im before Aharon and his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to Adonai. 14 In this way you will separate the L’vi’im from the people of Isra’el, and the L’vi’im will belong to me.

(ii) 15 “After that, the L’vi’im will enter and do the service of the tent of meeting. You will cleanse them and offer them as a wave offering, 16 because they are entirely given to me from among the people of Isra’el; I have taken them for myself in place of all those who come first out of the womb, that is, the firstborn males of the people of Isra’el. 17 For all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el are mine, both humans and animals; on the day I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set them apart for myself. 18 But I have taken the L’vi’im in place of all the firstborn among the people of Isra’el, 19 and I have given the L’vi’im to Aharon and his sons from among the people of Isra’el to do the service of the people of Isra’el in the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Isra’el, so that no plague will fall on the people of Isra’el in consequence of their coming too close to the sanctuary.”

20 This is what Moshe, Aharon and all the community of the people of Isra’el did to the L’vi’im. The people of Isra’el acted in accordance with everything that Adonai had ordered Moshe in regard to the L’vi’im. 21 The L’vi’im purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aharon offered them as a holy gift before Adonai and made atonement for them in order to cleanse them. 22 After that, the L’vi’im came to do their service in the tent of meeting in front of Aharon and his sons; they acted in accordance with Adonai’s orders to Moshe in regard to the L’vi’im.

23 Adonai said to Moshe, 24 “Here are instructions concerning the L’vi’im: when they reach the age of twenty-five, they are to begin performing their duties serving in the tent of meeting; 25 and when they reach the age of fifty, they are to stop performing this work and not serve any longer. 26 They will assist their brothers who are performing their duties in the tent of meeting, but they themselves will not do any of the work. This is what you are to do with the L’vi’im in regard to their duties.”

Mark 13:21 “At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here’s the Messiah!’ or, ‘See, there he is!’ — don’t believe him! 22 There will appear false Messiahs and false prophets performing signs and wonders for the purpose, if possible, of misleading the chosen. 23 But you, watch out! I have told you everything in advance! 24 In those days, after that trouble,

the sun will grow dark,

the moon will stop shining,

25 the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers in heaven will be shaken.[Mark 13:25 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10; 3:4 (2:31); 4:15(3:15); Haggai 2:6, 21]

26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with tremendous power and glory.[Mark 13:26 Daniel 7:13–14] 27 He will send out his angels and gather together his chosen people from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

28 “Now let the fig tree teach you its lesson: when its branches begin to sprout and leaves appear, you know that summer is approaching. 29 In the same way, when you see all these things happening, you are to know that the time is near, right at the door. 30 Yes! I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. 32 However, when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, just the Father. 33 Stay alert! Be on your guard! For you do not know when the time will come.

34 “It’s like a man who travels away from home, puts his servants in charge, each with his own task, and tells the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 So stay alert! for you don’t know when the owner of the house will come, 36 whether it will be evening, midnight, cockcrow or morning — you don’t want him to come suddenly and find you sleeping! 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: stay alert!”

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