Welcome to Shema

1. Welcome to Shema Bless the Lord! Bless the Lord who is worthy to be praised for all eternity!

2. Shema Israel, AdonaiEloheinu, AdonaiEchad. Baruch shemk’vodmalchutol’olamva’ed. Shema

3. Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One! Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom, forever and ever. Amein. Shema

4. Yeshua taught at the temple by day, and during the nights he went out to the Mount of Olives to spend the night there. The people were getting up early in the mornings, going eagerly to the temple to hear him speak. Luke 21:37-38

5. There were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, may we see Yeshua, please?” • Philip went to tell Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip went to tell Yeshua. Yeshua answered, “The time has come for the Son of Man to be honored. John 12:20-28

6. Let me make this clear. A grain of wheat will always be a single grain of wheat unless it falls to the ground and dies. If it dies, much fruit will grow from it. The person who wants to preserve self will lose it, but whoever lets go of self in this world will keep it for eternal life.

7. “The person that materially provides for me must follow me. Where I am, my servant will be there too. My Father will honor the person who materially provides for me. Now my soul has been distressed, and what am I going to say – ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, it was for this very reason that I came to this time. Father, give honor to your Name!”

8. Then a voice came from heaven: “I have given it honor, and I will also give it honor again.” • The crowd standing listening said that there had been thunder, but others said that a Messenger had spoken to Yeshua. “This voice was for your benefit, not mine,” Yeshua remarked. John 12:28-34

9. “Now is the turning point of this world, now the leader of this world will be thrown out! And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to me!”

10. He said this to indicate the sort of death by which he intended to die. • The crowd responded, “We heard from the Law that the Anointed One will remain forever. So why do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? So who’s this ‘The Son of Man’?”

11. Yeshua answered, “You’ll have the light among you just a little while longer. Walk around while you have the light, so that the darkness doesn’t overshadow you – the person who walks around in the darkness doesn’t know where they’re going! Believe the light while you have it, so that you will become people associated with light.” • After Yeshua said this, he left there and hid from them. John 12:35-36

12. They didn’t believe Yeshua despite the fact he had performed such great miraculous signs right in front of them. This fulfilled the account by Isaiah the Prophet, who said, • “Lord, who has believed our preaching? • To whom has the Lord’s power been revealed?” John 12:37-49

13. This is the reason they couldn’t believe, as Isaiah says elsewhere; • “He has blinded their eyes And hardened their hearts, • So that they can’t see with their eyes • Nor understand with their hearts nor be turned around, So that I could instantly divinely heal them.” • Isaiah said these things because he saw Yeshua’ssplendor and spoke about him.

14. However, many of the leaders did believe him, but because of the Pharisees they would not openly agree with it. If they did agree, they would be put out of the synagogue. They loved praise from people more than they loved praise from God! John 12:42-43

15. Then Yeshua shouted, “When someone believes me, that person doesn’t only believe me, that person also believes the One who sent me! • When that person looks at me, that person also looks at the One who sent me. I certainly have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes me will stay in the dark. John 12:44-50

16. If a person listens to my words and doesn’t put them into practice, I certainly won’t judge that person, as I haven’t come to judge the world, but to save the world. The person who disregards me and doesn’t receive my words already has their judge – the Word which I have spoken will judge that person on the Last Day.

17. I certainly didn’t speak on my own initiative, but the Father who sent me commanded me as to what I am to say and what I am to speak. And I know that his command is eternal life. So whatever I say is exactly what the Father has told me to say.”

18. The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away. The chief priests and Bible scholars were looking for a cunning way to arrest Yeshua and kill him. They said, “It can’t be during the feast, as the people might riot.” Mark 14:1-2

19. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was approaching. The chief priests and the Bible scholars were searching for a way to get rid of Yeshua. They had to find a way which would not turn the people against them, as they were afraid of them. • Then Adversary entered Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve. Luke 22:1-6

20. Judas went to the chief priests and the temple police and had a discussion with them about how he could betray Yeshua. They were overjoyed and made an agreement to pay him for it. He fully agreed, and watched out for a good opportunity to hand Yeshua over to them when the crowds weren’t around.

21. After Yeshua finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that the Passover is in another two days, and the Son of Man is to be handed over to be crucified.” • The chief priests and the elders of the people assembled at the chief priest’s palace - his name was Caiaphas. Matthew 26:1-5

22. They plotted to arrest Yeshua by some deception and then kill him. However, they figured, “We’d better not do it during the feast, in case it causes a riot!”

23. Yeshua was in Bethany at Simon the leper’s house, reclining at the dinner table. A woman arrived carrying an alabaster jar of very expense perfumed ointment made from pure spikenard. She broke the jar and poured some perfumed ointment on his head. But some of them were indignant and said to each other, Mark 14:3-9

24. “Why was this perfumed ointment wasted? It could have been sold for a whole year’s wages and given to the poor!” • They started threatening her. • “Leave her alone!” Yeshua ordered. “What are you bothering her for? She’s done me a favor! You always have the poor around! You can do them a good turn whenever you want to, but you won’t always have me around!

25. She has done what she could – she has anticipated the anointing of my body for burial preparation. Let me tell you, that wherever the Good News is declared throughout the whole world, what she has done will be told in honor of her memory!”

26. When Yeshua was in Bethany at Simon the leper’s house, a woman turned up carrying an alabaster flask of very expensive perfumed oil. She poured the perfumed oil on Yeshua’ head while he was reclining at the dinner table. When his disciples saw it, they were indignant. Matthew 26:6-13

27. “What a waste!” they muttered. “This perfumed oil could have been sold for such and- such an amount and given to the beggars!” • But when Yeshua realized what was going on, he said, “Why upset this lady? She’s done me a good turn. You always have beggars around, but you don’t always have me with you!

28. This lady was pouring this perfumed oil on my body for my burial! Indeed, what she has done will be talked about in her memory throughout the entire world where the Good News is proclaimed!”

29. Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Yeshua to them. When they heard, they were pleased and promised to give him some money. So he started looking for an opportunity to betray him. Mark 14:10-11

30. Then one of the Twelve by the name of Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests. “What are you willing to give me if I hand Yeshua over to you?” he enquired. • They agreed to pay him thirty pieces of silver. So from that moment on Judas kept an eye open for an opportunity to betray Yeshua. Matthew 26:14-16

31. And in conclusion: