We do not know the shape or size of this basin but it had to be able to hold ample water for all the washing that God required.  As the priests ministered for the people they had to keep their hands and feet washed.  Before they could approach the bronze altar to present a sacrifice, they had to wash.  Before they could enter the tabernacle to offer incense, replace the bread or replenish the oil, they had to wash.  T?his washing was not temporary but to be done day in and year out.  It was not a choice for failing to do so would result in their death!

This had nothing to do with their redemption from sin for that was covered by the blood of the atonement sacrifice.  This washing had to do with their fellowship with God.  Before any contact with God, washing (cleansing) had to take place.  It reminded man of God's holiness and man's sin that hindered any fellowship with God.

This is what Jesus illustrated clearly in the foot washing that took place in the upper room.  "unless I wash you, you have no part (fellowship) with me."  Peter went from refusing to let Jesus wash his feet to seeking a bath! What the Old Testament taught is backed up by the New Testament.  We need daily cleansing of our sin to stay in fellowship with Christ.  Paul taught the same in Ephesians 5 when he said 'cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.'  This shows the importance of being in the Word of God so that the Holy Spirit can use it to keep us clean.  Without the Word sin accumulates and we loose our privilege of fellowship with Christ.  It means much more than a mechanical reading. It is having a hunger to read it and then live it, to and with those around us.

I found a prominent element mission thought out of the book of Judges.  You do not find any mention of the tabernacle, any of the solemn feasts or even about the sacrifices that the Law of God required.  The Passover is not mentioned or the Day of Atonement.  No corporate worship of Israel as a nation is even referred to.

There is a lot of active living in Judges to be sure.  It is a book that is always moving in the three hundred years that it covers.  The people were worshipping Idols and gathering at many shrines across the land, but only when trouble came did they seek God.  When life got too difficult to handle due to adverse circumstances the people suddenly would seek help from God. 

The same is being duplicated in our day.  Many are the shrines Christians gather around in their busy living.  Never would they think that they were bowing before any idols, but anything that puts God on the back burner becomes an idol.  In Hebrews this trend is called 'drifting'.  At some point this 'drifting' leads to a dangerous type of waterfall.  Panic sets in and Christ is sought for His help.  One begins to turn back to what Christ desires realizing that they need Him.  What is guaranteed is what occurs as the result of 'drifting' and it is never pleasant.  If you doubt this just read the book of Judges.  God does not change.

The best way to 'be on your guear' is to 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' (2 Peter 3.18).  The first business of a Christian is to become a better Christian.  To know Christ better calls for 'the Spirit of wisdom and revelation' that comes through prayer and Bible study.  Paul's driving desire of his living was, 'I want to know Christ'.  He put no confidence in what he could do but only in what Christ could do through him.  'What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing  Christ Jesus my Lord.'  Such a desire will keep us secure in dangerous times like we are presently living. 

Most translations us 'was over' to describe the Sabbath, but the original is 'expired'.  The direct reference was to the Sabbath day that had followed the first Godd Friday and preceded the first resurrection Sunday.  A specific day in between two other days.  The women listed had no idea of what they were about to experience.  Their desire was to, once again, demonstrate their love to Jesus who had radically changed their lives.  Little did they know, how once again, Jesus would add even more blessings to their live!

They went to anoint a dead body only to find an empty grave!  They were struggling with an obstacle on the way only to arrive and find it removed!  They arrived in sorrow but left 'trembling and astonished'!  They brought spices to anoint a dead Jesus but left to announce a living Lord!

The Holy Spirit chose the word 'expired' because the resurrection of Christ brought an end (fulfillment) to the Sabbath and it's requirements.  No longer were sacrifices needed to be righteous with God.  The Lamb of God had been slain on Good Friday and raise on Easter Sunday and ever since life has been changed!

Mark brings the Tour to a close standing in some good company.  At a distance from the cross stood some women who had followed Jesus, caring for His needs.  They had come with him to celebrate the Passover feast at Jerusalem, knowing that this time would end differently according to what Jesus had been teaching.  Two of these women, Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, went to the tomb.  There they watched and made plans to return on Sunday morning.

It is interesting that Mark begun our Tour with Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus in preparation for his burial. It seems appropriate for him to give us these interesting details about these ladies.  Women were lifted up by Christ in a society that tried to make them mere possessions. What stories these women will be able to share in glory about them being included in the ministry of Christ.  I look forward to listening to them seated around the throne of Christ!

The events that took place in our scripture text today (Mark 15) did not surprise God.  As you see from above, God wrote about it long before it occurred.  God is not like us for He knows all things in advance of them occurring.  This shows not only His foreknowledge but also His predetermined will.

Numerous are those who proclaim Jesus ended up as a victim being misunderstood as to his purpose, but nothing could be further from Biblical truth.  Pilate though he was in control.  The Sanhedrin thought they were being successful to rid themselves of Jesus.  The soldiers though they were just passing time with their cruelty to Jesus.  Barabbas thought it was his "lucky day".  All involved failed to realize that the sovereign plan of salvation was being carried out just as God had planned it.

What is your perspective on what presently occurring in our world? Luck, chance or the predetermined will of God? It matters what you think for it determines what decisions you make.  It would be wise for you to read the message that Peter preached about two months after the crucifixion of Christ.  You can find it in Acts 2:22-41.  Better get your thinking lined up with God's will now, rather than later!

We also want to thank those of our church family who stayed to celebrate with us.  We received such nice cards and other expressions of appreciation.  Your spedning time with us helped to "refresh" us.  Our laughter over the photos the kids displayed was enjoyable! Pictures taken theiry-five years ago sure can open the door for some fun!

Last Sunday was a great day in the Lord and ended with some fun fellowship. Rob and I have truly been blessed by the Lord in the last thiry-five years.  Space would not allow for me to elaborate with specific, but I can apply Psalm 117:2 "Fr great is HIs love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever."

Here in America we are privileged to have one of the best justice systems in the world.  It is not perfect, having various flaws, with corruption being one of it's worst flaws.  God made sure that He gave his nation of Israel the best legal system ever.  It was simple, yet through, and was the same for the rich or poor.  Sadly, by the time of Christ, this legal system had become corrupted by greed.

As we study our text today, you will see what was just being ignored.  Illegal assembly and contrived trials were quickly conducted to attain a desired result.  The one on trial was clearly innocent, yet over a hundred people directly involved ignored the obvious.  False witnesses, bribery and outright lying were overlooked by those in charge.

Jesus was without sin yet declared worthy of death by sinners driven by a depravity.  These sinners were both Jews and Gentiles.  From the top religious leaders of Israel to the powerful leaders of Rome.

When some of those involved realized that Jesus was being wrongly convicted, they laced the backbone to stand for what was legally right.  They simply went along with the crooked crowd.  Even the common people gave in to peer pressure and shouted for Christ to be crucified.

The 'day of the Lord' is coming when Christ will sit on His throne of justice and summon all of those who robbed him of justice to stand before him.  No excuses will be accepted.  Justice will be carried out which means all that stand before the great white throne will be condemned to eternal separation from God.  Christ will make not mistakes in his judging.  For all that stand before Him for justice will get exactly what they deserve.

You do not want justice from God! What you need, and want, is mercy through the grace of God's Son, Jesus. Christ suffered injustice to bring to man the mercy of God.  Spurn God's mercy and you will get His justice.  Plead for God's mercy, accept His grace through Christ, and received forgiveness of sin as God's mercy washes you clean.

As Jesus headed toward the final week of His earthly ministry, He was driven with urgency by the Holy Spirit.  So evident was the change that those who regularly traveled with Him noticed the change.  What Jesus was going to experience could not be approached with a casual attitude.  The events were to form the greatest conflict Jesus fought since His forty day wilderness encounter with Satan.  

For months, Jesus had been instructing his disciples, and the Apostles, as to what awaited Him in Jerusalem.  He wanted them prepared.  The problem was that they did not like what they heard.  As a result, Peter tried to tell Jesus it would not be as He said, while the others chose to not think about it.  As the events unfolded it became clear that they were not prepared, but that was their own fault and not that of Jesus.

As we take our annual "Tour to the Tomb", it is with the purpose of reminding us of the importance of heeding God's Word.  Although we are on the resurrection side of Calvary, we need to heed what the cross teaches us.  The crucifixion truths cannot be safely circumvented if one is to grow and produce spiritual fruit.

This morning our Tour brings us to Gethsemane.  I ask you not to enter the worship casually this morning.  We will be gathering on blood-stained soil as we peer into the very soul of our Lord.  Pray that what we study today will impact your heart with spiritual force! There are some important lessons we need to learn as we leave Gethsemane at the close of the message.  A casual attitude will lead to you becoming a spiritual casualty in today's world.

The temple courts were jammed with out of towners excited to actually be in the city of David.  All the priests were on duty for the busiest time in the Jewish year.  Thousands of lambs were sacrificed along with the regular temple offerings.  It was a festive occasion that filled the air along with the fragrant offerings.

Yet, another presence filled the unsuspecting environment, menacing sprits.  Usually demons prefer desolate places and desperate people, but legions of them slip effortlessly around Jerusalem.  Whey? They have followed their leader and lord into what they sense is a decisive spiritual warfare.  The great, red dragon Satan has come to Jerusalem!

As we march with the Mediator we will encounter Beelzebub and his cohorts of wickedness.  Although these forces are invisible, their presence is evident in the actions of individuals and groups.  An onslaught of heaviness, fear,and oppression and betrayal flood the Jerusalem arena.  To oppose the demons of darkness, the ministering spiriis of Jehovah encamp among the hills of Jerusalem intent upon protecting those who are follower of the Mediator.

No doubt, since Satan himself was on the heels of the Son of Man, Michael's sword rattles in it's scabbard as he hovers close to Christ.  These spiritual forces were well-aware that a world changing battle was inevitable.  Small skirmishes break out from time to time but the all out war will take place on the 'Skull' just outside of the city wall.  The march of the Mediator is that of one to battle.

My prayer for our 'March' is to imitate Mark.  WE are covering Biblical material that we are familiar with and we need to guard against complacency in learning.  Being familiar with Scripture is not to hinder us from seeking to learn new lessons to apply to our living.  No matter how well one may know a certain passage in the Bible, there is always new truth that can be dug out from prayer and study.

I encourage you to read closely, and repeatedly, Mark chapters 14 and 15.  This will better equip you to be able to grasp the messages that I will share with you.  Without the leading of the Holy Spirit I could not put this series together.  Each year I seek, and thankfully find,m the Holy Spirit revealing the direction to take on the Tour.  This year I was impressed to focus on our need for a mediator with God and how Jesus is that mediator.  To fully appreciate this ministry of Christ, we need to understand what He endured to reconcile us to God.  Once a person comprehends what Jesus did for them it should motivate them to selfless service in the church.  

I am excited to tag along with Mark and I invite you to join us each week to let the Holy Spirit impress upon your heart the wonderful 'March of the Mediator'!

Starting next week, we will use the book of Mark to follow the "March of the Mediator".  You have the outline of the path that the Mediator Jesus Christ took to bring reconciliation between God and us.  I encourage you to study these passages over the next seven weeks and truly seek to better understand what Jesus did to get us right with God. 

Sadly, the majority of believers fail to dig deeper into Scripture to find the motivation to become better servants of Christ.  Jesus knew at age twelve what He had come to accomplish and spent another eighteen years preparing for His ministry.  When He stepped out of his carpenter's shop it was to "do the work of my Father".  It is that work that we will closely observe in our Tour.

I ask that you do two things to make this "march" on that will glorify God and enrich you spiritually.  

Pray and attend! The two need to be blended faithfully for you to be challenged in your walk with Christ.  Isolation of the two will cost you spiritually in coming to a greater appreciation of this selfless ministry of Christ.

These are some penetrating questions that all have the same answer-nothing! The aim of the questions are obvious.  Right and wrong cannot be mixed without a dreadful outcome.  Our present society does not like clear cut lines of right and wrong but a blended mixture of gray.

These verses apply specifically to believers in their personal relationships beginning with marriage.  A principle is established that can apply to all of one's living.  To mix right with wrong, or good with evil, will not bring about a good result.  It is not in trying to get the right proportions of each but that they just do not mix.  This applies for individuals, families, churches and society as a whole.  It is a truth that we need to teach to our children before they experiment on their own and end up with unchangeable results that will have an adverse effect on their lives.

Experts in worldly society specialize in making wrong look right and right appear as wrong.  They cover up the wrong with a little right and convince people that the mixture is really what is best for all involved.  Once the mixture is made, trying to get the wrong out of the right gets messy.  I will give you one current example that illustrates the Biblical truth.  The Susan B. Komen Foundations should never have joined with Planned Parenthood! Upon realizing, the Foundation sought to sever its ties, only to discover the pressure so great that they reversed their decision and will continue to support an abortion driven organization.  The "good" of helping women seeks to cover up the "evil" of aborting babies! What a mixture that has resulted.

Let believers learn the lesson laid down clearly in Scripture.  Wrong is wrong no matter how much right you try to add.  Once wrong is mixed with right the result is wrong.  So many other verses in the Bible back up the ones given above, so we do not have a lack of evidence to this truth.  Let God speak and man listen or man will pay the consequences!