Cheryl Schatz

Hi Elaine, Sorry for taking so long to answer. I have been swamped with work and several things that had to be done on time. You wrote: regarding the “pivitol” point.. while I agree with the Matt 11 v 12 words of Jesus…I do believe that He (Jesus) within the realms of those words point to Himself as being the pivotal point as He states in v 28 come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest When Jesus pointed to Himself, He was pointing to the issue of who is our Saviour. But in the issue of the change of time, and the pivotal sign of the change, Jesus gave us the answer as the time of John the Baptist. It would not be in the nature of our Saviour to say that the time started with John the Baptist, and then turn around and say that the time started with Him. I take the words of Jesus as they are, and the fact that He gives no specific word to make Himself as the time of change. God’s people have always come to God for rest (Exodus 33:14 is just one example.) You wrote: While John was used as the announcer, he (John), still didnt know if Jesus was the one see v3 of same chap. John knew who Jesus was until John became offended. The Father gave testimony to John and John’s witness of what he knew was amazing. John knew that he was not fit to remove the sandals of the Messiah (Matt 3:11), that he needed to be baptized by Jesus (Matt 3:14), he saw the Holy Spirit descending as a dove and lighting on Jesus (Matt 3:16, John 1:32) which was the sign of the Messiah, John heard the voice of the Father from heaven declaring Jesus to be His beloved Son (Matt 3:17), John said that Jesus is the Lamb of God and that it is Jesus who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), John said that Jesus existed before him (John 1:30), John said that he came baptizing in water so that Jesus might be manifested to Israel Israel (John 1:31), John said that the Father spoken to him and gave the witness thaact that Jesus different the one upon whom John saw the Spirit descending and remaining is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit (John 1:33), John said Jesus comes from above (John 3:31), John set his solemn seal to this testimony saying that God’s word about Jesus is true (John 3:33), John said that Jesus speaks the words of God and that Jesus has the Spirit without measure (John 3:34), John said the Father has given all things into Jesus’ hands (John 3:35), John testified that he who believes in Jesus has eternal life (John 3:36), John testified that the one who does not obey Jesus will not see life and the one who does not obey Jesus has the wrath of God abiding on him. (John 3:36) You wrote: I see scripture as stating quite catagorically that Jesus is the pivitol point in time for the great change that was to take place Jesus’ testimony is that John is the point in time. We cannot confuse the change of age to the work of Jesus. Jesus’ testimony cannot be disregarded as if it wasn’t true. You wrote: I think also that you did not understand what I said regarding the memorial tombs. I said that its easy for us (christians, jews and gentiles, one flock) NOW to understand the meaning and content (all), but in Jesus’ day the jews did not understand what Jesus meant, although they had the scriptues which spoke of the Christ…they didnt “get it” While the crowd does not completely understand Jesus, they would get that he was talking about some dead in verse 25 and all the dead in verse 28 of John 5, and that it was for now and later for some of the dead and at the end of the age for all of the dead. The grammar is particular and they would understand His grammar. I will continue commenting in the next comment box.