At Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri—in the heart of Jasper County in beautiful Southwest Missouri—we hold fast to this truth: the Bible records real events that happened in real places to real people. One of the most direct archaeological connections to the Passion of Jesus Christ is the Caiaphas Ossuary, a beautifully carved 1st-century limestone bone box that bears the name of the very High Priest who condemned our Lord to death. For believers across Carthage, Joplin, and the rolling hills of Jasper County, this ancient artifact is far more than a museum piece. Moreover, it stands as a powerful witness that the Gospels are rooted in verifiable history, strengthening our faith as we gather to worship the risen Savior each Lord’s Day.
The Caiaphas Ossuary: Archaeological Link to the High Priest Who Condemned Jesus
In November of 1990, construction workers paving a road in the Peace Forest south of Jerusalem’s Old City made an accidental discovery that would thrill biblical scholars and strengthen the faith of Christians around the world. A bulldozer broke through the roof of an ancient rock-hewn family tomb, revealing a burial cave from the time of Jesus. When the Israel Antiquities Authority arrived to excavate, they found twelve limestone ossuaries — bone boxes used in first-century Jewish secondary burial practices. One of them, ornately decorated and clearly belonging to a family of high status, carried two Aramaic inscriptions naming “Yehosef bar Qayafa” — Joseph, son of Caiaphas.
For the congregation of Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri, and for Bible-believing Christians throughout Jasper County and Southwest Missouri, this discovery is deeply meaningful. It provides one of the strongest extra-biblical confirmations of a named figure who appears prominently in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. The Caiaphas Ossuary does not merely prove that a man named Caiaphas existed; it places us in the very room where the religious leaders of Jerusalem deliberated the fate of the Son of God.
The 1990 Discovery in Jerusalem’s Peace Forest
Accidental Find During Road Construction
The tomb was located in an area known as the Peace Forest, just south of the Old City near what is today the North Talpiot neighborhood. Archaeologists Zvi Greenhut of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Ronny Reich, who studied the inscriptions, conducted a careful salvage excavation. The cave was a typical loculi tomb of the late Second Temple period, with four burial niches cut into the rock. Inside were twelve ossuaries, six of which showed signs of having been disturbed in antiquity or more recently.
Among the ossuaries, one stood out for its size, decoration, and inscriptions. Measuring approximately 75 centimeters long and 37 centimeters high, the limestone box was adorned with beautifully carved rosettes and still bore traces of bright orange paint — signs of wealth and care in its original preparation. On one of the long sides was written in clear Aramaic letters “Yehosef bar Qayafa.” On a narrow end appeared the shorter form “Yehosef bar Qafa.”
The 1990 discovery of the Caiaphas family tomb during road construction in Jerusalem’s Peace Forest
The bones inside this particular ossuary belonged to six individuals: a man approximately sixty years old, a woman, two teenage boys, and two infants. The sixty-year-old male is widely regarded by scholars as the most likely candidate for the biblical Caiaphas himself or a very close family member. Given that Caiaphas served as High Priest from around A.D. 18 until A.D. 36 or 37, a man of that age in the mid-first century fits the timeline perfectly.
Here at Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri, we often remind one another that archaeology is not our savior — Jesus is. Yet when the stones of the Holy Land cry out in agreement with the Scriptures we preach from our pulpit every Sunday, our hearts are encouraged. The same God who preserved the record of Caiaphas in the pages of the New Testament also preserved this stone box for modern eyes to see.
The Ossuary and the Inscription That Bears His Name
The Aramaic Inscription “Yehosef bar Qayafa”
Ossuaries were commonly used by Jewish families in Jerusalem during the first century before the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70. After a body decomposed in a loculus niche, the bones were collected and placed in a decorated stone box for permanent secondary burial. The practice was especially common among wealthier families who could afford fine limestone boxes carved with rosettes, geometric designs, and occasionally inscriptions.
The Caiaphas ossuary is among the more elaborate examples known from this period. Its decoration and the quality of the stone speak of a prominent priestly family with significant resources and social standing — exactly what we would expect for the household of the High Priest.
The Aramaic inscription “Yehosef bar Qayafa” — Joseph son of Caiaphas — on the 1st-century ossuary
The name “Caiaphas” appears to have functioned as a family or clan name rather than a personal name alone. Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, refers to the High Priest as “Joseph who was called Caiaphas.” The ossuary inscription matches this usage precisely. While the box does not explicitly say “High Priest,” the combination of the rare name, the ornate quality of the ossuary, the location of the tomb in an elite Jerusalem burial area, and the dating all align powerfully with the biblical and historical Caiaphas.
In 2011, another ossuary bearing the Caiaphas family name surfaced from the antiquities market and was authenticated by experts. It reads in part “Miriam daughter of Yeshua son of Caiaphas, priest of Ma’aziah from Beth ‘Imri.” This find links the family to one of the twenty-four priestly divisions established by King David and recorded in 1 Chronicles 24. The connection between the Caiaphas of the Gospels and a known priestly lineage is now even stronger.
Caiaphas in the New Testament and Josephus
The Gospels introduce us to Caiaphas by name and by office. In Matthew 26:3 we read, “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.” He is identified as the High Priest who, together with his father-in-law Annas, exercised significant power during the final years of Jesus’ earthly ministry and throughout the events leading to the crucifixion.
The Gospel of John provides additional theological insight. In John 11:49-52, Caiaphas declares to the Sanhedrin, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” The apostle John notes that Caiaphas did not say this of his own accord, but as High Priest he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation — and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
“And they led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.” — Matthew 26:57
Josephus confirms the historical Caiaphas in his Antiquities of the Jews. He records that Caiaphas, whose full name was Joseph son of Caiaphas, was appointed High Priest by the Roman prefect Valerius Gratus around A.D. 18 and served until he was deposed by Lucius Vitellius in A.D. 36 or 37. He was the son-in-law of Annas, who had previously held the office and continued to wield influence behind the scenes. This matches the New Testament portrait exactly.
Joseph Caiaphas, the High Priest whose name is now archaeologically attested on the ossuary discovered in 1990
At Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri, we preach through the Gospels verse by verse. When we reach the passion narratives, the Caiaphas Ossuary gives our people a concrete picture of the man who sat in judgment over Jesus. It removes any notion that the trial accounts are later legendary inventions. The High Priest named in Scripture was a real historical figure whose family tomb has now been found.
The Night Jesus Stood Before Caiaphas
The Gospels give us a sobering account of the events in Caiaphas’ house. After soldiers arrested Jesus in Gethsemane, they took Him first to Annas and then to Caiaphas. The Sanhedrin—the highest Jewish council—had gathered, even in the middle of the night. Therefore the council brought forward false witnesses. Jesus remained largely silent until Caiaphas placed Him under oath: “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63).
The Midnight Arrest and the Council’s Gathering
Jesus answered with the words that sealed His fate in the eyes of the council: “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Caiaphas tore his robes in a dramatic display of outrage and declared the charge of blasphemy. The council condemned Jesus to death.
Of course, only the Romans could carry out capital punishment. By morning, Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate. In addition, it was Caiaphas and the religious leadership who had orchestrated the events that led to the cross. The very man whose name is etched on this ossuary played a central role in the greatest injustice in human history — an injustice God sovereignly used to accomplish our redemption.
The solemn night when Jesus stood before Caiaphas the High Priest, as recorded in the Gospels
For the people of our church family in Jasper County, these scenes are not distant ancient history. They are the very foundation of our hope. The High Priest who condemned Jesus did not realize that he was fulfilling prophecy and advancing the plan of salvation. The bones that once rested in that ornate ossuary belonged to a man who unknowingly participated in the greatest act of love the world has ever known.
Scholarly Consensus and the Strength of the Evidence
Authenticity and Identification Debate
Unlike some controversial artifacts that have appeared on the antiquities market without clear provenance, the Caiaphas Ossuary was discovered in a controlled archaeological excavation with impeccable documentation. The Israel Antiquities Authority oversaw every step. There has never been a serious scholarly challenge to its authenticity or first-century dating.
Debate centers not on whether the ossuary is genuine, but on whether the sixty-year-old man whose bones it contained was precisely the High Priest Caiaphas of the Gospels or another member of the same prominent family. The absence of the title “High Priest” on the inscription leaves a small measure of uncertainty. However, the overwhelming majority of archaeologists and New Testament scholars accept the identification as highly probable. The name is rare, the social status matches, the location and date are perfect, and supporting evidence from the 2011 ossuary strengthens the family identification.
This stands in contrast to artifacts whose authenticity remains disputed. The Caiaphas Ossuary is routinely cited in scholarly literature as one of the most significant archaeological confirmations of a New Testament personality. It joins the Pilate Stone, the Erastus inscription, the Gallio inscription, and other finds that anchor the biblical narrative in the real world of the first century.
Why the Caiaphas Ossuary Matters to Believers in Carthage, Missouri
Why should a limestone box discovered in Jerusalem in 1990 matter to farmers, teachers, nurses, retirees, and young families worshiping at Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri? Because our faith is not built on myths or moral fables. It is built on the historical reality that Jesus of Nazareth was truly tried, crucified, buried, and raised from the dead in first-century Judea under the governorship of Pontius Pilate and during the high priesthood of Caiaphas.
When we sing “The Old Rugged Cross” or “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” on Sunday mornings in our sanctuary in Jasper County, we are singing about events that actually happened. The Caiaphas Ossuary helps our children and our new believers see that the Bible’s story is not a fairy tale. The man who led the charge against Jesus was a real public figure whose family name and burial practices have now been recovered from the dust of history.
In a culture that increasingly questions the reliability of Scripture, the young people growing up in Southwest Missouri need every reason to trust the Word of God. Archaeology will never replace the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing conviction, but God in His kindness has allowed the earth itself to bear witness. The same God who preserved the bones of Caiaphas’ family also preserved the message of the gospel so that it could reach even the small towns and rural communities of Jasper County, Missouri, two thousand years later.
At Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri, we rejoice when archaeology confirms the historical truth of the Gospels we preach
Every time we open our Bibles to the passion narratives, we can picture the actual man whose name appears on this ossuary. We can remember that the trial was not a secret event hidden from history. It took place in the public eye of Jerusalem, and the very stones have now testified to the identity of the one who led it.
The Greater Story: From Condemnation to Resurrection
Caiaphas could never have imagined that the man he condemned would rise from the dead three days later. He could not have foreseen that the cross he helped arrange would become the means by which sinners from every nation — including believers in Carthage, Missouri — would be forgiven and reconciled to God.
The apostle Peter, who stood in that courtyard and later preached on the day of Pentecost, declared in Acts 2 that Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” Caiaphas was a willing participant in the evil that took place that night, yet God sovereignly used it to accomplish the salvation of His people.
This is the message we proclaim at Victory Baptist Church every week: the tomb that held the bones of Caiaphas’ family is empty of power compared to the empty tomb of Jesus. The High Priest who once sat in judgment now stands before the judgment seat of the very One he condemned. And that same risen Lord offers grace and forgiveness to anyone who will repent and believe — whether in first-century Jerusalem or twenty-first-century Jasper County.
The Word of God and the archaeological witness together point us to the risen Christ in Carthage and throughout Southwest Missouri
The Caiaphas Ossuary ultimately points us beyond itself to the living Lord. It confirms the setting. It authenticates the characters. But the power of the gospel is not in the stone — it is in the empty tomb and the ascended King who will one day return.
Studying the Evidence and Growing in Faith
If you are part of our church family or someone exploring the Christian faith in Southwest Missouri, we encourage you to study the Caiaphas Ossuary and other archaeological discoveries for yourself. Excellent resources are available from organizations dedicated to biblical archaeology that present the evidence with both scholarship and faith. Books, museum exhibits (the ossuary is displayed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem), and reputable documentaries can deepen your confidence in the historical reliability of the New Testament.
At Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, our pastors and teachers are glad to discuss these matters. We do not place our ultimate trust in archaeology, but we thank God when the dirt of the Holy Land confirms what the Bible has always said. The Caiaphas Ossuary is one more reason we can say with the apostle Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Timothy 1:12).
Whether you have walked with the Lord for decades in Jasper County or you are just beginning to ask questions about the reliability of Scripture, the message is the same: the Bible can be trusted. The events it records — including the trial before Caiaphas — happened in space and time. And the Savior who was condemned that night is alive today, ready to save all who come to Him in faith.
Explore More Biblical Archaeology at Victory Baptist Church
The Caiaphas Ossuary is one of several powerful archaeological witnesses that confirm the New Testament accounts. Studying these finds helps believers in Carthage, Missouri, Joplin, and across Jasper County and Southwest Missouri see that the Bible is rooted in real history. Here are other discoveries we explore together:
The Pilate Stone — Archaeological proof of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor at Jesus’ trial.
The Dead Sea Scrolls — Ancient manuscripts that confirm the reliability of the Old Testament Scriptures.
Hezekiah’s Tunnel — A 2,700-year-old engineering marvel described in the Bible, discovered in Jerusalem.
For deeper study from scholars, read the Caiaphas Ossuary entry on Wikipedia and the original excavation reports published by the Israel Antiquities Authority in ‘Atiqot 21 (1992). These resources further illuminate the world of the New Testament.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Caiaphas Ossuary
What is the Caiaphas Ossuary and when was it discovered?
In November 1990, construction workers building a road in the Peace Forest south of Jerusalem’s Old City accidentally broke into an ancient family tomb. Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority excavated twelve limestone ossuaries. One ornately decorated bone box bore the Aramaic inscription “Yehosef bar Qayafa” — Joseph, son of Caiaphas — the name of the High Priest who presided over Jesus’ trial according to the New Testament.
How does the inscription on the Caiaphas Ossuary connect to the New Testament account of Jesus’ trial?
The Gospels record that Jesus was brought before Caiaphas, the high priest, and the Sanhedrin on the night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26). The ossuary inscription matches the family name of the very man Josephus and the New Testament identify as the high priest during that period. This gives tangible archaeological support to the historical setting of the Passion narrative.
What is the scholarly consensus on whether this is the bone box of the biblical Caiaphas?
Most scholars accept the ossuary as authentic first-century evidence of a prominent priestly family bearing the name Caiaphas. While the inscription does not explicitly say “High Priest,” the combination of the name, the high-status tomb, and the historical timing makes a strong case that the bones belonged to the Caiaphas (or a close family member) mentioned in the Bible. There has never been a serious challenge to its dating or authenticity.
How can the discovery of the Caiaphas Ossuary strengthen faith for believers in Carthage, Missouri, Jasper County, and Southwest Missouri today?
At Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, we believe the Bible records real events that happened to real people in real places. The Caiaphas Ossuary is one more piece of evidence that the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus occurred in verifiable history. When we gather on Sunday mornings in Jasper County, we are worshiping the risen Savior whose story is anchored in the same first-century world this stone box came from.
Come Worship With Us at Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri
We warmly invite you to join us this Sunday at Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri. You will find a welcoming, Bible-believing family of believers who love the Lord, love His Word, and love the people of Jasper County and all of Southwest Missouri. Whether you are wrestling with questions about the historical reliability of the Gospels or simply looking for a church home where Jesus Christ is exalted and the gospel is preached with clarity and conviction, you are welcome here.
The Caiaphas Ossuary is a stone that speaks. It tells us that the High Priest named in the Gospels was real. But the living Word of God speaks with even greater power: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Come hear that message with us. The God who worked through the events of that long-ago night in Jerusalem is still calling sinners to Himself through the finished work of His Son. At Victory Baptist Church in Carthage, we are honored to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ week after week in Jasper County, Missouri.
Victory Baptist Church Carthage, Missouri Jasper County, Southwest Missouri Preaching the Word • Exalting Christ • Loving Our Community
Who is worthy to open the scroll of history and eternity? In this message, we dive into Revelation 5 to witness the “Special Search” for the one worthy to loose the seven seals. While John wept when no one was found in heaven or earth, his tears were turned to joy at the revelation of the Lion of the tribe of Judah—the Root of David who has prevailed.
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Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll
written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy
to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and
read the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to
loose its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the
four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits
of God sent out into all the earth.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So worship in eternity in heaven is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll
written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Those great theologians the Eagles in their song “The Last Resort” sang:
And you can see them there on Sunday morning
Stand up and sing about what it’s like up there
They call it paradise, I don’t know why
You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye
1. THE SPECIAL SEARCH FOR THE WORTHY ONE.
Revelation 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy
to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
The person doing the saving can’t have the same problem as the one who needs
to be saved.
Revelation 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and
read the scroll, or to look at it.
W. A. Criswell once wrote: “These tears of John represent the tears of all God’s
people through all the centuries.”
2. THE SPECIFIC SELECTION OF THE WORTHY ONE.
Revelation 5:5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to
loose its seven seals.”
Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David,…
Jesus not only comes from David, but David comes from Him.
Matthew 22:45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?
Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the
churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
Revelation 5:5 “… the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to
open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:5 (NLT) “… Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne,
has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.
3. THE SLAIN SACRIFICE KNOWN AS THE WORTHY ONE
Revelation 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the
four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though
it had been slain, ,,,
Exodus 12:3 (EASY) Tell all the Israelite people to do this on the tenth day of this
month: Each man must choose a lamb to kill as a sacrifice for his family.
That will be one lamb for each home.
1 Corinthians 5:7 “… For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
The bridge of the song “Here I Am to Worship,” written by Tim Hughes
“I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross”
Revelation 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the
four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:12 …”Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
This passage from Galatians 1:1-5 highlights Paul’s apostleship, his message of grace, and the mission of Christ to redeem sinners. It emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross, rejecting any addition of human effort to salvation. The text outlines the themes of ministry, message, mission, and motive, pointing to God’s glory and the transformative power of the gospel. Supporting Scriptures from Corinthians, Psalms, Matthew, John, and Titus further reinforce the doctrines of grace, redemption, and God’s sovereignty.
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Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
Galatians 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Galatians 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Don’t add anything to the finished work of the Cross of Christ
It’s not Christ plus…
Christ plus my performance…
Christ plus my good works…
Christ plus the meetings…
Christ plus holy communion,
Christ plus keeping away from bad things…
Christ plus doing good things…
Christ plus baptism, christening …
Christ plus baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues …
Christ plus church membership, church confirmations …
Christ plus denominations …
Christ plus the sacraments …
1) ONE MAN’S MINISTRY: GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus
Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy
to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his
special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than
any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me
by his grace.
Galatians 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
2) ONE MAN’S MESSAGE: GRACE OF GOD.
Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
3) ONE MAN’S MISSION: GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present
evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Matthew 12:29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods,
unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill destroy; I have come that they
might have life, and have it to the full.”
1) It meant a transfer from darkness to light.
2) It meant a transfer from slavery to freedom.
3) It meant a transfer from condemnation to forgiveness.
4) It meant a transfer from the power of Satan to the power of God.
Psalm 22:4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
Psalm 22:5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were
not ashamed.
4) ONE MAN’S MOTIVE: GLORY OF GOD.
Galatians 1:5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.
Hymn “To God Be The Glory”
To God be the glory great things He has done
So loved He the world that He gave us His son
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in
Max Lucado (quote)
“You may be decent. You may pay taxes and kiss your kids and sleep with a clean
conscience. But apart from Christ you aren’t holy. So how can you go to heaven?
Only believe. Accept the work already done, the work of Jesus on the cross.
Only believe . . . It’s that simple? It’s that simple. It’s that easy?
There was nothing easy at all about it. The cross was heavy, the blood was real,
and the price was extravagant. It would have bankrupted you or me, so he paid
it for us. Call it simple. Call it a gift. But don’t call it easy. Call it what it is.
Call it grace.”
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Join us as we dive deep into the book of Malachi, exploring the profound questions posed to God and His revealing responses. Discover how these ancient dialogues are still relevant today, reminding us of God’s unwavering love and our relationship with Him.
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Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have
You loved us?’
Malachi 1:2 “… You say, ‘In what way have You loved us?
Malachi 1:6 “… Where is My honor? Where is My reverence? You say, “In what way
have we despised Your name?’
‘Malachi 1:7 “… In what way have we defiled You?
Malachi 1:13 “…Should I accept this from your hand?
Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words;Yet you say, “In what way
have we wearied Him?”
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?
Malachi 3:13 “… What have we spoken against You?’
This is not what God has said, this is what God is still saying.
I. GOD’S LOVE BURDENED.
Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, …
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Mark 2:3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men.
Mark 2:4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered
the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on
which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins
are forgiven you.”
Didn’t someone believe for you before you believed?
Didn’t someone pray for us before we knew to pray for ourselves?
Every person’s salvation begins with the burden, interest and influence of another.
II. GOD’S LOVE ANNOUNCED.
Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord.”
Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father,
Where is My honor?
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one Father?
III. GOD’S LOVE DOUBTED.
Malachi 1:2 “… Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’
Catergory #1. We Must Take The Good With The Bad.
Job 2:10 (NLT) Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never
anything bad?”
Catergory #2. Right Place, Right Time, Wrong Place, Wrong Time.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that–
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
Catergory #3. Be Ready: It Could Happen To You.
Luke 13:4 (NLT) And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in
Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”
Catergory #4. Don’t Worry, It’s None Of Your Business.
John 21:18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you
liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.
But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and
take you where you don’t want to go.”
John 21:19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify
God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
John 21:20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—
the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will
betray you?”
John 21:21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
John 21:22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to
you? As for you, follow me.
Catergory #5. God Is Not Obligated To Explain Himself To Us.
Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter…”
Isaiah 45:15 ” Truly you are a God who hides Himself.”
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,”
says the Lord.
Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher
than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 11:33 “… How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Psalm 139:2 “… You know my thoughts even when I’m far away
Psalm 139:3 “… You know everything I do.”
Psalm 139:4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save
He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Isaiah 46:9
Deut 28:29
Prov 4:18
2 Peter 1:19
Rev 1:1
Deut 29:29
Isaiah 46:9
Gal 4:4
Isaiah 30:18
Genesis 1:26
Psalm 2:7
Psalm 51:11
Romans 1:7
John 1:1
Acts 5:3-4
1 John 5:7
Proverbs 4:18
Psalm 119:133
Psalm 17:5
John 3:19-20
2 Peter 1:19
Jeremiah 17:9
1 Peter 1:19
Psalm 119:105
Rev 22:16
Luke 21:26-27
Matt 7:21-23
Sermon Notes
Isaiah 46:9 (NIV) “… I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me.
Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what
is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things
which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all
the words of this law.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day.
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to
heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts;
Rule #5: All of the Bible is about Jesus.
Rule # 6: The Bible not only has to be Read, It has to be Interpreted
Rule #7: “A Text Taken out of Context is a Con”
Rule #8: Let the Bible interpret Bible
Rule #9: There is a Progressive Revelation in the Bible
Progressive revelation simply put is the unfolding of God’s revelation.
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things which must shortly take place.
Now the whole Bible is Jesus being revealed and He is the one doing the revealing
The whole Bible is God’s Revelation not just the Book of Revelation
Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things
which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all
the words of this law.
I. GOD’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION COMES THROUGH INFORMATION.
Isaiah 46:9 “… For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like Me,
Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things
that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’
Isaiah 46:9 (NIV) “… I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none
like me.
Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what
is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
(1) Later revelation interprets earlier revelation.
(2) The New Testament interprets the Old Testament,
It has been said: “The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed;
the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.”
Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law,
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you …
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…
Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son;
this day have I begotten thee.
Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit
from me.
The Father is God
Romans 1:7 …Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Son is God
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.
The Holy Spirit is God
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the
Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Acts 5:4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it
not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You
have not lied to men but to God.”
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
II. GOD’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION COMES THROUGH ILLUSTRATION.
Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day.
The truth does get truer.
Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in your word: and let not any iniquity have
dominion over me.
Psalm 17:5 Hold up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not.
The light recieved increases light
The light refused increases darkness.
Vance Havner once said, “A man is judged not on the basis of how much sin he
commits, but on the basis of how much light he rejects. ”
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed
III. GOD’S PROGRESSIVE REVELATION COMES THROUGH ILLUMINATION.
2 Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to
heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts;
2 Peter 1:19 (NLT) You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words
are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning
Star shines in your hearts.
1 Peter 1:19 (KJV) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do
well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
1 Peter 1:19 “… until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
1 Peter 1:19 “… until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things
in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and
morning star.
We sing a hymn about it “The Lily of the Valley”
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star.
Heavenly sunlight, heavenly sunlight,
flooding my soul with glory divine:
hallelujah, I am rejoicing,
singing His praises, Jesus is mine.
Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those
things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me,
you who practice lawlessness!’
