The Lamb King

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This interactive E-book is a condensed explanation of God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation for humankind, from the bondage of sin to redemption. It is all about His Love, and it starts at the very beginning of the Bible with the book of Genesis. This small book is a simple tool to use on your own, or in a group to study and journal your way through the greatist Love Story of all time - the Gospel... May you be Blessed!!!

The Lamb King God’s Eternal Love Story e-book with:

by Patti Mustain

BTJohnsonPublis h ing.com Toll-Free: 1-866-260-9563

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible. © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Photography: Patti Mustain pattimustain.com

Dedication For Luda...to help answer your question, “What is the Bible all about?” For Lisa...to aid in your understanding of Jesus, the long- awaited Messiah. For Rachael... to use as a tool to cultivate your precious seed of biblical knowledge. And for ALL who are seeking... to be introduced to the life and love of Jesus, The Lamb King.

Introduction How remarkable it is that the Holy God of this universe has spoken to us through His written word, the Bible. Within it, we learn of His profound love for us and of His endless reign over the entire universe. It is even more astounding that He tells us of His longing to have a personal relationship with each of us. Through the pages of this book, we will see how God sacri- ficed Himself, to the point of death, to secure intimate rela- tionship with humankind. The concept for this book came from my desire to share these truths in a simple way with those who are seeking God. If we aren’t familiar with the “back story” of God’s great love for us, and how it was ulti- mately realized through His sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, then it is difficult to understand the scope of His love and our need for Him as our personal Savior and King. As you read through these pages, I encourage you to look for the thread of God’s Kingship that is knit within the story. Look also for the thread of sacrificial blood woven through- out, and how the blood shedding, culminates with Jesus. One of the great mysteries of the Bible is how God is mani- fested as Father, Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. You will be introduced to all three aspects of God in the pages to follow. While this book is written simply, there are enough scripture references provided for you to spend hours studying these truths on your own if you choose. If you desire to go deeper still, there is an abundance of God’s love to discover as you continue to study the Bible. The pictures within this book are of God’s marvelous handi- work. As a photographer, I love to capture images of His bril- liant creation. Praise Him for the amazing natural splendor in our world! v

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities —his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

Romans 1:20 (NLT)

The Genealogy of Jesus From Luke 3:23-38

Jesus was known as the son of Joseph. Joseph’s father was Heli; Heli’s father was Matthat; Matthat’s father was Levi; Levi’s father was Melchi; Melchi’s father was Jannai; Jannai’s father was Joseph; Joseph’s father was Mattathias; Mattathias’s father was Amos; Amos’s father was Nahum; Nahum’s father was Esli; Esli’s father was Naggai; Naggai’s father was Maath; Maath’s father was Mattathias; Mattathias’s father was Semein; Semein’s father was Josech; Josech’s father was Joda; Joda’s father was Joanan; Joanan’s father was Rhesa; Rhesa’s father was Zerubbabel; Zerubbabel’s father was Shealtiel; Shealtiel’s father was Neri; Neri’s father was Melchi; Melchi’s father was Addi; Addi’s father was Cosam; Cosam’s father was Elmadam; Elmadam’s father was Er; Er’s father was Joshua; Joshua’s father was Eliezer; Eliezer’s father was Jorim; Jorim’s father was Matthat; Matthat’s father was Levi; Levi’s father was Simeon; Simeon’s father was Judah; Judah’s father was Joseph; Joseph’s father was Jonam; Jonam’s father was Eliakim;

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Eliakim’s father was Melea; Melea’s father was Menna; Menna’s father was Mattatha; Mattatha’s father was Nathan; Nathan’s father was David; David’s father was Jesse; Jesse’s father was Obed; Obed’s father was Boaz; Boaz’s father was Salmon; Salmon’s father was Nahshon; Nahshon’s father was Amminadab; Amminadab’s father was Admin; Admin’s father was Arni; Arni’s father was Hezron; Hezron’s father was Perez; Perez’s father was Judah; Judah’s father was Jacob; Jacob’s father was Isaac; Isaac’s father was Abraham; Abraham’s father was Terah; Terah’s father was Nahor; Nahor’s father was Serug; Serug’s father was Reu; Reu’s father was Peleg; Peleg’s father was Eber; Eber’s father was Shelah; Shelah’s father was Cainan; Cainan’s father was Arphaxad; Arphaxad’s father was Shem; Shem’s father was Noah; Noah’s father was Lamech; Lamech’s father was Methuselah; Methuselah’s father was Enoch; Enoch’s father was Jared; Jared’s father was Mahalaleel; Mahalaleel’s father was Cainan; Cainan’s father was Enos;

Enos’s father was Seth; Seth’s father was Adam; Adam’s father was God.

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Table of Contents Dedication……………………………………………….............iv Introduction…………………………………………….........…..v The Genealogy of Jesus……………………………….....…...vii Chapter 1-Creation……………………………………….........12 Chapter 2-Angels and Demons…………………………........16 Chapter 3-The Fall of Humankind……………………….......20 Chapter 4-The Great Flood……………………………….......24 Chapter 5-Abraham - the Father of a Nation………….........28 Chapter 6-Enslavement in Egypt……………………….........32 Chapter 7-The Passover………………………………….........36 Chapter 8-God’s Deliverance out of Egypt and His Care for the Israelite Nation…………………...........40 Chapter 9-God’s 10 Commandments and the Golden Idol………………………………………........44 Chapter 10-The Tabernacle, God’s Dwelling Place Among His People............................................................48 Chapter 11-Israel’s Complaining, Distrust, and Rejection of God as their King…………………...…........52 Chapter 12-Israel’s Human Kings and the Nation Divided….........................................................56 Chapter 13-The Promise of God Being King Again……......60 Chapter 14-Exile and Jerusalem Rebuilt…………….…........64

Chapter 15-Reminder of the Coming Savior…………..........68 Chapter 16-The Lamb King Arrives!.......................................72 Chapter 17-Baptism in the River……………………….….....76 Chapter 18-The Life and Ministry of Jesus…………….........80 Chapter 19-Jesus Teaches about Life in His Kingdom…......84 Chapter 20-Jesus - the Rejected King…………………….......88 Chapter 21-The Traditional Passover Meal Shared…….......92 Chapter 22-Jesus is Sentenced to Death…………………......96 Chapter 23-The Death of Jesus……………………………....100 Chapter 24-The Resurrection!..................................................104 Chapter 25-Jesus’ Final Instructions…………………….......108 Chapter 26-The Arrival of the Holy Spirit…………….…....112 Chapter 27-Overcoming Evil…………………………...........116 Chapter 28-Jesus’ Promised Return and Eternity…….…....120 Chapter 29-God Wants All to be in His Kingdom…..…......124 Chapter 30-Jesus, Your Lamb King……………………….....128 Chapter 31-A Closing Prayer…………………………….......132 Acknowledgements……………….…………………...….......134 Credits and Sources…………………….……………...…......135 Index of Photographs.……….……................………...…......136

The Lamb King God’s Eternal Love Story

Chapter 1 Creation (Before 4000 BC)

In the beginning was God. Almighty. Perfect. Eternal God… manifested in the form of God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. In His magnificent brilliance, through His spoken word, He created, “Let there be light!” Behold, the world came into ex- istence! He created the heavens and earth, the waters, vegeta- tion and animals. Then remarkably, in His own image, He formed man. He named him Adam. God instructed Adam about life and death, and for Adam’s own good, gave him specific boundaries to live within. God designed him with freedom of choice — he could choose to obey or disobey the protective boundaries. So that Adam would not be alone, God gave him a partner named Eve. God placed the two of them in a splendid garden, where God Himself would spend time walking and fellow- shipping with them in the cool of the evenings.

“Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

John 1:1-5

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Do you believe that God wants a relationship with you?

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Verses For Further Study Genesis 1-2, John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:15-19

Chapter 2 Angels and Demons (Before 4000 BC)

“For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies —the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.”

Ephesians 6:12

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Have you ever been tempted to do something that you knew was wrong?

Verses For Further Study Isaiah 14:12-14, 2 Corinthians 11:14, Ephesians 6:12 John 8:44, Revelation 12: 3-4, Ezekiel 28:15-17 ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Chapter 3 The Fall of Humankind (Before 4000 BC)

Heartbreakingly, Adam and Eve listened to Satan’s persua- sions and violated God’s instruction. They did not trust in God’s goodness and love toward them; instead they believed the lie Satan told, that they would not die, if they disobeyed God. Immediately after they disobeyed, it was as though their eyes were opened, and they became aware of good and evil. They tried to hide from God, attempting to cover their shame by covering themselves with leaves. In love, God sought them out and provided animal skins to cover them. In this we see the very first blood sacrifice used to atone for (cover) humankind’s sin. Because of Adam and Eve’s actions, they, and all humankind would now live in a world with sin and death, no longer in the beautiful garden experiencing perfect fellowship with God.

“…and the Lord God clothed Adam and his wife with garments made from skins of animals.”

Genesis 3:21

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Why don’t we always feel close to God?

Verses For Further Study Genesis 3

Chapter 4 The Great Flood (Before 2500 BC)

Adam and Eve’s offspring began populating the earth. Trag- ically though, after many generations had passed, hu- mankind's tendency toward sin became great. Their hearts were full of wickedness, and their rebellion toward God was immense. Because of this, God grieved in His heart, and was sorry He ever made humankind. He chose to destroy the world through an extreme flood, saving only one righteous man, Noah, and his household. Following the flood, over time, Noah’s heirs populated the earth again. But as the population of humankind grew, so once again did the rebellion in their hearts. This time, though, God would not destroy humankind but in- stead, provide a plan for deliverance from the captivity of their sin.

“When the Lord God saw the extent of human wickedness, and that the trend and direction of men’s lives were only towards evil, he was sorry he had made them. It broke his heart.”

Genesis 6:5-6

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Have you ever had a rebellious heart?

Verses For Further Study Genesis 6:5-9, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 53:3-6

Chapter 5 Abraham —The Father of a Nation (2085 BC)

There was a God-fearing man named Abraham, to whom God promised a great legacy. His descendants would be as many as are stars in the sky! This legacy began with the birth of his long-awaited son Isaac, though it was not long before Abraham’s faith in God’s promise was tested. God instructed Abraham to present his son Isaac as a sacrifice on an altar. Unbelievably, both Abraham and Isaac were willing to obey God in this. Then miraculously, God provided an innocent ram caught in the bushes to be the sacrifice in Isaac’s place. God would one day put Himself in Abraham’s place, offering His own Son, Jesus, as the ultimate sacrifice for humankind. As promised, Abraham’s family grew larger, but there were- many challenging experiences awaiting them. Abraham’s grandchild, Jacob, had twelve sons. During his life- time there was a great famine in their land. To escape starvation, they had to leave their homeland and journey to Egypt to find food. They settled in Egypt and had large families. It was there that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, and while living in Egypt the family of Israel became the nation of Israel.

“God had told Abram, ‘Leave your own country behind you, and your own people, and go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and the entire world will be blessed because of you.’”

Genesis 12:1-2

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Think of the most important person to you... would you give them up if God asked you to? ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Verses For Further Study Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:5, Genesis 17:1-6, Genesis 22:1-18, Genesis 35:9-12, Genesis 41:54-42:2, Genesis 46:1-26, Genesis 47:27, Hebrews 9:12 ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 31

Chapter 6 Enslavement in Egypt (1600-1525 BC)

When Egypt’s ruling Pharaoh saw how numerous the Israelite people had become, he made them slaves, using them to build him great cities. Yet, this family of Abraham continued to flourish even through their difficulties. Pharaoh feared the growing Israelite nation and for a time took severe measures to control their population by com- manding that all Israelite boys were to be killed at birth. But God allowed one special child to be spared. Baby Moses was hidden in a basket and set adrift in the Nile River. He was found by Pharaoh's daughter, who raised him in Pharaoh’s household! God would later use Moses to free the Israelites from Pharaoh’s great oppression.

“There were at this time a Hebrew fellow and girl of the tribe of Levi who married and had a family, and a baby son was born to them. When the baby’s mother saw that he was an unusually beautiful baby, she hid him at home for three months. Then, when she could no longer hide him, she made a little boat from papyrus reeds, waterproofed it with tar, put the baby in it, and laid it among the reeds along the river’s edge.”

Exodus 2: 1-3

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Have you ever felt enslaved and hopeless?

Verses For Further Study Exodus 1-2:10, Exodus 3:1-10

Chapter 7 The Passover (1446 BC)

Israel experienced 80 additional years of slavery before God used Moses to deliver the Israelites’ from Pharaoh’s control. This would be through a series of signs and wonders that God would perform. Moses came to Pharaoh and demanded that he let the Israelite people go free. Pharaoh would not release his power over the nation. But God responded to the cries of His oppressed peo- ple and demonstrated His unmatched power over Pharaoh and his servants through a series of miracles and plagues. There was one last plague that began God’s final miracle of deliverance. God instructed the Israelites to kill an innocent lamb and paint the blood of the lamb over the doorframes of their homes. God then sent an angel of death to pass through the land and kill the firstborn of all in Egypt. But when the angel saw the blood of the lamb covering any home's entrance, he “passed over” the home because the sacrificed lamb had died in place of the child. Many years later —Jesus’ innocent blood would be shed, not to cover, but to cleanse humankind from their sins —sins that held all captive and destined for eternal death.

“The blood you have placed on the doorposts will be proof that you obey me, and when I see the blood I will pass over you and I will not destroy your firstborn children when I smite the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:13

If God asked you to do something by faith alone, would you?

Verses For Further Study Exodus 2:23-25, Exodus 3:10, Exodus 4:21-23, Exodus 7-12, 1 John 1:9

Chapter 8 God’s Deliverance Out of Egypt and His Care For the Israelite Nation (1446 BC)

The night of the Passover, Pharaoh was awakened by the cries of death, and found his own son dead. Finally, he had enough and ordered the entire nation of Israelite slaves to leave! A whole nation had been freed! This freedom was something that the Israelites would always remember. Every year they would celebrate the Passover hol- iday with a special meal. God had used Moses to deliver His chosen people out of op- pression and enslavement, and now this emancipated nation was looking forward to a land of its own - God’s Promised Land. Lovingly, God took care of the Israelites on their long passage from Egypt to the Promised Land through numerous, mighty miracles. He was the King of this freed nation and wanted them to trust Him and depend on Him as He instructed them how to live as His people.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for them. Everyone can go out each day and gather as much food as he needs. And I will test them in this, to see whether they will follow my instructions or not. Tell them to gather twice as much as usual on the sixth day of each week.”

Exodus 16:4-5

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Have you ever experienced being freed from something or someone that you felt in bondage to?

Verses For Further Study Exodus 6:6-8, Exodus 12:30, Genesis 15:12-20, Exodus 12:14-17, Exodus 14:15-31, Exodus 16:4-5, 16:11-18, Psalm 10:16, 2 Chronicles 20:6

Chapter 9 God’s 10 Commandments and the Golden Idol (1446 BC)

With a thundering voice in the wilderness, God spoke from the mountain at Sinai to the entire Israelite nation, giving them Ten Commandments to teach His nation how to live under His Kingship. But one day when Moses was spending time alone with God on Mount Sinai, just days after God had commanded the Is- raelites to worship only Him, the people made an idol of gold and worshipped it instead! God was angry and wanted to de- stroy the nation, for He had just proven that only He deserved their worship. When Moses came down from the mountain with the tablets God had written His Ten Commandments on, and saw that the people were worshiping a golden calf, he was furious. Moses told the people who chose to honor God’s command- ment to worship only Him, to kill those who made the idol. From the 2.5 million Israelites who were delivered out of Egypt about 3,000 non-trusting idol worshipers died that day. Moses then begged God not to destroy the entire nation. God heard and responded to Moses’ plea. God sent punishment but did not destroy the whole nation.

God’s Ten Commandments

You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make idols. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet.

Condensed from Exodus 20

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Have you ever worshiped an idol?

Verses For Further Study Exodus 20:1-23, Exodus 24:12-18, Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 4:9-14, Deuteronomy 5

Chapter 10 The Tabernacle God’s Dwelling Place Among His People (1445 BC)

While Moses had been on the mountain, God had also in- structed him to have the Israelites make a movable Tabernacle. In it, they were to house the Holy Ark of the Covenant, where the tablets with God’s Ten Commandments written on them were to be stored. The people were to worship God in the Tab- ernacle, and to bring the priests animal sacrifices to cover their ongoing sins, thus having a pure and innocent one take the place and blame of the guilty. In the Tabernacle was a room called the Holy of Holies. This was God’s own dwelling place right there with His people. The room was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle by a thick curtain. Once a year the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. He was essentially entering into the very presence of God. With him, he would bring the shed blood of an innocent animal and sprinkle the blood on the covering of the Holy Ark of the Covenant, known as the Mercy Seat of God. In doing so, he sought God’s mercy and made amends for the sins of the people.

“The Lord now said to Moses, ‘Put together the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month. In it, place the Ark containing the Ten Commandments; and install the veil to enclose the Ark within the Holy of Holies.’”

Exodus 40:1-2

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Do you ever need mercy?

Verses For Further Study Exodus 40, Hebrews 9:1-10, Leviticus 5: 5-6

Chapter 11 Israel’s Complaining, Distrust, and Rejection of God as Their King (1445 BC)

Unfortunately, Israel continued to do wrong and sin. They often grumbled and complained and did not trust God’s in- structions were for their well-being. Due to their lack of trust, most of them would not be permit- ted to enter into the Promised Land. They would wander an- other forty years in the desert wilderness until their children would be allowed to enter. Then, even after they entered the lush Promised Land full of milk and honey, they decided they wanted to be like other nations and appoint a human king rather than be led by God alone. God recognized that His people were rejecting Him as their King. Because God always gives people the choice to submit to Him or not, He permitted the Israelites to reject His leader- ship and gave them what they wanted, a human king.

“Give us a king like all the other nations have,’ they pleaded. Samuel was terribly upset and went to the Lord for advice. ‘Do as they say,’ the Lord replied, ‘for I am the one they are rejecting, not you—they don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but warn them about what it will be like to have a king!”

1 Samuel 8:5-9

Journal Your Thoughts and Questions

Have you ever wished that you were part of someone else's family?

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