Peter's denials. Jesus' trials before Annas, Caiaphas and finally Pilate. Pilate tries to get the audience to make a choice between Jesus and Barabbas - who is a revolutionary and whose name means "son of the father" or "son of the teacher" - and to chose Barabbas. Interestingly, the choice comes down between "The Son of The Father (God)" vs. "the son of the father (of this world)".

Enemies oppose the building of the Temple. Later opposition under Xerxes and Artaxerxes. Cambyses is thought to be Artaxerxes around 529 - 522 B.C. who received the letter and wrote back to stop the work. King Cyrus was the one who conquered Babylon earlier and he reigned from 538 - 529 B.C. King Xerxes (also called King Ahasuerus) reigned from 485 - 465 B.C. and he was supposed to be the one who took Esther as his queen. *** History notes here taken from Halley's Bible Handbook ***

The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus

The Altar Is Rebuilt. The People Begin to Rebuild the Temple. The Feast of Shelters is also called the Feast of Booths / the Feast of Tabernacles. This is also called the Feast of Sukkot. Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's presence with man (John 1: 14). This Festival will be observed in the kingdom (Zechariah 14:16-19. ) It points to the day when the presence of God will tabernacle with humanity forever (Revelation 21:3)

The comforting work of the Holy Spirit who is also called The Advocate. Sadness will be turned to joy: with Jesus' help, we shall overcome the world!

The orderly account of the first of 3 returns of the Jews back to the homeland for the Jewish restoration of the nation and the temple. (Ironically like Israel forming as a state again on happened on May 14, 1948). This occurred with Zerubbabel in 536 B.C. under permission from King Cyrus in Persia. Zerubbabel is a signet ring (Haggai 2: 20-23).

Jesus is the true Vine. Abide in Jesus to abound. God is the true gardener who prunes our motives and purifies our character. Every son and daughter of God gets chastened because He loves us. The world hates Jesus without cause because He is taking us out of this world and you too will be persecuted in some form or other.

King Cyrus allows the exiles to return to Babylon. A New Beginning for the Jews.

Jesus, the Way to the Father. (John 14:6) Jesus promises the Holy Spirit - the Comforter.

The progression of kings towards the end of the kingdom of Judah. The fall of Jerusalem and its conquest by Babylon. The 70 years of the Jews inside Babylon - like a new Egypt - as a 70 year (7 X 10) "sabbath rest". The return of Babylonian exiles to reconstruct a new temple in Judah.