Jesus Versus John

As a Sunday school teacher, from time to time someone will come to my class, spend one week with us and then leave, sometimes telling me he wants to check out another class. I thank him for stopping by and considering our class and what we are discussing, and tell him I hope he finds what he is looking for. To be perfectly honest, I have to admit there is a tinge of jealousy on my part, as I watch him walk away. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, and I put the feeling down, recognizing it is only from the flesh, but, still, it is there; and it surfaced, even if I am the only one who noticed. Do we all have such feelings? I don’t know—but I know I do.

 

The Persecution Under Agrippa I

Luke tells us in Acts 12:3 that Herod (Agrippa I) executed James, the son of Zebedee, with a sword. The problem is Luke never tells us why. He simply records the event. So, what prompted Herod to lift up his hand against certain disciples? Can we know? I don’t think it is possible to know with certainty, but I do believe we can come close to the truth by interpreting wisely some of what we find in Luke’s record.

 

We were Called Christians First in Antioch!

Did you ever wonder how we got our name Christian? I have several nicknames and I know how I received each one. Some of the reasons are quite funny, while others are a bit embarrassing. Some were used for a short period of time, and others I am known by to this day. Nevertheless, all of them are mine, and I know the reason why and by whom I had been called by each name that was used to identify me. So, since we had begun to be known as followers of the Way or Nazarenes, how is it we finally became known as Christian? Who gave us this name and why, and can we know?

 

Paul’s Visit to Jerusalem

Paul’s activity after his heavenly vision in Acts 9 seems to suggest an independence from the Apostles as far as authority is concerned. That is, he didn’t need their approval or authorization to preach the Gospel where and when he thought the Lord led. It was about three years after his transformation that he even attempted to see the Apostles (Acts 9:26-28), and even then his visit arose out of the circumstances at hand. That is, he was no longer able to stay in Damascus, so he was then ready to meet with the Twelve.

 

John’s Testimony of Astonishment!

Did you ever see something that took you by surprise and you did a “double-take”? You know, you looked once as you were walking and then it hit you, and you stopped, because you had to give it another, more lingering look. I believe this is what John is telling us when the Gospel writer records: “I knew him not…” John repeats this in verse-33. He was astonished that he did not know the Messiah without seeing the Father’s sign that the Holy Spirit would descend and remain upon the One who was to come.

 

Jerusalem knew nothing of Paul!

Most commentaries I’ve read about Paul’s dramatic spiritual transformation on the way to Damascus have him preaching immediately after his spiritual awakening, discussing with the Jews in the synagogues there, showing Jesus was the Messiah. However, this makes no sense whatsoever, because Jerusalem knows absolutely nothing of Paul and his work there. Surely after a period of three years something would have trickled down from Damascus to Jerusalem showing what Paul was doing. Nevertheless, the Scriptures are silent as it pertains to Jerusalem’s knowledge of Paul’s activities.

 

John’s Confession!

It is difficult to find ministries these days that don’t claim to have it all. They preach the word like no one else, help the needy in their community and are first on the scene of every disaster. I’m not trying to make light of anyone’s ministry in Christ, but it seems at times it is difficult for anyone to admit any weakness, or limitation. In reality, they most likely are proficient at one thing and are connected to and financially support other anonymous, but proficient and separate, ministries who take care the needy and still others who are especially ready to help out in disasters. Nevertheless, to listen to some folks, they are a mega-ministry in the hands of the Lord. Perhaps one or two are, but I simply cannot believe everyone on Christian radio and tv is that big and powerful.

 

Paul’s Flight from Damascus

After Paul returned to Damascus from Arabia, he began to preach in the synagogues there. At that time there were thousands of Jews and Jewish proselytes among the Damascenes for Josephus tells us that 10, 000 Jews were slain there during the Jewish revolt [Wars 2.20.2], and this appears to be men only, for in another place he says there were 18,000 slain and there included women and children [Wars 7.8.7], but this does not include Jewish sympathizers or God-fearers who worshiped among the Jews every Sabbath. So, evidently Paul had a great mission field here, near where he first came to know Jesus.

 

The Ministry of John the Baptist

When I was growing up and was first taught about John the Baptist, I visualized a man in a kind of caveman outfit with wide eyes, unkempt hair and usually screaming out a message of hellfire and brimstone. You know what? This same picture is pretty much painted of him today, as well. But, is it accurate? Can we know from the Scriptures what John was like? Yes, I believe we can know a few things about John; at least enough can be learned to show that this assumption of his being a hell and damnation type preacher is wrong.

 

Paul and the Doctrine of Circumcision

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Did you ever wonder how Paul first began to understand the circumcision doctrine that so identified Pauline theology? Well, immediately following his heavenly vision, Paul went into Arabia. More than likely he spent some time in the synagogues in various cities he visited there. Paul already knew the Nabataeans were near relatives to the Jews, descending from Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Hagar, Sarah’s slave. He would have found, if he didn’t know already, Nabataeans were more easily won over as proselytes to Judaism there than in other Gentile countries in the empire. Why was this so? No doubt it was because of the Nabataean’s disposition toward the Jewish practice of circumcision. Being descended from Abraham, circumcision was not rejected, as it was in other Gentile countries. It was already practiced, but not under compulsory conditions as in Judea and Galilee. Nabataeans were more or less indifferent toward the practice.

 

Jesus Has Shown Us What God Is Like!

Have you ever wondered what God is like? We see him portrayed exactly as he is in the face and life of Jesus (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is the exact representation on earth of what God is in heaven. You see, no one had ever seen God (John 1:18), so no one knew what he was like. If Jesus is God through whom all things were created, and he came into this world, lived among us, but we never recognized who he actually is, then it is pretty safe to conclude that no one really knows God without knowing Jesus.

 

Paul’s Theology and the Children of Abraham

“Who are the children of Abraham?” It seems this was a question under discussion in the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:9; Luke 3:8), as well as that of Jesus (John 8:39), but although there are implications in the Gospel narratives, Paul defines the doctrine more vividly than what is found in the Gospel accounts. For Paul, Abraham’s children are those who “believe God” just as Abraham believed God. They are not necessarily, in the spiritual sense, those who are physically descended from Abraham, although his physical descendants must ultimately be dealt with. The question is, however, where did Paul get this idea, since he was never one of John’s or Jesus’ disciples?

 

Grace and Truth Came Through Jesus

In John 1:17 the Gospel writer contrasts Moses with Jesus. He says that the Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus. Isn’t this an odd manner in which to compare the Old and New Covenants? John seems to imply that the Old Covenant contains no truth at all, but, of course, this would be a misapplication of the word truth, because John clearly implies in his remark that it was God who gave the Law through Moses, and it is also God who gives us grace and truth through Jesus. So what is John saying?

 

Paul’s Soul Searching in Arabia

In Acts 9:19-20 Luke gives us the impression that Paul immediately began preaching the Gospel after his conversion. But, where did Paul get his insight? How could he have been persecuting Messianic believers one moment and preaching the Gospel Messianic’s preached in the very next moment? This doesn’t make sense. We might say that he was filled with the Holy Spirit and was immediately able to draw on the Scriptures he already knew, and with the Holy Spirit inspiring him, he was now able to understand those Scriptures correctly. Well, we might say that, but is this the manner in which God normally works? I, for one, have to study the Scriptures and pray for insight. Just because I have read Genesis to Revelation doesn’t mean I know all there is to know about the Bible, simply because the Holy Spirit dwells within me. How about you?

 

God WITH Us!

Some time ago, I remember seeing an animated version of Christians involved in ministry at their local church. It portrayed the ministries of three adults involved in children’s ministry. The first two appeared to be nothing more than babysitting. The children seemed to be very active and the two adults seemed a bit annoyed but bearing with it all, while the bubble above their heads showed what they really wanted to do. One saw himself involved in the choir, and the other saw herself helping the aged. The animation showed they truly wanted to help, but they really wanted to be doing something else. The third adult looked like he was really enjoying the children. He was sitting on the floor with them laughing and the bubble above his head was an exact replica of what he was already doing. In other words, he was content in his ministry and wouldn’t prefer doing anything else, no matter what that might be!