Are Women Forbidden to Teach Men?

from Google Images

According to the patriarchal system in the modern Christian church, women have very little, if any, authority in the church or in the family. They definitely have no authority over men in many churches, if the doctrine is to be obeyed. In fact, in some Christian communities even women with a masters or a doctorate degree from college need to obtain special permission from the pastor of the local church to preside over teenage boys in a Sunday school classroom! This, due to the scripture: “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man…” (1Timothey 2:12), for she must be quiet and in subjection (1Timothy 2:11). Earlier in the chapter Paul seems to be concerned with how a woman fixes her hair, and whether she wears jewelry, and if it is costly (verse-9). Is Paul serious, or should we understand his words metaphorically (cp. 2Peter 3:15-16)?

 

Peter’s Disabled Spirit Healed

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To dine with Jesus is to be forgiven by him. However, although knowing one is forgiven for past disloyalty and indiscretions is a good thing, and understanding such a thing goes a long way to restoring a relationship, nevertheless, healing the breach in a relationship isn’t complete until the offending party is confident enough that it won’t occur again. What if I screw things up again, will that end it? Will you ever grow tired of forgiving me or of my inadequacy? Will this be the final time you forgive me? Will I ever be able to please you well enough that we could walk together without my remembering how inadequate I am to serve you? Forgiveness can only take one so far in healing a relationship. There is more to healing a broken spirit than knowing one is forgiven by the offended party. Judas didn’t make it, but Peter and the other disciples would.

 

Jesus Appears to Seven of His Disciples

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In the night before his crucifixion and as they walked from the upper room to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told his disciples that, after he was risen, he would go before them into Galilee (Matthew 26:30-32). After Jesus rose from the dead, the angels told the women who had come to the sepulcher that Jesus had risen and to remind his disciples of what he had told them, concerning meeting them in Galilee (Matthew 28:5-7, cp verse-10). This was the only scheduled meeting of Jesus with his disciples after his resurrection that is revealed in the Gospel narratives (cp. Mark 14:26-28). All others were extemporaneous. Moreover, both the time and the place of that meeting were also revealed (Matthew 28:16). All post resurrection appearances were done with one (John 20:14) two (Luke 24:13-16), perhaps five or six (Matthew 28:9), eleven or maybe also with others (Mark 16:14; cp. Luke 24:33-36). However, if folks knew of a scheduled meeting was to occur, certainly many more would be present even from among the unbelievers, and Paul mentions that meeting (1Corinthians 15:6).

 

I’m Going Fishing!

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One might presume that the great sorrow and despair of the crucifixion, which was wiped away in the resurrection of Jesus settled all matters, so let’s get on with preaching the Gospel, the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Well, “not so fast” seems to be the reply we are given in the final chapter of John. There were real matters of confidence and worthiness that had to be addressed. Consider Peter’s shock, when he realized he had actually done what Jesus said he would do in denying even knowing him. How is it that Peter could simply leave that behind with “onward Christian soldiers” as his battle cry? While the hymn may inspire some of us to preach the Gospel (probably not), but such a thing was far from Peter’s mind and heart.

 

The Resurrection

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Many modern believers have sought to compile a harmony of the day of the resurrection, Jesus’ appearances, the women who came to the tomb, and where and about what time of day these things occurred. For example, it is implied that Matthew’s women told the disciples of Jesus’ resurrection, for not only had the angels told them, but Jesus appeared to them on their way (Matthew 28:5-11). Luke names some of the women, and definitely says they told the disciples, but no one believed them (Luke 24:4-11). However, Mark’s women, except for Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11), said nothing to no one (Mark 16:4-8). How do we account for such discrepancies?[1] When and where did Jesus appear to the women, and when was it that he appeared to the disciples? Who was there and who was not?

 

Serving Christ in the Flesh

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We are told by John and the other Gospel narratives that Peter followed the Lord and those who arrested him in the garden to the high priest’s palace or courtyard (John 18:15). However, John adds that another disciple also followed, but apparently not with Peter, who followed at a distance (Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54). The other disciple, we are told, was known to the high priest. At first Peter was refused entry, but the other disciple came to the gate to let the woman who kept the gate know that Peter should be allowed entry (John 18:16)

 

Jesus’ Arrest in the Garden

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We are told in John’s narrative that Judas knew of the place where Jesus and his disciples normally spent their nights, when they were in Jerusalem (cp. Luke 21:37). After receiving a band of men (John 18:2-3) who were the deputies of the chief priests and Pharisees, vis-à-vis the Jewish authorities at Jerusalem, Judas then led them to the place where Jesus was. Some scholars try to put Roman soldiers into this “band of men” but that is pure conjecture. There is absolutely nothing within any of the Gospel narratives that would indicate Pilate knew of Jesus before he was turned over to him by the Jewish authorities. Therefore, the men Judas led must have been the Temple guard who also acted as police for the city.

 

Serving the Flesh Denies Christ

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Perhaps one of the most surprising developments that occurred that evening was when Jesus predicted Peter’s denial (John 13:36). How many of us, I wonder, actually consider what we do, and in terms of service to the Lord. What I mean is, do we really understand whether what we do for Jesus actually comes from God or does it come from man? Certainly, the Pharisees believed what they did, all the ceremonial washings etc. served God, but Jesus said they denied God (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:5-13), in that his word was set aside so they could serve him according to their traditions. Notice that they thought they served God, but they set aside serving him according to his word, so they could serve him according to what they thought was appropriate.

 

One of You Will Betray Me!

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As Jesus ended his mini discourse with his disciples, he became very troubled in his spirit. Often, when folks come to realize they’ve been betrayed or their love for another had been abused, they become angry and lash out at the guilty one, but not so, Jesus. He simply grieved over the fact that Judas would do such a thing. Like grieving over the passing of a loved one, although you knew it would occur and were prepared for it, you still grieve over the loss. Then Jesus told his disciples for the third time that one of them would betray him (John 13:21). There were several tables in the upper room, and Jesus disciples sat at each one, but during the meal Jesus revealed that it would be one of the Twelve, who sat at his table, who would betray him (Mark 14:20). Each one had already taken his turn, asking if he were the betrayer, but Jesus replied only that it was one who dipped with him in the dish (Mark 14:19-20).

 

Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet

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John doesn’t mention anything about Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, except to record what immediately occurred afterward, while they were still in the upper room. The Synoptics don’t mention much else, except to document the passing of the bread and wine around the table, which was done at least twice, once before the meal began (Luke 22:14-20), and the second while the meal was in progress (Matthew 26:26-29). Moreover, the Synoptics record that Jesus announced he would be betrayed by one of the Twelve. He mentioned his betrayal, while they were eating, probably twice, but John’s Gospel records Jesus saying he’d be betrayed by one of them at least one time after the dinner was finished (John 12:18, 21). It is important, when studying what occurred in Jesus’ ministry to consider not only what one witness emphasizes in his own narrative, but what all four record. John is the only one of the four that documents Jesus’ long discussions with his disciples after the meal, and only here do we find Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

 

The Calling of Jesus’ Leading Apostles

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Two of John’s disciples began following Jesus, just as he turned to return to Galilee. This was the second day since Jesus’ baptism (John 1:35-37), and after he and the two men following him arrived at the place Jesus was staying (perhaps an inn), the two were invited to stay with Jesus, because it was late in the day. One of the two was called Andrew, and he had a brother, named Simon. He went and fetched his brother (among others who were traveling to Galilee from Bethabara, where John baptized. Andrew told Peter he had found the Messiah. When Jesus saw Simon, he told him that he would be called Peter, and the three stayed with Jesus that night (John 1:40-42).

 

Whom Do You Seek?

from Google Images

It’s now the third day since Jesus was baptized, and he was still in Bethabara (John 1:28), which comes as a contrast to Mark 1:12, but more about this in another study. At this time, John was standing with two of his disciples, as he watched Jesus, as he was walking away, presumably toward Galilee, and once more John pointed Jesus out to the two disciples with him, saying: Behold the Lamb of God (John 1:35-36). When John did so, these two disciples left following John and began following Jesus (John 1:37).

 

Human Plans to Serve Christ Always Fail.

from Google Images

We need to keep in mind that all the while the Jewish authorities were interrogating Jesus, Peter and probably Judas were in the courtyard, watching and listening to what went on just above them. The rooms, where Annas interrogated Jesus and where Caiaphas had arranged Jesus’ illegal trial with a portion of the Sanhedrin present, were in partial view and within earshot of Peter and Judas. That is, if Judas was, indeed, with Peter, who sat by the fire warming himself in the courtyard with the servants of the high priest. They probably couldn’t see everyone, but they could listen to what was said. The heads of some and the upper torso of a few others, including Jesus’, could be seen. So, the long night drew on.

 

Following Jesus and Preserving One’s Anonymity

from Google Images

When Jesus was led away to the house of the high priest (Mark 14:53), Peter followed at a distance (Mark 14:54), in order to see the end of the matter. In other words, he wanted to know how things would turn out for Jesus. This is a surprise, more or less, because the text had already said everyone, which included Peter, abandoned Jesus and fled (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50). Okay, we need to pause here in order to understand what had taken place, and what had to have occurred in order allow what followed. Most of us have either read these accounts or have listened to them preached so often, that a real danger exists for missing helpful details due to an over familiarity with the text.

 

Where Was the Mount of Transfiguration?

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The two most accepted sites of Jesus’ Transfiguration are Mt. Tabor in Galilee and Mt. Hermon near Caesarea Philippi. There are others, including Mt. Sinai, but they are not as well received as these two. Mt. Tabor was chosen by Origen, a third century Christian scholar, while Mt. Hermon is the choice of more modern Christian scholars like the seventeenth century’s John Lightfoot and twentieth century’s Reginald Fuller. In as much as I am able to tell, the sites were guesswork and chosen for their height and nearness either to Nazareth (Mt. Tabor) or Caesarea Philippi (Mt. Hermon). Yet, there is nothing in the text that would suggest either location. In fact, since Jesus took only his disciples (the Twelve) to Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27), and his conversation with them suggests a private discussion (Mark 8:27-30), Jesus’ words to the people of Mark 8:34 would suggest both he and his disciples were elsewhere, and no longer in Caesarea Philippi. If this is logical and true, there is absolutely no reason to believe Mt. Hermon is the site of the Transfiguration.