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Category: 4 Gospels + Good News of the NEW Testament

What are the Gospels?

FOUR Gospels:

GOOD NEWS! (That’s what Gospel means.)

Matthew, Mark, Luke & John begin the New Testament proclaiming the Good News of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah and talk of JESUS Christ.

The four Gospels are first hand witness + proclaiming GOOD NEWS

by two Jewish Apostles of the Messiah JESUS, Matthew & John
Two gentile (non-Jewish) followers of THE WAY of Jesus Christ, Mark & Luke, who proclaim the GOSPEL recorded from witness of Peter, Paul and other Apostles and disciples of JESUS in the first century.

READ the Good News of the Messiah and Savior Jesus from accounts of His twelve Apostles & others witnessing the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the four Gospels of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

SHARE the Gospel

with your Christian friends and those who do not yet believe in JESUS CHRIST.
Comment on a Talk of JESUS post and SHARE in your social media world.

Kings, Governors, Politicians & Priests – Power in the Palaces of Justice
Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
John 18:28 KJV

the Praetorium – in the Palace of Power

Herod’s Palace – Salome presents head of John the Baptist to Herod

I don’t know about you, but the rapid-fire events of the conviction of the Messiah Jesus in so brief a time in the early hours of the day confuses me concerning the places these trials took place.
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If you have a comment of clarification please add it to this post.
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IF, unlike those present at the Lord’s first century trials you do not understand who is in charge, the venues of Jesus’ trials can get a little confusing.

You may ask, ‘What does this banquet hall of Herod..’ (where King Herod had been presented the head of John the Baptist) ‘.. have to do with the Messiah Jesus on this morning following the betrayal of Judas?’

The Praetorium is a semi-public place where Jesus has been sent — this place is on the grounds of the palace of King Herod.

Let’s look back briefly at the history of the keys players in this developing drama which convicts the Messiah Jesus at night.

King Herod

Briefly, the history of the Herod’s gets complicated at times, but remember here that we are not talking about Herod the Great who navigated the complex politics of Rome with great agility.

After Herod’s death, Augustus Caesar ratified the wishes of his client king, Herod, to divide this eastern territory of Rome into three parts.
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Source: Herodian Tetrarchy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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1. Herod Archelaus was appointed Ethnarch (a governor & not king) of Idumaea, Judea (including Jerusalem) and Samaria.
2. Herod Antipas (simply, Antipas to the Romans & his subjects, but described as ‘Herod‘ in the Gospels) became Tetrarch of Galilee (including Nazareth and Capernaum) and Perea.
3. Philip I, son of Herod the Great and Cleopatra of Jerusalem, became Tetrarch of the northern part of Herod’s kingdom (area in modern Lebanon & Syria).
‘Governor Herod‘
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You've never heard Herod called that, have you?
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This is no longer the Jerusalem of Herod the Great! Jews are now considered merely as an ethnic people and Judeans an ‘ethnic group’ similar to nearby client Roman states. They are now governed as a regional people rather than as a small kingdom allied to Rome for mutual military advantage.

Herod Archelaus – Ethnarch

Herod Antipas – Tetrarch

(Herod) Philip II – Tetrarch

Ethnarch (technically) is a Roman rank just a little higher than Tetrarch. (Kind of like Arch-Bishop is to Bishop in the church.)

Judean Governors (like Herod) sometimes appear politically and practically to be more Roman than like traditional sons of David.

IF these Herod’s were officially governors of their respective Roman regions, i.e. Judea, Galilee, Ituria, etc., — who then governed the governors?

Who governs these Jews?

John now addresses the question of who’s in charge in Jerusalem, who’s in charge of Judea, which Tetrarch governor of which ethnic region has authority in what was once the Kingdom of Israel.

As Jesus is dragged from place to place for trial the quiestions mount:

Is He a Judean? A Galilean? A Jew with authority in Jerusalem? A would-be King? Who IS this Man?

Other Gospel writers have hinted earlier how this delicate duality of rule in first century Jerusalem provided opportunity of great hypocrisy among the rulers of the Jews and their religious political parties, i.e. Sadducees, Pharisees, etc..

The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him…

So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.
Luke 20:19a,20 NASB

“Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

But He detected their trickery and said to them,

“Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?”

They said, “Caesar’s.” – Luke 20:22-24 NASB

John 18:

28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said,

“What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

the Praetorium – palace of the Governor

WAIT! Even knowing something of the political intrigue and complexity of the Herod’s, I’m still confused.
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Again, please comment if you can help or have a question.
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Note that the King James Version {at beginning of this post} states:

‘Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment…’

I get that a hall of judgment could be a large room in the palace.

Note now in the NASB translation,

‘.. into the [a]Praetorium..’

AND by definition:

πραιτώριον = Praetorium [note a]

‘John 18:28 i.e. governor’s official residence’

Why is Pilate there?

Why does Pilate emerge from the Governor’s palace to greet the religious police who have taken the Messiah Jesus into custody?
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The CSB clearly calls it 'the governor’s headquarters.'
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Wasn’t Pilate’s headquarters outside Jerusalem’s walls with the Roman Legion he commanded?

NO!

When Rome moved into a captured land they ‘civilized’ its remaining residents to become supporting (taxed) residents (not citizens) under Roman rule. As long as they paid their taxes and did not rebel against Roman authority these local Jews could do what they want with their own ethnic people.

What accusation?

Roman custom is such that some public judgments are made from the court of the Governor in charge. Pilate asks the local Jewish leaders who have led a prisoner to him the reasonable question of a Governor and Judge:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jhn/18/1/t_concf_1015029Τίνα κατηγορίαν φέρετε κατὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου

“Tis katēgoria pherō kata ho anthrōpos hoytos?
John 18:29 – question of Pilate to the Jews who brought Jesus before him

These Jewish leaders of Jerusalem have brought a prisoner to Pilate in the earliest hours of the morning. Pilatos, the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria, addresses them in the universal language of the vast Empire, Greek — not his native Latin, the religious Hebrew tongue of these Jews or a local Aramaic language.

Their prisoner bound for trial appears to be Jesus, who had led thousands of followers to Jerusalem’s gates just a few days ago. Pilate would already know that the Man has not caused any trouble, except one minor incident within the courts of the Jews own Temple.

The Governor has plenty to be concerned about for the upcoming day in monitoring the massive multitudes here for the Jewish holiday Pesach.

Imagine the thoughts of Pilatos:

You’ve brought a prisoner to the governor in these early hours of this busy day?

What does your warrant accuse that I should imprison the Man now?

I have more important things to do than trifle with such matters of your religious concern.

So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked,

“What is your charge against this man?”
John 18:29 NLT
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To be continued...
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September 28, 2020
The Politics of Religion – Righteousness on Trial
Jesus brought bound to Caiaphas for trial at night

The Malignant Leaven of Religious Politics

The religious rulers of the Temple discussed ad nauseam different approaches to God-justified righteousness for preservation of their personal political influence in Judaea, imperial procuratorial province of Rome.

We have slowed down our examination of the Gospel of John like politicians seeking convicting evidence against an opponent. Let’s dig for the dirt sought by Jerusalem’s powerful religious rulers who now will bring Israel’s Messiah to ‘justice‘ in the middle of the night.

We could easily focus on the caustic political potions bubbling in the dark corridors of power in this incendiary election year. I may even offer opinion of parallels to Jesus’ trial later as application to the darkness of these days to come.
Pontius Pilate

Joseph Caiaphas, High Priest
But for now, our focus continues on the political players who tried and convicted the Son of Man in a first century Jerusalem where leaders of government and religion lay together as strange bedfellows.

John 18:
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As we detailed in previous posts:

In a few hours of just one night 
Jesus' betrayal has thus far progressed like this:

(follow links below for previous events)
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3 So Judas took a company of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees and came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

No one is more deserving of blame than the betrayer who claims Christ, but then betrays his Lord for money or unmerited influence. Judas is a mere pawn of the powerful.

the son of perdition vs. The Son of Man

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Defending GOD!

Judas had led them into Gethsemane under the cover of night. The Roman soldiers from the local cohort of Jerusalem accompanied servants of the Temple, police who were led by Malchus.

Peter cuts off his ear! But that’s the end of the violence as Jesus heals the officer’s ear and the Temple police bound Him without resistance for trial.

12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him…

Annas

Now we begin to meet the religious officials behind this dark plot to eliminate their opposition away from the hopeful multitudes who had welcomed their Messiah Jesus into Jerusalem just four days ago.

13 First they led him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
- Why to the father-in-law Annas, we wonder?
- Perhaps a prearranged plan of deniability of involvement, a faux-impartiality of the High Court judge?
Who is this political player among the religious elite of Jerusalem?

Annas, an Elder among Elders, has some history of influence in Jerusalem. John and the Apostles may not have known the Temple’s political scene, but certainly every important official of the Temple must have known and respected Annas.

Ἄννας Ánnas – a high priest of the Jews, elevated to the pontificate by Quirinius the governor of Syria circa A. D. 6 or 7; but afterwards, A. D. 15, deposed by Valerius Gratus, the procurator of Judæa, who put in his place, first Ismael, son of Phabi, and shortly after Eleazar, son of Annas. From the latter, the office passed to Simon; from Simon circa A. D. 18 to Caiaphas (Josephus, Antiquities 18, 2, 1f); but Annas, even after he had been put out of office, continued to have great influence:
STRONGS NT 452: Ἄννας – courtesy BlueLetterBible.org

The Messiah Jesus is first bound up in Gethsemane and led to Annas, who then orders (perhaps by previous arrangement) the entourage holding Jesus to Caiaphas and then across town to Pilate.

.. although Annas had been deposed by the Roman procurator, the Jews may still have regarded him as legally the high priest.
More about Annas – source: BlueletterBible.org
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September 21, 2020
Defending GOD!
Apologetics

You may know of a Christian ministry or witness whose stated purpose is to defend God.

RZIM.org and others focus on apologetics witness Jesus Christ to unsaved souls, comparing Christianity to other religions — even to atheism. Some have come to Christ through these ministries by learning the logic and love of the Lord God calling sinners to Christ.

Yet think of the irony of it:

If any have NO NEED of defense, it would be ALMIGHTY GOD.

“I and the Father are one.”
Christ Jesus
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(Apologetics is not really defending God, 
but answering those who question God - unbelievers
and those who refuse God's love - apostates.) 
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Defending God and Christ Jesus to unbelievers is not my purpose, which is to grow your faith IF you are a Christian follower of the Lord.

As I have stated recently, talkofJesus.com is not focused on unbelievers, but on followers of Christ who want to talk of Jesus in the context of scripture.

Continuing in the Gospel of John we move on from the betrayal of Jesus by Judas to the defense of Jesus by Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane.

John 18:

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” …

10 Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

Who is Malchus?

Malchus is δοῦλος doulos of the High Priest, perhaps better translated in the KJV and other translations as ‘servant.’

In fact, Judas had left the upper room in Jerusalem to betray Jesus to the ruling council headed by the High Priest Caiaphas.

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any.
Mark 14:55 CSB – of the Sanhedrin, religious rulers of Jerusalem

Malchus’ name means ‘king,’ from a Hebrew origin pointing to the tribe of Benjamin. (The priests of course were Levites as prescribed by Law.)

How ironic that Peter should defend Jesus, King of the Jews, by lopping off the ear of this man Malchus, whose name meant king.

More about Malchus

Malchus would have been ordered to lead these armed police officers of the Sanhedrin, guided by Judas, to bring this popular Messiah back to them for trial.

John has already told us:

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
John 11:49-50 NASB –

Malchus would have been a personal servant to Caiaphas, an assistant with some authority assumed by his role in serving the High Priest. The Temple police held similar authority. And add to that a few Roman soldiers in the entourage lead by Malchus whose role was to see that the Jews did not get out of hand in this area governed by Pilate.

Judas is, no doubt, among the men sent to bring Jesus to the justice of the Sanhedrin, but Malchus, servant of the High Priest is the man leading them into Gethsemane under the cover of night.

Luke’s account

Of course John, Matthew and Peter would have been among the awakened Apostles present in Gethsemane. Peter, who would later lead the church until his own crucifixion, responded by cutting off Malchus’ ear just after Judas’ kiss of betrayal of Jesus.

Brash as always, Peter will defend the Lord – an ironic gesture defending the One who could instantly have angels present to ‘smite’ the lot of them – IF, that is, defeating men of dust was Jesus’ will.

Of course, it wasn’t.

Luke 22: KJV

And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

But Jesus said unto him,

Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him,

(The Eleven have now drawn near to Jesus…)

Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

Details of witness from John:
- As soon then as he [Jesus] had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. John 18:6
- A second time Jesus answered them (probably their leader): I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way John 18:8
- Simon Peter drew the sword… John 18:10 & 11
- The name of the High Priest’s slave (servant) is Malchus. John 18:10
Luke’s detail of a miracle

But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.”
And He [Christ Jesus]
touched his {Malchus’} ear
and healed him {the servant of Caiaphas, High Priest of the Jews}.
Luke 22:51 NKJV

Jesus heals the ear struck by Peter’s sword! His enemy, head of an armed force sent by the Jews to apprehend their Messiah Jesus to be tried and convicted covertly under the cover of night. The Lord just betrayed by one of His Disciples shows mercy to the men Judas led to apprehend Him.

Defending Jesus

John is about to tell us more of the saga of Peter on this night in which our Lord was betrayed. In fact, as you know, away from Jesus Peter could no longer defend Jesus even by admitting to be a follower.

If that how it is for you, beloved believer in Christ Jesus?
- How do you defend Jesus when confronted by the multitudes?
- Is your defense of God an aggressive agenda of man, a political position of proving that Jesus wants what you do?
  - (For that was what Judas expected of his King Jesus.)
- Do you praise the Lord in the church building, yet deny your God on trial in the rise and fall of blame by the darkness of this world’s accusations?
  - Even Peter struggled with that, dear friend, but the risen Lord Jesus restored Him again and again.
How ironic that we would defend the LORD God, that we want to defend Christ Jesus who came into the world to save us.

In these last days, which began under the darkness of a night in Gethsemane, God has defeated sin and death for us

— by the grace of the Lord’s love

for those He has chosen.

We believe in the One Son the Father sent to suffer for our sins, the Messiah Jesus.

For Christ Jesus our Lord, we make no apologies to a world without ears to hear the Good News — a world directed by Satan for just a time more.

Jesus IS LORD!
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To be continued...
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September 16, 2020