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Tag: disciples

  • Loneliness in the Solitary Confinement || Distanced from Friends

    Loneliness in the Solitary Confinement || Distanced from Friends

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    Story of a man awakened

    I’d like to continue from what I told you last time. You need to know what happened after a rude awakening from my dream of when my wife and I were in Eden walking with God as if HE Who Created All was my friend!

    You know of course that I awoke to this day and not a time before Abraham and you may have heard or read my story, but I wanted to tell you how I felt at the time.

    A Knock at the Door

    We lay intertwined embraced in warmth flowing from fingertips to toe. Our paradise shattered as I awoke to a loud knock on the door…

    “David! . . . Lend me three loaves!”

    Who is this at this late hour, I thought? Then as I recognized my neighbor’s outcry at our door,

    “Shaul, is that you?” I inquired.

    “Of course it’s me. Who else would it be at this hour?” my neighbor responded as he continued,

    “A friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.”

    We had just fallen asleep and I retorted,

    “Do not bother me. As you can plainly see the door has already been shut and we are all in bed.”

    “Come on, David, I have nothing to eat for my friends who have just arrived,” he replied.

    “I cannot get up and give you anything,” I again said even though my wife and I were awake by now.

    Shaul again began shamelessly knocking at our door as my wife looked toward me with that look.

    “Alright, my friend,” I shouted over his knocks as I headed to the door.

    “I will give you your bread.”

    A Parable of Separation

    You know this story.

    Perhaps the characters are purely fictional as in most parables; but like many of Jesus’ parables, He probably retold it in many places to different crowds in various ways.

    • Can you identify with the family behind locked doors in the darkness, separated from friends and seeking peace?
    • Or perhaps you can imagine that you are the friend of Shaul, who has traveled a day’s journey and arrived unexpectedly late.

    Your good friend didn’t even know that you were coming to him in person. And all of you were overjoyed for this personal reunion!

    Friends — no longer separated by distance.

    AND your friend is even willing to go to his friend and neighbor for something to eat while rejoined in communion with each other.

    Picture Paradise when Heaven’s Door | of Separation | is Opened

    I have just illustrated Jesus’ parable with names of appropriate symbolism as the Lord occasionally does. [i.e. Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham]

    שאול
    Shaul

    Shaul means, “borrowed.” http://blb.sc/000vVY

    “Lend me three loaves,” he begs his beloved friend.

    stone wall "city of David" in Hebrew and English

    דָּוִד

    David

    David means, “friend” or “beloved.” http://blb.sc/001ccS

    “This is my beloved and this is my friend,
    O daughters of Jerusalem.” – Song 5:26b NASB

    and behold, a voice out of the heavens said,

    “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

    says the LORD, the God of Israel – Gospel of Matthew 3:17

    The Gospel of Luke 11:

    It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…

    We know it as:

    The Lord’s Prayer

    Jesus’ Disciples were already isolated ‘in a certain place.’

    No show here for church friends

    or ritualized rote of memorized obligation.

    Father, hallowed be Your name.

    Your kingdom come.

    Give us each day our daily bread.

    And forgive us our sins…

    Gospel of Luke 11:2b-4a NASB

    Christ’s application in an isolated place

    Jesus, of course, is talking about prayer – petitions of a sinful man to a Father God | separated from man | by holiness.

    Here is a man alone secure in his home praying – spirit to Spirit.

    Perhaps he does dream of Paradise | personal relationship with the Lord God | as it was in the beginning.

    Jesus invites His followers to a place | separated and distanced from others in this world.

    The call to prayer is to the Father of His beloved children.

    a friend at the door | to a Friend inside

    I’ve told you this parable from a perspective of the FRIEND INSIDE.

    The Lord Jesus speaks to each SINNER as a friend knocking | adam knocking repeatedly on the DOOR | of Heaven through prayer.

    Jesus says of the FRIEND inside who I have just described in this parable:

    8 I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his shamelessness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

    • You and I are Shaul, the borrower of bread.
    • Our Heavenly Father is David | our beloved friend with the bread of Heaven, which He now has given to us after having answered a knock at His door.

    It is His story I have just told!

    Our beloved Heavenly Father and Friend invites you to share the Bread that came down from Heaven – the Bread of Life, Christ Jesus Who IS the Son and | Door to eternal life.

    Jesus answers disciples asking about prayer with a parable of the Father | who once again desires the Personal Face-to-face fellowship of Eden.

    “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you;

    seek, and you will find;

    knock, and it will be opened to you.

    For everyone who asks receives,

    and the one who seeks finds,

    and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

    The Good News of Luke 11:9-10 NASB | Jesus on prayer to the Father

    NEXT: A look at Social Distancing of the Church in a 1st century world of violent upheaval.

    To be continued...
  • Rumors of Life & Death

    Rumors of Life & Death

    Reporters of News

    And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

    Gospel of Luke 7:17 – KJV

    Sojourners become clarions of news to uninformed ears in new places from the places where they have witnessed life.

    The ‘rumour‘ to which the Gospel-writer Luke refers (above) is Jesus’ raising a young man from his coffin along his own funeral procession in Nain in remote Galilee. Other English translations of the same Greek word [λόγος] use “report.”

    When we return to John’s Gospel (Good News) we will encounter such reports again, some stories which veer from the truth.

    Good News/Bad News: True or False?

    The Disciples who traveled with Jesus from town to town reported the Good News of Jesus the Messiah of Israel to many who had not heard in places distant from the events they had witnessed. Reliable reports from other witnesses also reached the ears of thousands who had not yet seen Jesus in Person.

    The four written NEWS accounts of JESUS CHRIST are not the only news of the Savior. Many reports are oral, even many first-hand stories from witnesses to Jesus’ many miraculous events recorded by the Apostles.

    Picture the Apostles after Jesus’ death and resurrection as reporters and add to their number every saint of the Church who consequently believed their report of the Lord Jesus Christ, then you may realize why John and others had to address false reports of their time.

    While reading the Gospels we discover many who reject the “Good News” of Jesus which challenges one or more of their earthly embraces of sin. Many reject God and refuse to acknowledge or let go of their sins.

    Some will believe in anything in order to deny the Truth.

    Roger Harned – talk of Jesus .com

    All the REPORTERS of Jesus had to be taken at face value for their rumors (stories) of the Messiah. Those who did not witness an event had to ask themselves the same questions we would ask today.

    • Is this even possible?
    • Is their report TRUE or FALSE in some way?
    • If it is true, is this GOOD NEWS or BAD NEWS for me?
    • How should I react? (What must I do?)
    • What is my response to this NEWS to others who have not heard?

    Brief Vitae of the Good News Reporters

    As mentioned previously in Witnesses to Jesus Risen! John and the Apostles continue to report their GOSPEL to others until the end of their lives and John writes to some who have witnessed even more miracles than he reports in his Gospel.

    Briefly from our Gospel archives take a look at these dates of the reports.

    • Jesus was crucified around the year AD 30
    • John Mark’s Gospel – before AD 49; martyred AD 68
    • Matthew’s Gospel – as early as AD 50, before martyrdom ~AD 60
    • the physician Luke’s Gospel/Acts – AD 60-61, prior to the great persecution that began under Nero in A.D. 64; Luke likely martyred in AD 84
    • John writes his Gospel to the churches after AD 85 [~AD 90-100]
    • 2nd c. AD – many Church fathers, disciples of John, Peter & others, testify to the truth of their Gospels and oppose false reports by false teachers.

    Countering False Reports

    So this rumor spread to the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? ”

    John 21:23 CSB

    John 21:

    Recall from John’s previous report [Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Peter] of a third time they encountered Jesus after His resurrection:

    5 So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish to eat, do you?” .. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

    • Peter enthusiastically dove into the water and swam to meet Jesus on shore before the other Disciples came onshore in a boat filled with fish.
    • Simon Peter and Jesus have a conversation about feeding His sheep and Simon hesitates in his answers to the Lord (our Shepherd).
    • Jesus asks:
      • “Simon, son of John, do you agapaō Me more than these?” then, “Simon, son of John, do you agapaō Me? and finally,
      • “Simon, son of John, do you phileō Me?”
    • Peter’s hesitates in answering Jesus call to agapaō and each time confirming that he loves Him (phileō differing slightly in meaning).
    • The Lord commands him with some subtlety after each response:
      1. Tend My lambs.
      2. Shepherd My sheep.
      3. Tend My sheep.

    And to the reader knowing that Peter has already died for his Lord, (Peter’s dearly departed friend) John offers an explanation.

    17 .. Peter was hurt because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You..

    Good News, Bad News

    John gives the reader some ‘bad news,’ which is no longer NEWS to most and the ‘good news,’ which the other Apostles also witnessed. (Most of them had also died for their witness of the risen Christ Jesus!)

    So the rumor spread among the community of believer that this disciple wouldn’t die.

    Rumor vs. TRUTH

    • Who said it?
    • What is the RUMOR?
    • Where were they when it happened?
    • When might this have taken place?
    • Why would your NEWS source tell you?
    • How does this impact you?

    WHO DO YOU BELIEVE?

    As the last surviving Apostle, John witnesses the Good News of Jesus Christ and His resurrection for decades!

    What happens when a rumor creates a myth short of truth?

    This would happen later when the Church tells stories not supported by Scripture.

    When the saying (or story or myth) multiplies, then eventually encounters truth what most certainly will happen? The rumor is crushed and faith along with it (when the aging Apostle dies).

    And remember, regardless of when or how the saying had started, it has already been around for a time since the original witness is some fifty years before John writes his Gospel truth.

    Many disciples of The Way and saints of the church might easily elevate John (or for that matter, Simon Peter, other Apostles or even family of Jesus) to glory and worship due only the LORD.

    John’s simple approach to false witness

    The always esteemed and ever truthful Disciple does two things:

    1. John states the false witness (translated: saying, rumor, story)
    2. He refutes it by his own authoritative true witness.

    WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? It’s as simple as that.

    The incident in question involves what JESUS said to Simon Peter. Only six other Disciples including John witness it first hand. So John states:

    • 21:23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die:
    • yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die;
      • (FALSE rumor – John categorically states: – Jesus said NOT)
    • but,
      • (here is the truth I witnessed, says John)
    • [Jesus said ..],
      • If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? [KJV] or
    • “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” – NASB

    The Disciple by quoting Jesus refutes the rumor of John’s alleged immortality told in this story circulating among early Christians.

    John squashes this rumor before it can multiply into false teaching which will cause us to doubt the ‘Gospel Truth.’

    His own witness, true to facts unknown through rumor, states what happened (decades ago):

    • 20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them—the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who is betraying You?”
    • So Peter, upon seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”
    • Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
      • Peter turned around, John was following him and Jesus.
      • Peter asked the Lord about John, because Jesus had just told Peter:

    18b “.. when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put your belt on you, and bring you where you do not want to go.”

    • John tells the reader, who likely knows of Peter’s crucifixion, why Jesus said this.
    • After having refuted the rumor with the truth, John puts his seal on the whole truth of restating the ‘story.’

    This is the disciple who is testifying about these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

    John 21:24 NASB
    cross words Who's in charge? and a question of Authority

    John’s closing is comparable to Paul writing, “I sign this in my own hand.” At stake is the Authority & Truth of the Lord Jesus

    Rather than adding questions on this section of John,
I leave you to question Truth vs. fiction.
Please click PG 2

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  • Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – the Eleven, a Passing Witness

    Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – the Eleven, a Passing Witness

    The Gospel of John

    We have nearly reached the conclusion of John’s Good News. Earlier we met ten Disciples in a room where the Risen Christ appeared!

    Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – the Eleven

    20:26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

    Reminder to 21st. Century Readers of John’s Gospel:

    As I mentioned before, Christians to whom John writes understand events which have taken place after Jesus’ ascension, yet before John’s death.

    (We will add some of these following the next event of John’s Good News.)

    • Jesus was crucified around the year AD 30
    • John writes his Gospel to the churches after AD 85 [~AD 90-100]

    John 21:

    view of Sea of Galilee
    “I will make you fishers of men. – Mark 1:17

    After these things Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He revealed Himself in this way:

    Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

    They said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

    Fishing in Galilee

    Of course these Galilean Disciples of Jesus would travel from Jerusalem north to their homes along the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). John recalls which Apostles were present.

    • Simon Peter
    • Thomas called Didymus (He will not miss seeing Jesus this time.)
    • Nathanael of Cana
    • James, John’s older brother
    • John, author of this Gospel
    • Two others of Jesus’ disciples

    They would have launched their two or three fishing boats from docks by Capernaum and proceeded out to sea at night, returning to port near daybreak and seeing a man on shore as they approached.

    4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

    He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”

    John 21:5 – from NIV & ESV

    Children, you do not understand

    Our 21st century ears do not hear the Master’s call to His beloved servants in this way. In fact, 1st century men and women tended to be more willing to hear a fellow Jew (especially their Rabbi) or even a Roman responsible for their local Galilean town of Capernaum as humble servants.

    παιδίον – pi-de’-on

    Child – From dimin. of παῖς (G3816) can mean not only a child, boy or girl but a slave, an attendant, servant, and specifically a king’s attendant, one who ministers to the King.

    προσφάγιον – pros-fä’-ge-on

    From the King James Version: “Children, have ye any meat?”

    Strong's G4371

    But once again our overfed 21st century bodies don’t quite understand what Jesus asks if they have anything eaten with bread and spoken of fish boiled or broiled.

    These children of the Shepherd Christ Jesus return from a night of work, fishing — and they have caught no fish. In effect their Lord and Master, Provider of all things to His servants asks these dear ‘children’ in His care, “Are you hungry?”

    John in recalling the incident adds, ‘yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.’

    Obeying His command

    Yes, these seven men probably were hungry after an unsuccessful night of fishing. Yet hearing His command from the shore they obeyed Jesus.

    6 He said to them, “Throw in your net to starboard and you will catch some.”

    So they threw in their net, and there were so many fish in it that they couldn’t haul it aboard.

    It was then, John tells us, that he recognized Jesus.

    “It is the Lord!”

    So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the [smaller] boat, dragging the net full of fish.

    Once again in a third appearance to seven disciples, Jesus demonstrates that He IS both God and a risen ‘Son of Man.’

    John tells his experience as his small boat pulling nets full of fish comes near to the beach along the shore.

    9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals with a fish on it, and some bread.

    10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

    (Peter and the men have now been pulling the full nets ashore…)

    12 Yeshua said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

    None of the talmidim (disciples of a Rabbi) dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

    Pause.. to ‘fast forward’

    We’ll now leave Jesus and the seven Disciples sharing bread and fish with the Lord and (in 21st c. parlance) fast forward to events known to many readers of John’s Good News, but possibly not known to most Christians in the 21st c. digital age.

    (Yes, it’s a ‘pop quiz’ – 5 questions.) How do you think you’ll do?

    Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.

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