“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—
“I say to you, get up, and, picking up your stretcher, go home.”
Good News of Luke 5:44
Of course, a paralyzed man obeying Jesus’ command to ‘get up and walk’ is a miracle to the man who can now stand up and walk AND a sign of God to those who witness it!
Who can say such a thing to one born handicapped?
And immediately he rose up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. And astonishment seized them all and they began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying,
And it happened that one day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.
After having healed others as well Jesus answered the Prophet John who had been baptizing in the wilderness of Judea with Good News sent by his messengers:
“Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” - Gospel of Luke 7:22b-23, LSB
But of course, these signs from the LORD God to the Jews were done by JESUS the Messiah.
These signs for the Jews where witnessed in regions of Roman Syria AND that had been years ago.
It’s about two decades later that Paul and Barnabas will enter Lystra.
But when Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him, he said, “Look at us!” – Acts 3:4
And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And leaping up, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were recognizing him, that he was the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. – Acts of the Apostles 3:
More recent signs from God
Keep in mind that Luke's two-part account of these events is recorded for a Roman-Hellenist world after A.D. 60,
+ some thirty years after Jesus' resurrection [~A.D. 30],
+ perhaps twenty-five years after Saul's encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus,
+ about seven years [~A.D. 40] after the Apostle Peter baptizes a Roman Centurion in Caesarea Syria.
It’s a command of some significance — a command by faith also used by Peter and the Lord Jesus. And it is part of what the Apostle Paul is about to say to the lame man in Lystra.
to rise, stand up
of persons lying down, of persons lying on the ground
of persons seated
of those who leave a place to go elsewhere [of those who prepare themselves for a journey]
of the dead
GOD’S signs have many witnesses among the gentiles by the time Barnabas and Saul enter Lystra.
And at Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.
This man listened to Paul as he spoke, who, when he fixed his gaze on him and saw that he had faith to be [made well] said with a loud voice,
“Stand upright on your feet.”
Acts 14:10 of Paul commanding a lame man in Lystra
And he leaped up and began to walk.
And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language,
“The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”
Acts of the Apostles 14:11b – LSB
In fact, these Lycaonian pagans were partially right.
For the Gospel of Paul and Barnabas would reveal that the One God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ sent his only Son down to us for redemption of sins for those who have faith to believe — even pagan gentiles.
“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Proverbs 4:1-2 King James Version
From a chief of sinners zealous for the Word of Scripture:
To my beloved fellow believers of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Why must a believer study doctrine?
In the scriptures of the New Testament the Apostle Paul encourages the Romans of the church, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Since I have shared several studies of Doctrine from the Bible I will not rehash these in today’s conclusion to this study of Church Doctrine; however if you would like to learn more click continue reading below.
https://talkofjesus.com/what-is-doctrine
My more recent concern for Church doctrine addressed deconstruction of Bible-based Doctrine presented as a new way to make the church relevant.
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness
[Therefore, I ask, what justification can any shepherd of the church offer for correcting God’s word while preaching ‘the bible says..?’]
Applying Scripture to the Church
Scripture may apply only to the time in which it was written OR
Old or New Testament Scripture may apply to these last days since the Apostles OR
a Scripture may apply only until a day it is fulfilled.
But the BIBLE says what God says; nothing more, nothing less and certainly not anything other than the Scripture you may read for yourself.
Whenever the written word of God points to the church the godly must humbly obey. But of course you must know your Bible in order to apply God’s inspired word appropriately.
(Don't just take some preacher's word for it that 'the Bible says' what he says.)
In the Apostolic Age
Scripture of Christ by the hand of His Apostle John:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come..
God WAS and IS and WILL BE–the Father of all, the Son Christ Jesus the Ever-living Word of Salvation to redeemed sinners and the Holy Spirit of the Holy God who breaths life into the lifeless souls of sinful man.
The Lord speaks to His Church through the Spirit and the Word of Scripture.
Scripture of Christ by the hand of His Apostle Paul:
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things,
not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.
But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.
A Doctrine to Die for (as Christ also died for His Church)
No human leader–not even the Pontiff of Rome–can claim to be head of the church on earth. Sovereign headship belongs to Christ alone. “The greater part of the clergy is heretical and the highest are the worst.”
John Wycliff , who hand-copied the first version of the Wycliff English Bible in the year of our Lord, 1382 – source
While it is yet today–until the day of reckoning
For Yahweh of hosts will have a day of reckoning
Against everyone who is proud and high
And against everyone who is lifted up,
That he may be made low.
- Isaiah 2:12 LSB
Once more I will defer to the theological trumpet of John Stott from THE RADICAL DISCIPLE
But fundamental to Christian behavior is the lordship of Jesus Christ. “Jesus is Lord” remains the basis of our life.
.. Is the church the lord of Jesus Christ so that it has liberty to edit and manipulate, accepting what it likes and rejecting what it dislikes?
The Radical Disciple on the challenge of ethical relativism
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Gospel of John 14:21
Christ’s Commandment for the Church
And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. – Acts of the Apostles 11:26
Search the Scriptures and you will find this the only place followers of the way of Jesus Christ, disciples of His teaching and doctrine are called ‘Christians.’
ἐκκλησία – ekklēsia or church is used 114 times in the New Testament.
If you are a disciple of the teachings (doctrines) of the Lord Jesus Christ do you suppose God’s inspired word chooses to call us out as a church rather than referring to a building for Christians?
go and show him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
My beloved brother or sister of the Church, do you do that?
“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
Do you, my fellow disciple of Jesus, call upon one or two other followers of Jesus from your church to witness such a word against a member of the Lord’s body broken for you?
“And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church;
Can you, my fellow brother in Christ, actually take such a serious division of doctrine or belief to your church?
and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as the Gentile and the tax collector.
Of course this analogy of Jesus spoke to times before the risen Christ baptized gentiles into the Church.
The charge of Jesus is to throw him out and have nothing to do with this unrepentant sinner who would lightly claim to be a christian.
The DOCTRINE of the CHURCH is a life and death issue.
“Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Gospel of Matthew 19:16
Do you, my fellow disciple of Jesus, know what happened to the man who asked our Lord this question?
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” .. he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.
And He is the head of the body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross—through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven.
The Doctrine of the Church is a LIFE and DEATH issue. And also at issue is not only death, but JUDGMENT.
We are NOT SAVED simply by calling ourselves ‘christian,’ clinging to grace yet hiding from God.
“You are My friends if you do what I command you. “This I command you, that you love one another.
Gospel of John 15:14,17
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
We know this about Jesus’ Apostles: twelve followed the Lord Jesus for three years .. everywhere. One of the twelve betrayed Him, but three Apostles were closer to Jesus than any man or woman born of this world
Peter, James the Greater, and John
– an inner circle of the Twelve.
You probably already know this about James and John:
and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”)
We know little about James the Greater, the older son of Zebedee, but as one of three leaders appointed by the Lord Christ Jesus, Herod will soon set his sights on all three of these Apostles.
Peter led the Apostles and the Church after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
John was the youngest Apostle and the younger brother of James; perhaps by a year, five years or maybe more; but John outlived them all until about A.D. 100.
James and John had also both been disciples of John the Baptist before Christ took them in as part of His inner circle.
Now about that time Herod the king [Agrippa I] laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them.
Today we look back at a context of Acts 12 with an old connection to John the Baptist and Herod.
The Gospels, of course, proclaim the Good News that is to come out of all this conflict.
Ἡρῴδης – Herod – ‘a hero’
†Ἡρώδης Hērṓdēs, hay-ro’-dace; compound of ἥρως hḗrōs (a “hero”) and G1491; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings:—Herod. – source: Lexicon :: Strong’s G2264 – hērōdēs
Let’s bring to mind some recent history etched in the minds of the Jews and the Herod’s; an awareness of John the Baptist and his disciples James and John, a relevance of national significance I will contemporize from this first century context.
of men and animals in a moral sense, wild savage, fierce
and ἵππος (G2462); a horse
To the Jews, Herod Agrippa is a ‘hero-like wild horse’, wielding a Jewish king’s sword against Rome (but also his enemies) with a desperate hope of restoring the glory of David’s kingdom a thousand years before, as his grandfather (Herod the Great) had begun to rebuild.
a 21st c. look at James the Greater
Never forget that ALL Twelve of Jesus' Apostles (a Greek word of the common language of the Roman Empire)were Jews. Even in Galilee and Samaria Jews looked for a Messiah and hoped for a return of their kingdom.
Faithful worshipers of the LORD knew Scripture in an anticipatory sense. Jews chosen by the One God in every captive Roman outpost of the A.D. first century looked longingly for their Messiah (Christ, in Greek) who will finally establish the Kingdom of the Lord in all the heavens and earth.
ANY man who might stand against ANY king Herod (who is NOT the Messiah) or Caesar(who faithful Jews would not call, Lord) is a threat to the Roman Peace attained by Judea’s first family.
Once again we will look at events preceding ACTS 12 as if it is today's date, in the year of our Lord, A.D. 2022.
[All first century dates are approximate from various sources.]- RH
2022 – Beginning of Acts 12
AD 44
2018 – Peter shares the Gospel with gentiles in Caesarea(James & John presumably would have continued to lead the church in Jerusalem during Peter’s mission trip.)
AD 40
2017 – Herod Antipas of Galilee, who had John the Baptist beheaded about ten years earlier, died.
AD 39
2015 – Saul of Tarsus comes to the Apostles after his conversion.
AD 37
2010 – Stephen, a leading disciple of The Way, sentenced by the Sanhedrin to death by stoning, after which Herod and the Jews authorize relentless persecution of disciples of Jesus’ Apostles.
AD 33
14 Years ago + An Eventful Year.
A.D. 30 would have been fourteen years ago and might linger in the collective memory of the church like these contemporary memories:
Actual Events of 2007: iPhone announced; Mitt Romney, Rudi Giuliani, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden and many others are running for President of the U.S.;
or Actual Events of 2008: President Bush signs the $700 billion bailout / Rescue package bill; Fidel Castro steps down as president of Cuba; Iraq war costs $3 trillion.
2008 + Jesus Christ interrogated by the Sanhedrin and scourged by Romans, crucified on a Cross, raised from death, left a sealed tomb and appeared to the Apostles and hundreds of other disciples!
The risen Lord Jesus also sent the Holy Spirit to believers on Pentecost.
Peter and disciples of Jesus proclaimed the Gospel in the Temple and
Accompanying signs and miracles sent by the Lord confirmed their teaching.
Therefore many Jews follow the Apostles’ teachings and believe in Jesus as the Messiah of God.
ALL this in ~AD 30!
James the Greater, of course, was in town [Jerusalem] to witness all of this recent history along with the other Apostles.
During JESUS’ earthly ministry:
~AD 2006-2008 in our contemporized scenario:
2006 – A great new prophet John baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River. Then Jesus calls Twelve Apostles to “follow Him.” James and John, already disciples of John the Baptist, follow Jesus.
And calling the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. .. And departing, they were going from village to village, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere.
Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead..
And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
Gospel of Luke 9:9 LSB – Herod inquiring about miracles of the Messiah Jesus and his Apostles
JESUS was confrontational in the mind of Herod, just as John had been before the king had the Baptist beheaded.
James the Great vs. an unbelieving Samaritan village
[Some disciples of Jesus] ..entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him..
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them..
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.”
Mark records in his Gospel:
Then James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying to Him, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” - Mark 10:35
But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
Matthew 20:22-23 LSB – Jesus’ answer to the sons of thunder.. Remember our Lord’s assurance to James the Greater and to John: “My cup you shall drink..”
James the Greater – a closeness to Jesus
Peter and James and John all held close their friendship of Jesus, their Lord and Master Teacher, during those three years of Christ’s earthly incarnation.
Now it happened.. that taking along Peter and John and James, He went up on the mountain to pray.
Mark adds some detail in his Gospel: *brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves.
And it happened that while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and [flashing like lightning].
James, John and Simon Peter were the only mortal men on that mountain with the Lord.
But then:
And behold, two men were talking with Him, and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in [splendor], were speaking of His [exodus] which He was about to fulfill at Jerusalem.
Note here a similar failing of the flesh of Jesus' three closest friends, their inattention to the prayers of this Son of Man even as they would later fall asleep in Gethsemane. After the Lord's death and resurrection the three Apostles would confess their mortal limitations on both occasions.
Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.
Jesus, with a face like lightning! The Prophet Elijah and Moses the LORD's shepherd of the Hebrews during their forty year exodus from slavery in Egypt appear with Jesus!
All witnessed by Peter, John and James.
As if that wasn't enough GOOD NEWS on the mountaintop, similar to the sign at Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, the LORD speaks!
.. a cloud [occurred] and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
James the Greater, along with his brother and Simon, kept silent about this in those days, Luke records later.
Fulfillment of Fourteen Years in Jerusalem
In the minds of the Jews (including Herod) James was a likely successor to Jesus.
Ἰάκωβος – James
Did you know that James is a common name in Israel? i.e. James the Great AND James the Less are both Apostles
It’s the same as Ἰακώβ, which even in Greek looks like the name of its Hebrew root:: יַעֲקֹב
Jacob, who the LORD renamed, Israel.
Along with Simon Peter (when he was not on a journey of his own) and his brother John, James the Greater proclaimed the Gospel of the risen Christ Jesus in Jerusalem.
James proclaimed the Gospel in the Temple courtyards and streets of Jerusalem and led the daily lives of so many new followers of The Way. He worked in the leadership of the Twelve, which now included Mathias in place of Judas Iscariot.
“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
Luke 9:54b – [likely the words of James the Greater]
And this Greater Apostle of the inner circle of the Messiah of Israel would have recalled the rebuke of the Lord in a newfound daily humility in serving his risen Lord, the Christ Jesus.
But He turned and rebuked them, and said,
“You do not know what kind of spirit you are of,
for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”
And they went on to another village.
.. whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me;
for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
Gospel of Luke 9:48b – invitation of Jesus Christ & humility in following Him
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