Tag: witness

  • 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 

    Pages: 1 2

  • Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Simon Peter

    Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Simon Peter

    The Gospel of John

    • What does a DEATH have to do with GOOD NEWS?

    Read any obituary of a famous teacher, even a celebrity leader of men and you will discover one thing: They left behind everything. Now the legacy of this body buried or scattered to the dust of the earth must decay.

    We memorialize men and women, especially the same many idolize in life. Those who loved any breathing soul speak of the dead in the past. Some ask, ‘IF there is a God, what hope does this departed soul have now?

    The Apostle John answers these deep longings of the souls of mortal man.

    More specifically, the LORD GOD reveals the only Good News about death and life is through the Lord Jesus Christ – born of man, buried like all who must suffer death.

    By His words we have hope, but by His death we have redemption from sin and judgment.

    For by Jesus’ RESURRECTION in BODY and SPIRIT, followers of the Way of Jesus in life will follow Him to certain resurrection of the body and of our soul.

    Do you desire an eternal after-life in the Presence of the LORD our GOD? Find it in the Good News of Christ Jesus.


    Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrection

    In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

    The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

    The Good News of John 1:4-5 NASB

    John presents man as either belonging to one of two things: the darkness or the light. There is no in between. The darkness is associated with death, while the light is associated with life. – BlueLetterBible intro to John

    No Gospel addresses ‘LIFE’ more than John and no book of the Bible more than the 150 Psalms.

    Roger Harned talk of Jesus .com

    We now return to John’s witness of Jesus in a third appearance to Disciples along the shore of the Sea of Tiberias after His resurrection.

    Trusting that you read Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – the Eleven, a Passing Witness, recall the 1st. century A.D. events disciples of the Way of Jesus encountered even before John wrote his Gospel — after A.D. 85 & before A.D. 100.

    Remember to see John’s Gospel with eyes of a 1st. century believer who already knows that Peter was martyred for Christ perhaps decades earlier.

    Peter’s witness of Jesus’ Resurrection

    No Disciple of Jesus impacts the Church more than Simon Peter. After paying little attention to interactions between Peter and Jesus, today we will look closer into this loving relationship of discipleship.

    Previously in Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – the Eleven, a Passing Witness. the Apostles had seen Jesus in the flesh twice, except Thomas only once, in Jerusalem. John names five present now and mentions two others, but not by name.

    Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”John 21:3

    It’s now close to daylight after a night catching no fish.

    John 21:

    7 The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

    Peter and John who humbly refers to himself as ‘the disciple Jesus loved’, along with his older brother James have been Jesus’ three closest Disciples. During three years of the Lord’s earthly teaching Jesus had often shared understanding He does not reveal to others.

    In his Gospel the beloved Disciple speaks of their close friend Simon Peter who has already been martyred for Christ with loving compassion; not eulogizing or elevating Peter in any way, but giving honest witness to Peter’s actions and failings in life.

    John’s empathy for Peter’s heart after denying the Lord is clearly evident. The Disciples remembered how Jesus had prophesied Peter’s denials before the cock crowed at dawn that fateful evening prior to His arrest. Peter of course had denied that it could ever happen.

    Peter, now with his former boldness, dives into Lake Tiberius and swims to shore (just two hundred cubits, about 100 yd. or 90 m.) away from Jesus who is broiling fish over a fire.

    The other six Disciples return in small boats with the catch of ‘the multitude of fishes’ [KJV], which they then account as a total of 153 large fish filling a net that remains untorn by the huge catch.

    Three Questions of Restoration

    Remember, John witnesses this to Christians after Peter’s faithful death for the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is what John testifies:

    15 Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”

    (We will examine Peter’s answers separately.)

    16 He said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

    17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

    The common language of the Apostles in addition to their local Aramaic is Greek. English translations lack subtle detail connecting context in these scriptures.

    Simon son of Jonas – Σίμων Ἰωνᾶ

    Andrew and Simon’s father is John, or Jonas.

    • John, Peter’s other friend of Jesus’ inner circle besides his own brother James, calls him Simon Peter or simply Peter.
    • however Jesus calls him only Simon or the Lord addresses John & Jamesfriend rather formally as: Simon son of Jonas.
      • Could Jesus also be reminding the Disciples of His many prophesies connecting His Resurrection to the Prophet Jonah?

    Note what Jesus asks Simon, yet note subtle differences in Simon’s responses which show the depth of wounds of Peter’s guilt before he understands Jesus’ tender requests.

    (Again recall that John tells this to readers who already know that Peter has died for his faith in Jesus.)

    Jesus’ questions to Simon Peter

    English also clouds our understanding of overlapping Greek meanings of love.

    1. “Simon, son of John, do you [e] love Me more than these?”
    2. “Simon, son of John, do you [g] love Me?”
    3. “Simon, son of John, do you [i] love Me?”
    [notes] Here is an instance where NASB & other notes may help.
    See the Greek text referenced below.
    1. ἀγαπάω – agapaō – Strong’s G25
      • egō polys hoytos
    2. ἀγαπάω – agapaō – Strong’s G25
      • egō
    3. φιλεῖς – phileō – Strong’s G5368
      • egō

    Three similar questions to Simon from Jesus in John 21: v.15, v.16 & v.17, but not quite the same.

    • Do you agapaō me more than these?
    • Do you agapaō me? (No comparison this time to the six Disciples who came to shore in the boat with the fish.)
    • Do you phileō me?
    Is your, “yes Lord” really your “yes?”
    Let's move on to Simon's responses. (Will his responses match?)
    1. “Yes, Lord; You know that I [phileō] love You.”
      • Jesus had asked, “Do you agapaō Me more than these?”
      • Do you [love] Me more than these (six) Disciples love Me?
      • Simon only confirms his phileō for Jesus.
    2. “Yes, Lord; You know that I [phileō] love You.”
      • Jesus now focuses on Simon asking simply, “Do you agapaō me?”
      • Simon simply repeats his previous response of “I [phileō] You.”
    3. “Lord, You know all things; You know that I [phileō] love You.”
      • Jesus has already asked Simon, “Do you [agapaō] me?”
      • Simon had twice responded, “I [phileō] You.”
      • Perhaps to contrast Simon’s answers to His other two questions the Lord now asks him, “Do you [phileō] me?

    What does Jesus mean by “love?”

    Having some understanding of the Greek words for LOVE is a pre-requisite for our 21st century understanding.

    Let’s begin with Simon Peter’s answer to Jesus.

    phileō love:

    It is the verb meaning:

    • to approve of, like, sanction, treat affectionately or kindly,
    • to welcome, befriend

    Are you only this to Jesus?

    To your fellow followers of Christ who also call Him Lord is your witness mere approval of Jesus?

    What a ‘friend’ we have in Jesus,‘ we once sang.

    • Is that what the Lord asks of Simon Peter?
    • Is Christ not so much more than ‘a friend’ to those who follow Him?

    ‘..All our sins and griefs to bear!” continues the old hymn proclaiming Jesus a friend, but urging us to take everything to God in prayer.

    Simon has just witnessed Jesus’ Sacrifice for our sins on the Cross.

    • What friend can bear your sins other than Jesus?

    “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

    John 15:13 KJV – Jesus proclaiming His own death to the Disciples, of agapē love

    Simon Peter, once again emboldened by Jesus resurrection, offers no rock of confidence in his measured response to His Lord and Savior.

    Jesus was not asking Simon Peter for his renewed friendship. So what was the Lord asking him?

    agapē love:

    It is the noun for:

    • affection, good will, benevolence, brotherly love,
    • charity or a feast of charitability (like a generous family meal of Thanksgiving),

    All active, rather than passive acceptance of another. Jesus first question asks Peter to stand firm in His love of their friends.

    Jesus asks in effect,

    “Do you think (Simon), that because you greeted Me first (perhaps with an expected kiss of phileō just as Judas Iscariot had in Gethsemane), — do you therefore believe that you agapē Me more that those who did not jump from your boat to reach Me first?

    (And recall what John had witnessed of Peter when they first ran to the empty tomb.) Peter lost that physical race with John, but it did not matter who was first or who came to Jesus last. What did matter was the Lord’s commands.

    On the night in which He was betrayed Jesus gave them a new command.

    Commandment of Jesus Christ CHURCH "love one another

    In case you missed it, Church..

    from earlier in our series on the Gospel of John, April 29, 2020 A.D.

    John 13:

    33 “Little children, I am still with you a little longer…

    (It is this same endearing greeting of their Master the Disciples have just heard from Peter’s boat.)

    34 “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

    • Which LOVE do you suppose Jesus uses in this NEW COMMANDMENT to the Disciples?
    agapaō:

    It is the verb root of agapē love. Yet its own root may also share in actions associated with the verb phileō. (We won’t take time to dwell on this.)

    • of persons
      • to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly
    • of things
      • to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing

    Three times Jesus uses agapaō in His New Commandment to the Apostles and then the Lord continues by applying agapē love as evidence to others that these are His disciples.

    “By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

    John 13:35 – The New Command of Jesus – agapē

    Jesus’ New Commands to Simon Peter

    We have examined with some detail the context of Jesus’ questions to Simon that John witnesses in his Good News to believers long after Peter’s own death.

    NEXT: We will continue in John 21 with the Lord’s Commands to Peter and hear John’s empathy for Peter shared with saints of the 1st century A.D. Church.

    To be continued...
  • 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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