CHARACTERS AT THE CRUCIFIXION (2)
A Podcast Series
On Select Characters At The Crucifixion
Through History and Scripture
On Select Characters At The Crucifixion
Through History and Scripture
Jesus called James and John "Sons of Thunder." And we can see why from examples in Scripture. But if John was a kind of "hothead," why did he not go berserk at the Crucifixion? What pulled him back? When did he become the "Apostle of Love?" There's lots to know about his background to explain why and how this transformation occurred. Faithful attention to Scripture and history will show why. Plus, are there sudden storms on Lake Galilee? Did Peter really catch a fish with a shekel in its mouth? Did archeologists really recover a boat from Jesus' era?
(Length: 56 min.)
Bethsaida was a rough fishing village on the north shore of Lake Galilee. Zebedee (and his sons James and John) were business partners with Peter and Andrew there. Jesus would eventually curse the place. But there's lots to know about John and his background growing up there in a devout Jewish family -- how he was raised, how he prayed, how he learned the family trade in the commercial fishing industry. Indeed, the special skill set he got as a fisherman would prove to be exactly what Jesus would need of him when he called him to be an Apostle.
(Length: 58 min.)
John was likely the "other disciple" of John, the Baptist, along with Andrew, which explains why he followed Jesus immediately at Lake Galilee. Jesus singled out John (along with Peter and James) to experience three secret events -- the raising of Jarius' daughter from the dead, the Transfiguration, and the Agony in the Garden. Why?
(Length: 1 hr. 24 min.)
Jesus had good reason to call John a "Son of Thunder." John was fiery, impetuous, and we see that from different events in the Gospels. He was also the "Beloved Disciple" mentioned in the Fourth Gospel and the arguments that say otherwise just don't hold up. At some point, he became known as the "Apostle of Love." Is it plausible that change occurred at the scene of the Crucifixion?
(Length: 1 hr. 18 min.)
The Gospels tell us that "scribes" were at Calvary, accusing Jesus "vehemently." Why would they do that? Because they were scholars of the Law and were trained in the Law, taught the Law, and were perceived as authorities on the Law, in many ways, like lawyers are today. The subject is personal to me, because I am one, and I can imagine chiming in with them. It helps to know about their emergence in history in the fifth century, B.C.; how they gave us the Bible in written form.
(Length: 1 hr. 6 min.)
Scribes were the scholars of the Torah. They taught The Law; they were expected to know The Law. What they did was very much like what lawyers do today. Knowing what they did, and how they were regarded, tells us much of what they were like when Jesus encountered them.
(Length: 1 hr. 4 min.)
Scribes were the scholars of the Torah. They taught The Law; they were expected to know The Law. What they did was very much like what lawyers do today. Knowing what they did, and how they were regarded, tells us much of what they were like when Jesus encountered them.
(Length: 1 hr. 4 min.)
Jesus takes the scribes head-on. He parries with them and wins, every time. Seeing how he does that makes us understand exactly why they want to kill him. But not all of them. Some come very close to the kingdom of God. The Gospels present us with a fascinating account of Jesus' interaction with them, both as a class, and individually.
(Length: 1 hr. 38 min.)