Category: Witnesses

What the witnesses said about Jesus of Nazareth

Reactions to the Risen Dead

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Reactions to the Risen Dead

 

Jesus of Nazareth raised three people from the dead, according to the Gospels, each under very different circumstances. Two are uniquely recounted by a Gospel author and one was documented by three Gospels. No comments are recorded from those who received back their life; instead, reactions to the risen dead came from the witnesses.

Nain is a small town a few miles southeast of Nazareth, identified in Luke for a great miracle Jesus performed there.[1] Followed by his Disciples and a large throng, they encountered a long funeral procession leaving through the city gate.

Upon the funeral bier was the body of the only son of a widow. Seeing the most sad situation, Jesus felt compassion and comforted the distraught mother telling her not to cry.[2] Touching the bier, the funeral procession stopped and Jesus commanded, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”

Sitting up, the young man began to talk and Jesus handed him back to his mother.[3] Fear struck the crowds yet they shouted praises, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people.”[4]

Crossing back across the Sea of Galilee from the region of Gerasenes after performing an exorcism on the demon named Legion, Jesus was met by a man asking to heal his dying daughter who was 12 years old.[5] Mark and Luke identify the man as a synagogue ruler named Jairus; Matthew did not identify the man by name.[6]

Heading toward the house of Jairus, the crowd pressed against Jesus delaying his arrival.[7] Along the way, a woman with a worsening 12-year long hemorrhage worked her way through the throng believing that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed…[8]

Immediately when she touched his outer garment, she was healed and Jesus could feel it. With the masses around him, he asked, “Who touched My clothes?”[9] Answering a question with a question, his Disciples asked how it was possible to know this because of the surging crowd?

Realizing she could not escape without notice, fearful and trembling the woman fell down at the feet of Jesus confessing what she had done.[10] Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.”[11]

As these words were being spoken, people arrived from the house of Jairus to report his daughter had died suggesting that Jesus should no longer be bothered because it was too late.[12] Hearing the comments, Jesus said:

“Do not be afraid; only believe.”[13]

Arriving at the house, Jesus declared the girl was only asleep, but people derided him for saying such a thing.[14] Everyone was sent out of the house excepting Jairus, his wife, and some followers.

Taking the hand of the girl, Jesus commanded her to get up. The girl got up, began walking around the room and Jesus instructed that she be given something to eat.[15] Jairus and his wife, were completely “astonished.”[16]

John solely chronicles one of the most famous miracles of Jesus, one that served to be the catalyst for his crucifixion. While in another town, probably across the Jordan River east of Jericho, Jesus received a message from friends of sisters Mary and Martha in Bethany that their brother, Lazarus, was sick.[17] Bethany was a small hamlet suburb of Jerusalem and no further message was received.[18]

Commenting that Lazarus’ sickness would serve to glorify God, Jesus then stayed two more days at his present location. Jesus informed his Disciples that Lazarus had “fallen asleep” and he wanted to go there to awaken him.[19]

Worried that enemies wanted to kill Jesus, the Disciples urged him not to go. Not thinking Lazarus was dead, going to see him would be an unnecessary risk because he would presumably recover on his own.[20]

Seeing that the Disciples didn’t understand what he meant, Jesus plainly told them, “Lazarus is dead.” Explaining further, he said the reason he must go there now was go give people yet another opportunity to believe.[21]

Approaching Bethany, Jesus was met outside the village by Martha who was very upset with Jesus complaining that if he had been there earlier, her brother would not have died.[22] Martha sent word to Mary asking her sister come out to meet Jesus, too.

Mary, along with other people from their family’s house, joined Martha outside of Bethany. She, too, candidly blamed Jesus for her brother’s death because he had not been there earlier.[23] Some people grumbled aloud that if Jesus could heal a blind man, he certainly could have saved Lazarus.[24]

Deeply moved by the great sorrow of his friends, Jesus himself wept and went to the tomb of Lazarus. It was covered by a stone and he asked that it be removed. Martha pointed out the obvious – by now, after four days, the body of Lazarus would have the bad smell of death.[25]

Addressing the people, he told those gathered at the tomb they would now witness the glory of God. Looking toward Heaven, Jesus thanked God for the miracle he was about to perform because it would demonstrate that he was sent to them by God.

Standing outside the tomb, in a loud voice Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” Lazarus emerged from the tomb alive still wrapped and bound in the burial strips of cloth with the facial cloth over his head. Jesus told them to unwrap Lazarus to free him.

Many who believed Jesus was sent by God told others to what they had witnessed that day. Some told the Pharisees who, as clearly evidenced by their words and actions, also believed Lazarus had been raised from the dead.[26]

Pharisees worried the celebrity status of Jesus would now be even greater – the people would believe Jesus is their savior. If they didn’t do something, then Rome would take action against them for circumventing the government.

Traveling to Ephraim north of Jerusalem, the public ministry of Jesus ended with the resurrection of Lazarus.[27] Six days before the Passover, Jesus returned to Bethany for dinner when none other than Lazarus joined the dinner party.[28]

To see Jesus and Lazarus for themselves, the man who had been raised from the dead, a large group of people gathered in Bethany. When word got back to the Jewish leadership, it prompted High Priest Caiaphas to say it was better for one man to die than the entire nation.[29]

The next day, a large portion of the crowd who witnessed the event with Lazarus in Bethany greeted Jesus when he entered Jerusalem, known in Christianity as Palm Sunday.[30] Many were still talking about the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus.[31]

If Jesus could raise others from the dead with power granted by God, is it conceivable Jesus would then have the same power to rise from the dead himself if that power was granted by God, the creator of all life?

 

Updated July 17, 2022.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] “Nain.” The Free Dictionary by Farlex. 2021. <https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Nain> “Nain.” Bible History. 2020. <https://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/nain.html>
[2] Luke 7:13.
[3] Luke 7:14-15. NASB, NRSV, NKJV.
[4] Luke 7:16. NASB, NJKV.
[5] Mark 5:42; Luke 8:42.
[6] Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-24, 38-42; Luke 8:40-56
[7] Mark 5:24: Luke 8:42.
[8] Mark 5:28. CR Luke 8:44.
[9] Mark 5:30; Luke 8:45.
[10] Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47.
[11] Mark 5:34. CR Luke 8:48.
[12] Luke 8:49.
[13] Mark 5:36.
[14] Mark 5:40.
[15] CR Luke 24:36-43.
[16] Mark 5:42; Luke 8:56. CR John 21:9-14.
[17] John 10:40, 11:7-8. Ruark, Janet. Pinterest.com. “Jesus Is My Friend.” image. n.d. <https://i.pinimg.com/originals/96/8e/6c/968e6cbec1c37ca834062c7b1dd0f911.jpg> 
[18] “Bethany.” Encyclopædia Britannica.. 2021. <https://www.britannica.com/place/Bethany-village-West-Bank>  “Bethany.” Bible History. 2020. <https://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/bethany.html>
[19] John 11:11-12.
[20] John 11:8, 16.
[21] John 11:1; 14.
[22] John 11:21.
[23] John 11:32.
[24] John 11:37.
[25] John 11:39.
[26] John 11:45-53; 12:19.
[27] “Map of New Testament Israel.” Bible History. Map. 2020. <https://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/israel-first-century.html>  “Ephriaim.” BibleHub. n.d. <https://bibleatlas.org/ephraim.htm>  “Ephraim in the wilderness.” Wikipedia. 2020. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_in_the_wilderness>
[28] John 12:2.
[29] John 12:10.
[30] John 12:17.

Roman Authority Encounters with Jesus

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Roman Authority Encounters with Jesus

 

Celebrity status of Jesus of Nazareth quickly spread throughout the area. Inevitably the news of his famous miraculous healing abilities would extend outside of Judea.[1]

Many people, including those who were not Jewish, trusted enough in what they had heard or witnessed that they too believed Jesus could help them — including some Romans.

Run out of Nazareth, Jesus had proclaimed in a local synagogue that he is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy foretelling of the arrival of the Messiah.[2] Soon after that, Jesus delivered the celebrated sermon of the Beatitudes and made his new home in Capernaum.[3]

Approaching Jesus in Capernaum, a Roman military officer requested him to heal his beloved servant.[4] Original Greek text word hekatontarches used in both Matthew and Luke is most frequently translated as “centurion” although it is not the specific Greek word kenturion for “centurion.”[5]

Definition of hekatontarches is a generic reference to “an officer in the Roman army.”[6] Whether centurion rank or not, he was a high-ranking officer in the Roman military.

Not with him, the boy was still at the Roman’ officer’s home paralyzed, in terrible pain and near death. Recognizing a common trait they shared, the Roman officer saw that each had “authority” to command accordingly believing Jesus could heal his servant by merely commanding it:

MT 8:8-10: “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it. (NASB)

Marveling at the words of the Roman officer, Jesus told the crowd he had never seen such faith as this in Israel and told the Roman officer his servant would be healed just as he believed. At the time of the command of Jesus, it was confirmed the Roman officer’s servant was healed.[7]

MT 8:10, 13 “Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed that very moment.” (NASB)

Next encounter with Roman authority in the Gospels was Procurator Pilate who served as the Roman government judge. For this scenario as part of this responsibility, he was tasked with weighing the charges leveled against Jesus by the Jewish leadership.

Previously, Caesar Augustus had issued a standing decree chiseled into a pillar of the Temple of Caesar to treat the Jews with moderation. Anyone who transgressed the decree would be severely punished.[9]

Appointed by Tiberius, Pilate had to perform a difficult balancing act to avoid drawing negative attention from Caesar. Tiberius committed to honor the decrees of his predecessor even though both viewed the Jews as troublesome.[8]

No friend of the Jews, Pilate had twice offended the Jewish nation, once by bringing Roman ensigns with effigies of Caesar into Jerusalem. Another time, he used the “sacred money” of the Jews to construct a Jerusalem aqueduct.

On the surface, it would seem to many that Pilate would relish being able to legally crucify a Jew, no less at the behest of the Jewish leaders under the accusation of insurrection and tax evasion.[10] Crucifixion of Jews was commonplace by the Romans, but case of Jesus was highly unusual.

Questioning Jesus privately, Pilate asked “Are You the King of the Jews?”[11] Jesus acknowledged that he is a King, but not one of this world.

Agreeing with the judgement of Galilee Tetrarch Herod, Pilate said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” Continuing, the crowd pressed Pilate:

LK 23:15-16 “You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.” (NASB)

Traditionally at the Passover, Rome would pardon a Jewish prisoner, thus Pilate represented a choice to the Jewish crowd – a robber, plunderer and murderer named Barabbas or Jesus called the Christ.[12] Shouting back, the crowd wanted Barabbas released.

Not having any crime to charge, Pilate asked what was to be done with Jesus?[13] Responding, the throng yelled, “crucify him.”

Pilate pushed back on the mob’s demands again asking, “Why, what evil has He done?”[14] Reaching the point he had no other choice to avoid a riot, Pilate made one more public statement to absolve himself of killing of an innocent man:[15]

MT 27:24 “So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’” (NRSV)

Jewish religious leaders succeeded in getting what they sought, the execution of Jesus. Seeing the sign on the cross announcing the charge for which Jesus was being crucified, they disliked the sign’s verbiage.

Written in the three prevalent languages of Judea – Latin, Arabic and Greek – it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.”[16] Complaining to Pilate, the Jewish leaders wanted him to add “he said” to the sign, but Pilate refused.

Lastly was the Roman centurion, kenturion in the Greek text, who became a central figure in charge of the execution squad at the crucifixion of Jesus.[17] The sun failed, the earth quaked and hearing the final words of Jesus, the hardcore Roman centurion made an excited utterance at the death of Jesus:[18]

“Truly this was the Son of God!”

Joseph of Arimathea approached Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, but Pilate was surprised that Jesus was already dead. Confirmed by the centurion that Jesus was dead, Pilate approved the release of the body of Jesus to Joseph.[19]

Arriving at three different conclusions, one Roman military commander recognized the authority of Jesus to miraculously heal; another serving as a Roman judge found no guilt in Jesus; and the Roman centurion in charge of his crucifixion exclaimed Jesus was truly the Son of God.

Not Disciples, followers of Jesus or even Jew, do the statements and actions by these Roman officials add credibility to  the Gospel’s proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah?

 

Updated January 5, 2024.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Matthew 4:24-25.
[2] Isaiah 61:1-2; Matthew 4:13; Luke 4:16-30.
[3] Matthew 5-7, 8:5; Luke 7:1.
[4] Matthew 8:5-6; Luke 7:2-10.
[5] Mark 15:44. kenturion <2760> Net.Bible.org. n.d. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=2760>  “G2760.” Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. n.d. <http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/2760.html> CR Luke 23.47.
[6] hekatontarches <1543> Net.Bible.org. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=1543>  “G1543.” Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. n.d. <http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/1543.html>
[7] CR Luke 7:10.
[8] Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XVIII, Chapter III.1-2. n.d. <https://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=Augustus&f=false>  Josephus, Flavius. Wars of the Jews. Book II, Chapter IX.3-4. n.d. <https://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=Augustus&f=false>  Calmet, Augustin. Calmet’s Great Dictionary of the Holy Bible. Pilate. 1813. <https://books.google.com/books?id=FgM2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PP305&lpg=PP305&dq=Pilate+banished,+Vienne&source=bl&ots=fIZ2ZHY3xl&sig=ACfU3U101WIrN_RVsnslwXcQIHIdEdILGw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJxYrQpYbnAhUJOisKHZ5HB1gQ6AEwEHoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=Pilate%20banished%2C%20Vienne&f=false>
[i9] Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities. Book XVI, Chapter VI.2.
[10] Luke 23:2-5, 22; John 18:37; 19:12.
[11] Matthew 27:11; John 18:33.
[12] Matthew 27:15-21; Mark 15:6-11; John 18:39-40. CR Luke 23:18-19.
[13] John 18:38-40.
[14] Matthew 27:23.
[15] Matthew 27:24; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:22; John 19:1.
[16] John 19:19-22. CR Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38.
[17] Mark 15:44. kenturion <2760> Net.Bible.org. n.d. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=2760>  “G2760.” Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. n.d. <http://lexiconcordance.com/greek/2760.html>  CR Luke 23.47.
[18] Amos 8:9-10; Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39.
[19] Mark 15:44-45. CR Matthew 27:58; Luke 23:52.

Angels Who Saw It Happen

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Angels Who Saw It Happen

 

Angelic accounts are found throughout the Old Testament, the Tenakh. Angels delivered messages and prophecies, dispensed judgements, provided protection and bore witness to special events – some of the Bible’s most profound.

Abraham was on Mt. Moriah about to sacrifice his son when an angel called out from Heaven to spare the life of his only son, Isaac. Caught in a nearby bush Abraham then saw a ram and used it as a substitute sacrifice.

Calling out again, the angel’s voice delivered God’s message that Abraham and his descendants would all be blessed for his faith.[1] Abraham eventually became the patriarch of Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Balaam’s donkey was blocked by an angel messenger of God when Balaam attempted to go to King Balek on his own volition rather than first waiting to see  if God gave him further directions. Eventually allowed to proceed with meeting Balek, the angel commanded Balaam to only say to the King what God instructed him to say.[2]

King Balek wanted Balaam to place a curse on the Hebrews in an effort to prevent them from defeating his own nation.  Instead, Balaam issued a prophecy considered to be the first direct Messiah prophecy foretelling that a future star would shoot out from Jacob and a scepter would arise from Israel.

Judgement was dispensed by an angel sent from God for King David’s sin of failing to have faith in God’s promise of protection. David had enumerated his warriors to determine the strength of the army.[3]

To obtain forgiveness for his grave sin, at the direction of Gad the prophet, David built an alter and offered a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Moved by the events, the King issued a royal command that this location on Mount Moriah would become the future location of the Temple later built by his son, Solomon.[4]

Mouths of the lions were shut when God sent “His angel” to protect Daniel when King Darius had him thrown into the lion’s den.[5] Later in his life, the angel Gabriel interpreted for Daniel his vision of the 70-week prophecy.[6]

– – – – –

Gabriel would again appear hundreds of years later in the Gospels. First, the angelic messenger of God appeared to priest Zechariah in the Temple to announce that his older and barren wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son to be named John.[7] Their son would later become known as John the Baptist, the forerunner messenger of Jesus of Nazareth.[8]

LK 1:18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.” The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

Six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary with a message from God. “And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”[9]

Joseph, Mary’s betrothed husband, was unaware of God’s message to Mary and considered divorcing her for infidelity. Before Joseph reached a final decision, an angel appeared to him in a dream with a message that Mary’s conception was from God to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy – she was not by pregnant by another man.[10]

Shepherds in the field outside of Bethlehem were visited by an angel whose appearance shone around him and the hard-core shepherds wanted to flee. The Greek text word phobeo is translated as “terrified,” “greatly afraid,” and “terribly frightened.”[11] Calming the shepherds, the angel told them not to be afraid because he was bringing good news and great joy for everyone: 

LK 2:11 “for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”[12]

As the minds of the shepherds whirled, suddenly an unexpected spectacular event occurred – a host of angels appeared in the sky heralding the birth of Jesus.

“Host” is translated from the Greek word stratia meaning a vast number of troops; a number so great it is likened to the countless number of stars in the sky.[13] In the largest angelic appearance ever recorded, a multitude of angels praised God, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”[14]

Shepherds who experienced this most amazing event decided they would to go into Bethlehem to find this thing proclaimed by the angels. In Bethlehem they would find the newborn baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

Two angels witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus, according to the initial empty tomb encounter chronicled in Luke. Matthew and Mark only describe an individual angel speaking to the women at the tomb although a second angel’s presence cannot be ruled out.[15] Noteworthy is that Jewish Law required two witnesses to establish a legal fact.[16]

Written by the same author of Luke, the Book of Acts describes two men dressed in brilliant white clothing appearing to the witnesses from Galilee who were fixated on seeing Jesus rise from the ground into the clouds.[17] These two angels are described in very similar terms as the angels at the empty tomb and many Bible experts consider them to be the same angels.[18]

In both instances of the Resurrection and Ascension, the angels asked the witnesses why they marveled at what they were seeing? Reflected in their questions, the angels seemed to be puzzled by the human reactions at what the angel’s regarded as not all at surprising to them:

LK 24:4-5 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (NRSV)

Acts 1:10-11 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (NRSV)

If angels witnessed and participated in key events in the Old Testament, the Tenakh, does it make sense that angels would be heavenly witnesses to the events described in the New Testament?

 

Updated December 27, 2023.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Genesis 22:11-12, 15-18. A little lower than the angels? FaithRoot. image. 2020. <https://faithroot.com/2020/06/03/a-little-lower-than-the-angels/> 
[2] Numbers 22:1 – 24:19. Commentary. BibleHub.com. 2020. <https://biblehub.com/numbers/22-22.htm>
[3] I Chronicles 21:1-30. 2 Samuel 24:10-17.
[4] I Chronicles 22:1; 1 Kings 6:1, 37-38. CR 2 Chronicles 3:1-2.
[5] Daniel 6:6-21.
[6] Daniel 9:20-23. CR Daniel 8:15-18.
[7] Luke 1:8-21.
[8] Luke 1:17; John 3:28.
[9] Luke 1:26-38.  NRSV – Luke 1:31.
[10] Matthew 1:20.
[11] Luke 2:9. “phobeo <5399> NetBible.org. Luke 2:9. Greek Text. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=5399>
[12] NASB.
[13] “stratia” <4756> NetBible.org. Luke 2:13. Greek Text. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=4756>
[14] Luke 2:14. NKJV.
[15] Matthew 28:5; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4.
[16] Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Numbers 35:30. Luke 24:4-7; John 20:2, 13. CR Matthew 28:2-8; Mark 16:5-7;
[17] Acts 1:10-11.
[18] Commentary. Acts 1. BibleHub.com. 2020. <https://biblehub.com/acts/1-10.htm> “Ascension.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2020. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ascension-Christianity>