Bible Find It: A Simple, Illustrated Guide to Key Events, Verses, Stories, and More 161626599X, 9781616265991

Citation preview

Bible Find It A Simple Illustrated Guide to Key Events, Verses, Stories, and More

Bible Find It

Illustrated Bible Handbook Series

Bible Find It Kent Keller, D Min, and Jonathan Ziman Copyright ©2012 eChristian Please see author/contributor information on page 257 of this book. Print ISBN 978-1-61626-599-1 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher. Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: “From Bible Find It, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.” All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. NIV®.

Contributors Writers Kent Keller Jonathan Ziman Project Manager Dave Veerman Cover Design Cheryl Blum Interior Design Larry Taylor and Tom Shumaker Compositor/Typesetter Tom Shumaker Additional Help Katie Arnold Joel Bartlett Linda Taylor Dave Veerman Linda Washington Interior images © Thinkstock® photos Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses. Member of the

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association

Printed in China.

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x i i

Amazing Occurrences Abraham Makes a Sacrifice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Jacob Has a Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 The Bush Doesn’t Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bread Falls from Heaven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Spies Return . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A Snake Is Raised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A Donkey Speaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Sun Stands Still . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Oil and Flour Keep Coming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 Naaman Is Healed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 An Ax Head Floats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 A Dead Man Touches a Prophet’s Bones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 An Angel Defeats 185,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 The Sun Moves Backward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 Jesus Blesses the Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 Jesus Heals a Crippled Hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 Jesus Stops a Storm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 Mark Runs Away Naked. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 Jesus Feeds 5,000. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 Jesus Is Transfigured. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 Ananias and Sapphira Meet the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5 Peter Has a Vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 Peter Escapes from Prison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Paul Survives Capital Punishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t 

|

v

Paul and Silas Sing in Prison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eutychus Is Brought Back to Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Shakes Off a Deadly Snake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Survives a Shipwreck. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32 34 35 36

Big Events God Creates the Universe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adam and Eve Disobey God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A Flood Covers the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Tower of Babel Is Built. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Sends Plagues on Egypt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The First Passover Is Celebrated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Parts the Red Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Gives the Ten Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Walls of Jericho Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samson Brings Down the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Defeats Goliath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solomon Builds the Temple. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elijah Defeats the Prophets of Baal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Esther Defeats Haman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel’s Friends Survive a Fiery Furnace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Is Thrown into the Lions’ Den . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonah Is Swallowed by a Great Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Is Born . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Wise Men Follow a Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Enters Jerusalem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Has the Last Supper with His Disciples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Is Crucified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Is Raised from the Dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus Ascends to Heaven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

40 42 44 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 55 56 57 58 59 61 62 65 66 68 70 71 72 73 75 76 77

The Holy Spirit Comes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8 Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 9

Favorite Folks Abraham: Friend of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2 Adam and Eve: First People, First Sin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5 Barnabas: More Than a Sidekick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6 Caleb: The Faithful Spy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 7 Daniel: Man of Prayer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 8 David: A Man after God’s Own Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 0 Deborah: Warrior Prophet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2 Elijah: Israel’s Greatest Prophet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3 Elisha: The Man of God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5 Elizabeth: Joyful Mom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 Esther: Courageous Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 8 Ezekiel: God’s Visionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 Ezra: God’s Man in Troubled Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 0 Gideon: A Reluctant Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 1 Hannah: The Desperate Pray-er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 2 Isaac: The Promised Son. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 3 Isaiah: A Handpicked Prophet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 4 Jacob: The Schemer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 5 Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 6 Job: The Tested Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 7 John: The Disciple Jesus Loved. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 8 John the Baptist: The Forerunner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 9 Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 Joseph, Son of Jacob (OT): Favored Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 Joseph, Son of Jacob (NT): Earthly Father of the Son of God . . . . . . 1 1 3 Joshua: The Conquering Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 5 Luke: The Missionary Doctor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 6 Lydia: Convert at the River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 7 Mary: The One Who Said Yes to God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 9 Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t 

|

vii

Mary and Martha: Sisters, and Friends of Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 0 Mary Magdalene: Resurrection Eyewitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 1 Matthew: The Tax-Collecting Disciple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 Nehemiah: The Wall Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 Moses: The Reticent Deliverer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 4 Noah: The Ark Builder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 6 Paul: The Great Missionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 8 Peter: The Restored Denier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 0 Philip: The Evangelist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 1 Priscilla and Aquila: Behind-the-Scenes Workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 2 Ruth: Loyal Friend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 3 Samson: A Flawed Superhero. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 4 Samuel: Prophet and Priest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 6 Sarah: Unlikely Mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 7 Saul: Flawed First King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 8 Simeon and Anna: Faithful Believers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 9 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Men Tested by Fire . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 0 Solomon: Wise and Foolish King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 2 Stephen: First Martyr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 4 Thomas: Honest Doubter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 6 Timothy: Protégé Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 8

Overheard Quotes “A law unto themselves” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 2 “A house divided” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 3 “A man after his own heart” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 4 “Apple of his eye”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 5 “At my wit’s end” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 6 “The blind leading the blind”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 7 “By the skin of our teeth” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 8 “Can a leopard change his spots?” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 9 “Don’t cast your pearls before swine”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 0 “Drop in the bucket” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 1 viii

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Dust of the earth” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 2 “Eat, drink, and be merry” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 3 “Eye for an eye” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 4 “False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing” . . . . . . . . . 1 6 5 “Fell on rocky ground” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 6 “Fight the good fight” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 7 “Golden calf” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 8 “Good Samaritan” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 9 “Hammer swords into plowshares” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 0 “He gave up the ghost” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 1 “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone”. 1 7 2 “Handwriting on the wall” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 3 “How are the mighty fallen”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 4 “Labor of love” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 5 “Letter of the law” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 6 “Many are called, but few are chosen” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 7 “Man shall not live by bread alone” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 8 “More blessed to give than to receive” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 0 “My brother’s keeper” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 1 “No peace for the wicked” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 2 “Out of the mouths of babes” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 3 “Pride goes before a fall”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 4 “Put your house in order” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 5 “Salt of the earth” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 6 “Signs of the times” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 7 “Straight and narrow” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 9 “A soft answer turns away wrath” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 0 “Suffer fools gladly” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 1 “Sweat of your brow”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 2 “The love of money is the root of all evil” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 3 “The truth shall set you free” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 4 “There’s nothing new under the sun” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 5 “Thorn in the flesh” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 6 “To everything there is a season” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 7 “Twinkling of an eye” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 8 “Wars and rumors of wars”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 9 “Weighed in the balances and found wanting” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 0 “What is truth?” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 1 “Where there is no vision, the people perish” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 2 It’s in There Somewhere, Right? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 3 Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t 

|

ix

Stories Jesus Told Teaching Parables: About the Kingdom of God The Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 7 The Weeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 8 The Mustard Seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 9 The Yeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 0 The Treasure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 The Pearl of Great Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 2 The Fishing Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 3 The Growing Seed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 4 Teaching Parables: About Service and Obedience The Workers in the Vineyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 6 The Loaned Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 7 The Servant’s Role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 8 The Nobleman’s Servants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 9 Teaching Parables: About Prayer The Unjust Judge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 The Friend at Midnight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 2 Teaching Parables: About Neighbors The Good Samaritan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 4 Teach Parables: About Humility The Wedding Feast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 6 The Proud Pharisee and the Corrupt Tax Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 7 Teaching Parables: About Wealth The Rich Fool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 9 The Great Feast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 0 The Shrewd Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 1

x

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Gospel Parables: About God’s Love The Lost Sheep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 3 The Lost Coin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 4 The Lost Son . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 5 Gospel Parables: About Thankfulness The Forgiven Debts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 7 Parables of Judgment: About Christ’s Return The Faithful and Sensible Servant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 9 The Traveling Home Owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 0 The Ten Bridesmaids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 2 Parables of Judgment: About God’s Values The Unforgiving Debtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 The Two Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 5 The Evil Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 6 The Wedding Feast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 7 The Unproductive Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 8 Scripture Reference Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 9

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t 

|

xi

Introduction

Ever ask yourself where in the Bible a particular story or a quote can be found? Perhaps you know the part of a verse (“I know it starts with ‘Love is patient’”), but not the exact reference. Or, perhaps you’re wondering whether some of the stories or phrases you’ve heard others discuss are actually in the Bible. With Bible Find It, we’ve taken out the guesswork so that you can know without a shadow of a doubt what’s in the Bible. In this book you’ll find . . . „ Amazing Occurrences. This section highlights people in the Bible witnessed out of the ordinary events—events that reminded them of God’s presence. For example, Moses’ meeting with God through the burning bush; Abraham’s call to sacrifice his son; Paul’s confrontation with a deadly snake. Each entry includes the Bible reference and a description of the event and its significance. „ Big Events. In this section, you will find miracles and other major events in Bible times that greatly affected the lives of many people. Some of these key events include the Flood and Noah’s ark, the fall of Jericho, David and Goliath, Jesus’ miracles, and Paul’s shipwreck. Each entry includes a Bible reference(s) and a description of the event. „ Favorite Folks. This section highlights key Bible people like Moses, David, Adam and Eve, and so on. You can read the profiles of their lives. We’ve also provided Bible references to help you find each person’s story in the Bible. „ Overheard Quotes. This section lists well-known phrases or words derived from the Bible (for example, “put out a fleece,” “handwriting on the wall”), common phrases misquoted from the Bible (“Money is the root of all evil” when the actual quote is, “The love of money. . .”), and common phrases that people think are from the Bible but aren’t (“Cleanliness is next to godliness”). Each entry includes the quotation, the Bible reference, and a paragraph of explanation about the phrase or word. „ Stories Jesus Told. Here you will find all of Jesus’ parables. Each has a title, references in the Gospels where the parable is located, and an explanation of the significance of the parable.

xii

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Use this book as a personal resource for information or personal devotions. It also will be a valuable resource for teaching a Sunday school class or small group. You can read it through from beginning to end or skip around to sections and entries that interest you most. Or you can use the scripture index in the back and read everything that relates to a specific passage. As you learn about Jesus’ teachings, key verses, and the significant events of the Bible and their continued relevance in your life, you’ll be amazed at how much Bible knowledge you can gain in just a short time. Consider Bible Find It your GPS—a resource that can take you wherever you want to go in the Bible.

Introduction

|

xiii

xiv

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Amazing Occurrences M

any people are tempted to lump the events in the Bible as mythology because of the amazing occurrences listed: five thousand people fed with one lunch, bread falling from the sky, angels taking on whole armies. Such a belief doesn’t take into account the real God who could perform all of these miraculous events. Sometimes He performed them through trusted individuals who had faith in His power. So step right up and feast your eyes on some of the most amazing events ever to occur in history.

„

Abraham Makes a Sacrifice Genesis 22:1–19

Imagine you and your spouse have been married for decades, maybe fifty years or more. You always wanted children but were unable to have any. It has been the single greatest heartache of your otherwise happy lives. And then, when you and your spouse are at retirement age, God promises you a child but makes you wait another twenty-five years. Finally, he is born and your life is fulfilled. Then one day, when your son is a young teenager, this same God tells you to kill him, to prove how much you really love God—the very God who promised him to you all those years ago. What would you do? If you are not familiar with the story in Genesis 22, that is what happened to Abraham. After waiting all those years, God gave him a son, but then told Abraham to sacrifice that very son. What kind of God would do such a thing? The gods of the Canaanite cultures surrounding Abraham and his family would, and did. Child sacrifice was quite common in that area at that time. Abraham had perhaps even seen pagan altars where such atrocities had taken place. But Abraham had sworn a covenant oath to obey God. We can scarcely imagine how leaden his feet must have felt all the way up Mount Moriah with his beloved son. But God had a different ending in mind. Just as Abraham took up the knife, God stayed Abraham’s hand and provides a substitute. Because of his remarkable faith, Abraham received God’s praise and reiterated blessings. „ Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” (Genesis 22:10–12 NLT)

2

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jacob Has a Dream Genesis 28:10–17

Have you ever had a strange dream from which you awoke and later said to someone, “You’re not going to believe the dream I had last night.” Most of us have had such dreams—of flying, familiar faces in unfamiliar places, and so on. What if the dream came from God? What if He used it to communicate something important to you? That’s what happened with Jacob in Genesis 28:10–17. He dreamed of a stairway that reached from where he slept in the land of Canaan, which God had promised to his grandfather Abraham, all the way to heaven. Angels were going up and down the stairway. God himself stood at the top of the stairway and actually spoke to Jacob. The Lord reassured him that he would indeed inherit that land, and that his descendants would be too numerous to count. They would spread out in all directions and be a blessing to everyone in the world. Furthermore, the Lord promised to be with Jacob and his descendants and to protect them wherever they went. That dream came true in the establishment of the kingdom of Israel. Most of all, though, Jacob’s dream of a stairway opening up access between heaven and earth foreshadowed the coming of Jesus, who is Himself the bridge between God and man (John 1:51). Can any of your dreams top that?

„ As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. (Genesis 28:12 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

3

The Bush Doesn’t Burn Exodus 3:1–10

Moses, born a Jew in Egypt, was by an act of God’s grace raised in Pharaoh’s palace. One day he saw an Egyptian mistreating a fellow Hebrew. Enraged, he murdered the Egyptian, tried to cover up his crime, but Pharaoh found out. Moses had to flee Egypt to the land of Midian where he went about rebuilding his life: from Pharaoh’s palace to the wilderness of Midian, from royal robes to a shepherd’s tunic. It must have been quite a come-down for Moses. Until the day, that is, forty years later, Moses had his flocks grazing on the slopes of Mount Sinai. He saw a bush ablaze with fire yet not burned up. Such a sight encouraged him to move closer. After all, a wooden object usually burns to ash. But God used the steadily burning bush to get Moses’ attention. He had a mission for Moses: go back to Egypt and lead His people out of their bondage. Even though Moses was very reluctant to go back to “the scene of the crime,” he obeyed God. As improbable as all this sounds, Moses’ encounter with a burning bush is a pivotal event in biblical, and in fact world, history. This was the moment Moses went from fugitive to leader, outlaw to lawgiver. Because he said yes to God, the nation of Israel was rescued from bondage and returned to the Promised Land.

„ One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.” (Exodus 3:1–3 NLT)

4

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Bread Falls from Heaven Exodus 16:4–21

More than likely, you get your bread from a store or bakery. But in the time of Moses, the people of Israel acquired bread not from a store, but from the sky. You would think the people of Israel, having just been freed from their captivity in Egypt, would have been the happiest, most grateful people in the world. Indeed they were as they passed through the midst of the Red Sea safely through to the other side, thanking God and praising Him in song (Exodus 14:29–15:21). But ironically, they began grumbling almost as soon as the waters closed up over the unfortunate Egyptian soldiers. The complaints concerned the food they had in the wilderness, or more accurately, the lack thereof. The people actually said they would rather have died as slaves in Egypt than as free people out in the wilderness. Rather than punish them for their ingratitude, God graciously and miraculously provided food for them. He gave them bread every morning and meat (in the form of quail) every evening. He also told them He would provide for them what they needed every day, and that they were not to hoard any or try to collect more than they needed. The ones who didn’t obey found out God meant what He said. It was a daily object lesson in learning to trust the faithfulness of God. The first time the Israelites saw the miracle bread, they asked, naturally enough, “What is it?” In the Hebrew language “what is it” is translated “manna,” hence the name by which it is known today.

That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, “It is the food the LORD has given you to eat.” (Exodus 16:13–15 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

5

The Spies Return Numbers 13:1–33

The consequences of one bad decision can be lifelong sometimes. The Israelites can attest to that. At the brink of Canaan—the land God promised to give the Israelites upon rescuing them from slavery in Egypt, Moses sent twelve spies—one from each tribe—to scout out the land. Note the word promised. God promised that the land would be theirs. The men set out on their forty-day reconnaissance mission and returned bearing fruit and a good report of how fertile and rich the land was. But— there’s always a but—in their assessment, the people living there were too powerful to conquer. Not all of the spies were in agreement on that view. Joshua and Caleb urged the people to go forth and conquer in the strength of the Lord. But the people of Israel already were conquered by fear. They grumbled against Moses and Aaron, choosing to believe the negative report. So God decreed that they would not enter the land. Instead, they would wander in the desert for forty years. One bad decision cost them the land. Only Joshua, Caleb, and the children of that generation lived long enough to enter the land. „ This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.” But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites. (Numbers 13:27–32 NLT)

6

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

A Snake Is Raised Numbers 21:4–9

Sometimes as we read the Old Testament we get the impression the Israelites continually complained. Numbers 21 is another painful example of the people’s predisposition toward complaining. After the Lord miraculously provided water for them in the wilderness (Numbers 20:1–11), the people once again quickly forgot His goodness to them and whined about the lack of water and “suitable” food. This time God grew impatient with their ingratitude and allowed poisonous snakes to bite them. Not surprisingly, this time He got their attention. They cried out to Moses, asking him to pray for them. God then graciously made a way of deliverance for those who had been stricken: while they were helpless to save themselves, they could merely look at a bronze replica of a snake Moses made and they would be healed. In this way the Lord reminded them of the serious consequences of their sin and of His graciousness to them as their covenant God. Jesus later revealed that this episode was a foreshadowing of His own saving death on the cruel cross: “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” (John 3:14–15 NLT).

„ Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! (Numbers 21:8–9 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

7

A Donkey Speaks Numbers 22:21–34

Do you ever find yourself reading something in the Bible, shaking your head in disbelief? The story of Balaam and his donkey (Numbers 22:21–34) is one of those jolting, jarring stories. A talking donkey? Really? Yet that is exactly what happened. Balaam had a reputation for being able to bless and curse others. When King Balak of Moab appealed to Balaam to use his alleged abilities to curse the Israelites, God used extraordinary means to prevent him from doing so. First, God spoke directly to him, warning him not to curse those whom God had already determined to bless. Then, when it appeared as though Balaam was intent upon going beyond what God told him to do, the Lord got his attention by allowing his donkey to talk to him. Three times the donkey turned aside to avoid the angel of the Lord who stood in the road with a drawn sword. The donkey’s actions roused Balaam’s anger. But the angel sided with the donkey. This is the only time in the Bible such an event takes place. God delights in using unusual, unorthodox, creative ways to accomplish His purposes— even a talking donkey. „ Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. (Numbers 22:28–30 NLT)

8

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Sun Stands Still Joshua 10:7–14

Do you ever say to yourself, “I need more hours in the day”? If so, this story is for you. Joshua and the old covenant people of Israel were in the process of conquering Canaan, the land God promised to them. The people they had to dispossess of the land did not stand idly by and allow the invading army to simply take over. They fought tenaciously to defend their homes and their territory. One major battle took place at the city of Gibeon, where five Amorite kings joined together to fight against Israel. As God promised, Joshua and his men routed their enemies, sending them into a full-fledged retreat. God sent a hailstorm to kill many of them, and Joshua’s troops doggedly pursued the rest. The rout was so overwhelming that Joshua hated to see the sun go down. So he asked God to hold it still in the sky. God obliged, causing the earth to experience the longest day in history. Some people, understandably, question how this could possibly take place. No doubt there are enormous physical and even cosmological implications of such an event. The answer is that God is sovereign over nature. The God who created the laws of the universe can set them aside or supersede them when and as He sees fit. „ On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. (Joshua 10:12–13 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

9

Oil and Flour Keep Coming 1 Kings 17:8–16

The Bible is replete with admonitions to take care of widows and orphans (e.g., Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29). Here is an example of a time when God Himself did a miracle through His prophet, Elijah, to meet the needs of a widow and her son. In the first half of the ninth century BC, Elijah was God’s spokesman to the kings and people of Israel, calling them to repent of their sins and return to their covenant vows before the Lord. On this occasion, however, God sent His servant to a non-Jewish widow in the small Canaanite village of Zarephath on the Mediterranean coast. The people there were in the throes of a terrible famine, one so severe that this poor widow was out gathering wood to cook what she thought would be the last meal for herself and her son. A desperate situation, indeed, but God used it as a platform from which to demonstrate His power and concern for the poor and powerless. Elijah asked the woman for some water and a little bread, a very common thing for a traveler to do in the ancient Near East at that time. This widow, however, informed her would-be table guest of her desperate situation, and that she had only what she needed for that final meal. Imagine her sadness and tears as she said those words and her surprise when this stranger said the above words. Amazingly, she complied, and God came through for her and her son. He demonstrated to her and through her that when we trust Him in spite of our circumstances, He can be depended on to come through.

„ But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1 Kings 17:13–14 NLT)

10

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot 2 Kings 2:1–12

Have you ever thought about how you would like your life to end? A strange question perhaps, but one that most people have thought about at least occasionally. Most of us, if we had a choice, would likely prefer to die in our sleep in our own bed. The prophet Elijah had no such quiet, uneventful home going. After a spectacularly eventful, even turbulent ministry among the kings and people of Israel (1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2), it is fitting that his departure from this world was also dramatic. In fact, he was one of two people in the Bible who didn’t die before leaving the earth. When God was ready to bring Elijah home and transfer the prophetic mantle to his servant Elisha, God had Elijah strike the Jordan River with his cloak. The waters parted, reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea before Moses (Exodus 14:13–31) and the Jordan at Joshua’s command (Joshua 3:1–17). But that was merely a warm-up: after the two men crossed over to the other side, a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire appeared and took Elijah away, carrying him off to heaven. It was a fitting climax to his ministry, often punctuated by the appearance of fire (1 Kings 18:38; 19:12; 2 Kings 1:10–14). „ As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. (2 Kings 2:11–12 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

11

Naaman Is Healed 2 Kings 5:1–14

If you had a dreadful disease, one that disfigured you and made you a social outcast, and were told to a take a dip in a nearby river to be cured, would you do it? Most people would probably say yes, even if that river was polluted. But Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army, didn’t see it that way. Afflicted with leprosy, he nevertheless remained a proud warrior. When a young Jewish slave girl suggested he ask the Israelite prophet Elisha to heal him, and his king agreed, Naaman went along with it. But when Elisha sent a messenger to tell Naaman to simply wash himself seven times in the muddy Jordan River, the great warrior balked. He was insulted. He wanted Elisha himself to come and heal him or perhaps give him some great task to accomplish. But washing seven times in the Jordan? How demeaning! Naaman would have returned to Aram an angry leper had not his officers intervened and reasoned with him. Listening to the voice(s) of reason, he followed Elisha’s advice and came up healed. „ So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed! (2 Kings 5:14 NLT)

12

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

An Ax Head Floats 2 Kings 6:1–7

As miracles go, seeing an iron object that is too heavy and too dense to float on water and yet still does, is not tops on the list. It doesn’t quite rank with the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) or Jesus raising someone from the dead (Mark 5:21–43; Luke 7:11–15; John 11:1–46). But when a man of God commands something to happen that defies the laws of nature, and it does in fact occur, it is noteworthy all the same. One day a group of prophets led by Elisha gathered by the Jordan River to cut down trees to build a meeting place. One of the men, perhaps neglecting to check the condition of the far end of the ax he was using, got a little carried away in his efforts, and the ax head flew off. Or, possibly he carelessly allowed the heavy iron head to slip down the wooden handle and off the narrow end. Either way, the iron cutting implement, which would have been a rare and precious tool in that time and place, fell into the water. The man was understandably alarmed, since the ax head belonged to someone else. He cried out to Elisha for help. After asking where the ax head fell, Elisha cut a stick and threw it to the same place. Miraculously, the ax head floated to the surface, and the man eagerly grabbed it. God used this event to validate that Elisha was indeed his chosen servant. God would use other miracles, including someone actually walking on water to validate that Jesus was His Son. „ When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. But as one of them was cutting a tree, his ax head fell into the river. “Oh, sir!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!” “Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the ax head floated to the surface. “Grab it,” Elisha said. And the man reached out and grabbed it. (2 Kings 6:4–7 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

13

A Dead Man Touches a Prophet’s Bones 2 Kings 13:20–21

God did incredible things through Elisha during the prophet’s ministry to the people of Israel: restoring a dead boy to life (2 Kings 4:18–37), healing a leper (2 Kings 5:1–14), blinding an entire army (2 Kings 6:18), and many, many more. But God caused yet one more miracle to occur through Elisha after he was dead and buried. A man had died, and a group of his fellow Israelites were burying his body. It so happened that they buried their late countryman in the same place where Elisha had been laid to rest. Spying a nearby raiding party from Moab, the burial detail naturally wanted to get away from these raiders, their adversaries. So they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. Coming into contact with the bones of the late prophet brought the dead man back to life! He sprang to his feet, no doubt with an incredible story to tell his family and friends. We’re not told whether the Moabite raiding party witnessed this resurrection. If so, we can surmise that they probably cut their mission short. In any case, the man who was given a new lease on life undoubtedly had a new appreciation for life, for God’s servant Elisha, and for God, too.

„ Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! (2 Kings 13:20–21 NLT)

14

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

An Angel Defeats 185,000 2 Kings 19

In 701 BC, King Sennacherib of Assyria laid siege to Jerusalem, his army vastly overmatching that of Judah’s King Hezekiah. Supremely confident in his military superiority, Sennacherib taunted Hezekiah in the hearing of the people of Jerusalem. He even mocked his trust in God to deliver them. Big mistake. He soon realized that the God of Israel has a sense of irony. Any unbiased assessment of the situation would have given the Assyrians overwhelming odds against the much smaller and less formidable army of Judah. Any prudent military adviser would have counseled Hezekiah to discuss immediate terms of surrender in order to spare his people complete annihilation. God, however, is never impressed by nor limited to such human judgments. He had a major surprise awaiting Sennacherib and his unfortunate soldiers. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord, pleading for him to deliver his people from their oppressors, but not just for their sake. Hezekiah also appealed to the Lord to defend his own honor and glory. That is exactly what happened. God only needed one angel to take on Sennacherib’s allegedly invincible army. Yet the situation was about to get even worse. Some years after this humiliating defeat (in 681 BC), his own sons assassinated him as he worshipped his god. God specializes in such ironic reversals, humbling the exalted and exalting the humbled. „ That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere. Then King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and returned to his own land. He went home to his capital of Nineveh and stayed there. (2 Kings 19:35–36 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

15

The Sun Moves Backward 2 Kings 20:1–11

If you have ever wished for more hours in a day or more years in your life, this story is for you. King Hezekiah of Judah received the dreaded diagnosis of his impending death not from a royal physician but a divinely anointed prophet, Isaiah. Like most of us, his initial reaction was one of sadness. His next response was to cry out to the Lord and ask for healing. Although God does not always grant such requests, this time He did, even telling Hezekiah (through Isaiah) how much more time he would be given—fifteen years. The king, understandably, wanted some assurance that this would indeed be the case. So he asked for a sign. God then did something virtually unparalleled in Scripture: He gave Hezekiah a choice of miraculous signs. God would cause the shadow on the sundial of King Ahaz to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps, thereby supernaturally either shortening the day or lengthening the day, depending on Hezekiah’s decision. Hezekiah, perhaps more keenly aware now of the preciousness of time, chose to ask God to move the sun backward ten steps (reminiscent of Joshua and the sun standing still at the battle of Gibeon—Joshua 10:1–15). God did it, confirming for Hezekiah that his life would indeed be extended. Again, God doesn’t always say yes to such prayers, much as we wish He would. But sometimes He does.

„ Meanwhile, Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, “What sign will the LORD give to prove that he will heal me and that I will go to the Temple of the LORD three days from now?” Isaiah replied, “This is the sign from the LORD to prove that he will do as he promised. Would you like the shadow on the sundial to go forward ten steps or backward ten steps?” “The shadow always moves forward,” Hezekiah replied, “so that would be easy. Make it go ten steps backward instead.” So Isaiah the prophet asked the LORD to do this, and he caused the shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz! (2 Kings 20:8–11 NLT)

16

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Amazing Occurrence

|

17

Jesus Blesses the Children Matthew 19:13–15

“Get those kids out of here! They’re making way too much noise!” How many times have you heard (or said?) those words or words like them at a church event? Maybe you’ve had this experience: the adults are having a meeting in one room to discuss a serious matter, and the youth group or children’s ministry is in another room close by. Too close, perhaps, because the noise level of the youth activity reaches that point at which the adults’ heads begin to turn and frowns appear. Someone is dispatched to quiet the young people or instruct them to relocate. How different is Jesus’ reaction to a group of “inconvenient” children whose parents brought them to Him so He could place His hands on them and pray for them. Those parents sensed there was something about Him that was different, that He was genuinely interested in their children. Yet the disciples “scolded the parents for bothering him” (v. 13). Far from being bothered, however, Jesus welcomed the children. Of course there are times when young people get out of control and need some serious, immediate crowd control, before either bodily injuries or structural damages occur. But rather than see them as nuisances, we need to consider how Jesus received them: as opportunities for blessing and advancing God’s kingdom. „ One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left. (Matthew 19:13–15 NLT)

18

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jesus Heals a Crippled Hand Mark 3:1–6

Do you know anyone, including yourself, with a significant physical disability— cerebral palsy, blindness or deafness, crippling arthritis, or Parkinson’s disease? How would you react if the Lord healed that person or yourself during a Sunday morning worship service? Silly question, right? No doubt you would rejoice either way. Regardless of your views on Sabbath keeping, you would have to be very hard-hearted to do anything other than celebrate such an event. “Hard-hearted” pretty well sums up Jesus’ enemies, the scribes and Pharisees this day in the synagogue. Imagine seeing a man healed of a severe deformity and quibbling over when it happened! They had come specifically to watch Jesus, already renowned as a miraculous healer, to see if He would heal anyone on the Sabbath. In their view such healing would violate the law of Moses. So when He did, restoring the withered hand of a man there, he challenged those critics. He asked if the law permitted such good works—and they refused to answer. Jesus was angry and deeply saddened by their callousness and lack of compassion. „ Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him. He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! (Mark 3:3–5 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

19

Jesus Stops a Storm Mark 4:35–41

Of all the characteristics that make Jesus of Nazareth special in all of history, one that stands out is His mastery over nature. On this occasion, after a day spent teaching the multitudes in parables, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. Soon after setting out a nasty storm blew up, threatening to capsize the boat. The disciples, some of whom were fishermen who made their living on that very body of water, were nevertheless extremely frightened. Incredibly, “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion” (v. 38 NLT). Imagine—Jesus, a carpenter, sound asleep in the stern while his fishermen followers were frantically bailing and fearing for their lives: “The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’” (v. 38 NLT)

20

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Taking command of the situation, and the elements themselves, Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to be still. They immediately did so, provoking even more terrified and awestruck reactions from the disciples: “‘Who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘Even the wind and waves obey him!’” Two thousand years later, people still wonder. „ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4:39–41 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

21

Mark Runs Away Naked Mark 14:50–52

Writers of ancient historical documents did not always identify themselves. Instead, they would place an eyewitness detail in the narrative that would give a clue as to their identity, but without saying, “I was the one who did this.” Tradition holds that the Last Supper took place in an upper room in Mark’s family home in Jerusalem. Following the meal, Jesus and the disciples walked to the garden of Gethsemane, where Judas’s betrayal and the arrest took place. Not identifying himself as one of the disciples, Mark placed himself at the scene wearing “only. . .a long linen shirt”(v. 51 NLT)—likely his nightshirt. Since these dramatic events took place in the middle of the night, it stands to reason that if Mark had followed Jesus and the disciples, he might not have bothered or perhaps had time to get dressed more appropriately. It is quite unusual for such an author to include a detail like this that makes him look bad, as this brief glimpse into the night before Jesus’ death does Mark. It is just one more reason to trust the authenticity of the Bible.

„ Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked. (Mark 14:50–52 NLT)

22

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jesus Feeds 5,000 Luke 9:10–17

How much food would it take to feed over 5,000 people? With Jesus around, all you need is one boy’s lunch. As a popular teacher, Jesus drew large crowds. During one preaching session, the Bible accounts only mention the men (5,000), but there may have been at least double that amount of people present. The twelve disciples asked Jesus to send away the crowd so that they could find food. Not an easy task in the days before convenience stores. But Jesus didn’t need a convenience store. He was the Son of God! First, He assessed what they already had: five loaves and two fish donated by a child. Not much for even one person. Nevertheless, Jesus took the food, gave thanks for it, and started passing it out. And passing it out. And passing it out. Before anyone knew it, everyone had been given food. There was even enough food left over to fill twelve baskets! One basket for each doubting disciple.

„ For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.” So the people all sat down. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers! (Luke 9:14–17 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

23

Jesus Is Transfigured Luke 9:28–36

Many amazing events took place during the time Jesus walked our ground, breathed our air, healed our afflictions and bore our sins. One of the most remarkable is recorded in Luke 9:28–36 (also Matthew 17:1–13 and Mark 9:2–13), an episode commonly referred to as the Transfiguration. On that occasion, Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. We’re not told which mountain; it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that He went up that mountain with those three men, often seen as sort of His “inner circle,” and “as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white” (v. 29 NLT). That would be overwhelming enough. But there was more: Moses and Elijah appeared. Can you imagine? Peter, John, and James had grown up hearing about and studying the writings of or about these men, and suddenly, here they were before them. It would be like an American citizen touring the White House and suddenly encountering George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, alive and well. He would be overcome, stunned, and perhaps impulsively blurt out something inane like Peter did (v. 33). The transfiguration of Jesus on that mountain and the appearance of Moses and Elijah were not the most astounding events in the life of Jesus; the crucifixion and resurrection certainly outrank it. But for Peter, John, and James (and through their eyewitness account, the rest of us), it must be considered one of the most astonishing episodes in the most astonishing life ever lived. „ About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. (Luke 9:28–31 NLT)

24

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Ananias and Sapphira Meet the Truth Acts 5:1–11

Dramatic events swirled around the apostles in the days following Jesus’ ascension and the early days of the founding of the church. Such happenings were necessary as authentication of the ministries and authority of Peter, John, Philip, and the others. Most of these were welcomed by those who were the objects of the supernatural power manifested through these men. One exception to that took place in Jerusalem with Peter and a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. The church in Jerusalem experienced explosive growth in the weeks following Pentecost (Acts 2). Those early converts to Christianity were characterized by fervent worship, devoted community, bold evangelism, and cheerful generosity, which makes the actions of Ananias and Sapphira all the more tragic and unnecessary. Why they engaged in this deceit is not clear; they were under no obligation to give the proceeds to the church. Perhaps they wanted more credit than they truly deserved. What is painfully, unmistakably clear is that God took a very dim view of their actions: first Ananias, then Sapphira dropped dead on the spot after lying to Peter. We may thank God that He does not always deal with all sin so harshly. We should also remember we live our lives before a holy God and let that knowledge inform every aspect of our conduct. „ But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.” (Acts 5:1–3 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

25

Peter Has a Vision Acts 10:9–33

How old were you when you learned there was no Santa Claus? That going swimming less than thirty minutes after eating would not cause you to have a cramp and drown? That when you made funny faces at your mother, your face would not freeze that way? Those are silly examples that make a serious point: some beliefs we grow up with die hard. So imagine how Peter, a lifelong, committed Jew must have felt when he had a vision of all kinds of “unclean” animals—animals classified as nonkosher according to Old Testament dietary laws (Leviticus 11)—and a voice telling him to “Get up. . .kill and eat them” (v. 13 NLT). Peter was aghast. He protested that he had never broken kosher laws before. But his protest brought a most unexpected rebuke: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean” (v. 15 NLT). The vision, which was repeated three times, taught Peter that since Jesus had come and fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), it was time to set aside the Levitical proscriptions against eating unclean animals. But it also taught something much more fundamental and far-reaching: that God’s plan of redemption was and is far broader than just for ethnic Jews, the old covenant people of Israel. His plan includes Gentiles, those beyond the bounds of ethnic Judaism. Sure enough, just after the vision concluded, three men came to the house where Peter was staying and asked him to come with them. They had been sent by Cornelius, a Roman army officer—a Gentile—to request that Peter come with them to preach the Gospel to Cornelius, his family, and close friends. Where Peter previously would have refused to go with them or enter a Gentile household, he consented. He went to Cornelius’s house and shared the good news of Jesus with them. It was the beginning of the proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles. „ The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” (Acts 10:9–14 NLT)

26

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Amazing Occurrence

|

27

Peter Escapes from Prison Acts 12:6–19

Talk about your dramatic jail breaks. The apostle Peter, the leader of the early church, was arrested by King Herod for the simple crime of following Jesus. Herod had already put James, the brother of John and another key leader of the church, to death for the same crime. Things were not looking good for Peter. To make matters even worse, Peter was imprisoned, chained between two soldiers. Others soldiers stood guard at the prison gate. Escape seemed completely out of the question. Until. . . The night before his trial was to begin, an angel radiant with light appeared in the cell. He awakened Peter, released him from his chains, told him to get dressed and come with him. Thinking it was all another vision, Peter followed the angel to the Jerusalem city gate, which opened by itself. As they walked through the gate and out into the city, the angel suddenly disappeared, leaving Peter alone on the city street. At that point, Peter realized this was no dream or vision. He was really free. What happened next is almost humorous. Peter went to the home of his younger friend John Mark (who would later write the Gospel of Mark) and began knocking at the gate. A servant girl came to open it, but when she heard Peter’s voice, “she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, ‘Peter is standing at the door!’” (v. 14 NLT). Those inside had been praying for Peter’s release, but perhaps like some of us they refused to believe God had answered their prayers. It wasn’t until they heard Peter’s continued, undoubtedly urgent knocking and went to the gate themselves that they saw and believed. Probably very few Christians today have witnessed or experienced an answer to prayer as dramatic as that. God does, however, still answer our prayers.

28

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. (Acts 12:6–9 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

29

„ Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. (Acts 14:19–20 NLT)

30

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Paul Survives Capital Punishment Acts 14:19–20

Imagine seeing someone who has just been executed get up and go on his way. You would be in utter disbelief, and perhaps more than a little afraid. A person simply does not survive an execution. Yet the apostle Paul survived an execution in the town of Lystra. Paul and his faithful ministry partner Barnabas had been preaching the good news of Jesus throughout the region of Galatia, winning converts but also engendering strong opposition. In fact, at Lystra, when God used Paul to heal a crippled man, the local people became convinced the two men must be gods: Barnabas—Zeus, and Paul—Hermes. Barnabas and Paul were grieved, insisting they were mere men like all the locals. The Jews were jealous, seeing these men as a serious threat to their belief system, their livelihood, and their power over these people. They somehow won the crowd over. The people that had just been ready to deify him stoned Paul and dragged his body outside the town limits. They thought they were done with him and, no doubt, with Barnabas as well. Stoning was not a reprimand; stoning was the death penalty. It was the first-century Jewish equivalent to the electric chair. A person did not walk away from a stoning, yet Paul did. Not only that, he went right back into Lystra. Can you imagine the reaction he must have received? How that resurrection happened is not explained in the text, but it seems clear that God did a supernatural act on Paul’s behalf by bringing him back to life. Some New Testament scholars believe this may have been the time God raised him up to heaven and gave him his spectacular vision (2 Corinthians 12:1–4). God knew how much more He was going to demand of His servant, so perhaps He let Paul have a glimpse of what awaited him at the end of his earthly journey, something to convince him his sufferings were worth it. We don’t know that for sure. One thing of which we are certain, though, is that God used Paul, Barnabas, and the rest of the apostles to preach the Gospel throughout the Mediterranean world, the Roman Empire, and beyond, changing the world forever.

Amazing Occurrence

|

31

Paul and Silas Sing in Prison Acts 16:25–34

If you were arrested on a bogus charge, stripped and beaten in front of an angry mob, and thrown unceremoniously into the local jail, how would you respond? With anger, fear, indignation, or despair? How about singing? Most of us would probably not feel like singing hymns of praise as we nursed our wounds, surrounded by other prisoners in a filthy jail cell. That, however, is exactly what Paul and Silas did as they sat in the dungeon in the city of Philippi. Paul and Silas had come to Philippi in order to preach the Gospel of salvation by the grace of God through faith in Christ alone. Along the way, however, they had encountered a slave girl who was possessed by a demon. As horrifying as that was, however, the girl’s owners did not wish to see her made whole since her fortune-telling was a source of income for them. So when Paul cast the demon out of the poor girl, her masters were enraged. They “grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace” (v. 19 NLT). They were beaten, put in jail, and restrained with their feet in stocks—a rather unlikely setting for a praise and prayer service, wouldn’t you say? And yet that’s exactly what they were doing at midnight: praying and singing as the other inmates listened in. Probably none of them had ever heard anything quite like that under those circumstances. As they were singing, Luke writes: “Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, ‘Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!’” (v. 28 NLT) The jailer, understandably overwhelmed by the experience, asked Paul and Silas the all-important question: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v. 30 NLT). Paul and Silas told him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household” (v. 31 NLT). That very night the jailer and his entire family believed the Gospel and were baptized—undoubtedly the most beneficial aftershock in history.

32

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16:25–28 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

33

Eutychus Is Brought Back to Life Acts 20:7–12

Lots of people fall asleep in church. Most, however, don’t do it sitting in a windowsill three stories above the ground and fall to their deaths. That’s what happened to a young man named Eutychus as he listened to the apostle Paul preach a long sermon late one night in the Macedonian town of Troas. Luke, the writer of Acts (and also a physician—Colossians 4:14) was an eyewitness to the event. You can just picture what happened: a late night, flickering lamps, a long sermon that kept getting longer and longer. The poor young man could not keep his eyes open any longer. Unfortunately for him, he was sitting on a windowsill three stories up. The result was not surprising: Eutychus fell asleep and fell out of the window. He died on impact. Fortunately for him, the preacher was no ordinary pastor but the apostle Paul. He rushed to the side of the lifeless young man, picked him up, and miraculously, God restored him to life. Then Eutychus went back upstairs with Paul and the others where they celebrated the Lord’s Supper and ate a meal together. Amazingly, Paul resumed speaking till dawn. Luke doesn’t tell us, but presumably no one else fell asleep while he spoke, or at least not while sitting in the windowsill. „ On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!” (Acts 20:7–10 NLT)

34

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Paul Shakes Off a Deadly Snake Acts 28:3–6

Paul would be forgiven if he sometimes wondered whether he had a black cloud over his head that followed him wherever he went. He had survived the shipwreck off of Malta and reached land along with his companions. The local inhabitants treated them kindly, building a fire to warm them after their harrowing arrival onshore. Ever the servant, Paul gathered wood for the fire, only to be bitten by a poisonous snake. The locals saw this and decided that even though he’d escaped the sea, justice had found Paul. They believed the snake had been sent to punish this criminal, a sort of divine earthly retribution. They changed their minds when they saw that he was completely unharmed and even decided he was a god. The text does not tell us, but we can be confident Paul disabused them of that notion, just as he and Barnabas did in Lystra when the people believed them to be gods (Acts 14:8–18). Paul survived the snakebite as he had so many other life-threatening events. God asked a great deal of his choice servant, but he also gave him the courage and the grace to meet these ordeals head-on and not only persevere but triumph.

„ As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god. (Acts 28:3–6 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

35

Paul Survives a Shipwreck Acts 27:1–44

Trouble seemed to follow Paul wherever he went. From the sufferings inflicted by other men (2 Corinthians 11:23–29), to the trials before the governing authorities (Acts 21–26), to the mysterious affliction he called his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7–10), Paul’s was not an easy life. On his way to stand trial in Rome, he even had to contend with and survive a shipwreck. Paul and company set sail from Caesarea in Judea on the Mediterranean coast, intending to make their way to Rome where Paul was to stand trial, as he requested, before Caesar (Acts 25:11). Leaving the town of Fair Haven on the island of Crete, they attempted a dangerous late autumn journey to a safer harbor at Phoenix, also on Crete. Paul warned against it, but the ship’s captain disregarded his advice. After all, Paul was a tentmaker by trade (Acts 18:3), not a sailor. What would he know? What he knew was that the voyage was destined to end badly: “‘Men,’ he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on— shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well’” (v. 10 NLT). And end badly it did, just as Paul said, with exactly the results he predicted. Fierce winds battered the ship. The crew, soldiers, and prisoners all had to abandon ship off the shore of Malta. All survived, including Paul, although his days of living dangerously were far from over. He would continue to endure hardship and glorify God through his trials for several years to come.

36

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. . . . The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore. (Acts 27:30–32, 42–44 NLT)

Amazing Occurrence

|

37

38

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Big Events I

f someone were to ask you to list the major events discussed in the Bible, what would you come up with? Creation? The Flood? Jesus’ birth? These events are significant because they shaped or changed the course of human history. Many are turning points in redemptive history. On the following pages we’ve listed the key events in the Bible and where you can find them. In these stories, you’ll find a world created, the birth of a nation, the first sin and its aftermath, God’s rescue of his people Israel, and the birth of a Savior—God’s solution to the problem of sin.

„

God Creates the Universe Genesis 1—2

These ten words (seven in the original Hebrew language) have caused a great deal of discussion, disagreement, and outright arguments through the years. That’s because they’re not merely poetic; they make a huge statement about life on this planet. Either we were placed here intentionally by our Creator, or we are simply random conglomerations of molecules thrown together by time and chance. Is there any evidence that supports the Bible’s teaching of divine creation? Consider: „ The angle of the earth. If the angle of the earth was tilted slightly in either direction, the resulting changes in temperature would be so extreme that life as we know it could not exist. „ The position of the earth. Similarly, if earth were slightly closer to or farther from the sun, the resulting temperature changes would be too extreme to support life. 40

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ The moon. If the moon were 50,000 miles away from the earth instead of 200,000 miles, the ocean tides would be so enormous that all the continents would be submerged. Even the mountains would erode.

„ Earth’s atmosphere. If the ratio of carbon to oxygen in the atmosphere had been slightly different, none of us would be around to breathe it. „ Water. Unlike most other substances, when water freezes, it expands and floats. If water didn’t have this unique property, lakes and rivers would freeze in cold weather all the way down to the bottom. All sea life would die.

Other critical factors such as the precise strength of the force of gravity, the exact balance of the electrical force, the rate of the expansion of the universe from the moment of creation on, and the uniformity of the universe in all directions show the need for precise calibration. Without it, human life would not be possible. So, it seems that the universe was designed to support human life. Any of the above events could have just happened; accepting the truth of Genesis 1:1, however, seems a lot more reasonable.

„ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NLT)

Big Event

|

41

Adam and Eve Disobey God Genesis 3:1–19

While some might believe that humans are basically good, the experience of Adam and Eve in the garden sheds a different light on that theory. God gave the first couple some very simple instructions when He placed them in Eden. They were to tend the earth, reproduce other little image-bearers of God, and avoid eating the fruit of one tree in the middle of the garden. Sounds simple enough, right? But our original parents couldn’t do it. Instead, they disobeyed, plunging the world into ruin and misery. This is known as the Fall. At the Fall, sin entered the world, and with it came disease, decay, and death. Sin caused enmity between God and humans, between human beings, and even between humans and nature. We have reaped the consequences of their disobedience to this day. Before we judge Adam and Eve too harshly, though, consider this: What happens when you see a sign that reads: WET PAINT? You want to touch it and see if it really is wet, right? Or, when you read a sign posted at the edge of a lush, green yard reading: KEEP OFF THE GRASS, isn’t your impulse to put at least one foot in the forbidden area? That’s what happened first with Eve and then Adam. God would have been entirely justified if He had simply wiped His hands clean of the whole human experiment. But He didn’t. Instead, H e made a way to

42

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

undo the damage. Verse 15 hints at that way when God says He will send one of Eve’s descendants to crush the head of the serpent who deceived her. What Genesis 3:15 hints at, Romans 5:17 (NLT) spells out: "For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ." As devastating and far-reaching as the effects of the Fall are, the impact of the cross is even greater. „ I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15 NLT)

Big Event

|

43

A Flood Covers the Earth Genesis 6—9

While watching or listening to the stories of violence, corruption, hatred, and heartbreak on your local news, ever wish you could take a fire hose to scrub your town clean and just start all over? Believe it or not, that’s how God felt in an earlier epoch of human history. “So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart” (Gen. 6:6 NLT). So God decided to scrub the „ “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood.” (Genesis 6:17–19 NLT)

44

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

world clean of evil and the people who caused it. Genesis 6–9 recounts the story of the great flood and of Noah and his family who, thanks to God’s grace, were the only ones who survived. God then used them to repopulate the earth. Virtually every major religion has some account of a catastrophic flood. The vast majority of them tell of a survivor or small band of survivors living through the ordeal by taking refuge in some kind of boat. That doesn’t mean the biblical account is true and the others false or vice versa. In fact, it has no bearing on the veracity (or lack thereof) of any one Flood narrative. But it does raise the question, for those who wish to dismiss all such stories as merely ancient myths, as to why the submersion of the earth is such a universal tale. Unless, of course, it’s true.

Big Event

|

45

The Tower of Babel Is Built Genesis 11:1–9

Skyscrapers are always eye-catching. You can’t help looking, because they’re usually the biggest things on the horizon. But in Bible times, one “skyscraper” caught God’s attention in a negative way. At this point in history, people spoke with one language. Because of this unity, they decided to build a city and a tower built on the plains of Shinar, near Babylon (present-day Baghdad, Iraq). The method of building was cutting-edge for the time: fire-hardened bricks with tar with for mortar. The result was a city and a great tower—a stepped ziggurat “that reached into the sky” (v. 4 NLT). The builders intended this project to be a great achievement. Certainly nothing is wrong with that in itself, but this city and tower were built to be monuments to human ego and ambition. The city, along with its tower, is known to us as Babel (v. 9). Babel meant “gate of god” to the Babylonians and represented the efforts of humanity to accomplish great things without regard to their Creator. But God put a halt to the whole undertaking by confusing their speech. The consequence they feared was the result: the people scattered.

„ Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” (Genesis 11:4 NLT)

46

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

God Sends Plagues on Egypt Exodus 7:1—12:36

When the Israelite population increased in Egypt, the fearful pharaoh enslaved them to keep them under control. By the time of Moses, the people of Israel had been enslaved for over four centuries. God sent Moses to Pharaoh to command him to let the people go. Knowing that Pharaoh would refuse, God used a special form of persuasion: ten plagues. Any careful reader of the account of the plagues God sent on the land of Egypt (Exodus 7–12) may well be tempted to ask, “Why did God do all those terrible things to the Egyptians?” Perhaps you have asked that question yourself or wondered why there was a plague of lice, darkness, locusts, hailstones, etc. Seems a bit random, huh? Yet the plagues were not an attack against the people, but against the gods they worshipped. Exodus 7:3-5 (below) is almost a declaration of war. Egypt boasted a large pantheon of gods. Besides Ra, the sun god, there was Osiris, the lord of the dead; Hapi, the god of the Nile; Anuket, the goddess of the Nile; Heget, the frog goddess; Bat, the cow goddess; and many others. In order to prove to the Israelites, the Egyptians, and everyone else in the world “that I am the LORD,” God had to show His superiority over Egypt’s alleged gods. The first salvo was turning the waters of the Nile to blood. Although the Egyptian magicians proclaimed their ability to duplicate this act by the power of their god, they could not duplicate any of the other plagues. The God of Israel had made His point. But the worst plague of all was yet to come.

„ “I will make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn so I can multiply my miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even then Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you. So I will bring down my fist on Egypt. Then I will rescue my forces—my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” (Exodus 7:3–5 NLT)

Big Event

|

47

The First Passover Is Celebrated Exodus 12:1–30

What does it take for God to get your attention? A catastrophe? Something amazing? God gained the pharaoh of Egypt’s attention through a series of catastrophes. Through Moses, God used nine plagues (Exodus 7–11) to warn Pharaoh to heed God’s command to free the people of Israel from enslavement. Despite the damage and pain those catastrophes inflicted on the Egyptian people, Pharaoh stubbornly refused. So God dramatically raised the stakes. The tenth plague—the death of all firstborn sons, including livestock—was the most devastating of all. The hope for the future, as symbolized by the firstborn sons, was now gone. God gave His people instructions to keep this plague from befalling their households. They had to sprinkle the blood of an unblemished lamb over the lintels and doorposts of their homes. This was the sign for the Lord to “pass over” those houses, sparing them from the death angel, hence the name Passover. They were to eat the sacrificed lamb and unleavened bread (bread without yeast) and bitter herbs. During the meal they were to be dressed as if ready to leave immediately. The Passover became a permanent festival, one celebrated every year in remembrance of God’s miraculous deliverance of His people. Because of this deliverance, the Jewish calendar was permanently changed. Passover is still celebrated every year by people around the world. In the New Testament, Jesus is described as a Passover Lamb sacrificed for the sins of all (1 Corinthians 5:7). His death causes eternal death and separation from God to pass over those who trust Him. „ On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12–13)

48

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

God Parts the Red Sea Exodus 14:21–31

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt between a rock and a hard place as the proverbial saying goes? Looking back, you see a bad situation and a worse one ahead. If so, you have some idea how the people of Israel felt as they stood on the shore of the Red Sea. After agreeing to let the Israelites go, Pharaoh changed his mind and went in pursuit with a well-trained army and six hundred chariots. Imagine facing a crack army on one side and crashing waves on the other. The people of Israel reacted in an all too human ways: panic and grumbling. They couldn’t fathom a third option: that God had a plan. God saved His people in a way that only He could. Using the wind, He parted the waters and caused the Israelites to pass through safely. The point of the Red Sea, which scholars conjecture might have been around the Gulf of Suez, was at least a half mile wide. The people of Israel numbered around two million and had only one night to make the trip. While they survived, none of Pharaoh’s crack soldiers did. This demonstration at the Red Sea showed God’s power to overcome even a situation between a rock and a hard place.

„ Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the LORD opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! (Exodus 14:21–22)

Big Event

|

49

God Gives the Ten Commandments Exodus 19—20

You’ve probably seen the old Cecil B. DeMille movie The Ten Commandments or some other representation of the episode between God and Moses on Mount Sinai. Even if you haven’t, you probably have some image in your mind as to how it would have looked to an observer. Whatever it actually looked like, it must have been an awe-inspiring encounter. What often gets overlooked is that the giving of the Ten Commandments (often simply called “the Law”) was part of a covenant ratification process between God and the people of Israel. A covenant was and is an agreement between two parties. In the Bible it was a blood oath broken on penalty of death. While the consequence was serious, this covenant one also was beneficial for Israel. Rather than leaving them to cast about on their own, hoping to please God—and fearing the consequences if they didn’t—the Law provided the following three benefits. It. . . „ Revealed God’s holiness. God was holy, powerful, just, compassionate, and so forth. He was eager to bless obedience but also willing to punish disobedience.

„ Outlined righteous behavior. The Law revealed God’s standard of behavior. God expected His people to honor Him above all others, set aside one day in seven to worship Him, respect their parents, treat one another with dignity and compassion, and so forth.

„ Showed their need for God. The people of Israel would need God’s covenant guidance, blessing, and protection forever. When they failed, which they would do continually, they would need God’s help to be restored to a right relationship with him. Ultimately, the Law pointed out their inability to “be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:1 NLT)—and thus their need for God to do for them what they were unable to do for themselves; hence the need for God’s grace through Christ. „ Then God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any other god but me.” (Exodus 20:1–3 NLT)

50

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Walls of Jericho Fall Joshua 6

People who believe in God love to talk about His love, mercy, forgiveness, and so on. Joshua 6 reveals characteristics of God’s personality few like to think about: His wrath and judgment. The people of Israel were in the early stages of entering Canaan, the land God promised them. The biggest obstacle was fact that the land was already populated. This chapter describes the unorthodox military strategy Joshua and the people employed to conquer the city of Jericho. Instead of being armed with swords and a battering ram, the people marched in silence around the city once a day for six days and seven on the seventh day, while the priests carried the ark of the covenant. Another unorthodox strategy involved Rahab, a prostitute who lived in Jericho and played a huge part in the victory at Jericho. Because she hid the spies Joshua sent on reconnaissance and showed a willingness to believe in the God of Israel, her family was preserved and she gained a place in the family line of Jesus (see Matthew 1:5). In recent years numerous scholars have concluded that Jericho, which has been thoroughly excavated, was indeed destroyed suddenly around 1400 BC, its walls collapsed inward. Some attribute this to seismic activity. Those who believe the Bible know differently.

„ When the people heard the sound of the rams᾿ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it. (Joshua 6:20 NLT)

Big Event

|

51

Samson Brings Down the House Judges 16:22–31

The news stories are full of gifted athletes, actors, and others who came to a bad end. We shake our heads at how such promise was eclipsed. Samson’s story is sadly similar. Samson lived in the first half of the eleventh century BC. This was the era before Israel had kings. Instead, they had judges—specially chosen deliverers. The need for judges can be seen in a refrain found throughout the book of Judges: “The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD” (Judges 3:7). After the death of Joshua, the godly leader who succeeded Moses, the people of Israel turned to the idols of other nations. Thus began a vicious cycle: their idol worship caused God to allow their enemies to conquer them; their cries for help led God to choose a judge to deliver them from their enemies. Yet they forgot God time and time again and the cycle continued. Before Samson was born, God told his parents that Samson had a special purpose: he would be the instrument to deliver his people from the Philistines. Samson was to be a lifelong Nazirite, a Hebrew word that means “dedicated.” Individuals who took the Nazirite vow did not cut their hair or drink wine. Even Samson’s mother was forbidden to drink wine while pregnant. Samson grew up and became a judge known for amazing physical strength. While he had some victories over the Philistines (Judges 14–15), his lack of moral discernment led to his downfall, starting with his involvement with Delilah, a prostitute from the Valley of Sorek. Forced by the Philistine leaders to discover the secret of Samson’s strength, Delilah’s incessant nagging gained her Samson’s secret: he never cut his hair. Her betrayal cost Samson his freedom and his eyesight. He wound up in a Philistine dungeon. The story, however, doesn’t end there. While in captivity, Samson’s hair grew along with a sense of contrition. Gloating Philistines sought to put him on display in their temple. After Samson prayed, his strength returned. His last act brought down the house—literally—on three thousand Philistines. He died a hero. Samson’s story is a great reminder that God gives second chances, and that failure, no matter how great or significant, does not have to be our final legacy.

52

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ Then Samson put his hands on the two center pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands, he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. (Judges 16:29–30 NLT)

Big Event

|

53

54

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

David Defeats Goliath 1 Samuel 17

The story of David and Goliath is the ultimate underdog story. During the time when Saul, Israel’s first king was in power, the Israelite army was plagued by the army of the Philistines. Israel couldn’t get the better of them, thanks to their champion, Goliath, a giant of a man. He was nine feet tall and had a coat of mail weighing over one hundred pounds and a spear the head of which weighed fifteen pounds. Altogether he was very intimidating. While single-combat, fight-to-the-death contests between champions is extremely rare in the Old Testament, it was common among the surrounding peoples. So Goliath’s challenge to the Israelites (v. 8–10) was not unusual, but what typically happened in such cases was that the other army would send out their “champion.” That man, presumably, was Saul. King Saul was just as intimidated by Goliath as everyone else—everyone but David—a mere youth unlikely to succeed where trained soldiers failed. David was a shepherd visiting his brothers on the battlefield when Goliath issued his challenge. But when that challenge included an insult against the God of Israel, David reacted. While David’s older brother Eliab scoffed and Saul tried to offer his own armor, David went into battle with only one weapon: a slingshot and five stones. But he had a secret weapon: the strength of God. That secret weapon turned the tide of the battle. One thrown rock later, the giant Goliath was cut down to size. A new champion was born: David. But the real champion was God.

„ David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” . . . As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. (1 Samuel 17:45, 48–49 NLT)

Big Event

|

55

Solomon Builds the Temple 1 Kings 6–8; 2 Chronicles 3–6

What’s the most magnificent building you’ve ever seen? The Taj Mahal in India? Museo Guggenheim in Spain? Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt? In ancient Bible times, the most magnificent building anyone had ever seen was Israel’s first temple. God had called the nation of Israel to be his covenant people, beginning with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3), continuing through Moses, and reaching a culmination with the anointing of King David (2 Samuel 2:1–4; 5:1–5). Despite the great growth and accomplishments of his people, they never had a permanent place in which to worship the Lord until King David came up with a plan to build one (2 Samuel 7:12–16). But God told David that David’s son Solomon would be the one to build it. Since David had already collected offerings from the people and workers to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22), Solomon executed the plan beginning in about 966 BC over a seven-year period. Like the tabernacle, which had been used for centuries, the temple was to have three sections: the Holy Place, the Most Holy Place, and an outer courtyard. The temple was built on the mountain where Abraham offered his son Isaac (Genesis 22). Stones used to build the temple had to be chiseled off site by killed workers. It was 90 feet long, 45 feet high, and 30 feet wide and built from cedar trees of Tyre. Many of the temple furnishings were made of gold. Why did the temple need to be so opulent? Because it was to be a fitting location for the earthly dwelling place of the Lord Most High. God himself was going to inhabit the Most Holy Place in the inner sanctuary. Nothing less than the spectacular would be good enough. At the temple dedication, 120,000 sheep and goats were sacrificed, along with 22,000 cattle. But the most amazing sight of all was when the glory of God descended upon the temple. „  When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. (1 Kings 8:10–11)

56

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Elijah Defeats the Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18:16–46

You’re having a conversation with a few friends, and suddenly the topic turns to religion. You feel that lump in your throat and a knot in your stomach. What do you do? Stand up for what you believe and risk alienating the others or stay quiet and feel as though you let God down? The prophet Elijah faced that question and answered it in a dramatic fashion. Ahab, who reigned from 874–853 BC was king of Israel at the time and encouraged the people to worship Baal and Asherah—Canaanite gods worshipped by his wife Jezebel. Elijah confronted Ahab and 450 prophets of the Canaanite god Baal and all of the people of Israel. He set before them a choice: worship Baal or worship Yahweh. No middle ground, no straddling the fence. He then set up an empirical test: he had a sacrificial altar set up with a bull for the offering, and issued this unforgettable challenge: “The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” (v. 24 NLT) The prophets of Baal worked themselves into a frenzy, dancing and even cutting themselves trying to convince their god to answer the challenge but to no avail. Elijah mocked them, their god, and their efforts, going so far as to suggest that perhaps Baal was away on a trip or asleep (v. 27). Then Elijah upped the ante. After drenching the wood and the bull with water, he called for God to send down fire on the altar—further mocking Baal and his worshippers, for Baal was believed to be the god of thunder, lightning, and storms. Fire from heaven came down, consuming the bull, the altar, and even the water! Elijah had supreme confidence in God and His ability to assert His supremacy over all others. „  So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. (1 Kings 18:20–21)

Big Event

|

57

Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem Nehemiah 1–6

In the spring of 445 BC, Nehemiah was the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes in Susa, the capital city of Persia, on the Persian Gulf. This was the period of Israel’s seventy-year exile predicted by many Old Testament prophets. Some of Nehemiah’s people—the people of Israel—returned home to Jerusalem. Ezra the scribe who wrote the book of Ezra returned at that point. Nehemiah’s brother, Hanani, came to Nehemiah with a report about Jerusalem and the state of their people. The city was in a sorry state of affairs. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon destroyed it back in 586 BC. In 458 BC, Samaritans and other enemies attacked it and burned the walls. Without the protection of the walls, the people were in danger from their enemies. Instead of wringing his hands, Nehemiah prayed first then asked the king for permission to travel to Jerusalem and begin repair work on the city, starting with the walls. Having been granted that permission, along with permission to cut timber for the rebuilding effort, he set to work. We might think such a proposal for urban renewal would meet with widespread local support. The actual response, however, was quite the opposite. The people in the surrounding area—Ammonites, Horonites, Arabs, and others—opposed the work from its inception and made life very difficult for Nehemiah and company. The Bible lists individuals like Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and the others who tried every way they dared to undermine the wall-building efforts. Workers took to having a weapon in one hand and a building tool in another. But by the grace of God and the perseverance of the workers, the wall repair project was completed in remarkably short time: fifty-two days. „ So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15–16 NLT)

58

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Esther Defeats Haman Esther 4–7

Have you ever been in the uncomfortable position of being the only person with biblical values and principles in your workplace, military unit, classroom, or even home? Whenever a situation arises that involves moral or ethical tension, you can feel isolated or even an outcast. Esther, whose given name was Hadassah, was a beautiful young woman who caught the eye of King Xerxes, a Persian king in the late fifth or early fourth century. After Xerxes’s wife Vashti disobeyed his command to appear before him at a banquet, Esther was chosen over many others to be queen. She decided, on the advice of her older cousin Mordecai, not to reveal her ethnicity to the king. Her heritage remained secret until a plot was developed to exterminate all the Jews in Persia. The originator of this plot was Haman, one of the king’s officials who wanted revenge against Mordecai for Mordecai’s refusal to pay homage to Haman even when ordered to do so by a royal decree. Xerxes made a decree allowing the genocide. Esther found herself in the difficult position of having either to go along with a royal decree that would result in genocide or to speak out against it to the king. Appearing before the king without being summoned was an offense punishable by death. What choice would you have made? Mordecai encouraged Esther to act on behalf of her people, regardless of the risks. He warned that even if she remained silent she wasn’t necessarily safe. Besides, he urged, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (4:14 NLT) Queen Esther stepped up, taking her life in her hands and intervening with the king on behalf of her people. By God’s grace, she saved her people. Because the proposed genocide was overturned, a new holiday was born—Purim. „ Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14 NLT)

Big Event

|

59

„ “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16–18 NLT)

60

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Daniel’s Friends Survive a Fiery Furnace Daniel 3

If you were given this choice—worship an idol or be put to death—what would you choose? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced this choice. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were among the captives taken from Israel when the army of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem in 605 BC. Like their friend Daniel, they were considered exceptional and were quickly grafted into the king’s court. Also like Daniel, however, they refused to compromise their beliefs. When Nebuchadnezzar commissioned the building of a ninety-foot tall golden statue, he also made a decree that the statue be worshipped whenever certain musical notes were played. Disobedience of this law earned a person a one-way trip to the fiery furnace. Often those in power make enemies. A group of astrologers were quick to denounce Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for their failure to worship the golden statue. A furious Nebuchadnezzar gave the three yet another chance to submit to the edict. Their refusal, quoted above, is one of the most stunning examples of faith in the Bible. Their answer stoked Nebuchadnezzar’s anger and pride. The three were thrown into the furnace. The flames were so hot, the people who placed them there were instantly killed. Yet Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego not only survived, but they had company in the furnace. Whether this was God or an angel sent from God, the Bible does not say. What it does say is that God proved Himself faithful to those who put their faith in Him.

Big Event

|

61

Daniel Is Thrown into the Lions’ Den Daniel 6

Have you ever been the victim of a plot to discredit you or force you out of your job? Ever been on the wrong side of an office power play? That’s what happened to Daniel in Daniel 6. Daniel was a God-fearing Jew serving as a high-ranking adviser to a succession of kings, starting with Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon in sixth century BC. Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and many of the people of Israel had been taken into captivity by the Babylonians. Throughout his years of captivity, Daniel saw the fall of the Babylonians and the rise of the combined kingdom of the Medes and Persians. In this chapter, Daniel was about eighty years old and was now among the advisers of Darius, the king of the Medes and the Persians. His excellence, however, led envious colleagues to conspire against him to discredit him. The only dirt they could dig up on him, however, was his habit of praying three times a day! They convinced Darius to set up a law against praying to anyone but the king. The laws of the Medes and the Persians could not be repealed. The punishment for this crime involved being lowered into a den of hungry lions. At this point, would you have stopped praying? Daniel didn’t. In fact, he prayed in a place where passersby could see him at prayer. His faithfulness led to his being thrown into the lions’ den. But God rewarded his faithfulness with a miracle: the lions never touched him. The same could not be said for the envious advisers on the following day when Daniel was discovered alive. While Darius changed his royal decree in favor of Daniel’s God, Daniel’s accusers and their families suffered the death they had plotted for Daniel. „ So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” (Daniel 6:16 NLT)

62

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Big Event

|

63

64

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jonah Is Swallowed by a Great Fish Jonah 1:1–2:10

Think of the person with whom you have the hardest time getting along. Now, imagine God tells you in no uncertain terms that you are to go tell that person to repent and turn to the Lord. How do you feel about it? Multiply that by about 120,000 and that’s how Jonah felt when God told him to go to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, and preach there. The Assyrians were a brutal people and enemies of Israel. In 722 BC, the Assyrians destroyed Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. For Jonah to go to tell them they needed to turn from their sins and to God was beyond his comprehension, or at least his willingness to obey. Instead of heading to Nineveh, Jonah took the first boat going in the opposite direction—to Tarshish. But he couldn’t outrun God or God’s commission. When a sudden squall threatened the safety of the ship and the sailors cast lots to see who was responsible for it, Jonah knew that he had been cornered. After the sailors threw him into the sea at his request, the storm ended. The Bible does not say that the fish sent to swallow Jonah was a whale. But we’re told that a fish big enough to swallow Jonah whole appeared on the scene. Jonah remained in the fish for three days and nights. Yet, even after his ordeal in the belly of the fish, Jonah was a reluctant servant. He preached the message of repentance as God had commanded, but he was hoping that it would fall on deaf ears. When his message led to mass conversion and revival, Jonah was highly distraught over it. Jonah’s book shows the Lord to be merciful and compassionate. Jesus later used Jonah’s experience to proclaim His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 12:39–40).

„ The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. (Jonah 1:1–3 NLT)

Big Event

|

65

Jesus Is Born Luke 2:1–20

Royal births are celebrated in various ways in different countries, different cultures: „ A twenty-onecannon salute (Morocco)

„ Elaborate rituals (India)

„ Intricate naming ceremonies (Japan)

„ Car horns blaring; champagne corks popping (England) You would expect something amazing to happen at the birth of the Son of God. Yet this event took place under far humbler circumstances. He was born to an ordinary Jewish couple. Joseph and Mary, or Yosef and Miriam as they would have been known in Nazareth, were neither wealthy nor prestigious. We don’t know a lot about them. Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55), a descendant of King David (Luke 1:27), but his family heritage did not entitle him to any real advantages or privileges. Mary would have been a teenager, perhaps a young one at the time of her engagement. They traveled to Bethlehem because Caesar Augustus had ordered a census update (Luke 2:1–3). Bethlehem was even smaller than Nazareth, just a small village on the road into Jerusalem. Its population at the time of Jesus’ birth was from three hundred to perhaps one thousand. Its only real notoriety was that it was the hometown of a young shepherd named David, who had grown up to be the greatest king in Israel’s history. Because the lone “inn” was full, Jesus was born in a stable. A “manger,” for all its sentimental overtones, is just an animal feeding trough—an unusual place for any newborn, much less this one, to spend his first night outside his mother’s womb. Jesus’ first visitors weren’t local or foreign dignitaries or even family members, but shepherds. Shepherds weren’t held in any higher esteem then than now, and the ones who turned up at the stable that night would not have been mistaken for royalty. Yes, there were angels, wise men (see article “The Wise Men Follow a Star” on page 68), and a star that shined overhead, but Jesus’ birth was not accompanied by any of the normal trappings of a royal birth. Yet the birth of Jesus had, and has, far greater significance than all the other royal births in history put together. 66

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. . . . Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:7, 9–11 NLT)

Big Event

|

67

The Wise Men Follow a Star Matthew 2:1–12

You’ve heard that three wise men, kings from the East, followed a star to the manger the night Jesus was born, right? Contrary to the old Christmas carol, “We Three Kings,” the wise men (Matthew 2:1–12) were not kings, and we don’t know how many there were. Legend says these “kings” were three, and their names were Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior, but the Bible doesn’t say any of that. The word magoi, translated “wise men,” comes from the same root from which we get magic and magician. Scholars believe these men were industrious, courageous, truth-seeking pagans, who were skilled astronomers and members of a priestly caste from Persia (present-day Iran). The Bible doesn’t say they came to visit the baby Jesus at the stable the night He was born. They came later, as much as two years later: “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary” (Matthew 2:11 NLT). Note that Jesus and Mary were in a house, rather than a “stable,” and Jesus was a “child,” not a “baby.” Verse 11 NLT also says “they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Their gifts are significant: „ Gold. A gift offered to royalty. As the Son of David, Jesus was born King of the Jews. „ Incense. As befits Jesus’ status as the Son of God. Incense is a biblical symbol for prayer.

„ Myrrh. A gift for His humanity. Myrrh is a spice used to prepare a body for burial. The wise men weren’t the only ones for whom the Incarnation of the Son of God was costly. Later in Matthew 2 we’re told that Herod decreed that all baby boys up to two years of age were to be put to death. This genocide was predicted in Jeremiah 31, from which the Gospel writer, Matthew quotes. „ After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9–11 NLT)

68

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Big Event

|

69

John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness John 1:19–28

If you heard that an angel announced the upcoming birth of someone, what would you think? That this person would grow up to do great things? After all, the angel Gabriel was sent to announce the birth of the Savior (Luke 1:16). An “angel of the LORD” (Judges 13:3) announced the birth of Samson, though he failed to live up to his potential. John’s birth also had been announced by Gabriel to John’s father, Zechariah (Luke 1:5–20). But instead of growing up to perform feats of wonder, John’s mission in life was to prepare the way for the Savior, who was also a close relative. John was the Elijah-like forerunner whose coming was predicted by the last of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi. John lived in the wilderness and ate locusts and honey. He didn’t sugarcoat his message of repentance. Instead, he boldly proclaimed it and baptized those who repented. The Pharisees saw some things in John that made them want to ask if he was indeed that man. “He came right out and said, ‘I am not the Messiah’” (v. 20 NLT). Such directness was characteristic of John. He understood that his life was not about him, but about Jesus: “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less” (John 3:30 NLT).

„  Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” (John 1:24–27 NLT)

70

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead John 11:1–44

Jesus was known for his amazing compassion. So when some of His closest friends, Mary and Martha, asked him to come and heal their gravely ill brother Lazarus, they expected Him to head over immediately. Imagine how Mary and Martha felt, however, when Jesus delayed His arrival until after Lazarus died. We aren’t told why Jesus delayed going back to Bethany for two more days after hearing the news of His friend’s illness and then death. But four days after Lazarus’s interment, Jesus arrived. Martha’s reproachful cry, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v. 21 NLT) was answered, not with an excuse by Jesus but with the promise quoted above. He had more than just healing in mind as He proved shortly afterward. Even while his tears expressed His grief, Jesus called for the stone in front of the tomb to be removed. Ignoring the remarks of practical-minded Martha who reminded Him of the probable smell of decay, Jesus prayed, then spoke one command: “Lazarus, come out!” The once dead Lazarus obeyed the command. This miracle marked a turning point in Jesus’ ministry. From this point on, the Pharisees sought to kill Him. But it proved once and for all that nothing was beyond Jesus. And it foreshadowed an event that would further change everything: His own resurrection. „ Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (John 11:25–26 NLT)

Big Event

|

71

Jesus Enters Jerusalem John 12:12–19

How would you expect a king to enter a city? You might expect public fanfare, perhaps a ticker tape parade and a motorcade many blocks long. The prophet Zechariah proclaimed that the Messiah—the long-awaited King in the family line of David—would enter the city riding on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9-11). Zechariah’s words came true as Jesus prepared to enter Jerusalem. For most of His public ministry, Jesus avoided calling attention to Himself—what theologians call the messianic secret. He even told His closest friends (and sometimes His enemies) over and over to not give away who He was or the nature of His mission. Now He called attention to Himself. No more riddles, parables, veiling Himself, no more secret. On a donkey’s colt he rode into town. The large crowd was really a convergence of the two crowds: the ones from Bethany who had seen or heard about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead; and pilgrims flocking to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. They strew palm branches and cloaks at His feet and cried out “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!” Palms were a national symbol for the old covenant nation of Israel. The King had come. But the King had come for one purpose: to die for the very people who would later trade the cry of “Praise God!” for “Crucify Him!”

„ Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:14–15 NLT)

72

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jesus Has the Last Supper with His Disciples Luke 22:7–20

Passover is one of the oldest and most revered of all Jewish traditions, dating back to over fourteen hundred years before Jesus was born. Every Jew knows the Passover seder ritual by heart. Jesus’ disciples were no exceptions. Jesus wanted to celebrate the Passover with His disciples, knowing that He was going to die soon. So when Jesus deviated from the traditional order, it must have been shocking to them all. That is most decidedly not how that meal had been celebrated up till then. The first Passover, the one observed in Egypt the night the Lord passed over the land and slew all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, was ushered in with the sprinkling of the blood of an unblemished lamb (Exodus 12). Now Jesus had changed things radically, calling for a new covenant, one that would be ushered in by the shedding of His blood. It would be hard to think of a more radical departure from a more well-known observance. But radical it had to be, as it signaled the culmination of the older covenant and the inauguration of the new. Every time Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we remember the night an ancient tradition was observed in an upper room in Jerusalem, and the night everything changed.

„ He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” (Luke 22:19–20 NLT)

Big Event

|

73

74

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jesus Is Crucified Luke 23:26–49

In the place known as Golgotha outside of the city of Jerusalem, history was made and Old Testament prophecies fulfilled. All because one man gasped his last breath. That man was Jesus. Crucifixion, a Roman method of execution, was one of the most brutal forms of death. A criminal was staked to a wooden pole and left to suffocate to death. After being arrested on trumped-up charges and whipped within an inch of His life, Jesus stumbled under the weight of the cross beam He was forced to bear. Another man—Simon of Cyrene had to carry it for Him. At Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, Jesus was nailed to a cross and left to die between two criminals. When a jeering crowd had gathered to see their will done, Jesus offered forgiveness. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (v. 34 NLT). Even one of the criminals next to Him mocked Him, demanding that He save Himself if He had the power. But the other believed that Jesus was all that He claimed to be and asked for a place in Jesus’ kingdom in paradise. Darkness fell over the land, the sun eclipsed by the event taking place. The curtain in the temple separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place tore in two. At that moment, Jesus cried, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” (v. 46 NLT). He had done what He came to do. Die. „ By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44–46 NLT)

Big Event

|

75

Jesus Is Raised from the Dead Matthew 28:1–15

What are the most significant events of history? If you take a poll, some people might list the signing of the Declaration of Independence, man’s first step on the moon, or the birth of atomic energy. Some might even go so far as to say the birth of Jesus. But the most significant event took place on a Sunday morning in a graveyard. But that Sunday morning was anything but typical. Some of the women who had followed Jesus—Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Cleopas—went to the tomb of Jesus to prepare His body. Since He died on a Friday—the day before the Sabbath—and was buried immediately in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, they didn’t have the opportunity to anoint His body for burial. So they brought the spices and perfumes they had prepared. But God had other plans for them. Many of the significant events of Jesus’ life were punctuated with the appearance of an angel or angels. Just as the women arrived, an earthquake hit and an angel appeared. Before the amazed women could react, the angel rolled back the stone sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers. The sound of that stone rolling back was the most significant sound ever heard, because it came with the gladdest tidings of all time: Jesus was alive. The power of sin was forever broken. While the guards stood there terrified, the women could only rejoice. Before they could run and tell everyone, Jesus stood before them in proof of the angel’s announcement. And soon His disciples could see for themselves the most amazing event in history. Life would never be the same again. „ Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” (Matthew 28:5–6 NLT)

76

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jesus Ascends to Heaven Acts 1:6–11

Good-byes are hard, aren’t they? When you know you won’t see that person again, saying good-bye is even more painful. That’s how the apostles felt on the day of Jesus’ ascension. Just forty days after the resurrection, Jesus gathered them together on the Mount of Olives. There they received a wonderful promise: the Holy Spirit Himself would come upon them and empower them. They would need that power for the task Jesus now gave them: to spread the good news about Jesus all over the world, beginning right there in Jerusalem. That empowering would occur very shortly, at the annual Festival of Pentecost (Acts 2). They received one more wonderful promise, although not from Jesus Himself. As they stood watching Jesus ascend from earth to heaven, they must have felt great sadness. They already thought they had lost Him once, only to see Him again a short time later. What would happen this time? This time the answer came not from Jesus, but from two angels: Jesus would return someday the same way He left. They would not know when but could be certain that He would keep this promise. „ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. (Acts 1:9 NLT)

Big Event

|

77

The Holy Spirit Comes Acts 2

Before Jesus' departure He promised His followers a companion: the Holy Spirit. That promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Passover, when Jesus was crucified. Pentecost was one of the three great annual Jewish feasts. Jews from many different nations gathered in Jerusalem for this great event. All of a sudden all heard a sound like the wind. You can imagine their surprise when, expecting to hear only Hebrew, they began hearing the message of Jesus in their own languages, spoken by men who had what looked like flames over their heads! The Holy Spirit came upon these believers in a special way that day, enabling them to dramatically expand the church from a small handful of Galilean Jews to a much larger group of Jews of many, many nationalities. The Holy Spirit had always been there into eternity past. In Old Testament times, He came upon His people in certain ways at specific times. Now under the new covenant inaugurated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Spirit came upon His people in a special, permanent way beginning at Pentecost. „ On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. (Acts 2:1–4 NLT)

78

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus Acts 9:1–22

Imagine you have spent your whole life zealously following a way of life and suddenly find out you were radically mistaken. You would be rattled to the very core of your being. That’s what happened to Saul of Tarsus as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Saul was an ardent follower of the law of Moses and persecutor of those who belonged to the Way—the followers of Jesus, whom he considered to be a false messiah. He had been present at the murder of the first Christian martyr, Stephen (Acts 7). But the risen Jesus intercepted Saul in a dramatic way and changed his plans and his life. A bright light surrounded Saul. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice calling his name. The speaker identified himself as the risen Jesus and explained that Saul’s persecution of his followers was the same as persecuting him. But Jesus had a new task for Saul—one he would reveal once Saul reached Damascus. It’s interesting that Saul, who had been blind to the truth of Jesus, was now struck with blindness and had to be led by the hand into Damascus. He did not eat or drink for three days. We can scarcely imagine the trauma he must have undergone—this proud, self-reliant religious leader, now totally at the mercy of others. Now imagine you were sent to talk to the very person who had authorized the persecution of your fellow believers. Ananias, a follower of Jesus, who had also heard from his risen Savior, was dispatched to talk to Saul. But instead of a proud Pharisee, he found a humble follower of Jesus. He placed his hands on Saul and with the power of God restored his sight. Stunned by grace: that was Saul’s experience. He never got over his sense of wonder at what happened to him. Because of Saul, who would later become known as Paul, the world has never been the same either. „ As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3–6 NLT)

Big Event

|

79

80

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Favorite Folks C

onsider your favorite stories—the ones you might have grown up hearing and loving. The Bible is a collection of stories about ordinary people who served an extraordinary God. Of all the people who can be found in the pages of the Bible, who are your favorites? What follows are profiles of well-known Bible characters—warts and all. As you read the stories, you’ll see how God worked through imperfect people to bring about His perfect plan: to end the curse of sin.

„

Abraham: Friend of God If you’ve ever moved across town or country, you know how physically taxing moving can be. Now imagine moving not just across the country, but to a foreign country where you don’t know anyone at all. This was God’s call on Abraham’s life, and whatever mixed emotions he may have been feeling inside, Abraham (who was then known as Abram) obeyed nonetheless, moving the six hundred to eight hundred miles from Ur of the Chaldeans to Canaan. There was no shiny new house when they arrived either. In fact, they walked right into a famine, which forced them to continue down into Egypt in the search for food. So what would prompt Abraham to undertake such a move? Look at God’s unconditional promise above. This promise was all the more amazing since Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were not able to have children. Also, when they arrived in Canaan, they discovered other people already living there. „ The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1–3 NLT)

82

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Despite being a foreigner among a foreign people, God blessed Abraham with astonishing wealth and, when appropriate, military success over local enemies. He also was known as the first of the patriarchs (the fathers of the Jewish people) and a man of incredible faith in God, even when asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. In response to Abraham’s faith, the angel of the Lord told him, “I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12 NLT). Best of all, he was also known as the friend of God. “‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God” (James 2:23 NLT). God informed His friend of what He planned to do to Sodom and Gomorrah and listened while Abraham pleaded for the family of his nephew Lot. In the New Testament, Matthew opens his Gospel like this: “This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1 NLT). This was both a testament to God’s faithful fulfillment of the covenant promise to “bless” the world through Abraham and a reminder of Abraham’s faithfulness as the vessel through which these promises were fulfilled.

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

83

84

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Adam and Eve: First People, First Sin We all carry around feelings of guilt for things we have said or done wrong; moments we wish we could have back or do over again. Now imagine being Adam and Eve, the very first people ever to live and breathe and enjoy God’s perfect creation. How amazing that must have been! Yet, because of their sin, they lost everything, leaving behind a bitter legacy of pain, suffering, struggle and death. That’s quite a burden to bear. Adam was formed from the dust of the earth and given life when God breathed into him. Eve was made from one of Adam’s ribs, created when God saw that it was “not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18 NLT). There was only one rule to living in the garden of Eden—they could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or else they would die. Adam and Eve had the best of everything. They had close communion with the Lord, a beautiful garden to work and live in, amazing animals at their beck and call, and tasty food to eat. However, Satan came along in the form of a snake and tempted Eve with a lie. He made her doubt God’s love for her and made her desire to be like God. First Eve then Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. The impact was felt almost immediately. Through their sin the whole earth was cursed. Aside from being forced out of the garden of Eden, God’s punishment on Adam was that he would have to work hard for the rest of his life. Whereas in Eden this had been a gift and a joy, from now on it would be a laborious struggle. Eve would have pain in childbirth and be ruled by her husband. Finally, as God had warned them, Adam and Eve would die, physically and spiritually. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, God gave them a glimmer of hope: someday another person would be born. That person—the Messiah—would undo the evil brought into the world by their sin. „ When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:8–12 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

85

Barnabas: More Than a Sidekick Although some heroes or heroines work alone, many work with an associate also known as a sidekick. Think of Batman and Robin. While heroes and heroines often get the lion's share of the glory, some of the applause is due to their trustworthy companions. Though Paul is the name everyone associates with the spread of the early church, Paul accomplished much of that work with the help of his close friend Barnabas. Barnabas’s real name was Joseph, but he was renamed Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement” by the apostles. When we first hear about Barnabas, it’s because of his generosity. He sold a field and donated the money to the disciples. His next appearance was in Jerusalem, bravely vouching for Paul before some unsurprisingly suspicious apostles who doubted the sincerity of Paul’s conversion from persecutor to apostle. Barnabas was clearly someone the apostles trusted. Apparently it was because of his work in Antioch that “many people were brought to the Lord.” Barnabas was almost always with Paul. Throughout the book of Acts, Luke constantly referred to “Barnabas and Saul” or “Paul and Barnabas.” Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles, worked miracles, and defended their faith before the Jewish leaders. They were a great team, only parting ways when a dispute arose over whether John Mark should accompany them on their second missionary journey. As a result, Paul took Silas and went one way while Barnabas took John Mark and went another. Ultimately they were able to spread the good news of Jesus’ message to more places by going their separate ways. „ Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) (Acts 11:24–26 NLT)

86

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Caleb: The Faithful Spy For Caleb, getting out of Egypt was the easy part. However, convincing his friends and countrymen that they really could enter the promised land of Canaan was almost the death of him. Caleb was clearly a warrior. Obedient to God and Moses, he was eager to get into the land they had been promised by God. When the people of Israel arrived at Kadesh-barnea, right on the border of Canaan, Caleb was one of twelve handpicked spies sent to look over the land. Upon their return, ten of the spies gave such a negative report that the people became overwhelmed with fear and wanted to turn back instead of entering the land. Caleb and Joshua, however, tried to persuade them to be obedient to God. Sadly, the people still did not listen and instead threatened to stone them! So God declared that only their children and Caleb and Joshua would enter Canaan. The rest would die in the wilderness. Caleb in particular was singled out by God for his obedience. Yet, like Joshua, he had to wander in the desert for another forty years. By the time Canaan was conquered and the land distributed, Caleb was eighty-five years old. Yet he was still willing to drive his enemies out of that land. He was confident, not in his ability, but in God’s ability to help him take the land.

„ Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the LORD said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the LORD, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God. So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.’” (Joshua 14:6–9 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

87

Daniel: Man of Prayer It’s one thing to have to move across town, or maybe to a different state. It’s another thing entirely to be taken away against your will and forced to live in a foreign country under the authority of the king whose army conquered your nation—a king whose way of life is completely different from yours. Daniel was just a young man when he was forcibly removed from his home in Jerusalem in 605 BC, and although he could have become bitter and resentful during his exile in Babylon, he remained faithful and obedient to God, whatever the cost. Daniel was one of many bright, young, talented men specifically selected from the Jerusalem elite to be trained for service to King Nebuchadnezzar. However, he seemed to have been a leader among this small band of exiles. From the moment they arrived and were encouraged to eat and drink the rich food of the king’s court, Daniel, now renamed Belteshazzar, encouraged them to refuse this opulent diet. Instead, he negotiated a special deal with the chief of staff. Daniel became renowned for his ability to interpret dreams and was frequently called upon to provide advice and guidance to the various kings who assumed power during the forty-five years Daniel resided in Babylon. Daniel was a man of great influence who served in the administrations of King Belteshazzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus. Not only was he a prophet, but he was known for his gift of interpreting dreams and mysterious messages (see “Weighed in the balances and found wanting” on page 200) as well as for his faithful intercession. This intercession gained him the notice of jealous colleagues and earned him a trip to the lions’ den. (See also “Daniel Is Thrown into the Lions’ Den” on page 62.) But to God, Daniel was “very precious.” Daniel is known for the prophetic book that bears his name. While many of his prophecies have already come to pass, many are predictions of endtimes events yet to come. „ I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.” (Daniel 9:20–23 NLT)

88

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

89

David: A Man after God’s Own Heart Imagine being known as a person “after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). You would think that a person with that description would be a model of perfection. David was anything but perfect. Sure he was a mighty warrior, Israel’s greatest king, a passionate worshipper, faithful servant, and gifted psalm writer. Yet he also lied, committed adultery, and tried to cover up his crime by having the husband of his lover put to death. Still, Matthew in his Gospel referred to Jesus as “a descendant of David and of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1 NLT). David’s life began in a rather ordinary way. Born in Bethlehem, the youngest son of a man named Jesse, David had seven brothers. Yet when God wanted a king to replace a disobedient Saul, God shocked the prophet Samuel by choosing the shepherd David instead of his older, handsomer brothers. And David’s faith in God propelled him into battle against the Philistines, where he defeated the giant Goliath with his shepherd’s slingshot. King Saul resented David’s popularity and tried to kill him on numerous occasions, but David honored Saul as best he could and refused any and all opportunities to take the throne by force.

90

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

After Saul died, David assumed the throne and set up residence in Jerusalem, bringing the ark of the covenant with him. Although David enjoyed military success, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, an event he tried to cover up by arranging the death of her husband, Uriah. Called to repentance by the prophet Nathan, David poured out his heart to God. Terrible behavior from his children overshadowed the rest of David’s reign, including a coup led by his own son Absalom. Yet for all his faults, David pointed the way forward to the time when a perfect king would come from Bethlehem—Jesus the Messiah. „ When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the LORD’s anointed!” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” . . . So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16:6–7, 12–13 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

91

Deborah: Warrior Prophet The story of Deborah stands out at a time when women were considered second-class citizens. Deborah’s story, in fact, involves two women—Deborah and Jael—who helped the people of Israel achieve a stunning defeat over their enemies. The Bible refers to Deborah as both a prophet and a judge. A judge was someone who functioned as a leader for the people in the time before they had kings. A woman of strength and devotion to God, Deborah settled serious disputes between Israelites and spoke God’s words to His people. At this point, the people of Israel were oppressed by the Canannites, the army of which was led by Sisera. One day, God sent Deborah a message for a man named Barak. Deborah told Barak that God wanted him to assemble ten thousand warriors to fight against Sisera’s forces. God guaranteed Barak the victory. Barak, however, refused to go into battle unless Deborah accompanied him. Because of Barak’s lack of faith, he would receive no honor for the victory. Indeed, after the bulk of the fighting was over and the Canaanite commander Sisera fled on foot, Jael lured Sisera into her tent. Exhausted from the battle, he fell asleep, and Jael hammered a tent peg through his head, killing him. The next morning, Deborah and Barak composed a beautiful song about the defeat of Sisera. The song explains that God gave them victory by flooding the Kishon River so that it swept the army away. The Bible states, “Then there was peace in the land for forty years” (Judges 5:31 NLT). Peace in the days of Judges was a sign from the Lord of blessing that stemmed from obedience. Deborah led with boldness and faith, consistently giving the glory and praise to God. „ Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.” Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” (Judges 4:4–9 NLT)

92

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Elijah: Israel’s Greatest Prophet Imagine being surrounded by a people and a culture that utterly rejects everything you believe. Furthermore, imagine the most powerful person in your country trying to kill you—even sending troops to hunt you down. This is Elijah’s story. Thanks to King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, the people of Israel were torn between the worship of God and the worship of Baal and Asherah—two Canaanite gods. Elijah predicted that because the people had broken the law of Moses, a three-year drought was coming. Such an event was catastrophic for a land that needed every last drop of water to survive. God provided for Elijah, however, sending him to a brook and feeding him via ravens bringing bread and meat. After the brook dried up, Elijah was then sent to a widow who was using the last of her flour and oil to make her final loaf of bread. Elijah asked for bread, and she shared her last meal with him. In another miracle, the flour and oil did not run out until the rains returned. Later Elijah prayed and God brought her son back to life. Elijah’s biggest moment happened on Mount Carmel, where he demanded that the people either worship God or worship Baal. Elijah instructed the worshippers of Baal to build an altar of wood and sacrifice a bull to their god, calling on him to send fire from heaven for the sacrifice. They called out, but nothing happened. Elijah then built an altar of stone with wood on top and poured twelve large jars of water over it. The moment Elijah prayed to God, the sacrifice, stones, and all the water were consumed by fire from heaven. Even after this awesome display of God’s power, the people, King Ahab, and Queen Jezebel refused to turn their hearts toward the Lord. Instead, Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life. The discouraged prophet fled to Mount Sinai. On the way he was once again sustained by angels and eventually heard a message from God in the form of a whisper. Elijah is one of two people in the Bible (Enoch being the other—Genesis 5:24) who was taken to heaven without dying first. Instead, at the end of his life and ministry, he was simply carried to heaven by a whirlwind in a chariot of fire.

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

93

„ At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD—he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!” (1 Kings 18:36–39 NLT)

94

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Elisha: The Man of God Picture this—one day you’re minding your own business, doing a little yard work. The next thing you know, a prophet walks by and announces that you’ve been chosen as God’s anointed spokesperson to the people. How would you respond? Elisha was just an ordinary man. But one day, while plowing his fields, the mighty prophet Elijah walked past and announced Elisha as his successor. Elisha’s response was immediate—he sacrificed his oxen, burned his plows, bid his family farewell, and followed Elijah. Whereas some prophets, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, are remembered for their beautiful writing, Elisha’s ministry was symbolized by a combination of amazing miracles and divinely inspired wisdom and guidance. Elisha’s ministry began after Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Needing to cross over into Jericho, Elisha touched the Jordan River with his cloak, and the river divided for him, similar to when Joshua and the people of Israel entered the Promised Land and when Moses and the people crossed the Red Sea before that. Indeed, this event solidified his role as chief of the prophets in the country. Elisha then purified and healed the soil around Jericho, enabling crops to flourish once again. Elisha encouraged the kings in battle against the Moabites, assuring them of victory and securing his position as adviser to kings. Elisha then blessed a poor widow with jars and bowls of oil that kept replenishing until she had enough to pay off all her debts. For another woman from Shunem, barren for many years, Elisha spoke God’s blessing into her life and she received a son. When that son later became deathly sick, Elisha prayed, and God raised him back to life. Elisha also healed a powerful commander of the Aramean army, a man called Naaman, who was suffering from leprosy. Elisha exerted a powerful influence over the people of Israel during a time of many external threats. He anointed kings and rebuked enemies of God, remaining faithful and absolutely obedient to God throughout his long life and ministry.

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k  | 9 5

„ When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” . . . Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. (2 Kings 2:9–10, 13–14)

96

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

96

Elizabeth: Joyful Mom Most women facing the sunset of their years don’t think about changing diapers for the first time. But having been infertile for many years, Elizabeth learned to her joy that she would have a son. That son would grow up to be John the Baptist. Elizabeth and her priest husband, Zechariah, “were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations” (Luke 1:6 NLT). In a time and place where children were everything, the shame of being childless must have been great. Yet one day while Zechariah was serving in the temple, an angel appeared to him and promised, not only that they would have a baby, but that their son would play an instrumental role in preparing the way for the Messiah. Despite Zechariah’s doubts to the contrary, Elizabeth indeed became pregnant, and praised God. During this time, Elizabeth’s relative, Mary, now pregnant with Jesus, came to visit her, sparking praise from Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s story may be short and her role small, but her faithful obedience to God shines through as an example for all to follow. „ A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.” (Luke 1:39–45 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

97

Esther: Courageous Queen Esther’s story begins like a fairy tale: a young and beautiful Jewish girl is singled out from many others to be the queen of Persia. But the story ends with a decision that Cinderella never had to make. Would she risk her own life to save her people? Or would she turn away in fear and let them die? This particular story does end happily ever after, as Esther successfully saves the Jews from destruction. In Esther’s day, Persia was one of the most powerful empires in the world and was ruled by King Xerxes. One day, after a particularly long and elaborate banquet, King Xerxes was half drunk with wine and ordered his wife, Queen Vashti, to parade herself before him and his officials. After she refused to come, Xerxes banished her. Then his officials scoured the kingdom for young women to replace her. Esther, who was raised by Mordecai, a relative, was chosen. During this time Mordecai displeased Haman, the second in command of the kingdom, by refusing to bow down to Haman. As a result, Haman convinced the king to issue a decree stating that all Jews be killed. What would Esther do? She was the only hope the people had of reaching the king and having the decree reversed. But anyone who came before the king without a summons could be sentenced to death. Moreover, Esther was a Jew, a fact she had been careful to hide this entire time. Despite the danger, Esther courageously appeared before the king and asked him to protect her people from the decree. She was willing to sacrifice her life. Ultimately, Haman’s plan backfired, and he was hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. As a result of Esther’s quick thinking, a new holiday was born: Purim. „  Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. (Esther 4:13–17 NLT)

98

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Ezekiel: God´s Visionary Nobody likes to be the bearer of bad news. It’s even worse when the news involves the judgment of God on your country and the imminent destruction of your capital city and subsequent deportation of an entire population into exile. Such was Ezekiel’s life as a prophet of God around 600 BC. Born into a family of priests, Ezekiel had a dangerous job because he was called to warn the people of God’s judgment just as a watchman would warn a city of trouble coming against it. Ezekiel’s ministry was unique in that God used very concrete, visual demonstrations of His coming judgment. Ezekiel ate a scroll that tasted as sweet as honey and then went to the Israelites to tell them what the scroll said. He shut himself in his house, where the Lord bound him with ropes, and he only spoke when God told him to speak. He used a brick and an iron griddle to demonstrate a siege that was coming against Jerusalem. To depict the many years of Israel’s and Judah’s sins, Ezekiel lay on his left side for 390 days and then his right side for 40 days. He shaved his head and beard using a sword, weighing the hair and separating it into three parts. Each part represented the people: one third would die from famine and disease, one-third would be killed by enemy forces, and one-third would be scattered among other nations. One of the hardest demonstrations of God’s judgment of Israel was when God told Ezekiel that his wife would die but that he was not to mourn in public. This was a devastating visual example of what God would do to Israel. He would take their greatest treasure from them, the temple, and many people would die. Ezekiel’s visions are among the most amazing in the Bible. Through the Holy Spirit, he saw the glory of the Lord depart and return to the temple. „ “Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. (Ezekiel 2:1–3 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

99

Ezra: God’s Man in Troubled Times Sometimes the most exciting moments in life can also be the most intimidating. Ezra was probably wrestling with those emotions and more as he thought about what lay ahead. Ezra’s mission was almost overwhelming in scope. Following a call from God and a commission of the king of Babylon, he was to go to Jerusalem, the city of his fathers, and restore worship to the newly rebuilt temple. Although Ezra was a descendant of Aaron and a trained scribe, Ezra had lived in Babylon his whole life. He had no doubt heard many stories about Jerusalem during the glory days of King David and King Solomon, but he had never been there himself, never seen the temple, and had no clear models to follow, except for whatever forms of localized worship took place among the exiles in Babylon. Yet despite all this, Ezra moved forward boldly and decisively, setting out for Jerusalem, determined to do whatever he could to teach the people about God’s law. Although the rebuilt temple had been in place in Jerusalem for almost fifty years, by the time Ezra arrived the people were in spiritual disarray, due to unlawful marriages with people of other nations. Ezra’s first act as the spiritual leader of the people was to put an end to this practice, protecting the people from the dangerous influence of paganism. Later, after Nehemiah rebuilt the protective wall around the city, Ezra would also lead the people in an act of covenant renewal, reading from the Law and directing the people in their celebration of the Feast of Booths. As Nehemiah provided military and administrative leadership, Ezra provided spiritual leadership, helping the people to reestablish themselves firmly back in the Promised Land.

„ At the time of the sacrifice, I stood up from where I had sat in mourning with my clothes torn. I fell to my knees and lifted my hands to the LORD my God. I prayed, “O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens." (Ezra 9:5–6 NLT)

100

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Gideon: A Reluctant Hero Has fear ever kept you from doing what you knew was right? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. During a time when Israel suffered under the oppression of various enemy nations, Gideon’s story begins with him hiding in a winepress, attempting to thresh wheat in what was basically a hole in the ground. The man who would later triumph so decisively over the enemies of Israel now cowered in a corner when an angel of the Lord came and called him to lead the people into battle. Despite the angel’s presence, Gideon was not convinced. The angel patiently performed a miracle, burning up Gideon’s sacrifice and demanding that Gideon in turn tear down his father’s altar to Baal and Asherah pole. Gideon, fearful of the reaction this would have among his family, could only bring himself to do this secretly at night. Despite the fact that Gideon was able to muster thirty-two thousand troops to battle the Midianites, once again his doubts and fears got the best of him and he turned to God asking for a sign. This sign would forever be known as “putting out a fleece.” If a fleece Gideon set out on a threshing floor that night turned out wet with dew while the ground was completely dry, Gideon would believe that God was sending him. God patiently answered this prayer, and still another request for a sign the following night (make the ground wet and the fleece dry), before Gideon was finally convinced that God was with them. Perhaps to emphasize that victory comes from God and not our own confidence or abilities, God winnowed Gideon’s army down to a mere three hundred men. Despite his continued doubts, Gideon and this small band of troops completely destroyed the Midianite army and killed their kings, assuring a time of peace for Israel as a result. Sadly, Gideon later led the people into idolatry, but overall he is still remembered for his faithfulness to God. „ “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” (Judges 6:13–15 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

101

Hannah: The Desperate Pray-er In a time when having a child meant everything to a woman, Hannah’s infertility probably seemed like a curse. What made this pain almost unbearable was the constant taunting and teasing of her husband’s other wife, Peninnah. Year after year Hannah endured the mocking and laughter of the fertile Peninnah while she herself remained barren. During their annual trip to worship at Shiloh, Hannah was reduced to tears and could barely eat. Nothing Elkanah said could comfort her. In a moment of desperation, Hannah went to pray near the tabernacle, imploring God to give her a son, and promising that if God provided, she would dedicate this boy to the Lord for his entire life. As she prayed, pouring out her heart to God amid tears of sorrow, the priest Eli saw her. Because he couldn’t hear her voice, he initially assumed she was drunk and rebuked her for approaching God in such a manner. After she explained the situation, Eli’s manner changed toward her. Hannah’s prayers were answered and, bearing a son, she named him Samuel. She kept her promise to God and delivered her son to the tabernacle at Shiloh. Upon leaving him, Hannah offered a beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving to God, for although she was about to say good-bye to her son, she worshipped the Lord for His gracious answer to her prayers and for His sovereign power over all things.

„ As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” (1 Samuel 1:12–16 NLT)

102

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Isaac: The Promised Son Imagine being the favorite child of aged parents and hearing frequently that God has a plan that He is going to work out through you. And yet now, here you are, trudging up a mountainside carrying the wood and materials needed for a sacrifice. Except this time there is no animal with you. Instead of a bleating sheep or a small calf, your father carries nothing but a deep frown and a look of grim determination that makes your heart sink. As you draw near the appointed place, the pieces begin to fall together, and you realize that the sacrifice is going to be you. Although Isaac’s name meant something like “laughter,” a reference to everyone’s response to God’s promise that the ninety-year-old Sarah would bear a son, there was nothing but sadness filling his heart at this moment. God’s covenant with Abraham was supposed to pass down through Isaac and his children. Yet it did not seem possible or likely given the situation at hand. Just as the knife was about to fall, God sent an angel and a special word to Abraham, telling him to stop. God then provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac’s life, rescuing him from death. Abraham passed the test. Isaac’s life was spared, and God remained faithful to His covenant. When the time was right for marriage, Abraham sent his servant to Haran, where he met Rebekah, who became Isaac’s wife. Although she, like her mother-in-law, remained barren for many years, eventually she gave birth to twins, Jacob and Esau. As the children grew up, it became clear that Esau was Isaac’s favorite son, while Jacob was Rebekah’s favorite son. However, when the time came for the blessing, Jacob tricked his old and nearly blind father into giving him the blessing instead of his brother, causing a wound in the family that would take years to heal. „ The LORD kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. And Abraham named their son Isaac. (Genesis 21:1–3 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

103

Isaiah: A Handpicked Prophet What if your whole life was devoted to speaking on behalf of someone else? Would you be willing to give up any rights to personal recognition in order to see someone else’s agenda be furthered? More than a mere press secretary for God, a prophet was charged with speaking the very words of God to His people, whether they wanted to hear them or not. Although we can infer a fair amount about Isaiah’s personality from the book that bears his name, ultimately he was far more concerned that people know the person of God. His primary mission in life was to point people back to God and encourage faithful obedience to God. Isaiah’s writings are almost exclusively directed toward God, revealing an incredibly deep-seated passion for God’s glory to be elevated above his own personal experiences. Isaiah, who was married with two children, served as a prophet in Jerusalem for about fifty years under at least four different kings. This was a time of immense political upheaval and uncertainty, both locally and internationally. Facing threats and enemies on all sides, there were massive temptations to trust in visible military might and strength over the largely invisible power and authority of God. Isaiah’s message was always the same—that God alone saves. Perhaps in large measure his constancy stemmed from the vision of God he had as a young man. This brief personal recollection gives us a glimpse of Isaiah’s humble obedience before God and his willingness to go and do and say whatever God commanded. While many kings and leaders ignored his advice, Isaiah is remembered as the greatest prophet in the Old Testament, a man of both phenomenal literary talent and astonishing faith in God. Jesus often quoted from Isaiah’s prophetic book. And no wonder. The book of Isaiah contains some of the most memorable prophecies of the Messiah. „ Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:6–8 NLT)

104

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Jacob: The Schemer Welcome to “Top Chef: Patriarch Edition.” The challenge: To cook a meal so good that your brother, who doesn’t really like you, is willing to part with his birthright for a bowl. The ingredients: Red lentils. . .and not much else. Your time starts. . .now. Sound impossible? Improbable? Unlikely? Perhaps, and yet, through a combination of culinary creativity and God’s sovereignty, Jacob, the younger twin son of Isaac, somehow pulled it off, convincing his burly big brother, Esau, it was a good trade. Jacob, whose very name means something like “He cheats,” pulled another fast one on Esau as their father neared death. When their mother, Rebekah, found out that Esau was about to receive the much vaunted “father’s blessing,” she helped Jacob cook up another clever scheme. This time Jacob’s mother made the prize-winning meal while Jacob dressed up like Esau and went in to Isaac with goat skins strapped on his hands. The old man, almost blind and unable to tell the difference, blessed Jacob, leaving Esau with nothing but a bitter, angry heart and a deep desire for revenge. On his way out of town, Jacob had an extraordinary dreams, of something resembling a ladder going up to heaven and angels going up and down on it. As Jacob watched, God spoke to him, promising to bless him and give him land and offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth. Not long afterward, Jacob fell head-over-heels in love with his uncle Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel, and he worked seven years for the right to marry her. Laban, however, not thrilled about marrying off the younger daughter before the older, pulled a bait and switch on Jacob, tricking the trickster into marrying Rachel’s sister, Leah, instead. Then, in exchange for another seven years of work, Laban caved and gave Jacob Rachel. Twelve sons later, Jacob returned to Canaan with his newfound wealth and, much to everyone’s surprise, a warm welcome from his estranged brother, Esau. Blessed once again by God, Jacob was renamed Israel, which means something like “Striving for/with God.” „ One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)  “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” (Genesis 25:29–31 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

105

Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet Remember having a conversation with someone and feeling as though you were banging your head against a brick wall? Or perhaps you know someone who just keeps making the same bad decisions over and over again. While your friend may nod his head when you offer advice or give suggestions for how to help, afterward he goes straight back to his old way of life. It’s like watching a car wreck happen in slow motion. Jeremiah experienced all this and more during his time as a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah. Despite the crystal clear calls God made for the people to repent and turn back to God, the nation continued to drift away into idolatry and unbelief. “There’s a train coming! Get off the tracks!” Jeremiah seemed to be yelling, but to no avail. In fact, not only did the people ignore his warnings of impending judgment, but they ridiculed Jeremiah, imprisoned him, threw him into a cistern, and threatened him with death. Despite being rejected by everyone, however, Jeremiah remained faithful to God and to his calling as a prophet. Even though his message was unpopular and his advice completely ignored, Jeremiah persevered because he knew from personal experience that his only hope was in God. Jeremiah persevered because he had a deep passion for his people and a longing to see them turn back to God. Jeremiah’s message was a tear-filled warning of coming judgment. Yet, even within such a somber book, we find hope for redemption. Through Jeremiah, God repeatedly offers new life for those who repent of their sins and turn back to Him. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land” (Jeremiah 29:11–14 NLT). „ If only my head were a pool of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for all my people who have been slaughtered. (Jeremiah 9:1 NLT)

106

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Job: The Tested Man Imagine the worse day of your life and how you felt on that day. Job, a man who lived during the time of the patriarchs, faced such a day. This man had everything—an amazing wife, seven sons, three daughters, thousands of sheep, camels and goats. In fact, the Bible tells us “he was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area” (Job 1:3 NLT). Usually such enormous wealth goes to people’s heads, but in this case the Bible is clear that Job was still “a man of complete integrity” (Job 1:1 NLT). Satan approached God with a plan to put Job to the test, convinced that if all Job’s material blessings were removed, then he would cease to be blameless and curse God instead. So God gave Satan permission to test Job, and on the same day Job lost all his servants, animals, and children. Stricken with grief at this unimaginable tragedy, Job tore his clothes and shaved his head. Surprisingly, however, he did not curse God; instead, he fell to the ground in worship. Satan returned to God, this time asking permission to afflict Job with illness, convinced that this would turn Job’s heart from the Lord. Job’s life then took another turn for the worse as he was stricken with various illnesses and skin problems. Even his wife turned against him. Into this nightmare came three of Job’s friends to comfort him. Initially they sat quietly with him for a week, awed and horrified at the awful extent of his suffering. The rest of Job’s story is told via a series of conversations among Job and these three friends as they wrestled with the problem of suffering and pain. While the friends were convinced that Job must have done something wrong in order to bring on such suffering, Job continued to plead his innocence. Despite their rebukes, even though he questioned what God was doing, Job never cursed God and never turned away from God. How does such a grim tale end? After extensive debate among these men, God appeared and spoke directly to Job. He ignored their debate completely, however, and, instead, confronted Job with a long series of rhetorical questions. The best part of this story? After this lengthy response to Job, God then blessed Job with “twice as much as before” (Job 42:10 NLT) , even giving him another seven sons and three daughters. „ Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (Job 1:20–22 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

107

John: The Disciple Jesus Loved Who is the most charismatic person you know—the one who influenced your life the most? For John, that person was Jesus. When we first meet John, he was just another Jewish fisherman, the son of a man named Zebedee. One day he was sitting in his boat with his brother James, mending his nets when Jesus came along the shore and called to John and James to follow Him. They left everything to do so. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised, because Jesus captured the brother's tempestuous nature with the nickname, “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). John became part of Jesus’ inner circle of disciples. Later in Jesus’ ministry, He again carefully selected James, John, and Peter out of all the disciples to come with Him up on a mountain where they witnessed an amazing vision of Moses and Elijah, and saw Jesus “transformed” into dazzling white and heard God name Jesus as “dearly loved Son“ (Mark 9:2–13 NLT). Finally, John was one of the three men chosen to join Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane as He poured out His heart to God in the last moments before being arrested and ultimately crucified (Mark 14:33). This close relationship is brought out in a name John used for himself: “the disciple Jesus loved” (John 13:23 NLT). This deep love is reflected in the passion and poetry of his writing. Many years after Jesus’ death, John wrote one of the most beautiful accounts of the life of Christ. His Gospel stands next to that of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as a personal, eyewitness testimony to all that he experienced. John also is remembered for having written three short letters (1, 2, and 3 John) and perhaps the most unusual and most debated book of the New Testament, Revelation. Exiled on the island of Patmos, he was granted a vision of the final judgment, which he recorded to encourage believers of both the hope and judgment that is to come. „ Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. . . . James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”). (Mark 3:13-14, 17 NLT)

108

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

John the Baptist: The Forerunner Imagine being told that all of your life will involve building up someone else—someone whose fame will eventually eclipse yours. John the Baptist willingly embraced this call to champion the Messiah— his own relative—even though he had some brief doubts later in his life. John’s birth was unusual, beginning with the birth announcement delivered by an angel—Gabriel— the same who would later give Mary an announcement of Jesus’ birth. John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were childless and getting on in age. Yet one day, when his father, Zechariah, was ministering in the temple, an angel announced that Zechariah would have a son. Not only would he be filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb, but he would be a lifelong Nazirite—a person who abstained from alcohol. Most important, he would be the fulfillment of a prophecy uttered by Malachi—the Elijah sent to prepare people for the Messiah’s coming. Many people were turned off by John’s forceful preaching and his strange lifestyle: his diet of locusts and honey. Despite all this, his ministry of baptism grew and attracted large crowds. Into this waiting crowd strode Jesus. No doubt prompted by the Holy Spirit, John saw right away that Jesus was the Messiah and proclaimed Him as such. He was later imprisoned for speaking out against Herod Antipas, who had married his brother’s wife. And while in prison, John experienced some serious doubts, which were allayed by messengers from Jesus. Although his ministry was brief and his life cut short, John will forever be remembered as the last of the prophets, the bridge between the old order of things and the new covenant instituted by Jesus, the Messiah.

„  John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (John 3:27–30 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

109

Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet For the most part it is easy to generate feelings of compassion for people we like. Usually these are the folks we find ourselves wanting to help. But what about someone who has hurt us or been imprisoned for hurting others? Jonah’s story is often reduced to the surprising and miraculous fact that he was swallowed by a giant fish but lived to tell the tale. But if we look more closely, we’ll see that his story is actually about compassion “ for other people. Jonah was a prophet of God during the reign of Jeroboam II, one of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel (750 BC). His story begins with a direct word from God telling him to go and preach against the city of Nineveh. However, Nineveh was an Assyrian city. Jonah had no desire to preach to these enemies of Israel. Instead of following God’s command, he boarded a ship going in the opposite direction to the city of Tarshish. But God was not about to let his prophet say no. After God sent a huge storm that nearly destroyed the ship, Jonah knew that he had placed everyone in danger. The only way to solve the problem was to throw him overboard. When the sailors complied, Jonah was swallowed by the fish, where he remained for three days and nights. This event would take on a new significance when Jesus hinted at His own coming death and resurrection as “the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 12:39 NLT). Once he returned to shore, a compliant Jonah headed to Nineveh to preach God’s message. To his dismay, the whole city repented! Rather than rejoicing at this change of heart, Jonah complained. But God had yet another lesson for his prophet: the lesson of compassion. Shouldn’t he feel compassion for an entire city, with so many people? It’s a startling rebuke of this struggling prophet and a testimony to God’s grace so evident even here in the Old Testament. „  The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish. (Jonah 1:1–3 NLT)

110

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Joseph, Son of Jacob (Old Testament): Favored Son Think you have a dysfunctional family? Wait until you hear about Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob. Joseph was eleventh of thirteen, with one sister (Dinah) and a younger brother (Benjamin). Born to Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel, Joseph had a cushy childhood as the son his father loved the most. Jacob even made a “beautiful robe” just for Joseph (Genesis 37:3 NLT). A wonderful gift, no doubt, and one that his older brothers greatly resented. Their seething anger boiled over after Joseph foolishly shared some dreams that clearly indicated his eleven brothers would one day bow down to him. They decided to get rid of him once and for all. Although the brothers initially plotted to kill him, Reuben convinced the others to sell Joseph into slavery instead and then tell their father that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Joseph wound up in Egypt as a slave to a man named Potiphar. His hard work and honesty gained him favor with Potiphar, but his handsome features gained him the attention of Potiphar’s wife. When he resisted her advances, she lied to her husband. As a result, Joseph was thrown in prison. Many people who have had a disappointment turn bitter toward God. Not Joseph! His integrity earned him the trust of the jailer and of his fellow prisoners. He successfully interpreted the dreams of the pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer, hoping to gain his freedom. Two years later, Pharaoh had two dreams he could not decipher. Joseph was sent for and explained the dreams: there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh was so impressed he put Joseph in charge of preparing for the impending famine and elevated to second in command of Egypt under Pharaoh. Starving because of the famine, Joseph’s brothers journeyed to Egypt and found themselves bowing down before Joseph and begging for food. This was a tense moment. Joseph’s dreams had come true, and the lives of his brothers were in the palm of his hand. Instead of taking revenge, Joseph revealed his true identity and forgave his brothers. The family was reunited through forgiveness. „ Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said. But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (Genesis 50:18–20 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

111

112

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Joseph, Son of Jacob (New Testament): Earthly Father of the Son of God Imagine being the earthly father of the most famous person who ever lived. That would be Joseph. Largely relegated to the back pages of the history books, Joseph often seems to have gotten the short end of the stick. The Gospel of Mark doesn’t even mention his name, and the Gospel of John makes merely a passing reference. Whereas Mary is highlighted prominently in most Christmas pageants, Joseph is often the silent backdrop to the action unfolding in front of him. But Joseph’s important role in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus come into focus through the Gospel of Matthew. We first meet Joseph trying to quietly divorce his soon-to-be wife, Mary, after discovering that she is pregnant. Yet the description of Joseph in the passage below shows his quiet confidence and kindness. He did not want to publicly disgrace Mary, because doing so could lead to her death by stoning. Before Joseph can carry out his decision, however, an angel of God appeares to him in a dream, explaining the importance of this child. He would be the Savior of the world. Joseph respondes with much the same humble obedience displayed by Mary when the angel appeared to her. Instead of ending his engagement, he marries Mary. During a taxation journey to Joseph's hometown of Bethlehem, the child is born. Joseph names him Jesus. Yet soon after Jesus’ birth, the angel of the Lord speaks to Joseph through another dream, this time with a warning of the imminent danger from Herod. So again Joseph demonstrates strength and leadership by swiftly moving his family to Egypt, as far away from Herod as possible. Through a third dream, Joseph is told to move back to Israel. Three powerful dreams. Three obedient responses. Joseph was the faithful guardian and protector of the child of promise. His subtle presence was vitally important in preserving the life of the One who would later give up His life to save the world.

„ This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. (Matthew 1:18–19 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

113

114

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Joshua: The Conquering Hero Did you ever have to take over a job or a task from a greatly beloved leader? Imagine the huge shoes Moses—writer of the Pentateuch, the one who received the Law from God, deliverer of the people of Israel—left to fill upon his death. Joshua was handpicked by Moses to be his successor as the leader of the people of Israel. He was also an accomplished fighter, leading a detachment of troops in battle against the Amalekites. Later Joshua was picked to represent the tribe of Ephraim as one of the twelve spies sent to scout the promised land of Canaan, and one of only two who supported God’s plan to invade the land. As a result, only Joshua and Caleb lived long enough to enter Canaan. Imagine the fear and trepidation Joshua must have felt, standing on the bank of the Jordan, right on the verge of establishing a permanent home for his people. This was the land his people had envisioned since leaving Egypt. Moving into the land would not be easy, for the land was filled with enemies, starting with the city of Jericho, just in sight across the river. But God’s promise to be with him was the only fortifier he needed. Joshua led his troops in many successful battles in the campaign for Canaan. In one of those battles, God caused the sun to stand still until Joshua’s troops won the battle. Joshua fought many other battles and at the end of his life, perhaps sensing the dangers that lay ahead for the people, made a passionate plea for the Israelites to continue to love and worship God alone. „ After the death of Moses the LORD’s servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “. . .Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1, 6–9 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

115

Luke: The Missionary Doctor If you look at the writers of the Gospels, perhaps one name sticks out among the four: Luke. Luke, a physician, was the only Gentile writer. Although he was not one of the disciples who walked with Jesus, Luke spent a significant amount of time traveling with Paul as a missionary. Luke was known for having an outstanding command of the Greek language. Being so closely associated with Paul afforded Luke the opportunity to personally connect with the disciples, the leaders of the early church, as well as many of the ordinary, everyday people Jesus had touched and healed throughout His ministry. Later Luke took this carefully researched and documented information and pulled it all together into the Gospel account that now bears his name. Indeed, the Gospel of Luke contains more parables and stories from Jesus’ ministry than any of the other Gospels, as well as significant details about His birth and frequent and repeated references to historical figures, places, and dates that can all be confirmed outside the Bible. Many of the stories in Acts sound like firsthand accounts because Luke was there on the spot. When Paul traveled in Macedonia, there was Luke. When Paul was shipwrecked on the way to Rome, Luke was in the same boat. Thanks to doctor-historian Luke, we have two of the most influential books of the Bible, from the pen of a man who loved Jesus more than his own comfort. „ Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. (Luke 1:1–4 NLT)

116

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Lydia: Convert at the River Lydia was wealthy, independent, and the head of a large household, and little in Scripture indicates her desperate need for Jesus. She was at completely the opposite end of the spectrum from the tax collectors and sinners with whom Jesus had spent so much of his time. The little information we have about her indicates that she had her life together—no demons or illness, just a successful business, selling expensive purple cloth. Yet something remarkable happened when she met Paul. Newly arrived from across the sea, Paul traveled slightly inland to the Roman city of Philippi. Following his normal pattern of preaching first to the Jews, Paul ended up going outside the city gates to the river to a small collection of Jews. There he met Lydia gathered with some other women. The Bible names her as someone who worshipped God, which probably indicated that she was a convert to Judaism. As Paul preached the Gospel, Lydia suddenly believed, but not through Paul’s eloquence or her own felt needs. God’s Spirit transformed her heart. Lydia was the first convert in Philippi, one who influenced her household for God. Her story, as far as we know it, ends with her warm yet insistent encouragement for Paul and his fellow travelers to come and stay with her. As such, she is often remembered for her hospitality. „ On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. (Acts 16:13–15 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

117

118

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Mary: The One Who Said Yes to God Mary, the mother of God’s Son, was not a woman of great power or influence. Her young life was similar to everyone else's. Living in a tiny village and preparing to be married, Mary had no reason to think she would be different. But one night an angel visited her, and not just any angel, but Gabriel, an archangel with news that would not only change Mary’s life but life on earth in general: Mary would have a son. Not just any son—the Son of God! Quite a promise! Stunned, Mary’s mind raced to the obvious question—how? Through the Holy Spirit. In a remarkable display of humility and obedience, Mary willingly gave herself over as the Lord’s servant. A few days later she went to see her formerly barren cousin Elizabeth, who was also pregnant, and there she sang joyful praise to God, a song we call “The Magnificat” (from the Latin for “my soul magnifies,” the first line of her song). Mary would later play a crucial role at a wedding in Cana, encouraging Jesus to perform His first public miracle—turning water into wine. But as Jesus’ ministry increased, Mary was content to fade into the background, her part played well, her faithful service recognized, and her role in the event that changed world history forever immortalized.

„ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”  Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” (Luke 1:28–34 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

119

Mary and Martha: Sisters, and Friends of Jesus What are the priorities of your life? Sisters Mary and Martha had two very different approaches to handling a visit from their friend Jesus. During the meal preparations, however, a disagreement broke out when Martha realized that she was doing all the work while her sister was simply sitting and listening to Jesus. This didn’t seem fair to Martha, and she was no doubt hoping that Jesus would side with her. Instead, He gently corrected her attitude, pointing out that Mary was the one who had her priorities straight, choosing time with Jesus over preparing a meal. The two sisters appear again in the Gospel of John, this time distraught at the sickness and death of their brother, Lazarus. Jesus traveled to see them. Martha, though disappointed that Jesus had not arrived in time to heal her brother, expressed a firm faith in the power of His prayers and, ultimately, His identity as the Messiah. Mary rejoiced when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The sisters’ final appearance came just before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as they hosted a dinner for Him. Martha served again but this time without complaint. Lazarus reclined at the table, no doubt glad to be alive. And Mary, for the third time, found herself at Jesus' feet, this time anointing them with perfume— a symbolic prelude to His coming death and burial. „ As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42 NLT)

120

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Mary Magdalene: Resurrection Eyewitness Imagine the pain and sadness associated with seeing someone you love die. Now imagine that instead of passing away quietly in their sleep, they are tortured and executed. Mary Magdalene had accompanied Jesus for quite some time, since He had cast seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2). She was at the cross when He was crucified. She saw the life ebb out of Him as He hung there, beaten, exposed, alone. This man who had healed her seemed helpless, lost. Her world was spinning. Now what would she do? After Jesus had been taken down and buried, Mary Magdalene and some other women went to the tomb to anoint His body. What happened next was a blur of activity, almost too much to take in. An earthquake, the stone rolled away, and angels! Dazzling white, they struck such an awesome sight that the Roman guards fainted out of fear, but Mary stood strong. She had to know what had happened. The angels announced the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. Could this really be true? Excited, fearful, sad, Mary burst into tears. Then she saw Him. Of course, she hardly recognized Him at first. Only when He said her name did she realize this man was her Lord. She must have hugged Him, since the Bible then says: “‘Don’t cling to me,’ Jesus said, ‘for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father’” (John 20:17 NLT). With grief turned into unbridled joy, Mary must have sprinted to share the good news. Her Lord and Savior, the one who had rescued her from demonic possession, was alive again. The nails were gone. This was truly the beginning of a brand-new day. „ She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). (John 20:14–16 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

121

Matthew: The Tax-Collecting Disciple Would you give up an incredibly lucrative and financially secure job to follow an itinerant teacher into poverty, danger, and maybe even death? What kinds of questions or concerns would you have before signing on? How many people would you want to run the decision past before making a firm commitment? For Matthew, the decision was simple. Something was so compelling, so captivating, so convincing about Jesus that when Jesus invited Matthew (also known as Levi) to be His disciple, Matthew immediately quit his job to do so. Later Matthew hosted a dinner party at his house for Jesus and some of his old friends. Matthew’s life had been transformed, turned upside-down by an encounter with Jesus, and now he wanted everyone to have the same experience. The invitations went out, and the party went on, despite the sneering accusations of some Pharisees. As Jesus pointed out, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Matthew knew how “sick” he had been in his old life and was experiencing life anew as Jesus’ disciple. Matthew’s care with finances suited him perfectly for the careful collection of documents and details regarding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Later Matthew brought these disparate pieces together into the document we now know as the Gospel of Matthew. As someone who had personal, firsthand experience walking with the Lord, Matthew was perhaps best suited for presenting the crucial details of the life of Jesus to a Jewish world that so desperately needed to hear of the salvation offered through the Messiah. „ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9:9–13 NLT)

122

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Nehemiah: The Wall Builder Is it possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never lived in? For Nehemiah, the answer was an emphatic “yes.” Although he had spent his life in Persia and had grown up to become a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, Nehemiah’s heart still burned with passion for the land of his ancestors. In fact, when Nehemiah heard that the people who had been allowed to move back after the exile were struggling to survive and were defenseless due to the city wall’s destruction, he fell to the ground and wept. He was determined, however, to do something about this mess. As the king’s cupbearer he was not in any obvious position to be able to help his people. Nevertheless, with God’s blessing and help, he approached the king and was granted leave to go back to Judah. Appointed governor of Judah (Nehemiah 5:14), Nehemiah surveyed the walls and gates of the city and acted quickly to get them rebuilt. Although most of the people fell in eagerly and quickly behind his strong, committed leadership, there was nevertheless some strong opposition, most notably from Sanballat and Tobiah. In fact, Nehemiah had to arm the laborers and station guards to protect them as the work progressed. Not only did Nehemiah work to rebuild the wall, but he rebuked the wealthy nobles and officials who had been oppressing their own people, challenging them to forgive the loans and give back anything they had stolen. As a result of Nehemiah’s careful direction and wise planning, the wall was rebuilt in just fifty-two days, an event celebrated with great fanfare. He then called on Ezra the priest–scribe to read the Law, thus leading the people to rededicate themselves to serve God. Nehemiah’s faithfulness to God, prayerful attitude, and decisive action were instrumental in reestablishing the people in Jerusalem after such a long time in exile. „ So on October 2 the wall was finished— just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. (Nehemiah 6:15–16 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

123

Moses: The Reticent Deliverer Although some people are naturally gifted at public speaking, for most this evokes more fear than heights, flying in an airplane, and spiders combined. Although we think of him as a great leader, Moses fits into the latter category. When God called out to Moses from a burning bush, telling him to go to Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world, and demand that he let the Israelites go, Moses was not exactly quick to get on board. “But Moses again pleaded, ‘Lord, please! Send anyone else’ ” (Exodus 4:13 NLT). Surprisingly, God agreed to use Moses’ brother, Aaron, as his “mouthpiece” before Pharaoh (at least initially), and off they went to try to convince this wicked ruler to release God’s people out of slavery. The mission was met with more than a little resistance from Pharaoh, incurring ever-worsening signs of God’s judgment in the form of ten plagues that struck the land and the people in it. Finally, after his oldest son was killed, Pharaoh relented and the people left. Not surprisingly, he changed his mind and gave chase all the way to the Red Sea. Backed into a tight spot, Moses turned to God for help, and in a nation-defining moment, the sea was parted, enabling them to cross safely. Reaching the mountain of God, Sinai, Moses received the Law on two stone tablets, “written by the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18 NLT). Leading a nation of people out of Egypt, across a desert, and into the Promised Land was challenging, to say the least. Moses experienced the highest of highs with God and the lowest of lows wrestling with the needs and failures of the people, but God’s presence never left him. Despite his faithful leadership throughout their time in the desert, and the reverence later generations would have for this man of God, Moses was not perfect and was kept from leading the people into the Promised Land because of his sin.

124

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. The Lord sent him to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and his entire land. With mighty power, Moses performed terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:10–12 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

125

Noah: The Ark Builder Imagine, if you will, an apocalyptic event of such terrifying proportions that it wipes out, not just your neighborhood or your state, but every living thing on the face of the planet. You and your family are the only people left alive, adrift on a massive wooden ship filled with animals of every shape, size, and kind. There is no coast to navigate by, no sign of anything anywhere. Just miles and miles of water and the floating debris left from such a calamitous flood. This was the life of Noah. Born to a man named Lamech, Noah was named with the hopeful prayer, “May he bring us relief from our work and the painful labor of farming this ground that the LORD has cursed” (Genesis 5:29 NLT). Noah’s faithfulness would bring about a type of relief, involving a new covenant and clean slate for the people, but not before a terrible punishment had been exacted. At this time, the first descendants of Adam and Eve were increasing in wickedness, becoming more and more evil. “Everyone on earth was corrupt” (Genesis 6:12 NLT) except for Noah. Angered by their sin, God announced to Noah that He would wipe everyone out except for this one man and his family.

126

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

God gave Noah detailed instructions on how to build the ark, a mammoth task that must have taken a long time to accomplish. Once the ark was finished, the rains came and Noah, his wife, their three sons, their wives, and all the animals were sealed inside by God. These eight people were the only ones saved from the flood. After the floods receded and the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, God established a covenant with Noah, reiterating the command he had given Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. Moreover, God promised to never again send another flood, setting a glorious rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant promise and great love for His people. „ This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out.” (Genesis 6:9–14 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

127

Paul: The Great Missionary Have you ever been convinced you were in the right about something, only to realize later on that you were horribly mistaken? Paul, an intelligent, proud Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, had been zealously persecuting the earliest Christians. He was on his way with orders to stamp out the Way—the name for those who followed Christ—when the risen Jesus appeared to him in a blinding vision. Paul’s life was forever changed by this dramatic experience, and he went on to become the most famous and influential of all the apostles. Paul traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean, telling people about Jesus. The book of Acts lists three of his missionary journeys with companions like Luke, Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy. Being a missionary was an exceedingly difficult task and one that ultimately cost him his life, as his final journey took him to Rome, where he was later executed. But Paul didn’t mind. His passion for Jesus overshadowed all other concerns. All of Jesus’ eleven loyal disciples were persecuted for being followers of Jesus. As Jesus’ newest apostle, Paul was no exception. He was beaten with

128

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

a whip or rods eight times, shipwrecked three times, stoned to death—note that—stoned to death and raised to life, imprisoned, broke, hungry—the list goes on and on. As a missionary traveling through lands where people were at times hostile to the Gospel and receptive, he was always in danger. But as a zealous follower of Christ, he was always aware that the God he served was bigger than any hardship, loss, or inconvenience. Paul’s concern for the church is shown through the letters that make up most of the New Testament. Letters like Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon are the prison epistles—letters written during his times of imprisonment. „ I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:12–14 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

129

Peter: The Restored Denier We’ve all said some foolish things in our lives. But it’s unlikely anyone has turned around and said to you, “Get away from me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23 NLT). However, there was Peter, trying to make sense of what he assumed to be a confused or mistaken Jesus, only to be compared to God’s archenemy. Peter had put his foot in his mouth, for sure. Such was his life. Brash, impulsive, with something to say in every situation, Peter was perhaps the most colorful of Jesus’ disciples. A fisherman by trade and the brother of Andrew, Peter’s original Jewish name was Simeon, or Simon, but Jesus Himself gave him the name Peter instead (John 1:42). Despite the occasional rebuke from Jesus, he was nonetheless consistently included with James and John in Jesus’ inner circle, an eyewitness to miracles like the Transfiguration, which most of the other disciples missed out on. One time Peter even got to walk on water, at least until the reality of what he was doing sunk in and he followed suit (Matthew 14:29–31). It was Peter whom Jesus chose to be the “rock” on which He would establish his church (Matthew 16:13–19). Sadly, despite all his protestations to the contrary, after Jesus had been arrested, Peter was the one who denied Him three times, fearful that he, too, might be captured and put on trial. But, in an amazing display of grace, Peter received a special visit from Jesus after the Resurrection, during which time he was told to feed Jesus’ sheep (John 21). Indeed, it was Peter who gave the inaugural address of the early Christian church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), a powerful and convicting sermon that led to three thousand people coming to faith and being baptized. This ordinary man, with no special training, who was once rebuked so sternly by Jesus, was ultimately instrumental for much of the initial spread of Christianity throughout the region. He became a leader in the church and wrote the two letters in the New Testament that bear his name. It was, in the end, a life well lived. „ Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.” (Matthew 16:15–17 NLT)

130

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Philip: The Evangelist How comfortable do you feel sharing your most closely held beliefs with other people? For many of us, it’s awkward and difficult, but for some, like Philip, it just comes naturally. Not to be confused with one of the lesser-known disciples from Bethsaida, this Philip, later nicknamed, “the Evangelist” (Acts 21:8 NLT), played a significant role in the growth of the church outside Jerusalem. His official ministry started when he was selected as one of seven men who were given responsibility for taking care of feeding the widows and distributing food to those in need in Jerusalem (Acts 6:1–7). However, when persecution broke out shortly after Stephen was stoned to death, Philip fled to Samaria, where he discovered an entirely new gift as an evangelist. Shortly afterward, Philip headed south under the direction of an angel of the Lord, where he encountered a wealthy and prominent of the queen of Ethiopia, returning from Jerusalem. As Philip walked nearby, he overheard the eunuch reading from the book of Isaiah, and so he asked him if he understood what he was reading. This led to a discussion about Jesus and pretty soon the man was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah Isaiah had spoken about. Seeing some water, he was baptized immediately. Philip boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus. He was willing to go wherever the Spirit led him. „ The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. (Acts 8:29–31 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

131

Priscilla and Aquila: Behind-the-Scenes Workers Whatever we may like to tell our children about their potential to be and do anything, the reality is that while some are gifted to be CEOs and presidents, getting “fame” and public recognition, most of us will play far less glamorous, though equally important, roles behind the scenes. Such was the situation for Priscilla, sometimes called Prisca, and her husband, Aquila. Tentmakers from Italy originally, but forced out under persecution by Claudius Caesar, they found themselves living in Corinth where they met Paul. Paul had a hard time preaching in Corinth. The Jews were hostile to his message, although some, like Crispus, did believe, and Paul's motivation was so low that God even had to speak to him in a vision to encourage him. Priscilla and Aquila must have had a close relationship with Paul, for when he left Corinth to sail across the sea to Ephesus, they went with him. Paul left Ephesus fairly soon afterward, but this time left Priscilla and Aquila. A short while later, a gifted young intellectual arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria, in Egypt, and started preaching about Jesus. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they realized that he didn’t have a complete understanding of Jesus. Rather than critique him publicly, they took him to one side to share what they had learned about Jesus from Paul. This extra ministry training filled out the picture for Apollos, and he then sailed off for Achaia where he preached powerfully. This married couple never worked in the limelight themselves but had a powerful and significant ministry nonetheless, supporting Paul and training others like Apollos. „ Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. (Romans 16:3–4 NLT)

132

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Ruth: Loyal Friend

Ruth was at a crossroads. Widowed at a young age, would she take her mother-in-law, Naomi’s, advice and return to her home and her people in Moab (as had her sister-in-law, Orpah), where she had a good chance of finding another husband? Or would she follow Naomi into the unknown world of Israel, where she faced a life of loneliness and perpetual widowhood, a life lived far away from her home and everything she knew and was familiar with? What would you choose? For Ruth, the answer was simple. In perhaps one of the most profound declarations of faithful obedience in the Bible, she assured Naomi of her continued loyalty. Upon arrival in Bethlehem, Naomi’s hometown, Ruth took on the humble task of gleaning: going into the fields to collect the grain leftover after the harvest. This she faithfully brought to Naomi for them to eat. During this process she caught the eye of Boaz, the wealthy owner of the fields. He was impressed with her and made a public declaration affirming her loyalty to her mother-in-law and her good reputation. The blessing he gave to her came true when he agreed to act as the kinsman-redeemer by redeeming the property Naomi might have sold and thus agreeing to marry Ruth, saving both Ruth and Naomi from a life of poverty and disgrace. As a further reward to Ruth, Ruth’s great-grandson David would end up sitting on the throne in Jerusalem.

„ Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. (Ruth 1:16–18 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

133

Samson: A Flawed Superhero If you could be Superman (or Superwoman) for a day, what would you do? He may not have been able to fly, but Samson, one of the more colorful characters in the Bible, was gifted with almost superhuman strength. With these gifts, he was chosen to be one of Israel’s judges—the special leaders who helped deliver their people from the persecution of their enemies. Sadly, what he possessed by way of physical prowess often seems to have been missing in terms of wisdom and judgment. Born about 1000 BC to parents who thought they were infertile, his birth was announced by an angel who said that Samson was to be a lifelong Nazirite—one set apart for a special purpose. A Nazirite did not drink fermented beverages or cut his hair. John the Baptist was a Nazirite. Moreover, he was supposed to rescue Israel from the Philistines. With the help of his amazing strength, this long-haired superhero certainly began to rescue the people from the Philistines. However, his behavior makes it hard to see how he truly remained ritually pure to God in the process. Given the angel’s announcement, Samson’s story took an unexpected turn when he insisted on marrying a Philistine woman. On the way to the wedding, he killed a lion with his bare hands, and he later returned to eat honey out of its carcass. At the wedding feast itself, he flew into a rage and killed thirty men after they convinced his wife to give them an answer to a riddle. Although he left his wife behind in his anger, he later returned and, after discovering she was married to another man, caught three hundred foxes, tied torches to their tails, and destroyed the Philistines’ crops. Captured by some of his people who were frustrated at his “frat boy” exploits, he escaped and, using the jawbone of a donkey, killed one thousand Philistines. Despite these incredible feats, Samson was ultimately brought down by his womanizing. A Philistine named Delilah tricked him into revealing that his hair was the source of his strength. The trap was sprung. A hidden Philistine cut off his hair, rendering him easy to capture. Although his eyes were plucked out and he was thrown into prison, his hair grew back. During a great feast in the Philistine temple, he prayed to God for strength. God allowed him super strength once more. He knocked over the pillars of the temple, collapsing the building and killing over three thousand people, including himself. In death he had regained honor.

134

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ Finally, Samson shared his secret with Delilah. “My hair has never been cut,” he confessed, “for I was dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as anyone else.” Delilah realized he had finally told her the truth, so she sent for the Philistine rulers. “Come back one more time,” she said, “for he has finally told me his secret.” So the Philistine rulers returned with the money in their hands. Delilah lulled Samson to sleep with his head in her lap, and then she called in a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair. In this way she began to bring him down, and his strength left him. (Judges 16:17-19 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

135

Samuel: Prophet and Priest Throughout history there are numerous examples of civilizations rebelling against their monarchs. Most of the time, most people want to get as far away from absolute rulers as possible. However, what do you do when it is the people themselves who are clamoring for a king? Living about one thousand years before Christ, in a time when the Philistines still posed a significant threat to the fledgling country of Israel, Samuel found himself in just this situation. Samuel was destined to be a spiritual leader long before he could even read a scroll. When his once barren mother Hannah prayed for a son, she promised to dedicate him to the Lord. When Samuel was born, she kept her promise and sent him to live with the priest Eli in the tabernacle at Shiloh. Samuel was trained from a young age to serve the Lord. One night he heard a voice calling out his name. Although at first he assumed it to be Eli, he soon discovered it to be God. Responding accordingly, he received a prophetic word of judgment against Eli and his sons, which came to pass. Ironically, while Samuel chose to walk in the ways of the Lord, Eli's sons chose corruption. After serving the people for many years as a prophet and a judge, Samuel was surprised and upset when they demanded to have a king just like other nations. Although he rebuked them, he did as they asked, warning them that they would come to regret that decision. Once again, his warning came to pass. Saul, the first king of Israel, started off well but ended poorly. Samuel had the hard task of telling him that the kingdom would be taken away and given to a man after God’s own heart—the young shepherd David. When Samuel died, the whole nation mourned for him. „  Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:7–10 NLT)

136

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Sarah: Unlikely Mother What do you plan to do in your retirement years? Would raising an infant figure into those plans? At an age when many people consider that life might be about to end, a new life within Sarah was just beginning. For most of her life, Sarah was actually named Sarai. However, when she was ninety years old, God told Abram about the covenant he was making with them and Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah. Sarah and Sarai mean “princess.” Marriage to Abraham, the great patriarch, was challenging at times. God’s call to leave their extended family and move to a strange land; Abraham’s request to pretend that they were not married and thus avoid conflict with the pharaoh who wished to marry Sarah—these were challenges Sarah faced. But the greatest challenge of all was barrenness. God, however, promised to give them a son. Given their advanced age, this promise seemed laughable, and indeed, when some visitors appeared from God to confirm this promise, Sarah actually laughed out loud and was gently rebuked by God as a result. A year later, God’s promise came true. Sarah had a son, whom they named Isaac, or “laughter,” a name given by God and reflective of their response to God’s promise. Sarah may have struggled at times with the incredible pressures to bear Abraham a son, even going so far as to encourage him to sleep with a concubine, but ultimately her faith was rewarded by God and celebrated by the author of the New Testament book of Hebrews, “It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise” (Hebrews 11:11 NLT). „ Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!” (Genesis 21:4–7 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

137

Saul: Flawed First King When you are ready to present your new king to an eager and expectant public but you can’t find him because he’s hiding in fear among some luggage, that’s usually not a very good sign. Saul, the first king of Israel, appointed by God and anointed by the great judge and prophet Samuel, never seemed to wear the title very well. Although he had some successes, he is ultimately remembered more for his failures, as a negative example of how not to lead. Although born into the “least important” family of the smallest tribe in Israel, Saul looked the part of a king: tall and handsome. When King Nahash of Ammon threatened to attack one of the towns of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord helped Saul lead the people to a decisive victory over the Ammonites. He led further assaults on the Philistines, with help from his son Jonathan, but in his impatience offered unlawful sacrifices to God, resulting in Samuel’s promise that his kingdom would end and another man would be raised up in his place. Although mostly successful militarily, Saul made a series of poor spiritual decisions. After making a rash vow that almost resulted in the death of his own son, he failed to obey God’s direct command to destroy the Amalekites and was formally and completely rejected by God as a result. Although Saul officially retained the title of king for quite some time after this, he suffered terribly from depression, anxiety, and bouts of paranoia as the kingdom slipped slowly from his hands. Demonstrating the depths to which he had sunk, Saul even sought the advice of a medium before fighting his final battle against the Philistines. The ensuing conflict was an utter defeat, his son Jonathan was killed, and ultimately Saul himself committed suicide rather than be captured. An ignoble end to a mostly embarrassing reign. „ Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty-two years. (1 Samuel 13:1 NLT)

138

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Simeon and Anna: Faithful Believers To hold the Savior of the world in your arms. To see His face and know that one day He would fulfill all the prophecies and rescue His people from bondage. What an incredible moment. Simeon and Anna enjoyed a special place in the life of Jesus as devout Jews who recognized His true identity even before He could say a word. Simeon, we are told, was a “righteous and devout” man, and the Lord “had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah” (Luke 2:26 NLT). Sure enough, he was in the temple when Mary and Joseph showed up to dedicate Jesus. Simeon knew right away this was the child, and he offered a remarkable prophetic prayer of blessing, still referred to today in some church settings by its Latin title, “Nunc Dimittis.” In this prayer, Simeon revealed that this baby would be “a light to reveal God to the nations,” referring back to the prophecies in Isaiah that indicated that God’s salvation would one day extend to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. Imagine hearing such a blessing pronounced over your baby! “Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him” (Luke 2:33 NLT). Nevertheless, Simeon gave a note of caution, warning that this special baby would cause Mary significant personal emotional pain, as she would have to watch His rejection by the people He had come to save. Anna, whom the Bible refers to as a prophet, was also there and saw what was going on. She was eighty-four years old and a long-time widow. Her commitment to God was absolute, and she spent her entire life in the temple, praying and fasting. When she saw and heard Simeon holding Jesus and offering his prayer, she also broke out into spontaneous praise. Indeed, “she talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38 NLT). „ At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God. . . . [Anna] came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. (Luke 2:25–28, 38 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

139

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Men Tested by Fire One minute you’re being praised for how awesome and talented you are. The next moment, you’re being fired, thrown under the metaphorical bus. How will you respond to such a sudden change? What do you do when the person you serve is so fickle and temperamental? These three young men experienced some significant highs and terrible lows but, throughout it all, kept their focus on God, never turning to the left or the right. At a young age, they were taken into exile to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, who wanted, “some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families…only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men…well versed in every branch of learning…gifted with knowledge and good judgment… suited to serve in the royal palace” (Daniel 1:3–4 NLT). Arriving in Babylon they were given new names; Hananiah was renamed Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah, Abednego. These were talented and gifted men. In fact, the king “found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom” (Daniel 1:20 NLT). However, „ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. (Daniel 3:16–19 NLT)

140

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

when they refused to bow down to a massive golden idol the king had ordered everyone to worship, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. This wasn’t like the hot coals people sometimes walk on; this was a raging fire. In fact, “because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in” (Daniel 3:22 NLT). Yet, miraculously they emerge completely unscathed. “They didn’t even smell of smoke!” (Daniel 3:27 NLT). Their survival is important, but more significant is the mysterious “fourth man” Nebuchadnezzar saw walking around with them in the fire, for many think he may have been the preincarnate Christ, representing God’s powerful presence with them. Although their story is brief, these prayer-filled obedient young men attest to the sovereign power of God over all human kings and rulers.

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

141

Solomon: Wise and Foolish King Perhaps you’ve heard the tale of King Midas, the fabled Greek king whose very touch turned everything into gold. King Solomon may not have had those exact powers, but during his reign as only the third king of Israel, he managed to amass more wealth and power than any other king before or since. For a quick glimpse into his lavish lifestyle, read 1 Kings 10:14–29. This man put even the wealthiest people today to shame. The Bible even says that “he made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stone. And valuable cedar timber was as common as the sycamore-fig trees” (1 Kings 10:27 NLT). If ever there was someone with a Midas touch, it was Solomon. But despite all this wealth, or maybe because of it, Solomon was a mixed bag as a king. He centralized power in Jerusalem and solidified the national identity of Israel, but at the same time, he heavily taxed his own people to finance his massive building projects. Perhaps at the high point of his life he built a temple for God, a significant moment in the history of Israel, but later in life he let himself be led astray into polytheism. Under his rule, the country experienced a time of peace and relative prosperity, but his poor decisions set the stage for the civil war that would follow soon after his death. Finally, although Solomon is often remembered for his unsurpassed wisdom (he is credited with having written most of the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and a couple of psalms), as we read his life now, it is clear that he didn’t always live up to his own high-minded ideals. Many years later Nehemiah would use Solomon as a negative example of how not to behave. “Wasn’t this exactly what led King Solomon of Israel into sin?” I demanded. “There was no king from any nation who could compare to him, and God loved him and made him king over all Israel. But even he was led into sin by his foreign wives” (Nehemiah 13:26 NLT).

142

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„ “Now, O LORD my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!” (1 Kings 3:7–13 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

143

Stephen: First Martyr Being stoned to death was (and still is) one of the most terrible ways to be killed. This is no quick execution; there’s no guillotine-like precision. Just rocks. Lots of them. Stephen, one of the first leaders in the early church, is one of the very few examples of stoning we find in the Bible, and his death came about because of his bold proclamation of Jesus as the Son of God. Stephen, ”a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5) was initially chosen simply to help serve food to the widows and other hungry people so the apostles could devote their time to preaching and teaching. However, it soon became obvious that there was something different about Stephen. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, notes that here was a “man full of God’s grace and power [who] performed amazing miracles and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8 NLT). As a result, he was arrested and brought to stand trial before the Sanhedrin, the high council of religious leaders in Jerusalem. Asked to defend himself, Stephen was ready with a very clear presentation of what he believed. More than a mere speech, this was an amazingly eloquent description of God’s hand at work throughout the history of the people of Israel, the main focus being on the persistent rebellion of people, set in contrast to the covenantal faithfulness of God. As the mob clamored around him, Stephen was given a vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God. When he

„  The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. (Acts 7:54–60 NLT)

144

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

said this out loud to the people gathered to hear his testimony, they flew into a rage, took him outside, and stoned him to death. “As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died” (Acts 7:59 NLT). Stephen’s death unleashed such significant persecution in Jerusalem that the disciples scattered, but in God’s providence this in turn led to the expansion of the Gospel into entirely new locales.

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

145

Thomas: Honest Doubter It may come as a surprise to some people, but even pastors sometimes experience doubts about their faith. In fact, it’s a normal and natural part of the spiritual life of every follower of Jesus. Thankfully we can look back at the life of Thomas and see that even someone who walked every day with Jesus Himself still had trouble wrapping his head around something as huge as the resurrection. We don’t really know much about Thomas’s life, where he came from, or what he was like. Although he was not one of the main disciples, we do know that he was willing to follow Jesus, even if that meant imprisonment and death (John 11:16). For the most part, he seems to have remained in the background—at least until after the resurrection. When Jesus first appeared to the disciples, who were huddled in fear “behind locked doors,” Thomas was not there and missed this momentous occasion. Stuck with simply hearing about the event from everyone else, he put his foot down

146

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

and declared emphatically, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” (John 20:25 NLT). It was over a week later before he got his wish. They were behind locked doors once again, and Jesus appeared to them all, Thomas included. Addressing Thomas directly, he encouraged him to reach out and touch him, not to just see the wounds, but to place his fingers on them. The result was praise and worship. “‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed” (John 20:28 NLT). Perhaps we all wish we could reach out and touch Jesus, just to know for sure He is real. But, as if sensing this would be the case, “Jesus told [Thomas], ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me’” (John 20:29). „ One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:24–29 NLT)

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

147

Timothy: Protégé Pastor We all carry around insecurities, doubts, and fears. There will always be those dark days at work or at home when we feel like a fraud waiting to be unmasked as the incompetent fools that we convince ourselves we are. Despite having a very clear call to ministry, Timothy knew these moments all too well—worrying about his youth, considered timid and shy by some, and often struggling with physical illness. He was born into a mixed family living in Lystra, a small town in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Although his father was Greek, his mother, Eunice, was Jewish. Timothy's mother and his grandmother, Lois had come to faith in Christ as a result of Paul’s first missionary journey. This faith they in turn passed on to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5) who grew quickly to maturity, such that when Paul came back through Lystra on his second missionary journey, he called Timothy to join him (Acts 16:1–5). Timothy traveled extensively with Paul and was entrusted to help encourage and teach one of the young churches Paul had established in Thessalonica. Paul even sent him to the troubled church in Corinth, confident that Timothy could turn them around, although that seems not to have happened, requiring further strong letters from Paul himself. Timothy’s name is scattered throughout Paul’s letters, always referred to with terms of endearment. Timothy was clearly a significant and close personal friend and colaborer for Christ with Paul. There are even two letters written directly to Timothy from Paul, encouraging him to remain strong in the faith and to persevere in the work God had called him to complete. Probably the last letter he ever received from Paul begins, “Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again” (2 TImothy 1:3–4 NLT). „ I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and selfdiscipline. (2 Timothy 1:5–7 NLT)

148

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Fa v o r i t e Fo l k 

|

149

150

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Overheard Quotes T

here are many quotes from the King James Version of the Bible in use every day. Over the centuries they have become part of our lexicon. Maybe you’ve said a few yourself. Ever wonder where they are in the Bible or what they mean? Here are some of the most known quotes from the Bible and what they mean.

„

“A law unto themselves” Many people use this phrase today to refer to a person or a group of people who decide for themselves what is right or wrong without any oversight by other authorities. But this quote came from the apostle Paul. In this context, “a law unto themselves” was specifically referring to the Gentiles. The Jews were given the law of Moses and the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as God’s written rules or laws for their lives. Disobeying the Law meant punishment. Upholding the Law meant favor in the sight of God and blessing. Many Jews thought that the Gentiles, who were never given God’s law and requirements, were not subject to these rules but were also not entitled to any of the blessings mentioned. Paul was telling the Jewish leaders that God wrote His laws on the hearts of humankind. Even if a Gentile had never heard the law, the person knew right from wrong in his heart and was therefore a “law unto himself.”

„ For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. (Romans 2:14-15)

152

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“A house divided” This phrase became part of our common language after an important speech given by Abraham Lincoln in 1858. Leaning on language he had picked up from the Bible, Lincoln used this phrase to emphasize the need for unity in a country that was divided over the issue of slavery. But the quote originally came from Jesus. After Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, the Pharisees accused him of being demon-possessed. They could not bring themselves to believe that Jesus was really God, and sought to use this moment to discredit His ability to perform miracles. Jesus carefully replied that such an accusation didn’t make any sense. If He Himself were demon-possessed, why would He cast out a demon (a house divided)? Would He not be trying instead to keep demons in (a house united)?

„ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. (Matthew 12:24-25; see also Luke 11:17)

Overheard Quote

|

153

“A man after his own heart” We most often use this phrase today to refer to someone who is of the same mind-set as us. In this case the original biblical reference means roughly the same thing. Saul had been appointed king over all of Israel. Although he started strong, his reign soon deteriorated and led to a stunning rebuke from God. In this passage, Samuel, God’s prophet, had bad news for Saul: Saul’s failure to keep God’s laws would result in the kingdom being taken away from him and given instead to someone who would keep God’s laws. This “man after his own heart” was David. Although he was not perfect by any measure, the Bible is clear that David indeed sought after God with every part of his life, doing everything humanly possibly to know and please the Lord. „ And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. (1 Samuel 13:13–14)

154

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Apple of his eye” The original Hebrew actually says something along the lines of “the little man of his eye.” Whatever that may mean exactly, the intention is crystal clear: this is a term of great affection. Its use here emphasizes the passionate love of the Lord for the people he rescued out of slavery in Egypt and also a deep sense of protectiveness. By the time the King James Version of the Bible was produced, the phrase “apple of my eye” was in fairly common usage. For example, just a few years earlier Shakespeare had used this image in his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. So, when the translators were looking for a phrase that captured the sense of endearment and loving protection associated with this passage, they turned “little man of his eye” into “apple of his eye.” And now, today, we continue to use this terminology to refer to someone or something highly regarded. „ For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. (Deuteronomy 32:9–10; see also Zechariah 2:8)

Overheard Quote

|

155

“At my wits‘ end” When we talk today about being at our “wits' end” what we really mean is that we no longer know what to do. It conveys a sense of distress that goes beyond mere indecision. There are seemingly no other options left. We can thank the translators of the King James Bible for making this such a common phrase today. The psalms were originally written in Hebrew, and a more wooden translation would be something like “Their wisdom was confused.” In other words, they had come to the end of their wit (wisdom). The psalmist is conveying deep mental and emotional distress. The sailors in the passage have lost their courage and physical strength and are powerless against the storm. At this point, the only person they can turn to is God. The Lord alone brings them out of their troubles and restores their feet to solid ground. The same is true for us today.

„ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits‘ end. (Psalm 107:23–27)

156

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“The blind leading the blind” The blind leading the blind is an admission of confusion or ignorance about something. The concept originally came from a biting commentary directed at the Pharisees. Jesus used the imagery of a blind person leading another blind person to highlight the foolishness of the Pharisees. They were supposed to be the experts of the law and prided themselves on this knowledge. Yet at the same time, they repeatedly failed to see the purpose of God’s law. They were so intent on following the law that they ended up missing the One at whom the law ultimately pointed: Jesus. By their insistence on leading others when they themselves didn’t understand the underlying truth, Jesus named them “blind leaders.” „ And [Jesus} called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:10-14; see also Luke 6:39)

Overheard Quote

|

157

“By the skin of our teeth” This line from the book of Job is considered too difficult to translate because the underlying Hebrew meaning is less than clear. When working on the King James Version of the Bible, the translators simply made a direct word-for-word translation: “with the skin of my teeth.” The point here is that Job has escaped death, even though his “friends” are accusing him of having committed some kind of secret sin instead of comforting or helping him. Throughout this passage Job cries out for justice, for a Redeemer who will support his cause. The resulting English idiom has lost this overarching context and come to refer simply to any kind of narrow escape. A deer bolting at the last second as an arrow flies over its head might be said to escape by the skin of its teeth.

„ My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. (Job 19:20)

158

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Can a leopard change his spots?” Sometimes we look at a person entrenched in a harmful lifestyle and wonder if that person will ever change. The pessimist might answer in the negative, for after all, “can a leopard change his spots?” Clearly this a rhetorical question, since the answer is no, of course not. We find this phrase in the book of Jeremiah, which describes the impending invasion and capture of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. Having just assured the people that they would be taken away into captivity as a result of their failure to obey God’s commands and their repeated worship of false gods and idols, Jeremiah now told them that they had become so accustomed to rebelling against God that they no longer knew how to do good. For them to change now would be as impossible as a leopard changing his spots. Their behavior had come to define them completely. These days, of course, the phrase has lost this sense of prophetic judgment and most often is used to mean simply that we should accept people the way they are.

„ And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:22–23)

Overheard Quote

|

159

“Don’t cast your pearls before swine” Broadly speaking, this common phrase is most often used as a warning to be careful with the gifts that have been entrusted to us. It is an exhortation to prudence and caution. The exaggerated image of beautiful and highly valued precious pearls being cast into a pigsty was meant to be over the top. Pearls continue to symbolize beauty and perfection, while pigs represent everything that is dirty and messy. The only additional twist for Jesus’ audience would have been that pigs were ritually unclean animals, thus making the comparison even more extreme. The context for this word picture is one of Jesus’ most well-known sermons: the Sermon on the Mount. What Jesus seems to be warning about here is getting involved with people who have become so hardened against the Gospel that presenting the truth to them would be almost as ridiculous and pointless as giving a pearl necklace to a pig.

„ Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:6)

160

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Drop in the bucket” Whether it’s a “drop of a bucket” (KJV) or a “drop in a bucket” (NIV), the essential meaning is the same: a single drop of water is inconsequential compared to an entire bucket of water. They can’t even be compared. Isaiah uses this imagery to emphasize the majesty of the almighty God. He alone is the creator, maker, and sustainer of all things. However highly we may regard ourselves, however mighty a nation might become, ultimately everything pales in comparison to the Lord who made all things. Indeed, Isaiah continues, they are “as the small dust of the balance”— completely irrelevant, and almost imperceptible to any merchant using scales. Such vivid imagery is a scathing rebuke both of the nations who thought so highly of themselves and also of the people of God who looked to these seemingly powerful nations for help. The intent of the passage is clear: the Lord alone is in control, greater than anything or anyone in nature.

„ Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. (Isaiah 40:15)

Overheard Quote

|

161

“Dust of the earth” Talk about “the dust of the earth” generally conveys two related images: something widespread or ordinary. The biblical source for this image comes in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. After the Flood, we read in Genesis 12 about a man named Abram, whom God tells to move from Haran to Canaan. When he arrives, however, there is a famine in the land and he moves down to Egypt to look for food. After returning to Canaan God then reiterates a promise made in Genesis 12:2–3 to Abram with this rich metaphor of offspring “as the dust of the earth.” For a culture in which children were everything, the promise of not just land, but a family that would last for generations, was highly significant. Obviously the image is an exaggeration—no human could possibly have that many descendants, and Abram would have known that. Yet God described something bigger than Abram or any of his contemporaries could have imagined. One of Abram’s descendants would be the promised Messiah, who would make it possible for us to be adopted into the family of Abram as his spiritual descendants. „ And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. (Genesis 13:16)

162

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Eat, drink, and be merry” Is Solomon advocating a life of partying and excess? Such a philosophy of life undergirds hedonism and the pursuit of all kinds of materialism, so what is it doing in the Bible? First, this verse has to be considered in the light of all of Scripture. The overwhelming message of the Bible is that our primary goal in life is to love and serve God. Whatever our circumstances, we are here to glorify God. Second, Solomon was speaking into a predominantly agrarian culture, where hard work was the expected norm for all of life. Solomon starts this train of thought with the perplexing observation that life never seems to work out the way we expect it to. All too often the rich and lazy appear to be blessed, whereas the poor and hardworking seem to be cursed. A naturalistic “cause-and-effect” view of life cannot balance this awkward equation. But for Solomon the solution comes from outside—God. Solomon encourages us to embrace and enjoy the high points of life when we can. „ Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

Overheard Quote

|

163

“Eye for an eye” These verses about crime and punishment are often cited as the legal basis for capital punishment—the death penalty. The concept feeds into our innate human desire for retribution. When God gave Moses the Law, He was establishing a people and a nation for Himself. The Israelites had been living as slaves under the brutally oppressive hand of the pharaoh of Egypt for hundreds of years and didn’t know any other existence. In a world where there were no courts or judges or police, laws had to be established to help govern behavior. These commands were a part of that system, but rather than encourage revenge, they actually stood against it. God opposed the culturally acceptable practice of vengeance: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:18).

„ And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. (Leviticus 24:17–20; see also Exodus 21:24; Deuteronomy 19:21; Matthew 5:38)

164

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing” The image of a wolf in sheep’s clothing is of uncertain origin. Some say that it originated in the fables of Aesop, whose writing predates the New Testament by five hundred years. Others say that it was an already common image made popular by Aesop. Either way, Jesus used it to warn His disciples about false prophets seeking to lead people away from God. Although the idiom may have originated with Aesop, it’s possible that it entered popular thought through the first English translation of the Bible by John Wycliffe. The context for this warning from Jesus is the long collection of teaching referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tells the disciples, and all future generations of believers, that over time there would come many teachers, leaders, or “prophets” who would come across as “sheep” but actually would be something far more sinister—“ravening wolves.” This prophecy has sadly come true. Throughout the centuries there have been any number of false prophets—people claiming to be sent from God but with messages that have actually led people away from God.

  „ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15; see also Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22)

Overheard Quote

|

165

“Fell on rocky ground” The passage comes from one of Jesus’ more well-known parables and uses common farming language to express a spiritual truth. The way in which we use this phrase is roughly analogous to saying that a message “fell on deaf ears.” To “fall upon stony places” means that either people are not listening or not interested. In His parable, Jesus presents a farmer sowing seed. He casts the seed far and wide. In doing so, some falls on the path and is eaten by birds. Some falls on rocky ground and dies before the completion of its growth because of the lack of soil. Some falls among thorns that eventually choke the plant to death. Finally, some seed falls on good soil and grows and produces significant fruit. What sets this parable apart from many others is that Jesus actually spells out the meaning for His disciples and, by extension, for us as well. The seed represents the message of the kingdom of God. Some people hear the message but it is snatched away by Satan before it can even take root. Others hear the message and start to grow, only to fall away suddenly because the message has not taken root.

„ Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. (Matthew 13:5–6)

166

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Fight the good fight” Taking a phrase out of context certainly can change the meaning! People will often say, “Fight the good fight” in reference to overcoming an injury or battling back against insurmountable odds. We tend to use it as a synonym for “Hang in there!” or “Do the best you can!” Paul was writing to Timothy to encourage him to not lose hope in his work for God. The complete phrase is actually an exhortation to “fight the good fight of faith.” Timothy’s battle wasn’t about proving athletic prowess or asserting his opinion. Nor was this a fight against physical infirmity or financial setback. Paul told Timothy that he was in a fight of faith, a fight for eternal life. This encouragement is not about Timothy merely doing the best he can or passively enduring tough times but actively pursuing and grabbing hold of “eternal life.” We don’t work for salvation—a gift from God. Having received such a gift, however, we need to fight against the sin in our lives and the temptations of the world lest we be led astray.

„ Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)

Overheard Quote

|

167

“Golden calf” “A golden calf” usually refers to anything that becomes more important to us than God: a person, object, or aspiration. The idea traces back to an event that happened while God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments after leading the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. After Moses had been on Mount Sinai for forty days, the people became anxious and demanded that Aaron the high priest make them something tangible to worship. One of the first Egyptian gods was Khnum, often represented by a cow or bull’s head. He was believed to be the god of creation and the waters. The people melted down their golden jewelry to create a golden calf. They worshipped the golden calf until Moses came down from the mountain and rebuked them for their sin. God had given Moses a commandment against the very thing that they were doing. God punished them for idolatry, and the event lodged itself in the history of Israel as an example of the danger that idolatry poses. „ And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (Exodus 32:3–4)

168

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Good Samaritan” “Good Samaritan” has become a common title in today’s culture. Many hospitals have taken the name, as well as clothing, food, and donation centers. There are even good Samaritan laws that protect people from legal ramifications if they stop to provide assistance to someone. For most people today, a Good Samaritan helps someone in need, going the extra mile in a way that exceeds normal charity. This phrase had a vastly different connotation at the time of Jesus. There was enmity between the Samaritans and many of the people of Israel. Some despised the Samaritans’ mixed heritage and involvement with enemies. A prominent Jewish teacher, therefore, would never have used a Samaritan as the moral center of his story. Jesus’ story was both shocking and heart revealing to His listeners, especially the Jewish expert of the law. Note that the lawyer couldn’t even answer Jesus’ question directly and say the name Samaritan. But Jesus wanted to prove a spiritual point that went beyond ancient disputes. „ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? (Luke 10:33–36)

Overheard Quote

|

169

“Hammer swords into plowshares” Just outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City is a statue sculpted by Yevgeny Vuchetich entitled Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares. Peace advocates cite this verse in their efforts to disarm a world prone to violence and aggression. This promise of peace is an oasis of restoration after the judgments the prophet Isaiah describes. Isaiah details the judgments against Israel and many surrounding nations as a result of their persistent sin against God. Israel and Judah come under particular judgment because of their unique place as God’s chosen people and the caretakers of His law. As a result, God promises that they wil be punished. Isaiah also references God’s mercy and grace. Here in Isaiah 2, for example, is the promise that one day God will rule in Jerusalem and all the nations will turn to Him for guidance. In contrast to all the fighting that Israel has done, the world will have no war or soldiers. The people will “hammer their swords into plowshares”; that is, their weapons of violence will be converted and changed into instruments for farming. „ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4)

170

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“He gave up the ghost” To give up the ghost usually means to die or break down completely. We use it to talk about people, cars, computers, or just about anything that ceases to operate. But where does this idea come from? The phrase is found in the description of Jesus’ last moments on the cross. The Greek word used here means “the spirit comes out.” The clear sense of the word is simple—He died. But the more literary description was used throughout the earliest translations into other languages and probably made its first appearance via William Tyndale’s sixteenth-century translation of the New Testament or possibly even Wycliffe’s translation in 1395. Regardless, the euphemism was popularized by Shakespeare in his plays Julius Caesar and Henry VI. The idea of the spirit coming out of someone at death is not a reference to ghosts in the contemporary sense of the word, but rather it serves as a reminder that all of life was breathed into us by God (see Genesis 2:7). When Jesus died, this life-giving breath of God left Him, signaling His death.

„  When Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)

Overheard Quote

|

171

“He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone” “To cast the first stone” is a phrase used to hold people accountable to hypocrisy in their lives. This particular idiom has retained most of its original sense throughout the ages, even if the context in which Jesus spoke these words has largely been forgotten. The setting for this scene is another attempt by the Pharisees to trick Jesus into violating the law of Moses. In this case, they brought a woman guilty of the sin of adultery and asked whether she should be stoned. Mosaic law, as they well knew, stated clearly that she should be stoned, although scant evidence exists that this ever actually took place. Jesus did not debate with them. Instead, he turned the tables completely and simply suggested that whoever thought that he was without sin should throw the first stone. While the woman’s accusers considered themselves “perfect” in upholding the law, Jesus knew their hearts. Moreover, as they realized they could not pass the test, they simply wandered away, avoiding the one person who could truly offer them forgiveness. „ So when [the scribes and Pharises] continued asking [Jesus], he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (John 8:7)

172

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Handwriting on the wall” “The writing’s on the wall” usually conveys a sense of inevitability. Journalists seem to love this phrase, using it frequently in reference to politics and international affairs. The general idea is that whatever the current circumstances, a certain outcome or conclusion has already been decided. It came about during an incident in the book of Daniel. King Belshazzar had thrown a big party. While boasting of his power, he decided to drink wine from sacred objects taken from the temple at the fall of Jerusalem. Suddenly, a hand appeared and a finger began to write on the wall in plain sight. An interpretation was needed. So Daniel, who was about eighty-one years old at the time, was summoned. The interpretation was clear: Belshazzar’s pride was about to lead to his destruction. Indeed, the prophecy came true that very night! The king and his guests were killed by Darius of the Medes and Persians. Daniel survived and became one of Darius’s top three administrators. (See also “Weighed in the balance and found wanting.”) „ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. (Daniel 5:5–6)

Overheard Quote

|

173

“How are the mighty fallen” Today this phrase is used in many contexts: from a surprise loss by a topranked sports team to the fall from grace of a popular politician. Anytime someone or something fails to live up to that title, we might hear this phrase. The book of 1 Samuel ended with King Saul making the rash decision to go into battle against the Philistines and suffering a massive defeat. His son Jonathan was killed, and Saul, severely wounded, took his own life. When the messengers brought the news to David, his response was utter grief. David composed a song to honor Saul and Jonathan and ordered that it be taught to the men of Judah. David actually repeats this line, “how are the mighty fallen,” three times in his lament. Both father and son had been accomplished warriors. David praised their strength, his friendship with Jonathan, and Saul’s elevated status as God’s anointed one.

„ The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! (2 Samuel 1:19)

174

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Labor of love” Have you ever helped someone out even though you really didn’t want to? Or have you ever worked above and beyond expectations just because you really enjoyed what you were doing? Both actions are “labors of love.” On the one hand, we sacrificially serve others at some cost to ourselves simply because we love them. At other times, we pursue a hobby or goal at great personal cost, not because we hope to gain anything from it other than personal satisfaction. It’s just a labor of love. When Paul thanked God for the people of Thessalonica, he praised them for a number of things, including their labor of love. Paul was writing to a new church that had a lot of questions about their newfound faith. The church also endured persecution. Paul commended the believers for their faithful work in the name of Jesus and not giving up hope. This labor was not motivated by personal satisfaction nor by grudging obligation but instead by hearts filled with love and gratitude toward God for all that He had done for them through Jesus Christ. „ We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (1 Thessalonians 1:2–4)

Overheard Quote

|

175

“Letter of the law” When we speak of following the “letter of the law,” it is almost always in contrast to following the “spirit of the law.” To follow the letter of the law means to rigidly adhere to a certain set of rules or procedures without any thought given to the intent behind them. It implies a stern, fixed position with no room for grace. It can even be applied to situations where rules and regulations follow such a strict interpretation that they end up causing more harm than good. The apostle Paul’s concern about “the letter of the law” was not quite the same as ours. He drew a distinction between the “old covenant” and the “new covenant.” The old covenant referred to the law of Moses, the law given to point people to God. This old covenant, this written code, however, was never able to justify anyone. It simply highlighted sin. Strict obedience to the law was nice but never saved anyone. In fact, it could only lead to death.

„ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)

176

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Many are called, but few are chosen” Fraternities often promote their exclusivity using this phrase. Football teams, schools, companies, and organizations alike all use this concept to emphasize the high standards of excellence they hold on to. The focus is on human efforts. Jesus’ priorities were different. Although huge crowds followed him looking for healing or advice, most of them never took the next step of actually confessing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In preaching on the kingdom of God, Jesus used the parable of the wedding banquet to show the reality of this issue. A king threw a banquet, and yet, despite his numerous attempts, those whom we would expect to come did not. Ultimately the king brought people in from the street, those who would not normally be invited. Yet even among this group, there were some who didn’t belong. “Many are called and few are chosen” refers to the fact that God extends His call to repent and believe to all people everywhere. The reality, however, is that in the end only a few will turn out to be true disciples. „ Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22:13–14)

Overheard Quote

|

177

“Man shall not live by bread alone”

When people use the phrase “Man shall not live by bread alone,” it usually means people need more than food to live. We all have emotional and spiritual needs as well as physical needs. Others use the phrase to justify having a certain lifestyle. People need more than just food; they need transportation, a place to live, clothes, a good-paying job, and plenty of entertainment to keep them from becoming bored. Both uses of the phrase miss the point of its meaning in the Bible. In the Old Testament, Moses reminded the people that they survived their wilderness wanderings because God didn’t destroy them, even after they worshipped a golden calf (Exodus 32). He chose to protect them, provide for them, and guide them. God did this to teach them that man lives “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD.” Over a thousand years later, Satan used this phrase to tempt Jesus at the tail end of Jesus’ forty-day fast. Jesus’ response to Satan was a proclamation of authority and a reminder that Satan had not lived by the word of God. „ And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:2–3; see also Matthew 4:4)

178

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Overheard Quote

|

179

“More blessed to give than to receive” This common phrase is used in a wide variety of places, from churches asking for funds to expand into a new building to charity drives for a new hospital or school. As the apostle Paul prepared to leave, he offered the elders at the church in Ephesus some advice, including this admonition to care for the needs of other people. Although he says he is quoting Jesus, these exact words do not appear anywhere else in the Bible. But they capture the essence of much that Jesus taught. When we give, we set aside our own self-oriented needs in order to focus on others. In effect we are training ourselves to put God first in our lives. God gave us His Son and forgiveness. We begin to understand in part what His sacrifice of love was like when we give as well. „ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

180

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“My brother’s keeper” The brief but tragic story of Cain and Abel has fascinated people for years and provided the scenario for many movie and novel plots. Sadly, the first recorded sin after Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden is the fracturing of the family unit. Having separated them from God, now Satan started attacking the primary relationships in life, separating family members from each other. God obviously knew what Cain had done, yet he gave him a chance to confess by asking him where Abel was. Not only did Cain lie directly to God’s face, but he tried to absolve himself of the responsibility at the same time. The oldest son was supposed to protect and provide for the family. He should indeed have been his brother’s keeper. Sometimes people use this phrase today as a way of distancing themselves from a sibling or absolving themselves of responsibility for a sibling’s actions. Using this phrase communicates clearly, “We have no relationship.”

„ And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:8–9)

Overheard Quote

|

181

“No peace for the wicked” This phrase is most often quoted as “There’s no rest for the wicked” and usually implies an endless amount of hard work to be done. We tend to use this in a lighthearted way and rarely impute it to someone evil. Isaiah has a much more serious concept in mind in his two usages of the phrase. In the first passage, Isaiah 48, we read about God’s work to purify His people. This is why the people had to be punished and sent into exile. Yet God promised to bring them back to the Promised Land to live in peace. The wicked, however, would never enjoy that peace. This theme appears again in Isaiah 57. The first half of this chapter is a scathing rebuke of all who would live in opposition to God. These people will be punished, God declares. Yet God offers comfort and peace for those who turn to God in repentance and seek forgiveness. Those who continually oppose God will literally find no rest, no peace, and no hope.

„ But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:20–21; see also Isaiah 48:22)

182

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Out of the mouths of babes” Although sometimes verses from the Bible can degenerate over time into sentimental clichés, in this case there is still some truth embedded in our current usage of this phrase. We marvel at the funny, amazing, or even surprisingly insightful things that young children say. The response is often, “Out of the mouth of babes.” This is not the idea David had in mind when he wrote Psalm 8. The psalm is a song of praise to God, extolling his virtues and singing of his majesty and power. But David purposefully juxtaposes two opposing images in the first couple of verses. On the one hand are enemies of God: “the enemy and the avenger.” On the other hand are “babes and sucklings” (infants): the giggles of a baby or the first words of a small child. In a sense, God is saying that He will completely confound His enemies. He has total power over all things.

„ O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (Psalm 8:1–2)

Overheard Quote

|

183

“Pride goes before a fall” The proverb “Pride goes before a fall” uses a literary technique called “synonymous parallelism.” We see here two phrases that say the same thing but with different words. “Pride” and “a haughty spirit” are synonyms in this sentence, as are “destruction” and “a fall.” The phrase we use today, “Pride goes before a fall,” comes from linking the synonyms together and simplifying the sentence. Pride can be both a negative and a positive emotion. Positively, we can be proud of our children, display civic pride, or have pride in the achievements of our favorite team. The kind of pride God condemns, however, involves having an excessively high level of self-importance. Solomon warns that when people place themselves above others in perceived self-righteousness or importance, the result will always be catastrophic. From a biblical perspective, pride is often considered to be the root of almost all other sins, since it involves the elevation of the self over another person. Pride ultimately separates us from God and leads to death. Only through the humble and obedient sacrifice of Jesus Christ can we be restored in relationship with God.

„ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

184

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Put your house in order” King Hezekiah was for the most part a good king. Although his father Ahaz led the people of Judah into idolatry, Hezekiah was an obedient follower of God and went on a campaign to rid the country of all idols and places of idol worship. Furthermore, he cleansed the temple in Jerusalem and reintroduced worship of God alone to the people. In the passage quoted below, Hezekiah had just been struck with a terrible illness, and God speaks through Isaiah to exhort Hezekiah to get his affairs in order before dying. This is a straightforward command to organize all the little details that need to be in place before dying. This is the sense that remains today. Isaiah may have been prompting something deeper as well. In the verses that follow, Hezekiah pours out his heart to God, seeking God’s help for healing. God hears and responds to this heartfelt prayer, promising to give Hezekiah another fifteen years of life. „ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. (2 Kings 20:1; see also Isaiah 38:1)

Overheard Quote

|

185

“Salt of the earth” At the time of Jesus, salt came from salt marshes and contained a lot of impurities. Although it was used for pretty much anything and everything, three common uses stand out. First, salt enhanced the flavor of food. However, this salt tended to lose its flavor if it was stored improperly. Second, salt was often used as a kind of fertilizer. Again, this was only possible because, for the most part, it was not highly refined but contained all sorts of other minerals. Large amounts of pure salt would have destroyed the land, but using small amounts mixed with other minerals was helpful. Third, salt was a common preservative. Salt prevented the bacteria from growing and spreading; thus, it kept food from going bad. Jesus undoubtedly drew on all these ideas in creating His metaphor. The faith of His disciples was intended to have an impact on the world, to act as a seasoning force that battled corruption and spiritual decay. At the same time, they needed to guard against being overly influenced by the world, lest in the process they lose their own saltiness.

„ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13)

186

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Signs of the times” We live in a world of signs—traffic signs, informational labels on just about everything we eat, and advertisements. We are also profoundly influenced by less tangible signs. A “sign of the times” is something that represents the time in which we live and points to something bigger. Newspapers talk about rising (or falling) divorce rates being a sign of the times. The installation of metal detectors in high schools might be considered another sign of troubled times. As Jesus debated with the religious leaders and authorities, they sought to test Him by asking for a sign. In effect they were asking for Him to perform a trick for them. Ostensibly this would provide enough hard evidence that they could then believe His message. But the real reason was based in their disbelief. Jesus didn’t fall for their ploy. He had already performed countless miracles, including the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13–21) and the feeding of the four thousand (Matthew 15:29–39). What further evidence could they need? Jesus attacked the prideful knowledge of the Jewish leaders by His declaration that they could forecast the weather but didn’t know how to interpret the signs of the times. „ The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:1–3)

Overheard Quote

|

187

188

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Straight and narrow” Perhaps all criminals facing parole appeal to this phrase their changed ways and desire to be released. “I’m on narrow” implies living a morally upright life, where been dealt with and criminal pasts left behind. It’s forgiveness and restoration based on the reformed individual.

to proclaim the straight and addictions have an appeal to behaviors of an

Jesus’ intention in the Sermon on the Mount was never on good teaching and then leave it at that. Rather, disciples who would throw in their lot with Him, cost.

to simply pass He searched for whatever the

Here Jesus was telling the assembled masses that the tion is wide and easy. Drifting along on the waves centeredness may seem pleasant for a while; however, lead to death. Jesus then explained that the way to narrow and may at times seem restrictive or difficult. requires complete commitment to Him.

way to destrucof sinful selfultimately it will eternal life is Following Jesus

„ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13–14)

Overheard Quote

|

189

“A soft answer turns away wrath” On the one hand, what we find here in Proverbs is simply common sense. This concept may have been introduced to the world by Solomon, but what makes Proverbs unique is the God-centered focus that Solomon applies to this wisdom. Then, as now, it is almost always the case that a gentle response will deflect anger, whereas an angry response simply ups the ante. The reason that Solomon encourages his readers to have a soft tongue and a gentle answer is twofold. First, the Lord sees and knows all things. We can hide nothing from God and are to live at all times in humble obedience to Him, reflecting His love and majesty to all people. Second, people of God are to live as those who bear the image of God. We are to speak light and life into the lives of others, not darkness and death.

„ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

190

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Suffer fools gladly” We can’t tell from a single verse, but the tone of this entire section in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth is sarcastic. Paul rebuked the believers for their failure to stand firm in the Gospel that he preached to them. Apparently they let themselves be led into thinking that they were holier and more righteous than they really were. Paul assumed the role of a “fool” in order to expose their supposed “wisdom” and authority. His intention was to play off their existing notions of foolishness and wisdom and thereby help them see where they had been led into false doctrine. He implied that he had to talk like a fool since the Corinthians would gladly accept his advice if he did so. Since Paul wrote this letter, the phrase has assumed an entirely different meaning. It implies that someone is prone to being curt with anyone they perceive to be inferior or foolish. Most frequently it appears in obituaries, where it has become a way to talk of the deceased in an honest but diplomatic manner. „ For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. (2 Corinthians 11:19)

Overheard Quote

|

191

“Sweat of your brow” Those who earn a living by the “sweat of their brow” work hard for everything they have. We generally consider this to be a positive trait, displaying a strong work ethic. It’s the kind of pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps attitude that is that is such an integral part of the American ethos. But in Genesis, the phrase has a negative context. Adam and Eve chose to sin against God and as a result were forced to leave the garden of Eden (see Genesis 3). Death entered the world, and God cursed the snake, the woman, and the man. Each curse demonstrates the corrupting force of sin. The woman, created to give birth and live in harmony with the man, would now experience pain in childbirth and struggle in her relationship with her husband. The man would still have to work, but his work—“the sweat of [his] face”—would be significantly harder. The free and generous provision of food they had enjoyed in the garden of Eden had now been replaced by a life of difficulty.

„ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:17–19)

192

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“The love of money is the root of all evil” This is a truism we see in action everywhere. Professional athletes end up squandering their massive wealth by making foolish decisions. Business executives let their enormous salaries go to their heads and succumb to the relentless pressure to just make more and more money, regardless of the personal costs. The love of money has also led many Christians astray, causing pastors to stumble and regular church members to fall into all kinds of sin. So Paul’s warnings to Timothy are worth heeding. We should note, however, that the main reason Paul was so concerned about the love of money was not so much because of the consequences in the here and now but because of the eternal consequences. Far more significant than broken marriages or failed business ventures is a severed relationship with God. Ultimately this is the single most important reason to avoid getting ensnared by a love for money. „ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:9–10)

Overheard Quote

|

193

“The truth shall set you free” This popular phrase is used in everything from movies to television shows. In fact, it appears on the wall at the entrance to the CIA. Usually the phrase is quoted in order to encourage people to be truthful. The idea is that knowing and telling the truth release people from bondage. As with so many phrases we have pulled from the Bible, however, the original context points us toward quite a different interpretation. In this passage, we find Jesus conversing with “those Jews which believed on him.” The depth of what, specifically, they believed about Him is unclear, but it was enough that it prompted further clarification from Jesus as to what was required and expected of a true disciple. So He tells them that if they hold on to his teaching, then they will know the truth. Thus, “the truth” in this case has nothing to do with the disciple telling the truth but with the content of the truth the disciple holds on to. Moreover, having built their lives around this truth, they will then be set free. So what is the truth? It is both Jesus’ teaching and Jesus Himself.

„ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31–32)

194

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“There’s nothing new

under the sun” Although new inventions and new advancements in science and technology appear continually, nothing is really “new” when it comes to the big picture issues of meaning and purpose. Human emotions are the same. Relational dynamics may change slightly from culture to culture, but they remain largely the same over time. The point of the author of Ecclesiastes is that we should have a realistic outlook on life. In and of itself, most of life has nothing inherently purposeful to it. Life, death, and everything in between can seem random and arbitrary. As he notes here, nothing new comes along, just more of the same as the centuries roll on by. From a Christian perspective, none of this has any meaning without God. When we separate the creation from the Creator, life is purposeless. But the marvelous news of the Bible is the revelation of God’s work in creating, establishing, maintaining, and one day perfecting this world. According to the Bible, human history is not cyclical but linear, moving toward a final climactic moment. Life is imbued with meaning and purpose when viewed through this lens.

„ The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:9–10)

Overheard Quote

|

195

“Thorn in the flesh” A thorn in the flesh usually refers to any kind of nagging problem or difficult issue that plagues a person or institution. A thorn in the flesh is exactly what it sounds like, something painful that has embedded itself in our lives and won’t go away until it is dealt with. Usually it is something seemingly small yet significant enough to have an impact completely out of proportion to its size. The original context here is a letter from the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. The church struggled with a number of significant problems, and Paul wrote multiple letters to them challenging, rebuking, and teaching them on various matters. He concludes this letter with a note that he himself received a “thorn in the flesh.” So far the meaning is basically the same. However, he then expands on the situation. The thorn may have been from Satan, but it was used by God to help Paul remain humble and dependent on God.

„ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. . . . Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7, 10)

196

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“To everything there is a season” This passage of Scripture was perhaps made most famous by two songs that came out in the 1960s. During a time of turmoil and cultural upheaval, singer-songwriter Pete Seeger adapted this passage in Ecclesiastes into a song that was later covered by a popular music group called the Byrds. The final line was particularly relevant when the song first came out, as the Vietnam War continued to rage, the civil rights movement gained steam, and the Cold War intensified after the Cuban Missile Crisis. The author of Ecclesiastes described the world that he could see around him. In his search for meaning and significance beyond the everyday, he observed that everything had its appointed season. Without God’s presence with us, the result is not hopeful but hopeless. Once again all we can see is the cyclical, neverending, meaningless movement to life. But God is at work in and through all things—through birth and death, weeping and laughing, war and peace. This is where we can find meaning and purpose as we walk through the craziness of life.

„ To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Overheard Quote

|

197

“Twinkling of an eye” To say, “This will happen so quickly that you won’t be able to bat an eyelid before it happens” is not quite as lyrical as saying, “in the twinkling of an eye.” The original Greek means more or less the same thing, and it was no doubt a common phrase at the time. However, Paul uses the image here to emphasize the sudden speed with which Christ will one day return and transform the mortal into the immortal. It will not be a long, drawn-out event that slowly spreads around the world. It will simply happen. Death will be destroyed forever, and sin with it through the victory won by Jesus Christ. So what? Therefore, Christians today should live and act as workers in the kingdom. Paul’s primary concern as he finished this letter to the Corinthians was to see lives changed. That’s why the final chapter of 1 Corinthians focuses on the doctrine of the resurrection. If Christ was not raised from the dead, then He was not really God and His sacrifice was not sufficient.

„ In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:52–53)

198

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“Wars and rumors of wars” The context here is a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Indeed, the entire section from the beginning of Matthew 24 to the end of Matthew 25 is often referred to as the “Olivet Discourse,” since it is a longer series of teaching given by Jesus while sitting on the Mount of Olives. Jesus knew He was about to leave, and He wanted to ensure that His disciples were prepared for difficult times after He left. The introductory portion of this section, detailing coming earthquakes, wars, and famines is meant to set the stage for everything that follows. These things function as signs, or pointers, that the world is continuing to move in the direction of Jesus’ return. Wars, earthquakes, and other disasters are further evidence that we live in a fallen world creaking its way toward final judgment and ultimately restoration.

„ And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (Matthew 24:6–7; see also Mark 13:7)

Overheard Quote

|

199

“Weighed in the balances and found wanting” The absolute sovereignty of God over and above all earthly powers is the context for the strange prophecy and interpretation in Daniel 5. The king of Babylon at the time was a man named Belshazzar, who was powerful but full of pride. After a mysterious hand appeared and began writing a message on a wall in Aramaic (see “Handwriting on the wall”), the prophet Daniel provided the interpretation of the message. It meant “numbered, weighed, divided.” In other words, Belshazzar’s pride was about to lead to a catastrophic fall from power. Indeed, that very night Darius the Mede invaded Babylon, captured the kingdom, and killed Belshazzar. Although this phrase is often used to talk about human efforts falling short of some kind of standard or goal, we would do well to remember that ultimately the standard we must all measure up to is God.

„ This is the interpretation of the thing: Mene; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. Tekel; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Peres; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:26–28)

200

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

“What is truth?” “What is truth?” Countless books, articles, blogs, and conferences have revolved around this question with philosophers and theologians providing opinions on the topic. The conversation Jesus had with Pilate, the procurator of Judea, was not about philosophy at all, but about Jesus’ identity. After three years of prophetic teaching and healing ministry, Jesus was arrested and put on trial before Pilate. A curious Pilate, however, cut the conversation short with his declaration of disgust for truth. Jesus, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), the One who came to bring truth into a deceitful world, was Himself rejected and dismissed as an inconvenience and irritation by Pilate, ultimately paving the way for His crucifixion. Although it appeared to be a lost opportunity for Jesus to be set free, in the end it turned out that His death was actually the culmination of His entire ministry. The lost opportunity for freedom here was for Pilate, who had a rare face-to-face encounter with the God of the universe and yet missed his opportunity completely.

„ Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (John 18:37–38)

Overheard Quote

|

201

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” Many people today use this brief proverb in regard to leadership. Leaders are to carefully craft a compelling vision or direction for the people they are leading. Otherwise, the people, organization, or corporation will fail. While there may be some practical business wisdom in this way of thinking, we can’t lay that burden upon this particular verse. The key here is the Hebrew word that we translate as “vision.” What it actually refers to is a prophetic vision or word from God. People perish when there is no prophetic word coming from God. In contrast, the proverb continues, the one who keeps the law of God will be happy. Jesus was the ultimate prophetic Word of God, sent to bring life to those lost in sin. Those who received Him, received life.

„ Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18)

202

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

It’s in There Somewhere, Right? There are many quotes that many people assume are in the Bible but aren’t really there. „ “God helps those who help themselves.” Benjamin Franklin actually wrote this in Poor Richard’s Almanack.

„ “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Credit for this one should go to English preacher John Wesley. „ “Money is the root of all evil.” This saying misquotes 1 Timothy 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

„ “The lion shall lie down with the lamb.” This might be a reference to Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”

„ “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” This is probably a sentiment that comes from Proverbs 13:24 (NIV): “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” „ “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” This comes from A Hand-book of Proverbs by John Ray (1670).

„ Charity begins at home. You can thank Sir Thomas Browne, an English physician, for this one. He included it in his book Religio Medici in 1642.

„ “All that glitters (or glisters) is not gold.” Shakespeare used this phrase in a rhetorical question in The Merchant of Venice. But you won’t find it in the Bible. „ “Honesty is the best policy.” Another Ben Franklin saying. Overheard Quote

|

203

204

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Stories Jesus Told Which of the following grabs your attention faster? (Be honest.) “Listen to my sermon about . . .” “There was a man with two sons . . .” “There was a man with two sons” is a phrase akin to the wellknown “Once upon a time.” It immediately hooks us with its inherent promise of a good story to follow. Knowing human nature, Jesus used stories to hook His listeners. His stories were so engaging, even a child could enjoy and understand them. Yet there were hidden truths about the kingdom of God in each story. As Jesus often said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (Mark 4:9 NLT throughout this section). Jesus told three types of parables: teaching parables, Gospel parables, and parables of judgment and the future. Although Jesus expounded on truths in all of His parables, teaching parables had a specific subject: the kingdom of God, obedience, prayer, humility, or wealth. The Gospel parables centered on love and forgiveness. „

Teaching Parables ABOUT THE

J

KINGDOM

OF

GOD

esus, the master teacher, taught on a variety of subjects: about the kingdom of God, serving and obeying God, prayer, being a good neighbor, humility, and wealth.

„

The Soils Matthew 13:3–8; Mark 4:3–8; Luke 8:5–8

Most parents know when their children are listening and when they aren’t. Their obedient actions show their understanding. Jesus’ parable talks to this issue of hearing but not understanding. Unlike many other parables, Jesus explained the meaning of this one to His confused and inquisitive disciples. In Mark 4:10–20, we read that Jesus said the “seed” represents “God’s word,” which most likely means the word of God or the words spoken by God (and Jesus) in regard to the kingdom of God. The four soils represent four different responses to Jesus and His word. Some people, like kids tuning out their parents, just don’t hear the word at all. Others are excited at first, but their initial enthusiasm quickly wanes. Others hear the word and seem to grab ahold of it, but “all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things” (Mark 4:19). Finally, the fruitful soil represents people who hear the word and are changed by it. Their obedient actions show their understanding.

„ “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field." (Matthew 13:24)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

207

The Weeds Matthew 13:24–30

Ever been fooled by what you thought was a flower but learned that it was a weed? Jesus told a story of how such a thing might happen. A farmer who sows wheat seeds in his field is dismayed to find that an enemy has sown weeds in his field. The weeds might have been darnel, a weed that looks like wheat. Instead of allowing his servants to pull the weeds, the farmer decides to wait until the harvest to separate the wheat from the weeds. Clearly this is more than just good farming advice. Jesus was teaching His disciples about the mixed results His message will produce in people’s lives. Some will hear His word and, as a result of believing it, will mature and bear fruit. They are the “good seeds.” Others will do the opposite. Like weeds, they have the appearance of “good” plants. Rather than investing time and energy trying to root out people who simply pretend to follow Jesus, true followers should focus on serving Christ and bearing fruit, trusting that Jesus will ultimately judge everyone fairly when He returns. „ Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.” (Matthew 13:24-26)

208

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Mustard Seed Matthew 13:31–32; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–19

Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed might seem like a fairy tale akin to “Jack and the Beanstalk.” In this parable, Jesus used another image that would have been common to His listeners—the mustard seed. Ever see a mustard seed? These seeds are so small that even picking one up can be difficult. Yet a mustard seed can grow into a plant at least ten feet tall. The point is not so much that these are huge plants but that astonishing growth can take place out of seemingly tiny or insignificant beginnings. Given Christianity’s humble start with the death of its leader on a Roman cross, the mustard seed certainly seems to be a fitting comparison to use. Jesus knew that His tiny band of disciples would one day grow into a large body of people from all nations. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, the church blossomed and grew (Acts 2). Christianity isn’t the only religion in the world, but no one can doubt the amazing influence it has had throughout the world and across the centuries.

„ Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31–32)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

209

The Yeast Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20–21

Many kinds of bread are made with yeast (leaven). Flatbreads like tortillas and matzo, however, are made without yeast. Without this little bacterium, bread dough will not rise. Although a baker only adds a small amount of yeast, as it reacts with the other ingredients, it manages to work throughout the entire batch of dough, thus causing the bread to rise. The imagery would not have been lost on Jesus’ disciples as they listened to Jesus’ parable. Leaven is a symbol for growth here, rather than impurity in other instances (see Matthew 16:11–12; Mark 8:15). The dough is the life of a believer, which is changed by the leaven—the kingdom of God and the truth of Christ. Followers of Jesus can expect their lives to be forever altered by Jesus; over time they demonstrates significant change to a watching world. „ Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.” (Matthew 13:33)

210

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Treasure Matthew 13:44

If you had a full backpack or purse and found a priceless treasure, what would you do? You’d empty your backpack to make room for the treasure! In fact, you would probably do anything you had to do to keep this treasure. In Jesus’ story, a man happens across a treasure in a field. He immediately sells everything he has to buy the field so that he can claim the treasure. As with all parables, we can’t stretch the details too far. While some have claimed that the man in the story is being deceptive, the point is that he gave up everything in order to get the treasure he discovered. This is the same message as that of the parable Jesus told concerning the pearl of great price. The treasure is the kingdom of God. Jesus calls His disciples to give up everything they have in order to receive Jesus’ offer of eternal life. Becoming a citizen of heaven means giving up one’s right to run one’s life and also one’s allegiance to the world.

„ “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” (Matthew 13:44)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

211

The Pearl of Great Price Matthew 13:45–46

Think about the last pearl you saw. How big was it? Jesus told a parable of a pearl of great price. This parable has the same truth as that of the man who discovers buried treasure. The main difference here is that the merchant is actively looking for fine pearls as opposed to simply stumbling across the treasure. Moreover, the entire transaction is done out in the open, removing any hint or allegation of sneakiness on the part of the buyer (as opposed to the man who hides the treasure after finding it). The point is that if we were to find something of astonishing value, we would most likely do whatever it took to purchase it. This is the emotional fuel that drives business at antique stores and auction houses. The kingdom of God is the ultimate treasure—worth any price. Many Christians have experienced this cost firsthand, setting aside their wealth, family ties, jobs, and sometimes their lives in order to follow the Savior who paid the ultimate price for their sin. „ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” (Matthew 13:45–46)

212

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Fishing Net Matthew 13:47–50

Jesus used imagery familiar to His listeners: the daily life of the fisherman. One fishing method involved letting down a dragnet and scooping up whatever it happened to collect—fish, crabs, plants, and so on. The fish would be separated from everything else. Jesus used this parable to teach about the final judgment. The point of the parable is not how the judgment will take place but rather that judgment is coming during which a separation of some sort will take place. The Bible is clear that God is holy and just and that sin has to be punished. At the end of the age, that punishment will either be borne by Jesus on the cross or by individuals in hell—not a happy picture. This is not a popular message. But it’s an amazing reminder that although Jesus came to offer us the chance to be at peace with God, He will one day come again to judge those who have turned their backs on Him and refused this offer of grace and forgiveness.

„ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind.” (Matthew 13:47)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

213

The Growing Seed Mark 4:26–29

Although some of Jesus’ parables pertained to specifics unique to the culture and society of Israel, this particular one is almost universally understandable. Jesus described a farmer who sowed seed and waited for the plants to sprout and grow. The entire process from germination to harvest took place without any intervention from the farmer. Whether he was present or not, the seed continued to grow until it finally produced grain. Although scientists can demonstrate exactly what happens at each stage of growth even down to the cellular level, why growth happens at all is still somewhat of a mystery. Jesus used this seeming “miracle” of natural growth as a powerful image for the spiritual growth that happens inside people. It can often be hard to tell what is really going on inside someone’s heart. Some people attend church faithfully for many years before suddenly something clicks and they finally “get it.” Others experience a radical and dramatic conversion the very first time they hear the Gospel. Only God knows what is happening inside a person. The seed of the kingdom of God is sown wide and far and grows and takes root in sometimes hidden and unexpected places. „ Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground.” (Mark 4:26)

214

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Teaching Parables ABOUT

SERVICE

AND

OBEDIENCE

M

any people are tempted to lump the events in the Bible as mythology, because of the amazing occurrences listed: five thousand people fed with one lunch, bread falling from the sky, angels taking on whole armies. Such a belief doesn’t take into account the real God who could perform all of these miraculous events. Sometimes, he performed them through trusted individuals who had faith in his power. So, step right up and feast your eyes on some of the most amazing events to ever occur in history.

„

The Workers in the Vineyard Matthew 20:1–16

Throughout the world, day laborers congregate at street corners and in town squares looking for work. Prospective employers size people up based on the work they need done and then decide on a salary. Equal pay for equal work seems like a reasonable assumption to make when taking on a new job. Yet here Jesus introduces a strange parable that reverses our assumptions and challenges our definition of “fairness.” In the story, the agreed-upon price for a day’s work is one denarius, a small sum that was probably normal for this kind of work, although barely enough for a family to survive on. However, the landowner makes an interesting decision: to pay workers who began work at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day the same wage. The main point seems to be that the landowner has the right to extend mercy and generosity to anyone he chooses, whatever their perceived value or worth in the eyes of other people. This is the math of the kingdom of heaven. Wise workers refuse to compare themselves with others in the kingdom. „ “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.” (Matthew 20:1)

216

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Loaned Money Matthew 25:14–30

A misperception of this parable is that Jesus is teaching stewardship of the gifts and abilities, or “talents,” that God has given us. However, the word talent does not refer to something we are good at doing, but to a weight of money. In fact, a single talent would have represented anywhere from fifteen to twenty years’ worth of salary. The amounts of money in this parable are therefore completely exaggerated for effect. The master gives each servant a sum of money “in proportion to their abilities” and then leaves on a journey. The implied assumption is that they will do something with the money, and that one day the master will return. Set within the overall context of Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God and His impending death and resurrection, there are perhaps two main points here. The first is a further reminder that Jesus is going to return one day to judge the world. The second is that his disciples will be held accountable for the way in which they have served Jesus in His absence.

„ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.” (Matthew 25:14)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

217

The Servant’s Role Luke 17:7–10

Complete obedience is not a particularly highly valued trait among many people today. Certainly, anyone in the armed forces is used to following orders and not seeking special treatment; most civilians, however, value personal freedom so highly that the idea of being beholden to someone else seems strange and discomforting. Yet here we have a parable that clearly teaches absolute obedience to Jesus. In the context of teaching about the danger of sin and the power of faith, Jesus rounds out this teaching with a reminder that obedience to the master was the expected mode of behavior. Just as a slave would not expect to be treated differently or in any special way simply for doing what he is supposed to be doing, so Jesus expects that His disciples will obey Him and everything He has said, simply because He has told them to do so.

„ “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ ” (Luke 17:7—8)

218

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Nobleman’s Servants Luke 19:11–27

Although this parable is very similar to the one told in Matthew 25:14–30, there are enough differences to warrant treating it separately. The first and most obvious difference is the amounts of money involved. Whereas the word talent has caused extensive confusion for those seeking to understand Matthew’s parable, Luke’s use of the word mina allows contemporary readers to focus simply on the financial element of the story. A mina was probably worth about three months’ wages, which was still a significant amount of money but certainly less than “a talent.” The point of the parable has more to do with the context in which it is set. A key phrase appears at the very beginning, where Luke says that Jesus “told [his disciples] a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away” (Luke 19:11). The focus of this passage then is directed toward this issue of Jesus’ impending crucifixion and ascension, followed by His return in judgment. The triumphal king would return at a later stage, and in the meantime the servants would be responsible for their roles in seeing the kingdom grow and spread.

„ He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.” (Luke 19:12)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

219

Teaching Parables ABOUT

„

P R AY E R

The Unjust Judge Luke 18:1–8

As with so many parables, this parable is not quite as straightforward as it seems. Throughout the ancient world, widows faced a difficult and dangerous existence. They were completely reliant on help from others and often lived on the edge of poverty. In this story, the judge is deliberately contrasted with the plaintive figure of a widow to emphasize just how bad he is. The comparison is shocking, and Jesus’ listeners would have been appalled at his coldhearted behavior. Sadly, many would also have been able to relate to the plight of this poor woman, stuck in a system that ignored and abused the weak and helpless. So what does this teach us about prayer? Jesus is trying to communicate to His followers the amazing love of God. After all, He says, if even an evil judge will finally relent under the continued requests of a poor widow, how much more will a perfect and loving God eagerly and speedily grant justice to those He calls His children?

„ One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.” (Luke 18:1–2)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

221

The Friend at Midnight Luke 11:5–8

Having just taught the disciples the most famous prayer in history, the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus goes on to explain in more detail about how to pray. Having explained the Lord’s Prayer to them and given this parable, Jesus then goes on to say that if even bad parents know how to give good gifts, then “how much more” will God delight to bless His children? The parable of the friend at midnight seems to be an illustration of the same principle. If even a grumpy man woken in the middle of the night knows how to give bread to his neighbor when he needs it, then “how much more” (v. 13) will God delight to bless His children when they need it? The resoundingly clear message throughout this section is that prayer is vitally important in the life of a follower of Jesus, and that God not only hears prayer but is pleased to answer it as well. „ Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” (Luke 11:5–8)

222

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Teaching Parables ABOUT

NEIGHBORS

„

The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30–37

When a lawyer asked Jesus a question, he responded with this well-known parable. The road down to Jericho from Jerusalem was not a particularly safe one, and anyone traveling alone would face the possibility of being robbed. Sadly, this is what happens for the man in this parable, and he is left “half dead.” Having told the story, Jesus then challenged his listeners to consider who acted as the man’s “neighbor.” The obvious answer is the Samaritan, but what would have been so shocking to Jesus’ listeners is that the Samaritans were despised by the Jews. Most of His audience would have had a hard time imagining themselves stopping to care for a Samaritan. Yet here in the story the Samaritan shows up both the priest and the Levite (and by extension, most of Jesus’ audience) with his care and compassion for the weak and needy. The lawyer who attempted to trick Jesus and justify his own selfish attitudes and actions was forced to realize that he had missed the point of both Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. His selfish heart neither loved God nor loved his neighbor. The challenges remain for us today.

„ Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.” (Luke 10:30)

224

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Teaching Parables ABOUT

HUMILITY

„

The Wedding Feast Luke 14:7–11

Although we generally consider humility to be a primary teaching point for Jesus, only two of His parables address this issue directly. The first is the parable of the wedding feast. The context for this story is a meal at the house of a “leader of the Pharisees” (v. 1). Fully aware that He was being watched intently, Jesus healed a man suffering from dropsy, much to the chagrin of the Pharisees. Following this tense episode, Jesus noticed the people jockeying for the best seat at the table for the meal. At this moment, he told the parable of the wedding feast. Unlike some parables which have a more fully developed plot and characters, this particular story is just one shade away from explicit teaching: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor” (v. 8). Jesus was very blunt here about how His audience should and should not be behaving in such a situation. Humility is the key, and self-exaltation will only ever result in humiliation.

„ When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited?” (Luke 14:7–8)

226

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Proud Pharisee and the Corrupt Tax Collector Luke 18:9–14

Sometimes the meanings of certain parables are placed right in the text for us. For example: “Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else” (Luke 18:9). The parable itself draws on two very common images of the time. First, the Pharisees were the self-proclaimed guardians of orthodoxy and worked very hard to maintain all appearances of holiness and absolute obedience to the law. Second, the tax collectors were the lowest of the low. Not only were they willing employees of the Roman occupying forces, but they had a reputation for stealing money from their own countrymen and charging exorbitant taxes in order to build up their own wealth. So the parable plays off these images by exposing the pride hidden under the Pharisee’s shiny veneer of holiness and the humility nobody would have expected under the despised cloak of the tax collector. The point here is clear—God favors people who have a genuine understanding of their own sinfulness and don't try to cover themselves up before a holy and righteous God.

„ Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.” (Luke 18:9–10)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

227

Teaching Parables ABOUT

„

W E A LT H

The Rich Fool Luke 12:16–21

The context sets the tone for this parable, the occasion being a man asking for help in getting his brother to share his inheritance with him. Jesus responds to the question with a challenge to be on guard against an unhealthy obsession with money, for “life is not measured by how much you own” (12:15). This general principle is then expanded upon with the short parable of the rich man’s abundant crops. The sheer volume of all this wealth then leads him to pursue a hedonistic lifestyle. The punch-line to the story is a direct word from God: the man is about to die. The rich man in the parable is no doubt an exaggeration. It is doubtful that many farmers would have been quite that fortunate in their endeavors nor quite that foolish in their management of their wealth. However, inheritances of any size were extremely important, and presumably quite often the source of argument among relatives. With this short story Jesus reminds His disciples that while money serves a purpose here and now, there is more to life than the accumulation of wealth. „ Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.” (Luke 12:16)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

229

The Great Feast Luke 14:16–24

In the awkward moments following some difficult teaching by Jesus about the importance of humility, someone pipes up and tries to change the mood in the room by announcing, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” (v. 15). However, rather than changing the topic, Jesus used the comment as a lead-in to a longer parable based on the image of a great banquet. Read in the context of Isaiah 25, this parable speaks of a time when God will put an end to all suffering. The guests who were initially invited to the banquet all bow out when the time comes, giving a series of weak and rather strange excuses. When they fail to show, others are called to attend in their place. The parable would have been shocking and perhaps even confusing for most listeners. Many people expected God’s blessings to come to them based simply on their cultural background or nominal faith. However, Jesus was clear that those coasting on religion may find themselves missing the boat.

„ Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ ” (Luke 14:16–17)

230

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Shrewd Manager Luke 16:1–9

Although the issues presented in this parable are complex, at its core this parable tells the simple story of a man who has been dishonest in his dealings and fired as a result. Fearing for his future, he cuts some deals with some of his old master’s debtors in order to gain their favor. Jesus is not applauding this manager’s dishonesty and deception. The manager had clear responsibilities toward his master that he had failed to live up to and was fired as a result. Stewardship is undoubtedly at the heart of the parable. If a dishonest manager is nevertheless shrewd enough to prepare for his uncertain future after being fired, how much more should the disciples be careful to prepare for their own uncertain futures? The parable ends with an admonition to be careful in how we manage the material resources with which we have been entrusted. Will they lead us toward God or away from Him? Will we use them to further God’s kingdom or our own? „ Jesus told this story to his disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a manager handling his affairs. One day a report came that the manager was wasting his employer’s money.” (Luke 16:1)

Te a c h i n g P a r a b l e 

|

231

Gospel Parables ABOUT

J

GOD’S LOVE

esus used stories to shed light on His mission: to show the depths of God’s amazing love. He was sent to seek and to save the lost.

„

The Lost Sheep Matthew 18:12–14; Luke 15:3–7

Sheep are just not that smart. Easily frightened, they are prone to wander off. This makes them the perfect metaphor for humans in this parable. One hundred sheep is a pretty big herd. It’s possible that the shepherd owned them all, or perhaps two herds were mixed together. Either way, one shepherd was ultimately responsible for protecting the sheep. So when one wandered off, it was a big deal. The main point here is the shepherd’s passionate pursuit of the lost sheep. Jesus addressed this parable to a group of Pharisees and teachers of the law who grumbled about His eating with tax collectors and sinners. The religious leaders could not understand Jesus’ apparent fascination with them. This parable helps explain that these are exactly the people Jesus came to rescue. One of the most astonishing truths taught in the Bible is that God loves everyone. Everyone is a lost sheep who needs to be found. This was not a message the Pharisees wanted to hear.

„  “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:12–14)

Gopel Parable

|

233

The Lost Coin Luke 15:8–10

The frantic search for lost items is a theme that has endured throughout time. Pretty much everyone everywhere can empathize with the woman who has lost one of her coins and tears her house apart looking for it. The surprising element here is that the protagonist of this story is a woman. We don’t know how the Pharisees reacted when Jesus told this parable, but the choice was intentionally made to push their assumptions about who God values and how He operates in the world. Without banks it is not surprising that the woman would have kept the money in her house and lost or misplaced a coin in a dark corner as a result. The parable emphasizes God’s great love for us. Just as this woman goes to great lengths to find the lost coin, so too will God go to any lengths to rescue His lost children. Everyone was created in the image of God and is worth saving, not just those who considered themselves to be holy and perfect. Jesus came to die for the whole world, not just a select few.

„ “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:8–10)

234

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Lost Son Luke 15:11–32

The parable of the lost son, more than any other parable, has etched itself into our cultural psyche. While the younger son’s request seems innocuous, most of Jesus’ listeners would have been shocked by it. Asking for an early inheritance was akin to telling his father that he should hurry up and die. Furthermore, the father would have needed to sell off land and cattle—a further act of public humiliation. Yet the father agrees to his request. The younger son’s sojourn in a foreign land brought more disgrace to the family name. Even worse, he wound up tending an animal Jews were forbidden from eating and that represented everything impure. At his lowest ebb, he decides to return home. An honorable man would never have demeaned himself by running to his son and showing such extravagant affection to him. Yet this father does—the perfect picture of the love of God. The parable doesn’t end here. It continues with the oldest son’s disrespect and the father’s choice to show compassion. This compassion was a marked contrast to the Pharisees’ disdain for the lost. „ To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.” (Luke 15:11–12)

Gopel Parable

|

235

Gospel Parables ABOUT

„

THANKFULNESS

The Forgiven Debts Luke 7:41–43

The occasion when Jesus gave this parable was dinner in the home of a Pharisee. An “immoral” woman (v. 37) entered the room and poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. Simon, the Pharisee, was shocked and assumed Jesus would quickly send her away. Instead, Jesus told him this parable about debts forgiven and applied it to Simon and the woman. Simon failed at one of the basic tenets of hospitality: washing a guest’s feet. The woman, however, washed Jesus' feet with her tears and anointed them. Jesus then added yet another twist. This woman’s sinful nature made her a debtor as much as the man in the parable. Because she had been forgiven much, she loved much. Simon’s sins may have been less, but where was his love and gratitude? This pointed question would have left an uncomfortable silence in the room. Jesus broke it by openly forgiving the woman of her sins—a further shocking development, since only God had the power to do that.

„ Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” (Luke 7:41–42)

Gopel Parable

|

237

Parables of Judgment ABOUT

K

CH R I ST’S RETU R N

nowing that the end of His mission was drawing near, Jesus used parables to prepare His followers for the difficulties ahead and for His second coming. He wanted them to remain faithful and watchful.

„

The Faithful and Sensible Servant Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 12:42–48

As Jesus approached the end of His active ministry, he wanted to warn His disciples about what was about to happen. Many false prophets would rise up to lead people astray; persecution and death were likely outcomes for all who chose to follow Him. To encourage the disciples to focus their attention on how they should live until His return, Jesus told this parable. This servant is wise and obedient, taking care of the people under his charge. Indeed, when the master returns, he finds the servant hard at work and is pleased with him. However, this faithful servant is contrasted with the wicked servant who takes advantage of his master’s absence to abuse his power. When his master returns unexpectedly the wicked servant is punished for his disobedience. The implication for the disciples is that they were to focus their attention on being obedient servants of Christ while He was gone, taking care of the work and people entrusted to their care. The negative example was given as a warning to remind them of the serious nature of their work.

„ “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.” (Matthew 24:45)

Parable of Judgment

|

239

The Traveling Home Owner Mark 13:34–37

The last parable in the Gospel of Mark is a final encouragement to Jesus’ disciples to be prepared for His return. Having explained to them that one day they will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory” (13:26), Jesus implores them to live their lives accordingly while they wait for His triumphant return. This was undoubtedly a confusing time for the disciples. They didn’t fully understand what was about to happen—that Jesus was going to be crucified but three days later rise again before ascending into heaven. But Jesus knew He had a limited amount of time to drive His point home. Like the servants in the parable, the disciples were to be diligent in their Master’s work: making disciples and spreading the kingdom. They were to work hard, even though Jesus would no longer be right there with them. Above all they were to be watchful for Jesus’ imminent return. „ “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” (Mark 13:34–37)

240

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Parable of Judgment

|

241

The Ten Bridesmaids Matthew 25:1–13

This parable extends the theme of faithfulness during a time of waiting. Jesus sets the stage by designating five bridesmaids foolish and five wise. The wise bridesmaids come prepared with extra oil for their lamps. Because of their preparedness, they enter the wedding feast. The foolish bridesmaids’ search for oil renders them too late to enter. While the parable is based on common cultural practices regarding marriage, it probably does not match them exactly. A procession from the groom’s house to the bride’s house and back again was common, and many bridesmaids were often involved. Lamps would have been required of all participants in order to light the way, and Jesus’ audience would have known of the importance of bringing extra oil. The wedding imagery was often connected with God’s love for His chosen people, and Jesus purposefully applies this language to Himself. Although the story may seem a little harsh to us, the point is clear: Jesus’ disciples are to be prepared for Jesus’ return. „  “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.” (Matthew 25:1–2)

242

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Parables of Judgment ABOUT

GOD’S VALUES

„

The Unforgiving Debtor Matthew 18:23–35

Forgiveness is a key theme in the Bible, and this particular parable fleshes it out. In asking about forgiveness, Peter may have been thinking seven was a good number to guess, but Jesus countered by suggesting “seventy times seven” instead. How could that be possible? Enter the parable of the unforgiving debtor. In the parable, Jesus mentions a ridiculously enormous amount of money. The number is intentionally as large as possible, probably alluding back to the equally surprising number of times Jesus had suggested for offering forgiveness. The parable was meant to help Peter understand the concept of forgiveness. On the one hand, we have been forgiven a debt that none of us could ever hope to pay. The separation between man and God is so vast it cannot hope to be crossed. Yet God, in His mercy, reached out to us through the death of His Son, Jesus. Because we have experienced this forgiveness, we should be ready to extend the same boundless forgiveness into the lives of other people. If we fail to forgive, we will not be forgiven.

„ “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him millions of dollars.” (Matthew 18:23–24)

244

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Two Sons Matthew 21:28–32

Some stories like this parable require little to no background knowledge to understand. Drawing on relational dynamics that are common in many families, this short tale crosses just about all cultural barriers and remains as applicable today as it was for Jesus’ intended audience at the time. Shortly after Jesus entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple, the chief priests and elders demanded that Jesus explain his actions. Jesus countered by asking them about the source of John the Baptist’s authority. When they refused to answer, he told this parable. The chief priests and religious leaders were like the second son, who should have gone to help his father, but did not—a disgraceful, shameful act. They had failed to respond correctly to the words of the prophets in general and John the Baptist in particular. However, the tax collectors and sinners were like the first son, who, while not initially interested, did eventually obey his father. They may not have understood the prophets, but some responded to John the Baptist and to Jesus.

„ “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” (Matthew 21:28–31)

Parable of Judgment

|

245

The Evil Farmers Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19

In Matthew’s Gospel, the parable of the tenants follows the parable of the two sons. In Mark and Luke, it is placed at the end of Jesus’ ministry, and in all cases, it is directed at the religious leaders. These men were supposed to shepherd God’s people; instead, they worked against Jesus, challenging His authority. The image of a landowner and his vineyard was frequently associated with God and His kingdom. The tenants would have been easily recognized as God’s people, while the servants who were abused and killed were the prophets. The parable, therefore, contains a mini history of Israel, culminating in the rejection of Jesus Himself. While the parable was clearly a judgment on the religious leaders for failing to honor God and faithfully shepherd His people, it is also a warning to any who would participate in the kingdom of God. Doing God’s work has eternal consequences. The blessing of God requires absolute obedience and faithful humility. „ “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.” (Matthew 21:33–36)

246

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

The Wedding Feast Matthew 22:1–14

Like the parable of the evil farmers, this parable has a prophetic warning. The imagery would have been familiar for Jesus’ listeners, with the king representing God and the banquet potentially referring to the end of the age. Yet almost immediately there is a twist. The guests refuse to come and even kill some of the servants. Jesus’ audience would have been in complete shock by this point. What kind of evil people would act in such a shameful manner? Jesus continued. The king punishes the guests then throws open the doors to invite anyone on the streets to the wedding banquet. This would have been a strange action for anyone in charge of a wedding. The tension builds as the king now notices someone at the wedding who should not be there. This man is then thrown out of the wedding. The parable reveals God’s reaction to the religious leaders’ failure to care for His people. Their spiritual blindness was disgraceful, and would not go unseen or unpunished. The leaders understood the point Jesus made but didn’t like it one bit.

„ Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.” (Matthew 22:1–2)

Parable of Judgment

|

247

The Unproductive Tree Luke 13:6–9

Although often considered to be simply another good moral teacher, Jesus had a very specific message about repentance. It was not popular then and continues to be a struggle for many today. On one such occasion, having just told the people, “Unless you repent, you will perish, too” (v. 5 NLT), Jesus sought to drive home His point by way of a parable about a fig tree. The expectation for planting a fig tree is that it should bear fruit. But this tree never does. Eventually, the owner orders the caretaker to cut the tree down and use the soil for something else. However, the caretaker beseeches the owner to give the tree one last chance. There is one caveat—if there is still no fruit after a year, it will be cut down. Jesus may sound harsh here, but His message is actually the most loving message possible. There are real, eternal consequences for living in rebellion against God. However, the good news is that because of Jesus’ death, anyone can be forgiven and gain access into God’s presence. Jesus’ passionate plea was for everyone to repent and be saved. „ Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6–9)

248

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Scripture Reference Index Genesis Genesis 1–2, “God Creates the Universe,” p. 40 Genesis 2:7, “He gave up the ghost,” p. 171 Genesis 2:18, “Adam and Eve: First People, First Sin,” p. 85 Genesis 3, “Sweat of your brow,” p. 192 Genesis 3:1–19, “Adam and Eve Disobey God,” p. 42 Genesis 3:8–12, “Adam and Eve: First People, First Sin,” p.85 Genesis 3:17–19, “Sweat of your brow,” p.192 Genesis 4:8–9, “My brother’s keeper,” p. 181 Genesis 5:29, “Noah: The Ark Builder,” p. 126 Genesis 5:34, “Elijah: Israel’s Greatest Prophet,” p. 94 Genesis 6:6–9 “A Flood Covers the Earth,” p. 44 Genesis 6:9–14, “Noah: The Ark Builder”, p. 126 Genesis 6:17–19, “A Flood Covers the Earth,” p. 44 Genesis 11:1–9, “The Tower of Babel Is Built,” p. 46 Genesis 12:1–3, “Solomon Builds the Temple,” p. 56; “Abraham: Friend of God”, p. 82 Genesis 12:2–3, “Dust of the earth,” p. 162 Genesis 13:16, “Dust of the earth,” p. 162 Genesis 21:1–3, “Isaac: The Promised Son,” p. 103 Genesis 21:4–7, “Sarah: Unlikely Mother,” p. 137 Genesis 22, “Solomon Builds the Temple,” p. 56 Genesis 22:12, “Abraham: Friend of God,” p. 82

Genesis 22:1–19, “Abraham Takes a Sacrifice,” p. 2 Genesis 25:29–31, “Jacob: The Schemer,” p. 105 Genesis 28:10–17, “Jacob Has a Dream,” p. 3 Genesis 37:3, “Joseph, Son of Jacob (OT): Favored Son,” p. 112 Genesis 50:18–20, “Joseph, Son of Jacob (OT): Favored Son,” p. 115

Exodus Exodus 3:1–10, “The Bush Doesn’t Burn,” p. 4 Exodus 4:13, “Moses: The Reticent Deliverer,” p. 124 Exodus 7:1–12:36, “God Sends Plagues on Egypt,” p. 47 Exodus 12, “Jesus Has the Last Supper with His Disciples,” p. 73 Exodus 12:1–30, “The First Passover Is Celebrated,” p. 48 Exodus 14, “An Ax Head Floats,” p. 13 Exodus 14:13–31, “Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot,” p. 11 Exodus 14:21–31, “God Parts the Red Sea,” p. 49 Exodus 14:29–15:21, “Bread Falls from Heaven,” p. 5 Exodus 16:4–21, “Bread Falls from Heaven,” p. 5 Exodus 19–20, “God Gives the Ten Commandments,” p. 50 Exodus 21:24, “Eye for an eye,” p. 164 Exodus 31:18, “Moses: The Reticent Deliverer,” p. 124 Exodus 32, “Man shall not live by bread alone,” p. 178 Exodus 32:3–4, “Golden calf,” p. 168

Leviticus Leviticus 11, “Peter Has a Vision”, p. 26

Scripture Reference Index

|

249

Leviticus 19:1, “God Gives the Ten Commandments,” p. 50 Leviticus 19:18, “Eye for an eye,” p. 164; “The Good Samaritan,” p. 224 Leviticus 24:17–20, “Eye for an eye,” p. 164

Numbers Numbers 13:1–33, “The Spies Return,” p. 6 Numbers 20:1–11, “A Snake Is Raised,” p. 7 Numbers 21:4–9, “A Snake Is Raised,” p. 7 Numbers 22:21–34, “A Donkey Speaks,” p. 8

Deuteronomy Deuteronomy 6:5, “The Good Samaritan,” p. 224 Deuteronomy 8:2–3, “Man shall not live by bread alone,” p. 178 Deuteronomy 10:18, “Oil and Flour Keep Coming,” p. 10 Deuteronomy 14:29, “Oil and Flour Keep Coming,” p. 10 Deuteronomy 19:21, “Eye for an eye,” p. 164 Deuteronomy 32:9–10, “Apple of his eye,” p. 155 Deuteronomy 34:10–12, “Moses: The Reticent Deliverer,” p. 124

Joshua Joshua 1:1, 6–9, “Joshua: The Conquering Hero,” p. 111 Joshua 3:1–17, “Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot,” p. 11 Joshua 6, “The Walls of Jericho Fall,” p. 51 Joshua 10:1–15, “The Sun Moves Backward,” p. 16 Joshua 10:7–14, “The Sun Stands Still,” p. 9 Joshua 14:6–9, “Caleb: The Faithful Spy,” p. 87

Judges

|

Ruth Ruth 1:16–18, “Ruth: Loyal Friend”, p. 133

1 Samuel 1 Samuel 1:12–16, “Hannah: The Desperate Pray-er”, p. 102 1 Samuel 3:7–10, “Samuel: Prophet and Priest”, p. 136 1 Samuel 13:1, “Saul: Flawed First King”, p. 138 1 Samuel 13:13–14, “A man after his own heart”, p. 154 1 Samuel 13:14, “David: A Man after God’s Own Heart”, p. 90 1 Samuel 16:6–7, 12–13, “David: A Man after God’s Own Heart”, p. 90 1 Samuel 17, “David Defeats Goliath”, p. 55 1 Samuel 18:36–39, “Elijah: Israel’s Greatest Prophet,” p. 94

2 Samuel 2 Samuel 1:19, “How are the mighty fallen”, p. 174 2 Samuel 2:1–4, “Solomon Builds the Temple”, p. 56 2 Samuel 5:1–5, “Solomon Builds the Temple”, p. 56 2 Samuel 7:12–16, “Solomon Builds the Temple”, p. 56

1 Kings

Judges 3:7, “Samson Brings Down the House,” p. 52

250

Judges 4:4–9, “Deborah: Warrior Prophet”, p. 92 Judges 6:13–15, “Gideon: A Reluctant Hero”, p. 101 Judges 13:3, “John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness”, p. 70 Judges 14–15, “Samson Brings Down the House”, p. 52 Judges 16:17–19, “Samson: A Flawed Superhero”, p. 134 Judges 16:22–31, “Samson Brings Down the House”, p. 52

B i b l e Fi n d I t

1 Kings 3:7–13, “Solomon: Wise and Foolish King,” p. 142

1 Kings 6– 8, “Solomon Builds the Temple,” p. 56 1 Kings 8:10–11, “Solomon Builds the Temple,” p. 56 1 Kings 10:14–29, “Solomon: Wise and Foolish King,” p. 142 1 Kings 17:13–14, “Oil and Flour Keep Coming,” p. 10 1 Kings 18:20–21, “Elijah Defeats the Prophets of Baal,” p. 57 1 Kings 18:24, “Elijah Defeats the Prophets of Baal,” p. 57 1 Kings 18:27, “Elijah Defeats the Prophets of Baal,” p. 57 1 Kings 18:38, “Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot,” p. 11 1 Kings 19:12, “Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot,” p. 11

2 Chronicles 2 Chronicles 3–6, “Solomon Builds the Temple,” p. 56

Ezra Ezra 9:5–6, “Ezra: God’s Man in Troubled Times,” p. 100

Nehemiah Nehemiah 1–6, “Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem,” p. 58 Nehemiah 5:14, “Nehemiah: The Wall Builder,” p. 123 Nehemiah 6:15–16, “Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem,” p. 58; “Nehemiah: The Wall Builder,” p. 123 Nehemiah 13:26, “Solomon: Wise and Foolish King,” p. 142

Esther

2 Kings 2 Kings 1:10–14, “Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot,” p. 11 2 Kings 2:1–12, “Elijah Rides in a Fiery Chariot,” p. 11 2 Kings 2:9–10, 13–14, “Elisha: The Man of God,” p. 96 2 Kings 4:18–37, “A Dead Man Touches a Prophet’s Bones,” p. 14 2 Kings 5:1–14, “Naaman Is Healed”, p. 12; “A Dead Man Touches a Prophet’s Bones,” p. 14 2 Kings 6:1–7, “An Ax Head Floats,” p. 13 2 Kings 6:18, “A Dead Man Touches a Prophet’s Bones,” p. 14 2 Kings 13:20–21, “A Dead Man Touches a Prophet’s Bones,” p. 14 2 Kings 19, “An Angel Defeats 185,000,” p. 15 2 Kings 20:1, “Put your house in order,” p. 185 2 Kings 20:1–11, “The Sun Moves Backward,” p. 16

1 Chronicles 1 Chronicles 22, “Solomon Builds the Temple,” p. 56

Esther 4–7, “Esther Defeats Haman,” p. 59 Esther 4:13–17, “Esther: Courageous Queen,” p. 98

Job Job 1:1, “Job: The Tested Man,” p. 107 Job 1:3, “Job: The Tested Man,” p. 107 Job 1:20–22, “Job: The Tested Man,” p. 107 Job 19:20, “By the skin of our teeth,” p. 158 Job 42:10, “Job: The Tested Man,” p. 107

Psalms Psalm 8:1–2, “Out of the mouths of babes,” p. 183 Psalm 107:23–27, “At my wit’s end,” p. 156

Proverbs Proverbs 13:24, “It’s in There Somewhere, Right?,” p. 203 Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turns away wrath,” p. 190 Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before a fall,” p. 184 Proverbs 29:18, “When there is no vision, the people perish,” p. 202

Scripture Reference Index

|

251

Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes 1:9–10, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” p. 195 Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season,” p. 197 Ecclesiastes 8:15, “Eat, drink, and be merry,” p. 163

Isaiah Isaiah 2:4, “Hammer swords into plowshares,” p. 170 Isaiah 6:6–8, “Isaiah: A Handpicked Prophet,” p. 104 Isaiah 11:6, “It’s in There Somewhere, Right?,” p. 203 Isaiah 25, “The Great Feast,” p. 230 Isaiah 38:1, “Put your house in order,” p. 185 Isaiah 40:15, “Drop in the bucket,” p. 161 Isaiah 48:22, “No peace for the wicked,” p. 182 Isaiah 57:20–21, “No peace for the wicked,” p. 182

Jeremiah Jeremiah 9:1, “Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet,” p. 106 Jeremiah 13:22–23, “Can a leopard change his spots?,” p. 159 Jeremiah 29:11–14, “Jeremiah: The Weeping Prophet,” p. 106 Jeremiah 31, “The Wise Men Follow a Star,” p. 68

Ezekiel Ezekiel 2:1–3, “Ezekiel: God’s Visionary,” p. 99

Daniel Daniel 1:3–5, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Men Tested by Fire,” p. 140 Daniel 1:20, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Men Tested by Fire,” p. 140 Daniel 3, “Daniel’s Friends Survive a Fiery Furnace,” p. 61 Daniel 3:16–19, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Men Tested by Fire,” p. 140

252

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Daniel 3:22–27, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Men Tested by Fire,” p. 140 Daniel 5:5–6, “Handwriting on the wall,” p. 173 Daniel 5:26–28, “Weighed in the balances and found wanting,” p. 200 Daniel 6, “Daniel Is Thrown into the Lions’ Den,” p. 62 Daniel 9:20–23, “Daniel: Man of Prayer,” p. 88

Jonah Jonah 1:1–3, “Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet,” p. 110 Jonah 1:1–2:10, “Jonah is Swallowed by a Great Fish,” p. 65

Zechariah Zechariah 2:8, “Apple of his eye,” p. 155 Zechariah 9:9–11, “Jesus Enters Jerusalem,” p. 72

Matthew Matthew 1:1, “Abraham: Friend of God,” p. 82; “David: A Man after God’s Own Heart,” p. 90 Matthew 1:5, “The Walls of Jericho Fall,” p. 51 Matthew 1:18–19, “Joseph, Son of Jacob (NT): Earthly Father of the Son of God,” p. 115 Matthew 2:1–12, “The Wise Men Follow a Star,” p. 68 Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone,” p. 178 Matthew 5:13, “Salt of the earth,” p. 186 Matthew 5:17, “Peter Has a Vision,” p. 26 Matthew 5:38, “Eye for an eye,” p. 164 Matthew 7:6, “Don’t cast your pearls before swine,” p. 160 Matthew 7:13–14, “Straight and narrow,” p. 189

Matthew 7:15, “False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing,” p. 165 Matthew 9:9–13, “Matthew: The Tax Collecting Disciple,” p. 122 Matthew 12:24–25, “A house divided,” p. 153 Matthew 12:39, “Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet,” p. 110 Matthew 12:39–40, “Jonah is Swallowed by a Great Fish,” p. 65 Matthew 13:3–8, “The Soils,” p. 207 Matthew 13:5–6, “Fell on rocky ground,” p. 166 Matthew 13:24, “The Soils,” p. 207 Matthew 13:24–30, “The Weeds,” p. 208 Matthew 13:31–32, “The Mustard Seed,” p. 209 Matthew 13:33, “The Yeast,” p. 210 Matthew 13:44, “The Treasure,” p. 211 Matthew 13:45–46, “The Pearl of Great Price”, p. 212 Matthew 13:47–50, “The Fishing Net,” p. 213 Matthew 13:55, “Jesus Is Born,” p. 66 Matthew 14:29–31, “Peter: The Restored Denier,” p. 130 Matthew 15:10–14, “The blind leading the blind,” p. 157 Matthew 16:1–3, “Signs of the times,” p. 187 Matthew 16:11–12, “The Yeast,” p. 210 Matthew 16:13–19, “Peter: The Restored Denier,” p. 130 Matthew 16:23, “Peter: The Restored Denier,” p. 130 Matthew 17:1–13, “Jesus Is Transfigured,” p. 24 Matthew 18:12–14, “The Lost Sheep,” p. 233 Matthew 18:23–25, “The Unforgiving Debtor,” p. 244

Matthew 19:13–15, “Jesus Blesses the Children,” p. 18 Matthew 20:1–16, “The Workers in the Vineyard,” p. 216 Matthew 21:28–32, “The Two Sons,” p. 245 Matthew 21:33–46, “The Evil Farmers,” p. 246 Matthew 22:1–2, “The Wedding Feast,” p. 247 Matthew 22:1–14, “Many are called, but few are chosen,” p. 177; “The Wedding Feast,” p. 247 Matthew 24:6–7, “Wars and rumors of wars,” p. 199 Matthew 24:24, “False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing,” p. 165 Matthew 24:45–51, “The Faithful and Sensible Servant,” p. 239 Matthew 25:1–13, “The Ten Bridesmaids,” p. 242 Matthew 25:14, “The Loaned Money,” p. 217 Matthew 25:14–30, “The Nobleman’s Servants,” p. 219 Matthew 28:1–15, “Jesus Is Raised from the Dead,” p. 76

Mark Mark 3:3–5, “Jesus Heals a Crippled Hand,” p. 19 Mark 3:13–14, 17, “John: The Disciple Jesus Loved,” p. 108 Mark 3–8, “The Soils,” p. 207 Mark 4:9, “Stories Jesus Told,” p. 205 Mark 4:10–20, “The Soils,” p. 207 Mark 4:19, “The Soils,” p. 207 Mark 4:26–29, “The Growing Seed,” p. 214 Mark 4:30–32, “The Mustard Seed,” p. 209 Mark 4:35–41, “Jesus Stops a Storm,” p. 20 Mark 5:21–43, “An Ax Head Floats,” p. 13 Mark 8:15, “The Yeast,” p. 210 Mark 9:2–13, “Jesus Is Transfigured,” p. 24; “John: The Disciple Jesus Loved,” p. 108

Scripture Reference Index

|

253

Mark 12:1–12, “The Evil Farmers,” p. 246 Mark 13:7, “Wars and rumors of wars,” p. 199 Mark 13:22, “False prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing,” p. 165 Mark 13:26, “The Traveling Home Owner,” p. 240 Mark 13:34–37, “The Traveling Home Owner,” p. 240 Mark 14:33, “John: The Disciple Jesus Loved,” p. 108 Mark 14:50–52, “Mark Runs Away Naked,” p. 22

Luke Luke 1:1–4, “Luke: The Missionary Doctor,” p. 116 Luke 1:5–20, “John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness,” p. 70 Luke 1:6, “Elizabeth: Joyful Mom,” p. 93 Luke 1:16, “John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness,” p. 70 Luke 1:20, “John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness,” p. 70 Luke 1:27, “Jesus Is Born,” p. 66 Luke 1:28–34, “Mary: The One Who Said Yes to God, p. 119 Luke 1:39–45, “Elizabeth: Joyful Mom,” p. 93 Luke 2:1–20, “Jesus Is Born,” p. 66 Luke 2:25–28, 38, “Simeon and Anna: Faithful Believers,” p. 139 Luke 2:33, “Simeon and Anna: Faithful Believers,” p. 139 Luke 6:39, “The blind leading the blind,” p. 157 Luke 7:11–15, “An Ax Head Floats,” p. 13 Luke 7:37, “The Forgiven Debts,” p. 237 Luke 7:41–43, “The Forgiven Debts,” p. 237

254

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

Luke 8:2, “Mary Magdalene: Resurrection Eye-Witness,” p. 121 Luke 8:5–8, “The Soils,” p. 207 Luke 9:10–17, “Jesus Feeds 5,000,” p. 23 Luke 9:28–36, “Jesus Is Transfigured,” p. 24 Luke 10:30–37, “The Good Samaritan,” p. 224 Luke 10:33–36, “Good Samaritan,” p. 169 Luke 10:38–42, “Mary and Martha: Sisters, and Friends of Jesus,” p. 120 Luke 11:5–8, “The Friend at Midnight,” p. 222 Luke 11:13, “The Friend at Midnight,” p. 222 Luke 11:17, “A house divided,” p. 153 Luke 12:15, “The Rich Fool,” p. 229 Luke 12:16–21, “The Rich Fool,” p. 229 Luke 12:42–48, “The Faithful and Sensible Servant,” p. 239 Luke 13:6–9, “The Unproductive Tree,” p. 248 Luke 13:18–19, “The Mustard Seed,” p. 209 Luke 13:20–21, “The Yeast”, p. 210 Luke 14:1, “The Wedding Feast,” p. 226 Luke 14:7–11, “The Wedding Feast,” p. 226 Luke 14:15, “The Great Feast,” p. 230 Luke 14:16–24, “The Great Feast,” p. 230 Luke 15:3–7, “The Lost Sheep,” p. 233 Luke 15:8–10, “The Lost Coin,” p. 234 Luke 15:11–32, “The Lost Son,” p. 235 Luke 16:1–9, “The Shrewd Manager,” p. 231 Luke 17:7–10, “The Servant’s Role,” p. 218

Luke 18:1–8, “The Unjust Judge,” p. 221 Luke 18:9–10, “The Proud Pharisee and the Corrupt Tax Collector,” p. 227 Luke 18:9–14, “The Proud Pharisee and the Corrupt Tax Collector,” p. 227 Luke 19:11–27, “The Nobleman’s Servants,” p. 219 Luke 20:9–19, “The Evil Farmers,” p. 246 Luke 22:7–20, “Jesus Has the Last Supper with His Disciples,” p. 73 Luke 23:26–49, “Jesus Is Crucified,” p. 75 Luke 23:46, “Jesus Is Crucified,” “He gave up the ghost,” p. 171

John John 1:42, “Peter: The Restored Denier,” p. 130 John 1:19–28, “John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness,” p. 70 John 1:51, “Jacob Has a Dream,” p. 3 John 3:14–15, “A Snake Is Raised,” p. 7 John 3:27–30, “John the Baptist: The Forerunner,” p. 109 John 3:30, “John the Baptist Preaches in the Wilderness,” p. 70 John 8:7, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone,” p. 172 John 8:31–32, “The truth shall set you free”, p. 194 John 11:16, “Thomas: Honest Doubter”, p. 146 John 11:1–44, “Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead,” p. 71 John 11:1–46, “An Ax Head Floats,” p. 13 John 12:12–19, “Jesus Enters Jerusalem,” p. 72

John 13:23, “John: The Disciple Jesus Loved,” p. 108 John 14:6, “What is truth?” p. 201 John 18:37–38, “What is truth?”, p. 201 John 20:14–16, “Mary Magdalene: Resurrection Eye-Witness,” p. 121 John 20:17, “Mary Magdalene: Resurrection Eye-Witness,” p. 121 John 20:24–29, “Thomas: Honest Doubter,” p. 146 John 21, “Peter: The Restored Denier,” p. 130

Acts Acts 1:6–11, “Jesus Ascends to Heaven,” p. 77 Acts 2, “Ananias and Sapphira Meet the Truth,” p. 25; “Jesus Ascends to Heaven,” p. 77; “The Holy Spirit Comes,” p. 78; “Peter: The Restored Denier,” p. 130; “The Mustard Seed,” p. 209 Acts 2:1–4, “The Holy Spirit Comes,” p. 78 Acts 5:1–11, “Ananias and Sapphira Meet the Truth,” p. 25 Acts 6:1–7, “Philip: The Evangelist,” p. 131 Acts 6:5, “Stephen: First Martyr,” p. 144 Acts 6:8, “Stephen: First Martyr,” p. 144 Acts 7, “Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus,” p. 79 Acts 7:54–60, “Stephen: First Martyr,” p. 144 Acts 8:29–31, “Philip: The Evangelist,” p. 131 Acts 9:1–22, “Saul Becomes a Follower of Jesus,” p. 79 Acts 10:9–33, “Peter Has a Vision,” p. 26 Acts 11:24–26, “Barnabas: More Than a Sidekick,” p. 86 Acts 12:6–19, “Peter Escapes from Prison,” p. 28

Scripture Reference Index

|

255

Acts 14:8–18, “Paul Shakes Off a Deadly Snake,” p. 35 Acts 14:19–20, “Paul Survives Capital Punishment,” p. 31 Acts 16:1–5, “Timothy: Protégé Pastor,” p. 148 Acts 16:13–15, “Lydia: Convert at the River,” p. 117 Acts 16:19, “Paul and Silas Sing in Prison,” p. 32 Acts 16:25–34, “Paul and Silas Sing in Prison,” p. 32 Acts 18:3, “Paul Survives a Shipwreck,” p. 36 Acts 20:7–12, “Eutychus Is Brought Back to Life,” p. 34 Acts 20:35, “More blessed to give than to receive,” p. 180 Acts 21:8, “Philip: The Evangelist,” p. 131 Acts 27:1–44, “Paul Survives a Shipwreck,” p. 36 Acts 28:3–6, “Paul Shakes Off a Deadly Snake,” p. 35

Romans Romans 2:14–15, “A law unto themselves,” p. 152 Romans 5:17, “Adam and Eve Disobey God,” p. 42 Romans 16:3–4, “Priscilla and Aquilla: Behind-the-Scenes Workers,” p. 132

1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 5:7, “The First Passover Is Celebrated,” p. 48 1 Corinthians 15:52–53, “Twinkling of an eye,” p. 198

2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 3:6, “Letter of the law,” p. 176

256

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

2 Corinthians 11:19, “Suffer fools gladly,” p. 191 2 Corinthians 11:23–29, “Paul Survives a Shipwreck,” p. 36 2 Corinthians 12:1–4, “Paul Survives Capital Punishment,” p. 31 2 Corinthians 12:7, 10, “Thorn in the flesh,” p. 196 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, “Paul Survives a Shipwreck,” p. 36

Philippians Philippians 3:13–14, “Paul: The Great Missionary,” p. 128

Colossians Colossians 4:14, “Eutychus Is Brought Back to Life,” p. 34

1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1:2–4, “Labor of love,” p. 175

1 Timothy 1 Timothy 6:9–10, “The love of money is the root of all evil,” p. 193 1 Timothy 6:10, “It’s in There Somewhere, Right?” p. 203 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight,” p. 167

2 Timothy 2 Timothy 1:3–4, “Timothy: Protégé Pastor,” p. 148 2 Timothy 1:5-7, “Timothy: Protégé Pastor,” p. 148

Hebrews Hebrews 11:11, “Sarah: Unlikely Mother,” p. 137

James James 2:23, “Abraham: Friend of God”, p. 82

About the Writers Kent Keller, DMin Kent Keller, DMin, is the senior pastor of Kendall Presbyterian Church in Miami, Florida. A graduate of the University of Montevallo (Alabama), Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando), and Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri), he resides with his wife, Heidi, in Miami. They have four children. He has written for and been published in numerous popular and scholarly works, including the Student’s Life Application Bible (Tyndale House) and 500 Questions & Answers from the Bible (Barbour).

Jonathan Ziman Jonathan Ziman is a community life pastor at Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, Illinois. He has an MA from the University of Chicago and an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, Illinois). Jonathan and his wife, Kari, have four young daughters. He wrote The Life of Jesus (Baker) and has contributed to many other publications, including The Apologetics Study Bible (B & H).

Contributors Writers Kent Keller Jonathan Ziman

Project Manager Dave Veerman

Interior Design Larry Taylor and Tom Shumaker

Compositor/Typesetter Tom Shumaker

Additional Help Katie Arnold Joel Bartlett Linda Taylor Dave Veerman Linda Washington

A b o u t t h e Wr i t e r 

|

257

For inquisitive readers of any age—adults and students alike— here’s a book to shed light on the Bible’s great questions. „   Where did… the scripture come from? „   What is… God really like?

„   What do… some of those confusing Bible passages really mean? Scores of questions are answered in user-friendly language, based on sound Christian doctrine. Arranged in canonical order, 500 Questions & Answers from the Bible is an excellent resource for regular Bible study. Its open design presents a wealth of information in an appealing, accessible format—and it’s fully illustrated in color! ISBN 978-1-59789-473-9 Trade paperback • 256 pages • $9.99

Available wherever Christian books are sold. 258

|

B i b l e Fi n d I t

„