Crown of Thorns

The Divine Order of 3

This is NOT numerology, it is Divine order:


 3 is the number of the God Head; God's personal number of completeness

There are 3 parts of a man: spirit, body and soul

God allowed Gideon 300 men to fight the Midianite army

Jesus was 3 days in the grave

There were 3 hours of darkness when He hung on the cross - Lk 23:44

Three virgins in Jesus life: mother Mary, virgin donkey He rode into Jerusalem and the virgin tomb where He was laid.

3 women came to the tomb

Peter denied Christ 3 times

3 times Jesus told Peter to feed His flock

There were 3 disciples at the Mt. of Configuration: Peter, James, John

There were 3 figures  on the Mt. of Configuration: Moses, Jesus, Elijah

There were 3 crosses

When Jesus was arrested, He answered "I Am" 3 times

Jesus took 3 disciples from the group near to His place of prayer in Gethsemane - Mt 26:37

There was a daily temple sacrifice at 3 pm every day

There are 3 woes to Babylon in Rev. 18

There are 3 "hallelujahs over Babylon's fall - Rev 19

There are 3 angels in Rev 14

There are 3 parts of the earth: sea, earth and sky

Noah had 3 sons

There were 3 wise men

There were 3 shepherds

There were 3 in the Holy family in Bethlehem

Christ had 3 temptations

He raised 3 people from the dead

He had 3 friends: Mary, Martha and Lazarus

He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver

Jesus ministry lasted 3 years

There were 3 men thrown into the fiery furnace

Jonah was 3 days in the belly of the fish

Jesus had 3 nail holes

Jesus gave up the ghost at 3 pm

In a dream, Peter saw unclean food 3 times

There were 3 beings sent to Abraham before the fall of Sodom

There were 3 items placed in the arc of the covenant

Abraham's journey to Mt Moriah, with Isaac, was 3 days

3 sacraments:  wine, bread, oil

Sarah prepared 3 measures of meal for Abraham

3 patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

3 categories of Jews: Kohen, Levi, Yisrael

Woman at the well called Jesus 3 different titles (Jew, Sir, Prophet) before He proclaimed He was the "I Am"

The number 3 appears 457 times in the Bible
The precision with which the Bible numbers all fall into their places cannot be accounted for except by the supernatural power and wisdom of a God Who is infinite. 

 

The Twelve, Part 1

 Jesus lived in Nazareth.  This is the simplest scenario for His missing years, most likely working at his father's trade, carpentry.  (Dare Crabtee's 1884 book, "The Journeys of Jesus".)  In that time, carpenters were also stone masons and builders.  He would have studied Hebrew scripture, spending time in the synagogue every day.  As oldest, He would have become head of the house after Joseph's death.  Mark 6 supports all this by recounting how when He began to teach at the local synagogue, people were surprised that a familiar person from their community had such wisdom (a prophet in his own home town).  Crabtree states, "It seems that Jesus grew to manhood's estate working with his hands while He acquired wisdom and knowledge from the great book of nature surrounding His mountain home, and also a perfect understanding of the written revelation handed down by the Hebrew fathers."

Jesus had many followers who believed His teachings.  Within this group, He had an inner circle of twelve young men that He selected for the mission of helping Him to spread His message.  Those men were "The Apostles", a term which comes from the Greek "apostolos", meaning "person sent".  Luke tells us they were handpicked, by Jesus, from the larger group of disciples, after a night of solitary prayer on a mountaintop.

This elite group was made up of Simon (later called Peter), Andrew, James the greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the less, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus (also called Lebbaeus, Jude or Judas), and Judas Iscariot.   Some scholars see this number as alluding to the 12 tribes of Israel.   The Bible is a book of numbers and the number twelve is significant.  Twelve, in Hebrew, represents government.  There were 12 precious stones on the breastplate of the priests.  In Revelation 21, the foundations of the walls of the New Jerusalem will be of the same 12 precious stones.


The apostles must have been between the ages of 15 and 20, except Peter.  All were bachelors but Peter.  Hebrew men received a wife at the age of 18.  Peter was the only man noted to have a wife.  Mt 8:14   Education for Jewish children ended at age 13, when they were considered to be men, expected to follow in their father's trade and old enough to leave home.  Matthew had a profession; the others were apprenticing at their trades.  (Matthew might well have been second oldest.)  Mt 11:25, Lk 10:21, Jn 13:33  In Ex 30:14 a temple tax is instated, that Jesus and Peter paid in Mt 17:24-27.  The others were under the age of 20 so did not need to pay the tax.  A Rabbi began teaching at age 30, as Jesus did.  Students were younger than teachers.  Youth further explains their temperament, fear, hiding, running away and their eagerness.  Jewish boys, ages birth to 2 years, were killed when Jesus was born so there were none the same age.

Higher education (over the age of 13) was under a local Rabbi, in a synagogue.  Jesus was radical in His time, teaching everywhere BUT a synagogue.  He was "anti religion".  His message was radical, teaching love, when the culture was about hate and aggression.  Jesus movement was originally called "The Way".  Acts 9:2, 24:14

The apostles' identity is more as a group than individuals.  We only know a limited amount about the most familiar ones.  Peter and Andrew, who were brothers and worked as fishermen, were Jesus' first two recruits.  He approached them while they were casting their nets into the sea and offered to make them "fishers of men".  James the Greater, and his brother John, "the sons of Zebedee", were also fishermen.  Matthew, whom Jesus saw in his collection booth and recruited with two words, "Follow me".

Thomas' recruitment isn't described in the gospels.  He is described as being so loyal to Jesus that he offered to die with Him.  He has become known as "doubting Thomas" for asking of proof at the news of Jesus' resurrection.  Thaddeaus' biggest moment comes at the Last Supper, when he asks Jesus how He will show Himself only to the apostles after His death.  Judas Iscariot is known mostly for stealing money from the apostles and for betraying Jesus, but then committing suicide in remorse.  (Because of his remorse, I wonder if his life would have been different had he had the opportunity to be forgiven as Peter did.)

Simon is described by Matthew and Mark as a Canaanite and in Luke as a Zealot, likely for his strict adherence to Jewish law.  We know little about Philip, except he was from the same town, Bethsaida, as Peter and Andrew, and that he was present when Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand.  He advised Him prior to the meal that it would be too expensive to buy food for so many.

Two of the apostles are mystery men.  The only New Testament mention of Bartholomew and James the less are in lists of the apostles.  I have heard speculation that several of the apostles could have been relatives of Jesus due to the small towns they came from in close proximity to each other.

Being an apostle wasn't an easy job.  Not only were they expected to leave  home, job and travel with Jesus, but they also underwent a sort of on-the-job training in which He hone their minds and spirits to prepare them for a task of continuing His work.  In Matthew 10, Jesus gave the apostles a description of their eventual duties as missionaries and teachers and how to perform these duties.

If that wasn't difficult enough, Jesus also informed them that they would have to live a life without physical comforts.  They were instructed to travel without money, only the clothes on their backs and the shoes on their feet. When they arrived at a new city, He expected them to rely on the generosity of others for food and shelter.  If they could not find a humble host, they were told to move on, with the knowledge that the inhospitable would be punished more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah.

Before they reached the time of working on their own, they had plenty to do and learn.  In Matthew 17, they witnessed an example of Jesus casting out a demon from a mentally disturbed boy.  When they asked Him why they couldn't perform the same feat, He explained they needed more faith.  "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place', and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

The betrayal and violent death of Jesus was an experience that would certainly have helped the young apostles mature by taking them through trials of their human frailties.  The example is the emotional Peter.  When he refuses to believe Jesus' prophecy that the apostles will scatter after the arrest and execution, Jesus responds by informing Peter that he will deny knowing Jesus three times - a prediction that comes to pass, causing Peter's shame to break his pride.  Humbled, he now becomes more firm in his stand for Jesus.

In Matthew 16, Jesus had chosen Peter as leader - the "rock" upon whom he would build His church, and would provide him with the keys to heaven.  In Acts 1, Peter assumed the lead, by guiding the process of selecting Matthias to replace Judas.  He demonstrated that the apostles could perform miracles when he went to the temple in Jerusalem with John and healed a lame beggar in Jesus name.  This filled the crowd around them with "wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him."  Peter's preaching was so effective that in one day 3,000 people were converted to the new faith.  His healing became so famous that he achieved the reputation that even his shadow passing over a person could heal them.

Of all the apostles, it was Thomas who took the evangelical mission the furthest.  He is thought to have traveled east through modern-day Syria, Iran and eventually reached India.  He covered even more territory than Paul, who traveled the Mediterranean region preaching to the gentiles.

The apostles' mission was a dangerous one.  In the end, eleven of them were martyred.  Only John died of old age.  However, they accomplished their goal, as evidenced by the widespread acceptance of Christianity today.
Amen

To be continued . . . . . . .

The Gospels - Mark

Mark was not one of the twelve chosen by Jesus but, rather, a follower of Peter.  It is believed Mark wrote from the teachings of Peter.  Mark concentrated more on what Jesus did rather than what He said.  After all, Mark was not a direct witness to Jesus.

What Mark might have looked like

It is the shortest of the gospels with 16 chapters.  This book of Mark was written to Gentiles in Rome and Greece.

Acts 12:12 tells us Mark was somewhat affluent by the reference to his mother’s as a “big” house, because “many people had gathered”, and a servant is mentioned.

In Col 4:10 we learn that Barnabas, Paul’s frequent companion, was a cousin of John Mark.

In his account, Mark sees Jesus as the servant, symbolized by the ox (Rev 4:6&7), because of his tireless ministry in pure motive, represented by the color white.  He presents Jesus to the reader as a tireless worker; always doing and serving others (like a minister, our high priest).  Thus, setting example for His followers.

Mark had failed in his service at one point: Acts 13:13.  The “John” listed here is Mark (called John Mark).  He returned to Jerusalem due to some difficulty.  Acts 13:2 & 4 tells us the Holy Ghost called 2 but 3 went.  Mark was not yet called.  He was eager but not yet called by the Holy Spirit.   New believers are often very enthusiastic but may not yet be made ready.  Mark was experienced as a failed servant writing about the servant of man, Jesus, the ultimate servant.

Col 4:10 and II Tim 4:11 shows us Mark restored.  He went on to be quite  successful as an apostle. 

Mark’s gospel opens with Jesus busy: baptized, calling disciples, driving out demons, healing, tempted and preaching. 
Closes with Jesus working - with the apostles, 16:20.

In Mark, Chapt. 1, Jesus came into our darkness.  (In Mark 16, He left us with His light.)  I want to note that Jesus was baptized at the lowest point in the country and crucified at the highest point.  A good subject to ponder.

Chapter 3 tells us Jesus started with 70 apostles and chose 12.  In Hebrew (Jesus was a Hebrew), the number 12 represents authority/government: 12 tribes, 12 stones in first foundation of New Jerusalem, 12 stones on priests breastplate and more I will not explore at this time. 

Like Matthew, he records many of Jesus parables and healing.  He also accounts for Jesus’ brothers and sisters in Chapt 6.  Indeed, Jesus is very busy in this account by Mark.  He does one thing after another and Mark makes this clear with words like: immediately, and, then Jesus, at once, when Jesus and repeatedly following Jesus name with a verb.  All emphasis is on the perfect example of Jesus the servant.  Another point is the absence of the word “and”.  In original Greek text the conjunction “and” was used more frequently to show He was busy: and He healed, and He walked, and He went, and He saw, and He appoints.  Right away, Mark establishes Jesus as the servant. 

Further along in Chapt. 6, He feeds the 5,000.  If we include what must have been the presence of women and children, He fed even more than this; possibly around 15,000.  Mark tells us they were fed and satisfied; Jesus gave them the bread of life and they were content, just as we are fed with His word and find rest.  It is noted there were 12 full baskets left over.  He gives us all we need - and more.  I find it interesting to note there were also 12 apostles.

In 10:14, rather than the NIV word indignant or angry, original Greek states “severely displeased”.  I am a great advocate of how much Jesus was especially gracious to children and widows; what His brother James called “pure religion”. 

In Chapt. 11, Mark records the crowd crying “Hosanna!” as Jesus came into Jerusalem on a colt.  “Hosanna” translated from Hebrew, means “Save us, please.”  This is especially interesting in v.10.  He notes that they were to find a colt that had never been ridden - you could say a “virgin” colt.  Jesus was born of a virgin woman, rode a virgin colt and was buried in a virgin tomb (one that had never been used).

Mark also relates to us the last supper, Peter’s denial, Gethsemane, His arrest, trial, death, crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

All gospels mention either flogging or punishment of Jesus at the hand of Pilot.  Maybe Pilot was hoping the Jewish priests would have pity when they saw Him beaten within an inch of His life.  It didn’t work.  Surely, it is significant that every one of the gospels accounts for the flogging.  It was common in Roman law to use a cat of nine tails that had pieces of bone and pottery tied to the end of the nine leather tails to latch on to and tear flesh.  It was also likely that he received 38 to 40 lashes (x 9 tails) by Hebrew Old Testament law.  Pilot was dealing with Hebrew priests who were insisting on death.  The Psalmist recorded how His bones “stare back at me”.  The importance of shredding His body of flesh (as fulfilled in prophesy) was to take our ills and pains upon Himself so we might be whole, Isa. 53:4, I Pet.2:24

Moving on to the crucifixion, Mark mentions the time Jesus was crucified in 15:25   Nine in the morning was the time of the morning sacrifice at the temple. 

Verse 16:15 reads “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”  The Greek translates this “Go to all creatures and preach and publish openly.”  The Greek is so much more explicit.

It was a Gentile, a Centurian, that first stated, “This man was the Son of God!”.  His own people, through the priests, had turned against Him (the very people He came to save) so the apostles were sent out to Gentiles, who were quicker to believe.  The Gentiles did not have 5,000 years of law and tradition to over come.

Mark also mentions the women who were in service to Jesus during His ministry and were present at the cross.  This would have been unusual in those days.  A crucifixion was no place for a woman; it was very brutal.  Most likely, they stood off a few yards.  However, we are to believe that His mother was in hearing range when told to behold her new son, John.

One last note: These first four books of the New Testament are called “Synoptic Gospels”.  This translates “Good News In Agreement”.

Amen