(Continued)
B. Remember how Peter responded during Jesus’ trial when someone asked if he knew Jesus?
U. Sure, he said he didn’t know him. I think he did that three times.
B. Why do you think he did that?
U. Probably because he was afraid they would arrest him. What do you think?
B. I think you’re right. We talked last week about what Peter said on the day the church began. Do you remember that?
U. He said that the Jews had killed Christ and they should repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
B. Does that sound like he was afraid?
U. No, he sounded bold.
B. After this, as Peter and John were going into the temple, Peter healed a man who had been lame since his birth. That attracted a large crown and as Peter was teaching them, the temple guard arrested them and put them in jail. The next day they were taken to the council, the same one who had condemned Jesus to die. Read what happened.
U. When they had brought Peter and John before them, they asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, are we being called to account this day because of the good deed done to the crippled man? Are you asking by what power he is now made whole? Then, let each of you know, as well as everyone in Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified and who God raised from the dead, it is by him that this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was set aside by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. Salvation is not found in any other; there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved.”
He didn’t sound scared.
B. And the council was angry. Read on.
U. So they commanded that Peter and John be taken outside the council, and then they conferred among themselves. “What shall we do to these men?” they asked. “Indeed a notable miracle has been done by them and that is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem. We cannot deny that.
The council didn’t try to deny the miracle because they knew they couldn’t. So what did they do?
B. Read on, this continues their conversation.
U. To try to stop this teaching from spreading among the people, let us strongly threaten them so they won’t speak to anyone anymore in this name.”
Then they called Peter and John and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. We cannot stop speaking the things which we have seen and heard.”
They didn’t seem to be afraid; they told them clearly they weren’t going to stop. Where did they get such courage? Peter didn’t have it before.
B. On another time, Peter and the other apostles were teaching about Jesus the Christ in the temple when guards came and arrested them. They took them to the council, the same one who had ordered them to stop teaching about Jesus. Again the council warned them and this is how they responded.
U. Then Peter and the other apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus after you killed him by hanging him on a tree. God has exalted him to his own right hand as a Prince and a Savior to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are his witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit that God gave to them who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and took counsel to kill them.
B. Do they sound afraid in face of these threats?
U. No.
B. Where do you think they got their courage?
U. Perhaps because they believed they had seen Jesus alive after he died.
B. Exactly right. Let’s look at another example. Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe he was the Christ when he was alive. Look at what they said to him in John 7:2-5.
U. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
I thought his mother remained a virgin. How did Jesus have brothers?
B. Apparently everyone in his home town knew about his brothers. Read about what they said while they were trying to figure out how this man they had seen grow up in their small town got the power to perform miracles. Read Matthew 15:54.
U. Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
Sounds like they knew his family.
B. Two of his brothers, James and Judas, or Jude, wrote books contained in the New Testament. Paul said Jesus appeared to James. Afterwards, he obviously believed in him because he became a strong leader in the Jerusalem church. We’ve already talked about his appearing to Paul. Did you know that Paul had once been called Saul and was a leader in trying to stamp out Christianity?
U. No, I didn’t know that.
B. The first Christian who was killed because of his faith was a man named Stephen. After he spoke to the council, they became so angry that they drug him outside and stoned him to death. That’s the first account of Paul or Saul. Read Acts 8:1 through 3.
U. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
So why did he change?
B. Because when he was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians to bring to Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to him. The account is in Acts 9:3.
U. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
What did Jesus tell him after he got to the city?
B. Jesus didn’t tell him anything, but he sent a man named Ananias to see him and tell him what to do. Ananias didn’t want to go, so the Lord explained it to him in verses 15 though 19 and then he went.
U. But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
So, he was baptized. Were his sins forgiven? How was he to suffer?
B. Several years later, Paul told about this day in Acts 22:12.
U. A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, `Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
"Then he said: `The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
He said they were washed away. Guess that’s the same as being forgiven.
B. There is one more interesting thing to consider about the resurrection. Do you remember who first learned he was risen?
U. The women and Mary Magdalene when they went to the tomb.
B. What’s interesting about that is that the testimony of women was not considered worthwhile at that time. Here are two comments made in the Talmud and by Josephus.
U. Any evidence which a woman gives is not valid.
Sooner let the words of the Law be burned than delivered by women.
But don’t let the testimony of women be admitted on account of the levity and boldness of their sex.
Sounds like they didn’t think much of a woman’s opinion. I certainly don’t feel like that, I value my wife’s opinion. But if they felt like that, why did they include the women’s testimony about finding the tomb empty and Mary Magdalene seeing Jesus?
B. The only reason I can think of is that it was true testimony. It must have been quite embarrassing to the apostles that Jesus didn’t first appear to them. No man would have made up that story, it is just too embarrassing. Perhaps, it was to show what Paul later said, “There is neither male nor female, we are all one in Christ Jesus. So, what do you think about Jesus’ resurrection?
U. I must admit, I never thought there was such evidence about Jesus’ resurrection. I see why you said Christianity was not a baseless religion, but rather, is based on evidence. And I haven’t found any inconsistencies in the Bible. But I need some time to think about these things.
B. OK, let’s meet same time next week.
U. See you then.
B. Here’s what we covered.
No Reasonable Doubt About These
Jesus was alive before the cross
He died on the cross
The tomb was empty
Jesus appeared to the women, his disciples, his brother, and over 500 at one time
Historical Facts
His disciples lost their fear
His brothers became believers
His first appearance to the women must have been a great embarrassment to the men.
All of these blogs are on http://thinkersdiscuss.weebly.com/blog
B. Remember how Peter responded during Jesus’ trial when someone asked if he knew Jesus?
U. Sure, he said he didn’t know him. I think he did that three times.
B. Why do you think he did that?
U. Probably because he was afraid they would arrest him. What do you think?
B. I think you’re right. We talked last week about what Peter said on the day the church began. Do you remember that?
U. He said that the Jews had killed Christ and they should repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.
B. Does that sound like he was afraid?
U. No, he sounded bold.
B. After this, as Peter and John were going into the temple, Peter healed a man who had been lame since his birth. That attracted a large crown and as Peter was teaching them, the temple guard arrested them and put them in jail. The next day they were taken to the council, the same one who had condemned Jesus to die. Read what happened.
U. When they had brought Peter and John before them, they asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, are we being called to account this day because of the good deed done to the crippled man? Are you asking by what power he is now made whole? Then, let each of you know, as well as everyone in Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified and who God raised from the dead, it is by him that this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was set aside by you builders, which has become the head of the corner. Salvation is not found in any other; there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved.”
He didn’t sound scared.
B. And the council was angry. Read on.
U. So they commanded that Peter and John be taken outside the council, and then they conferred among themselves. “What shall we do to these men?” they asked. “Indeed a notable miracle has been done by them and that is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem. We cannot deny that.
The council didn’t try to deny the miracle because they knew they couldn’t. So what did they do?
B. Read on, this continues their conversation.
U. To try to stop this teaching from spreading among the people, let us strongly threaten them so they won’t speak to anyone anymore in this name.”
Then they called Peter and John and commanded them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. We cannot stop speaking the things which we have seen and heard.”
They didn’t seem to be afraid; they told them clearly they weren’t going to stop. Where did they get such courage? Peter didn’t have it before.
B. On another time, Peter and the other apostles were teaching about Jesus the Christ in the temple when guards came and arrested them. They took them to the council, the same one who had ordered them to stop teaching about Jesus. Again the council warned them and this is how they responded.
U. Then Peter and the other apostles answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus after you killed him by hanging him on a tree. God has exalted him to his own right hand as a Prince and a Savior to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are his witnesses of these things, as is also the Holy Spirit that God gave to them who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and took counsel to kill them.
B. Do they sound afraid in face of these threats?
U. No.
B. Where do you think they got their courage?
U. Perhaps because they believed they had seen Jesus alive after he died.
B. Exactly right. Let’s look at another example. Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe he was the Christ when he was alive. Look at what they said to him in John 7:2-5.
U. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
I thought his mother remained a virgin. How did Jesus have brothers?
B. Apparently everyone in his home town knew about his brothers. Read about what they said while they were trying to figure out how this man they had seen grow up in their small town got the power to perform miracles. Read Matthew 15:54.
U. Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
Sounds like they knew his family.
B. Two of his brothers, James and Judas, or Jude, wrote books contained in the New Testament. Paul said Jesus appeared to James. Afterwards, he obviously believed in him because he became a strong leader in the Jerusalem church. We’ve already talked about his appearing to Paul. Did you know that Paul had once been called Saul and was a leader in trying to stamp out Christianity?
U. No, I didn’t know that.
B. The first Christian who was killed because of his faith was a man named Stephen. After he spoke to the council, they became so angry that they drug him outside and stoned him to death. That’s the first account of Paul or Saul. Read Acts 8:1 through 3.
U. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
So why did he change?
B. Because when he was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians to bring to Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to him. The account is in Acts 9:3.
U. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
What did Jesus tell him after he got to the city?
B. Jesus didn’t tell him anything, but he sent a man named Ananias to see him and tell him what to do. Ananias didn’t want to go, so the Lord explained it to him in verses 15 though 19 and then he went.
U. But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
So, he was baptized. Were his sins forgiven? How was he to suffer?
B. Several years later, Paul told about this day in Acts 22:12.
U. A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. He stood beside me and said, `Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
"Then he said: `The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
He said they were washed away. Guess that’s the same as being forgiven.
B. There is one more interesting thing to consider about the resurrection. Do you remember who first learned he was risen?
U. The women and Mary Magdalene when they went to the tomb.
B. What’s interesting about that is that the testimony of women was not considered worthwhile at that time. Here are two comments made in the Talmud and by Josephus.
U. Any evidence which a woman gives is not valid.
Sooner let the words of the Law be burned than delivered by women.
But don’t let the testimony of women be admitted on account of the levity and boldness of their sex.
Sounds like they didn’t think much of a woman’s opinion. I certainly don’t feel like that, I value my wife’s opinion. But if they felt like that, why did they include the women’s testimony about finding the tomb empty and Mary Magdalene seeing Jesus?
B. The only reason I can think of is that it was true testimony. It must have been quite embarrassing to the apostles that Jesus didn’t first appear to them. No man would have made up that story, it is just too embarrassing. Perhaps, it was to show what Paul later said, “There is neither male nor female, we are all one in Christ Jesus. So, what do you think about Jesus’ resurrection?
U. I must admit, I never thought there was such evidence about Jesus’ resurrection. I see why you said Christianity was not a baseless religion, but rather, is based on evidence. And I haven’t found any inconsistencies in the Bible. But I need some time to think about these things.
B. OK, let’s meet same time next week.
U. See you then.
B. Here’s what we covered.
No Reasonable Doubt About These
Jesus was alive before the cross
He died on the cross
The tomb was empty
Jesus appeared to the women, his disciples, his brother, and over 500 at one time
Historical Facts
His disciples lost their fear
His brothers became believers
His first appearance to the women must have been a great embarrassment to the men.
All of these blogs are on http://thinkersdiscuss.weebly.com/blog