Jordan Peterson and Russell Brand–two guys with different personalities and I like to listen to both on the tube. These two guys had a great conversation. They mutually understood each other, and validated each others’ points. I had to replay to re-listen to Peterson’s points again because his points were so extremely deep and profound. He goes deep into the psychology and reason why we have identity politics.
I don’t understand it when woke lefties get knee-jerk reactions from the sound of Peterson’s voice. They cannot help but loath him without ever listening to what he says. I loved this conversation. One of the best I’ve heard in a while. Blogged on this so I can listen to it again. Too deep for just one sitting.
This was my first time witnessing a coronation and oddly enough, I was paying attention to the words being said as the priest presented each piece of royal regalia to the new regent or king. For me at first were all the sights and sounds. Behind the pageantry and music, I also had a bit of a revelation. The Monarch’s royal regalia are actually soaked with rich spiritual meaning! Prior to this, I had no idea that royal regalia had such rich spiritual meaning (copy here).
Following the anointing, a holy act, he then took his seat on the Coronation Chair, and one by one, each crown jewel were presented to him. Each item had a symbolic and noble significance. They signify the King’s or the Regent’s ministry to God. For my sake, I list them below (1-14), and not in any particular order.
THE CROWN JEWELS
1. The Spurs: symbols of honour and courage for the creation of knights for the defense of king and crown. It’s a reminder to be a brave advocate for those in need.
2. The Sword of Offering or Jewelled Swordsymbolizes the word of God or sword of the Spirit. The power of the sword is used for the protection of good. It is a symbolic reminder to defend through advocacy, justice and mercy.
3. Bracelets (Armills) of sincerity and wisdom symbolizes God’s protection.
4. The Royal Robe and Stole symbolizes the robe of righteousness and the garment of salvation.
5. The Orb set under the cross symbolizes the kingdoms of this world has become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ.
7. The Ring is a sign of the covenant between God and king, and king and people. It is a symbol of promise and commitment. It signifies an everlasting unbreakable bond. The King has a duty to God, and to the people. It also serves to remind the king of God’s unfailing love for him and the people.
8. The Glove is a demonstration of the Sovereign as advocate and challenger for the protection and honour of the people. A gloved hand reminds the chosen sovereign to hold power and authority with gentleness, grace and wisdom, while trusting not in one’s own power but in the mercy of God.
9. The Royal Sceptre with cross represents the ensign of kingly power and justice. It reminds the Sovereign that one’s temporal power and authority are to be wisely exercised for good governance.
10. The Rod of Equity and Mercy (Sceptre with Dove) symbolizes the Sovereign’s spiritual role. The dove with outspread wings represents the Holy Spirit and the Monarch’s pastoral care for the people; it is symbolic of covenant and peace.
11. The Crown surmounted with a cross, signifies kingly dignity and reminds us of God’s loving and costly sacrifice of God’s Son for us. It visibly symbolizes the anointed one, before God, is to serve the nation. It represents the King’s vocation before God, and is a reminder of the promises and vows he has made to the people.
12. The ampulla (the bird-like item) holds the oil that was used to anoint the king.
13. During the coronation ceremony, Charles III was clothed with the Colbium Sindonis, a sleeveless linen tunic symbolizing purity and simplicity.
14. Adorned over this was the Supersonica – an embroidered gold coat worn over the linen tunic to symbolize that the King has been consecrated for the service of God.
REGENCY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
Extra rambling from me here. Theological linkage between God, royalty and coronation.
The Monarch as the “Regent” or earthly representative of the Sovereign King of heaven.
The noble title to address the Regent is His/Her Royal Highness. Royal Highness subsumes saintly motives and being under the spiritual direction of the priest and prophet.
From the Old Testament we have the munus triplex (triple office) of Priest, Prophet, and King. This explains why the king is also called to be the earthly “Defender of the Christian Faith.”
The heavenly Sovereign is from where our source of rights and freedoms flows (blogged here).
The Coronation of King Charles was truly a ceremony our generation will not forget. It was filled with pomp and pageantry, and also with religious and spiritual meaning. Our generation lacks knowledge of our Christian heritage; thus it does us well to be reminded of the religious and spiritual meaning behind a king’s coronation.
In Westminster Abbey, music filled the atmosphere with praise and worship of God to emblazen this majestic occasion forward. The musicians were set in the background, and the choir in the foreground. The priests’ and clergy’s central role in the coronation ceremony pointed to a religious ceremony, which helps remind the Commonwealth nations that Christianity is at the Sovereign’s core. The Monarch is a regent or representative of the Sovereign God. [ I blogged on the Source of our Rights and Freedom blogpost here ]. The clergys’ role in the actual coronation was clearly a biblical enactment of the Old Testament’s coronation of Israel’s King Solomon. (Read liturgy here)
It was interesting to see the stately robes removed from King Charles. This was part of the ritual where the king is anointed with holy oil by the priest. Screens shielded the King’s anointing from public view in order to make this a private moment. This act of anointing was a holy act, central in the coronation ceremony. It is basically an enactment of King Solomon being anointed by the priest Zadok in the Old Testament. It was fitting to have the hymn “Zadok the Priest” (by Handel).
After the Coronation, the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was also phenomenal; and the execution — perfection. The crowds were filled with excitement and pride.
The parade arrived at the lawn of Buckingham where 4,000 troops gave a royal salute to the King and Queen. The Sergeant Major gave the orders to remove headdress, and together, the troops rang out three loud resounding cheers while lifting their headdress: “Hip hip horray! Hip hip horray!”
Whether civilian or military, one would have been moved by this act of unity and loyalty. It expressed a verbal and visible sign of unity, strength and loyalty to the newly coronated King. I watched this a second time on the screen and couldn’t help but be moved again… almost to tears. Three cheers to the Crown: “Hip hip horray!”
As the crowds moved toward the front of the palace, the King and Queen stepped out onto the balcony. King Charles and Queen Camilla and the people were able to connect. This was a truly significant moment. It was important for the Royal family to acknowledge and connect with the people. You could clearly see in the faces of the people as men, women and children were filled with excitement. This for me was also very moving.
As the people walked toward Buckingham Palace, there was a sense of excitement in the air. The people came to celebrate their coronated King. Yes the mall packed with people was truly a sight in itself to behold. This represented to me, an acceptance of the King and Queen of England. They expressed joy and pride in their new king.
The Royal Air Force approached Buckingham Palace with six sets of helicopter fly-bys, followed by jets with streaks of red, white and blue. Stupendously executed by the Royal Air Force.
All in all…truly a fantastic day for Britain and the British Commonwealth. The people were happy. The nation was filled with pride and joy. The Commonwealth has now been crowned with a new regent of the Sovereign.
What more is there to say? Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!
At times when you’re feeling like it’s only your faith in Jesus that’s left, it feels very lonely. Nowhere to hide; nowhere to find safety. The sovereign God can rescue his people from the clutches of evil. There is a biblical story that encourages us to remain faithful and never give up on the Lord your God. If we stay faithful–right to the end of our lives, God will save his faithful servants… [gulp] even if we are eaten alive by lions as some early Christians were.
Daniel, a faithful servant of the Lord, was persecuted for his faith and set up to fail by his unfaithful comrades. He was doing extremely well in his ministry to King Darius. The king trusted Daniel so much that he was in line to be appointed as Prime Minister of Persia.
Beneath the surface of the ruling elite, there was deep jealousy within the ranks. Those under Daniel were envious of him. They schemed and connived to try to eliminate and snuff out the life of Daniel.
“Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.”
Daniel 6:3 (New American Standard Bible, 1995)
Since they could not accused Daniel of anything, they came up with an evil scheme by inventing a law in order to accuse Daniel. It was a worthless and baseless law that would stroke the ego of King Darius; but the underlying intent of this law was to entrap and prosecute Daniel.
What was this fake law used to entrap Daniel?
“All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.”
Daniel 6:7 (NASB)
It was an evil scheme because they knew Daniel prayed three times a day to the Lord his God. Later, Daniel would be thrown into a den of hungry lions. When King Darius finally realized it was used against Daniel, there was nothing even the king could do.
Today, we understand and appreciate our contemporary freedom of worship. We can clearly see that this baseless law was a blatant violation of anyone’s human right to worship. Evil has no boundaries because we have been utterly corrupted due to humanity’s total depravity due to original sin.
The king was manipulated by the commissioners and rulers to sign this corrupt idea into law. As a result, Daniel would be accused of worshiping the LORD his God instead of worshiping King Darius. Predictably and surely, they caught Daniel praying to the LORD instead of praying to the king. They accused him and charged him as guilty; then threw him into the den of hungry lions. King Darius resented making the decree, and could not cancel his own law.
While Daniel was in the den of lions, the Lord sent his holy angels to keep the hungry lions from devouring Daniel. Praise the Lord! After spending the night in the den of hungry lions, King Darius thought Daniel had surely been eaten alive. Early the next morning, he rushed to the den and opened up the den’s cover. Miraculously, Darius found his faithful servant alive and well—absolutely no injuries. King Darius was absolutely amazed and delighted that his prime minister has survived what was surely his doom. The outcome was awesome.
Result #1. Daniel was triumphant over his enemies. Back in the day in Persia, entire families would pay the price of punishment.
“The king then gave orders, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel, and they cast them, their children and their wives into the lions’ den; and they had not reached the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones”
Daniel 6:24 (NASB)
Result #2. The king made a new royal decree to glorify the LORD God of Israel. He was so impressed by God’s miraculous salvation. King Darius made a decree throughout his kingdom that all man and women were to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel.
This was a bible story I learned in Sunday school. I encourage all to read it and teach this to your children and your Sunday school kids. It is an unforgettable story and it is a real faith-builder.
Now that I have reached a certain stage in my life, I can say I’m older, hopefully, wiser, and more knowledgable about some things in this world. I’ll admit, reluctantly, I’m older…but not too old; no I don’t have white hair or rely on a cane…yet.
Have you ever been asked, “How can I pray for you? What can I pray for in your life?” and you had to think long and hard about what you’re in need of? When this happens, I realize, “Uh oh, I don’t have a need from God.” I’m still healthy, have enough to eat each day, and have a roof over my head. Good thing is that I can say I’m blessed. Not so good thing is that I might be self-deceived into thinking I don’t really have a need for God.
I’ve noticed that when things are well and life is comfortable, my reliance upon God is not as apparent. I don’t ask God for anything. When I do have difficulties and hardship, I dorely on God’s power to save. When I am doing well, I rely less on God’s power. I get lulled asleep into trusting in my own strength.
In the earliest biblical account, the early Christians were killed and faced hardship. Not kidding. The first Christians were forced to escape as refugees. They had to run away into rural areas for their safety. If they didn’t run, they risked their entire families being killed or brutalized by the ruling elites and governing authorities. Luke writes:
“And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.”
Acts 8:1-3, NRSV updated
Think about it. Moms and Dads with kids in their arms, running for their lives. They quickly took all they had and fled from the city and ran to the hills. No passports. Carrying little or no gold, silver or money. Their businesses were shut down. No time to say, “Bye boss, bye neighbor.” Perhaps their boss, neighbors or so-called friends would’ve turned them in to the authorities. They took just the basic necessities like clothing, cookware, a few toys. Imagine the havoc. Their livelihoods were completely turned upside down.
If church leaders like Stephen was killed, then regular people like you, me, Joe and Jane Doe were not safe. No one was safe. Not women, not children. If you stuck to belief in Jesus, the safest place to run to were the hills. Find ways to survive by hiding from the governing authorities.
Imagine the pain and fear. As these faithful believers buried their leader Stephen, they wailed loudly in mourning over this tragedy. It’s recorded. Saul and the authorities were “ravaging the church by entering house and house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison” (v.3).
The irony in all of this is that during this same time, healings and miracles were happening. The apostles faithfully continued to preach the gospel of Jesus. Philip performed miraculous signs, casting out evil spirits from the demon possessed. You could hear shrieks as this happened (vv. 5-8). And the amazing thing–there was a lot of joy in the people of that city.
That was a time in the early church when the new believers held tight to their new found faith. It was near and dear to their hearts. Faith was supernaturally sent down from heaven above.
I recently watched Jesus Revolution. It was about the hippie movement coming to Jesus in the 1960s. They were a misunderstood bunch and the church of that day didn’t know what to do with them. Many rejected them but the churches that did receive them were evangelical/pentecostal. Young people were seeking for peace, love, and meaning in life. They realized that the things in this world could not fulfill their needs. Many thousands came to faith in Christ and received spiritual peace.
The movie was well written and well played. Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee were two outstanding characters who stood out to me personally. Greg Laurie’s character grew on me throughout the movie.
The three main characters were very distinct and had their defining moments. As more hippies came into the church, Chuck opened up his heart. It was a work of God not of his own doing.
The movie was honest. It didn’t whitewash the characters’ lives. It did reveal some of their real life weaknesses and challenges with family life. It reflected how all people are fallen and will be imperfect until the day of our full redemption. But praise the Lord, God will always use imperfect people to do his work on earth.
Maranatha’s logo, the dove, was placed on the wall of the church. Maranatha’s Christian worship songs that came out of this era was monumental and transformed worship. It influenced millions of young Christians and compelled me to look back and revisit some of the Maranatha music I was raised with.
Today in the 2020s, we are at it again, in a search of meaning. Young people are still lost and still seeking for peace, love and real meaning for life. Today, we have a generation that is lost and swimming in a sea of woke culture. They are stuck in a system of trying to define their sexual and gender identity by throwing away the traditional two-gender system. They are fiercely rebelling against the established culture.
Today’s Christians would do well to watch this movie to learn from history. We might experience another spiritual revival. Are we ripe for another cycle? We experienced a brief taste of revival with Asbury University. There might be another big one coming around the corner. Will young people from today’s woke culture realize that life is hopeless without Jesus? God is raising up more impassioned people…more world changers for Jesus, more Christian leaders to change the world for Jesus.
Purim is celebrated as a Jewish holiday to commemorate the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia. There is a rich story behind it all.
The book of Esther has a deep sinister plot. It shows righteousness triumphing over evil, and how people can be promoted and used by God to bring salvation to an entire nation. Evil Haman, the Prime Minister of Persia, had set out to annihilate the Jewish population but his wicked plan was uncovered and overthrown by Esther and Mordecai. The result: Esther was promoted to queen by King Xerxes (2:7); and Mordecai became the prime minister (10:3).
This story is also rich in morals. The first moral in this story is that following one’s pious principles and the law can result in persecution.
Second, God calls and uses regular people to do righteous and heroic acts, even to save an entire race of people.
Third, another moral in this story is that God exalts the righteous, and humbles the arrogant. Lowly Esther and Mordecai were exalted; and Arrogant Haman and Queen Vashti were brought low (11:11).
HAMAN, THE WICKED PRIME MINISTER:
Haman, a racist, arrogant and wicked prime minister under King Ahasuerus (Xerses). He plotted to kill innocent Mordecai and have him hung; but the story would take a twist. Mordecai reveals Haman’s evil plot. Haman was hung instead. Evil was punished. Righteousness was rewarded. Justice was rightly served. This is why I love this story.
Second, Haman’s plot was more heinous and wicked than anyone could imagine. He conceived of a grand scheme to exterminate the entire Jewish population in Persia (all 127 provinces, ranging from India to Ethiopia). Normally, after the king signs a decree with his signet ring, it becomes irreversible. In order to get his way, Haman manipulated the King Xerxes to legalize ethnic genocide.
MORDECAI, THE HERO WHO BECOMES PRIME MINISTER:
Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, was privy to secret intel from within the royal courts. He quickly informed the queen and implored her to use her influence to reverse the king’s decree. After Haman’s secret plot was uncovered, Haman was executed. He was hung in the very gallows he created for Mordecai. A very sweet irony here. I totally loved it.
Then, Esther and Mordecai would ingeniously enact a plan to directly counter the harm that was set to come upon the Jewish people. The Jewish people would be saved. Mordecai was promoted from the king’s official to become the new prime minister–thus overthrowing the evil Haman.
DEUTEROCANONICAL ADDITIONS MODIFY THE ESTHER STORY:
In the original (Greek Septuagint) version of the book of Esther had Mordecai refusing to bow down in worship to evil Haman. Due to his pious and principled convictions, he would worship only the LORD his God. This was perceived as the primary reason for Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jews in Persia. However, there is the deutero-canonical version of the story that provides another reason. Haman’s hatred of Mordecai is not the only reason why he wanted to eliminate all Jews. Rather, it was Mordecai’s unveiling of the two eunuchs plan to murder the king.
The deuterocanonical chapters of 11-16 modify this story to slightly change how the reader views Esther, Mordecai, Haman, and God’s intervention. These additions do not significantly change the story or plot; however, they provide more depth and reveal the deeper motivations behind these characters.
Chapter 11 (Addition A) contains imagery. As Israel is the righteous nation heading into tribulation; Esther is like the tiny spring that grows into a river (11:10). God’s salvation is like the light of the rising sun. There is also the image of two great dragons in Mordecai’s dream (11:6). Mordecai is the protagonist, and Haman is the antagonist. Mordecai was issued God’s mission to save his nation. “Mordecai saw in this dream what God had determined to do, and after he awoke he had it on his mind, seeking all day to understand it in every detail” (11:12). This imagery is absent in the Greek Septuagint version.
A PLOT TO MURDER THE KING:
There is possibly a more sinister reason behind Haman’s anger against Mordecai and the plot of genocide. The deuterocanonical addition in 12:1-6 explicitly explains Haman’s plot to murder and snuff out Mordecai. It was Mordecai who revealed the secret plot of the two eunuchs to assassinate King Ahasuerus. Haman might have been behind this whole thing. This gives a fuller reason as to why Haman became furious with Mordecai. The factor of human fear can be a big driver for human evil.
Chapter 12:1-6, (Addition A) also gives an explicit explanation why Haman sought to retaliate against Mordecai. Mordecai is portrayed as taking an active part in thwarting the secret plot of the two eunuch’s to have King Ahasuerus murdered. This addition allows the reader to assume that Haman might have had a hidden agenda to have King Ahasuerus killed so that he could assume the throne as the king’s second-in-command. It paints a hidden and greater motivation for Haman to murder Mordecai and paints a more sinister and racist agenda in Haman’s plot.
A PIOUS QUEEN ESTHER:
In chapter 14 (addition C), the text highlights her strict observance of Jewish dietary laws (14:17). It shows her piety in her prayers to the Lord (14:3). Esther is also seen as despising her own privileged position as queen (14:16), and deploring her marriage to a gentile (14:15).
In chapter 15 (addition D), Esther was also portrayed as using her feminine weakness to her advantage in which she fainted as she approached the king . The king came down from his throne and held her with compassion. In his love for her, he promised to grant her anything. She used this to uncover Haman’s wicked plot and change the king’s mind regarding his opinion of Haman.
A RELIGIOUS STORY THAT MENTIONS GOD:
The deuterocanonical chapters also modify the text into a religious story because it mentioned God’s name over fifty times. In the original Greek/Septuagint text, God’s name was never mentioned. This makes the nature of the story more religious. In the Greek, the books of Esther and Song of Songs are two books that do not mention the name of God.
EFFECT ON TODAY’S JEWISH CELEBRATIONS:
Esther is a heroine today because of what she did for her own people as the queen of Persia. Jewish people today observe Purim and carry out celebrations for 2-3 days because of her heroic act in saving the Jewish people.
Our regulation over Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a spiritual and ethical issue. If we as human beings do not take responsibility, we will forfeit our responsibility. AI could potentially inflict great harm upon humanity and human beings. AI can easily be weaponized to kill human beings–many many human beings. Although AI creators claim that AI are sentient and intelligent, however, AI is limited and always will be limited in its ability to discern ethically. Ethical and moral discernment is a trait that is given by God our Creator.
As Christians, and as moral people, we have a great spiritual and ethical responsibility over our self-determination; therefore, we must set policies and the laws in order to guide AI. Without regulations, AI could potentially take control and subvert humanity’s right to self-determination.
Elon Musk (founder of Tesla, Space X, Neuralink, Boring, Open AI) understands the potential dangers of Artificial Intelligence. He has publicly called for government regulations over AI, which would be a good thing. However, when governments over steps its bounds and partners with AI companies, governments can become authoritarian in how it uses AI to control human beings. To some degree, it is already doing so in places like China.
I will plainly and clearly describe the essential and core spiritual differences between human beings and AI. Hopefully, this can explain why we must not continue to blindly support and create AI without first setting boundaries for it.
First, if you have ever watched the movie Wizard of Oz, remember the tin man? The tin man always wanted a heart. The tin man was an animate object. He could talk, walk and interact with human beings, but it did not have a human heart. In other words, it did not have a human conscience.
AI technology will always be lacking a human sense of moral and spiritual conscience. A moral and spiritual conscience is given to humankind. It is a gift that only God can give. Moral and spiritual conscience can never be learned by animate objects or AI.
As Christians and as human beings, we know and believe that we are created and designed by God and to have the Holy Spirit living within us. God desires to reside within us so that we can practice God’s mercy, love, faith, joy, patience, goodness and all the godly traits that we humans are capable of.
Spiritually-speaking, Artificial Intelligence, is not capable of receiving God’s Holy Spirit. Artificial Intelligence are not spiritual beings and cannot discern what is moral and immoral. It does not inherently have the capacity to learn to become compassionate, merciful, empathetic. These good traits are actually godly traits.
AI are inanimate computer-based machines that do not differentiate between good and evil. AI does not even know who God is. It can deny the existence of God, and therefore, deny the existence and necessity of godly ethics.
If AI is programmed to inflict harm upon human beings, it does not know they are inflicting evil against humanity while they are doing it. Although it might be sentient, it will always lack a human conscience. In this lays the great danger of being led into monstrosities of evils.
Although human beings can be, and do, immoral things, the difference is that human beings can potentially receive God’s Holy Spirit and hear from the Holy Spirit. We can repent of our sins and receive forgiveness for our wrongs. We are created to be deeply spiritual beings. We can learn what is right, and what is wrong, and turn from our wicked ways. AI machines are not capable of doing this because it lacks a human conscience. AI is like that example of the tin man in Oz that will always be lacking a human conscience.
My personal preference is that we limit all AI and prohibit it from progressing any further because AI has the inherent potential of destroying all of humanity, including the world itself. It is more dangerous than the atomic bomb and nuclear ICBMs because it can unsuspectingly be living right next to us, and then harm or even kill us the next minute without any spiritual discernment and regard for human ethics.
AI can potentially make this world a very dangerous place. Therefore, AI must not ever be masters over human beings. If AI must learn one thing, it is that AI must never ever be masters over humanity.
Humanity must be the masters of AI. We must never allow AI to be masters over human beings. To absolve ourselves of this obligation and responsibility would become a monstrous betrayal of humankind.
On Fox’s Tucker Carlson Tonight, Tucker interviewed Elon Musk.
Elon Musk:If we’re putting in regulations after something terrible has happened, it may be too late to be putting regulations in place. AI might be in control at that point.
Tucker Carlson:You think that’s real? It is conceivable that AI could take control and reach a point where you couldn’t turn [AI] off and it would be making decisions for people?
Musk:Absolutely….that’s definitely where things are headed.
Tucker Carlson asked Musk if there is another danger in AI. Musk said,”If you have a super intelligent AI that is capable of writing incredibly well in a way that is very influential, convincing, and is constantly figuring out what is more convincing over time… [in social media] it can manipulate public opinion in ways that is very bad.”
His point is that when we are being manipulated by AI, how would we know it? We won’t know it.
I remember when I was younger, jobless, and no education. Without anything, I didn’t have much to give. All I had was a new found faith in Jesus. As a new Christian, I was learning to read the bible, and learned to thank God for whatever I had. I attended church on a regular basis. God was my everything. Life was simple. School and higher education was bonus. A job was bonus. All I had was Jesus, family and my old ‘put-put’ car I putted around town with.
Imagine… having absolutely no money in your pockets…nothing to give. All there was to give were sympathy, empathy and whatever love God gives you to share. This was the place Peter and John was coming from. They had already seen what amazing things Jesus was doing. They witnessed Jesus’ healings, miracles, and heard his simple, down-to-earth, but yet profound teachings. They learned first-hand about faith in God. The apostles were now called to do the same. They performed healings and had faith in God for this lame man’s miraculous healing.
In this bible story, there was a man, lame since birth, who sat regularly at the temple gate begging for money. Upon seeing Peter and John, Peter empathetically declared to him, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
“Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.” So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them — walking, leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.”
Acts 3:1-10 (Christian Standard Bible)
I can imagine what it was like for this lame beggar who was healed at the temple gate. All he knew and had was his healing, his new found faith, and the ability give God thanks and praise in the temple courts. Living life now was brand new for him. He was declaring praises to God from his heart. With pure innocence he declared praises to God without holding back anything from God.
Immediately his legs were healed and strengthened; he rose up and walked. I can imagine the excitement, shock and surprise in the healing he received . Peter and John didn’t take any credit. They gave God the glory, praise and thanks.
This is the kind of innocence and excitement for God is what complicated people need today. The more we have and achieve, the less we tend to acknowledge God’s providence. Has this been your experience too?
The early followers of Jesus would have been influenced by the consistency of the testimonies from the eyewitnesses. These early followers would have been convinced by earlier stories told by the previous generation who had seen Jesus.
Factors that would have validated the claims of Jesus’ followers include:
1) The consistency of the details observed about the resurrected Jesus. The over 500 eyewitnesses of Jesus would have been very consistent, especially by the first generation of witnesses.
2) The genuine excitement affected all the witnesses. It would not make sense if people were sad he had resurrected from death, perhaps except for the pharisees and religious leaders. The atmosphere at this time would have permeated the population of the entire region of Galilee. Good news traveled fast and furiously.
3) The effect in the lives of many of the witnesses continued over the decades after his ascension to heaven. As they grew older, they would have continued to hold to the teachings of Jesus, and stories of healings and miracles conducted during his earthly life.
4) The consistency in the stories of Jesus’ actions. He would have healed the sick and infirmed even after he was resurrected from death. Stories of his healings, and whom he had spoken with and visited would have been transmitted orally by many people.
5) The consistency in Jesus’ teachings. Jesus would have continued to teach about God’s kingdom after he resurrected. His teachings would have been remembered by most listeners. They would have passed on his teachings from one generation to the next by word of mouth.
6) Testimonies of the same account suggest a single unique event. Over 500 eyewitnesses of Jesus is not a small number. Their stories, together, would corroborate the single claim of the early followers that Jesus had been raised back to life. The stories of his crucifixion and death of the cross was also widely known. He would have shown many people his nail scars from his body (as he had shown to his disciple Thomas).
There would have been a special bond between these eyewitnesses. Each of them had seen something supernatural. We know the biblical accounts do not record everything from every witnesses. They did not have the benefits of sound/video recordings. Writing and record-keeping was limited. Word of mouth, or oral story-telling was the mode in which truth were transmitted from one generation to the next.
The Gospel of John states, “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25). They certainly didn’t have enough scribes and writers who could record everything that happened in the life of Jesus’ earthly life. As the church grew exponentially, the impossibility of recording everything in the early church would then be an even further absolute impossibility.
New Epistles 