Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Introduction

• The word stephanos (crown) appears first in Homer--it's a good Greek name going back 8 centuries before Stephen's time.
• There seems to be no relation to the Stephanas of 1 Corinthians 1:16, 16:15,17.
• Stephen was the first martyr for Christ (after Jesus). Every week, a number of men and women are martyred for their faith in Christ.
• Scripture: Acts 6:1-8:3

Character: Stephen the man of God
 

• Wisdom. Specifically, he was someone who understood those who felt misunderstood and underrepresented (fellow Greek [Hellenistic] believers).
• Service. As one of the 7 deacons, Stephen administered relief to the needy.
• Faith. This disciple believed to the point of death.
• Grace. Even in death, he was gracious towards his enemies.
• Power. Stephen was a conduit for God's power through his speaking, miracles, and strength of character.

Witness: Stephen as bold proclaimer of Christ
 

• Like all convinced Christ-followers, Stephen bore witness to his Lord.
• He had the "big picture":
  • O.T. history (the history of God's often-stubborn people)
  • An understanding of a Christianity larger than Judaism (universal salvation).
    • Stephen, like those who evangelized the Gentiles during the great persecution (Acts 11:19), may have been ahead of his time.
    • The Antioch church strategically planted churches (Acts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18), and the missionaries they sent took the word to Gentiles (non-Jews).
    • On the island of Cyprus, Paul would later begin a more Gentile evangelistic strategy (Acts 13).

Death: Stephen dying a death worthy of his Lord
 

• Parallels to the death of Christ.
  • Both challenged the ruling high priestly family of Caiaphas. Seeing Jesus as mediator implied that Caiaphas was not the legitimate mediator between God and man. No wonder he and his cronies were so angry!
  • Trumped-up charges.
  • Executed outside the city of Jerusalem.
  • "Son of Man" saying (see Luke 22:69). This is a unique reference outside the gospels.
  • Forgiveness of enemies (see Luke 23:43).
  • Committing his spirit to God at death (Luke 23:46).
• Blasphemers were stoned under Jewish law. Read about the execution of the blasphemer (Leviticus 24:11,16). Even the apostle Paul would later be hauled outside the city of Lystra and stoned (Acts 14:19).
• Stephen's faith illustrates Revelation 12:11 beautifully.
• He was the first martyr of the Christian churc.
  • The original meaning of martyr (martus) = witness.
  • Many would fellow in his wake, especially by the time Christianity was illegal -- in the 2nd to early 4th centuries.

Conclusion & Application
 

• Stephen bore witness to Christ in 32 AD, yet by faith he continues to speak today.
• It is with good reason that people have been naming their children after Stephen ever since (Stephanie, Steve, Etienne, Stefan, Esteban...) Further, 26/27 December is celebrated as the Feast of Stephen in the Western Catholic / Eastern Orthodox churches.
• How do you think the apostle Paul felt once he realized that Jesus was Lord -- and that he had presided over the execution of an innocent man? Interestingly, Paul stayed in the home of Stephen's fellow evangelist Philip (Acts 21:8). What do you imagine they talked about?
• Let's walk in the steps of Stephen:
  • We too should be able to tell the the old, old story.
  • Like Stephen, we have the "big picture"--not just of biblical history, but of God's desire to see all peoples reached.
  • Be prepared to take a stand. Let's keep our eyes on the Lord of glory.

Further:

• Read Alexander Strauch's excellent book on the biblical role of deacon. It is The New Testament Deacon.
• Sign up for weekly emails from Voice of the Martyrs.
• Learn something about martyrology. Not all martyrs were killed in the pre-Constantinian Roman Empire. For example. during a recent visit to Uganda, I learned about "Martyrs Day" (3 June) which honors 150 persons who chose to be burnt at the stake rather than renounce Christianity. This took place only a century ago!
• Pray for the persecuted and those being martyred in our world today!
• If you don't have a broad grasp of the story of the Old Testament, pray to be like Stephen, who was able to recite and interpret the scriptures with passion and accuracy -- and without notes.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Leaders leave

• [[Campus minister secret sin atheist died alone Many leaders in my life it serving in other circles in which I moved involved in egregious sin or else gave up their faith altogether]]
• In scripture, we see that quite a few prominent leaders away from the path:
  • OT: Korah, Saul, Ahab... (Numbers 16;1 Samuel 13; 1 Kings 16; etc).  
  • NT: Judas, Hymenaeus & Philetus, Diotrephes... (John 13; 2 Timothy 2; 3 John; etc). 
• Many would-be disciples turned away from Jesus (John 6:60,66), including one of his own apostles (John 13:27).
• Demas was a ministry associate of the apostle Paul, and sadly not the only "high level" leader who abandoned the apostle. If it can happen to "the strong," it can happen to any of us.

Demas in Scripture
 

• Colossians 4:14 (c.60 AD)
• Philemon 24 (c.60 AD)
• 2 Timothy 4:10 (64-68 AD)
• In John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), Demas is a deceiver who tries to persuade pilgrims to leave the narrow road for the sake of financial enrichment.
• We don't know exactly what it was that lured Demas away. Did Demas long to be popular (as his name suggests)? Had he become enamored of prestige? Was he entangled in commercial "civilian affairs"? Was there a woman, or had he been influenced by Paul's enemies? Or was he disillusioned ("fed up") with the ministry? Did he ever return, or had he crossed the point of return (what the Bible calls "falling away" [Hebrews 6, 10; 2 Peter 2]?) We may never know.
• It is even possible that his heart turned over a period of years. Leaving the Lord can happen quickly (Mark 4:17), or take place or over a period of many years.

Other passages referenced

• 1 John 2:15-17, 3:13, 4:5
• Galatians 6:14
• James 1:27, 4:4
• 2 Peter 1:4, 2:20; Matthew 7:6
• John 17:13-17; Ecclesiastes 4:4
   

Lessons drawn

• The world is attractive, corrupting, and seductive.
• Regardless of our level of spirituality or leadership, we are never beyond the reach of the tentacles of the world.
• That's why we are called to make a clean break with the world.
• For if it can happen to "the strong," it can happen to any of us.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The wife of Pilate

• Note: If you haven't yet listened to the podcast on Pontius Pilate, please do so now, as this will provide helpful background information so that you may better understand Claudia.
• What was it like to relocate because of your husband's career?
• What was it like to move to a distant land?
• What was it like to move where people didn't speak your language?

The text & Claudia's dream

• Matthew 27:19: Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream."
• The dream was Thursday night / Friday morning of the Passion Week.
• Some early Christians said that her dream was sent by God to help her become a Christian.
• Others suggested that this was a scheme of Satan to thwart the crucifixion.
• In fact, God spoke through dreams to several other people in the course of biblical history. In particular, non-believers to whom he spoke include:
  • Pharaoh (Genesis 40-41)
  • Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2)
  • Xerxes (Esther 6:1)
  • The list is not exhaustive; the Lord spoke to many believers and non-believers alike, though it is not easy to discern whether or to what extent he still speaks to us by this means in our time.

In later legend:

• Orthodox saint!
• 4th C. Acts of Pilate -- more elaborate. She appears in the earlier 2nd C. literature also.
• These documents tended to paint Christianity and Rome as relating positively. That is, they may have propaganda.
• Could she have become a Christian? In Acts we see several upper-class women responding to the gospel, so it cannot be ruled out. Yet there is no direct evidence for this speculation.

Lessons for us
 

• Learn from all the character of the Bible: major, minor; believer, non-believer; male, female...
• Be sensitive to subtle cues God may be giving us.
• [Repeated from Pilate lesson:] Don't ignore your wife's counsel. After all, women are often more spiritually attuned than men.
• If your husband is a knucklehead, do share spiritual input. Yet make it count; be strategic:
  • The right subject.
  • The right time.
  • The right tone.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The man

• A Roman, quite possibly Italian.
• Governor / prefect of Judea 26-36 AD.
• We can build a composite picture from the N.T., several extrabiblical references, and even archaeology:
  • Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 3,13, 23; Acts 3, 4. 13; John 18, 19; [1 Tim 6].
  • The writings of Philo (Embassy to Gaius), Josephus (Jewish War and History of the Jews), and Tacitus (Annals).
  • Pilate stone, found in Caesarea Maritima in 1961. Dedication stone to the emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37 AD) had been recycled as part of the Roman theater. Judea was governed by a prefect; this was changed to procurator starting 44 AD. The Bible uses the correct terms-- a testament to its authenticity.
• Matthew 27:11-14,18,19,23-24,26; John 18:28-38; John 19:18-22.

Political history

• Protege of Sejanus, head of the Praetorian Guard.
• Member of the Equestrian class.
• Tasked with keeping the peace; collecting taxes; governing the distant Syria (including Judea).
• Insensitive actions
  • Soldiers carried Roman standards (idolatrous images) into Jerusalem -- protests.
  • Temple money spent on aqueduct: soldiers in crowd at Pilate's signal turned on them beating killing.
  • Shields brought into Jerusalem (near Temple), with inscriptions claiming divinity for the emperor Tiberius.
  • Samaritans planning to go up Mt. Gerizim to see alleged Mosaic items -- massacred en route.
• Recalled to Rome, but by the time he'd arrived the emperor had died (37 AD).
• Luke 13:1 fits well with what is known about Pilate from the extrabiblical sources.
• Late legend that the emperor Caligula (37-41 AD) ordered him to commit suicide.

Character

• A politician (but not in the sense of wooing voters -- the emperor could remove him).
• Roman: practical man, doing what was expedient.
• Still, seems to have been in two minds about how to deal with Jesus. A picture emerges of a man who was unsure how to conduct himself, inconsistently overbearing or, at other times detached.
• Insensitive to those among whom he served.
• Brutal (e.g, bribery and executions without trial).

Multiple chances to respond in faith

• Interview with Jesus (e.g. John 18).
• The dream of Claudia.
• The baseless charges of the Jewish leadership.
• 6 years of Christianity before his recall to Rome!
• Some late legends that Pilate became a Christian, but this is highly unlikely. It is unthinkable that the gospels would not have recorded such extraordinary news! It is also implausible given his vacillating and cruel character.

Lessons for us

• Take responsibility for our actions. Some decisions are impossible to distance ourselves from.
• Politics is messy, and often requires moral compromises for the good of the state.
• Don't ignore your wife's counsel!
• Don't jump to the conclusion that God hasn't been giving people chances to respond to the truth, or that he is unfair. He is at work in every life (Acts 17); he has forgotten no one.

Further study
 

• Review all the Pilate passages.
• Listen to the Barabbas podcast.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Background

• Family of 10 or more:
  • Parents: Yosef, Maria[m]
  • Sons: Yeshua, Ya'akov, Yosef, Yehudah, Shim'on
  • Daughters: 3 or more, all unnamed (see Genesis 5)
• Not a wealthy family (Luke 2:24; see Leviticus 5:7).
• Imagine what this family must have been like!
  • The older sibling who always did what was right (!).
  • The loss of the father early on, making the same sibling the de facto family head.
  • Family "secret" -- rumors surrounding the birth of Mary's firstborn (Luke 2:7; Matthew 1:25)?
  • By far, the sibling about whom we know most is James (Ya'akov). Apart from these facts, nearly everything else is speculation.
• Please listen to the podcast on Jesus if you haven't yet heard it.

Scriptural study
 

• Matthew 12:46, 13:53-58
  • v.55 -- four brothers named
  • v.56 -- sisters mentioned
  • Unbelief
     
• Mark 3:20-21,30-31 (also Luke 8:19-21) -- Jesus' family does not understand his mission. See also Luke 2:41-50.  
• Mark 6:1-5 -- His hometown were offended by him, and his own family does not seem to have made things any better.
• John 2:12 -- Jesus spends time with his family. 
• John 7:3-10 -- There is tension and misunderstanding between his brothers and him.
• Matthew 28:10: "Tell my brothers." See also John 20:17.
• 1 Corinthians 15:7 -- James was an eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus. A skeptic is won over.
• Acts 1:14 -- Jesus' family is united in prayer.
• Galatians 1:19 -- James is referred to as apostle ("missionary"?). See also 1 Corinthians 9:5.
• Galatians 2:9,12 -- James is a major leader in the Jerusalem church. See also James 1:1 and Jude 1:1; both these letters are traditionally attributed to Ya'akov and Yehudah (James and Jude), Jesus' siblings.
• Acts 15:13-21, 21:17ff -- James is serving as some sort of president in the Jerusalem church.
• Hegesippus and Josephs reported James' execution by the Sanhedrin in 62 AD.
• While traditions are strong that Jesus' family became believers in Christ, not every family member is discussed.  We will have to be satisfied knowing that for the most part things turned out well.

Technical

• Josephus (37-100 AD), the Jewish historian and statesman (and adopted son of the emperor Vespasian, 69-79 AD), mentions the execution of James, as does Hegesippus (110-180 AD), whose work is known to us through the church historian Eusebius (263-339), who served at the court of Constantine.
• Many churchmen contest the terms "brothers" and "sisters," claiming these words are open to different interpretations. These simple Greek words have been argued to refer to children of Joseph by a previous marriage, Mary's sister's children, or Joseph's sister's children. All these efforts seem designed to uphold the doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity, which is refuted by Matthew 1:25 and the other verses referencing her children.
• In the earlier centuries, three views on Jesus' "brothers" emerged:
  • Tertullian (160-220) held that they were Jesus' full, physical brothers.
  • The Protoevangelium of James (c.150 AD) portrays them as sons of Jacob by an earlier marriage.
  • Jerome (347-420) held that they were first cousins to Jesus, sons of Alphaeus and Mary of Clopas.
• Desposyni is the technical term referring to alleged blood relatives of Jesus Christ. It was coined by Sextus Julius Africanus in the early 3rd century. Some argue that Jesus' relatives held positions of honor in the early church (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholics, plus some Anglicans and Lutherans.

Lessons for us
 

• Stay connected to your family.
• While modern families tend to be small, ancient (and traditional) families strove to be large. We should view any reference to families in the scriptures through such a prism.
  • Families did not consist of father and mother, son and daughter; they were far larger. Moreover, extended families (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins...) tended to live in the same village.
  • Families were thus more interactive. A lot of learning would have taken place among the siblings.
  • There were clearly defined expectations for sons and daughters.
  • An abundance of children (especially sons) provided security for parents, esp. in their old age (Psalm 127:3-5, 128:5-6).
• It may take a while to win them over, so pray and wait patiently.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Background

• There are at least 8 Simons in the Bible, not to mention several men named Simeon (a related name).
• Simon received the epithet Magus, which means magician / sorcerer. Technically speaking, a magus (pl. magi) was a Zoroastrian astrologer. Whether or not this was Simon's religious background, he did make certain claims to esoteric knowledge / power, and thus could be considered a magician or sorcerer. For more on the Magi, refer to the upcoming podcast.
• He is presumably a Samaritan, although it is possible he was a Jew operating in Samaria.
• The fact that Samaritans were heterodox in their doctrine, and perhaps thought to be gullible, enhances the power of their conversion. And so, barrier by barrier, the walls come tumblin' down...
• The gospel is in its second phase of expansion, penetrating Judea and Samaria (Acts 1:8)

Scriptural study (I was reading from the NASB.)
 

• Acts 8:4-24 is the only text where Simon the Sorcerer makes an appearance.
  • This man is fascinated with the dramatic and the impressive.
  • One is reminded of both Pharaoh's magicians (Exodus 7:11) and Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:21-23)
  • Simon seems to have been genuinely converted.
  • When he realizes the apostles' hands in some way imparted something miraculous to his former fans, he covets such power. (Note: something supernatural had taken place. At each of four major moments in salvation history [Acts 2, 8, 10, and 19] the Holy Spirit makes a point as the gospel moves into new territories/situations. For more, please read The Spirit.)
• We may quickly lean towards doubting Simon's conversion, yet there is evidence it was genuine. (It's probably a moot point.)
  
  • The incident reminds us of Jeremiah 34:12-16.
  • There (as God admits) the people had repented, but later changed their minds.
  • We should be wary of defining repentance so strictly that no wavering is possible, or that people are tempted to hide their failings or doubts for fear of being deemed inauthentic. (See 1 Kings 21:29.)
• Although before his baptism, as soon afterward, Simon preferred impressing people over fearing God, he responds humbly (it must be admitted) when rebuked by the apostle Peter.
  • The solution in such cases is not severe discipline (though the apostolic rebuke was severe), nor
  • rebaptism (there is no thought of that in this passage), but
  • repentance. Revelation 3:19 is instructive: when Christians lose their way, lose their fire, lose their purity of motive, the answer is always repentance--and thus resumption of fellowship with their Lord.

Miscellaneous

• Learn about the sin of simony, the sale of clerical office. This perverse practice was current in the Middle Ages.
• You might also want to explore the parallels between Simon the Sorcerer and Jannes and Jambres, the magicians of Pharaoh (and to whom a pseudepigraphal work was attributed). All three had reached impressive levels in their ability to wow the crowds. Or make a list of figures in the Bible who failed to give glory to God.
• Later traditions about a show-down between Peter and Simon Magus appear in polemical texts among various patristic writers (Epiphanius, Hippolytus, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr), and also in apocryphal documents like The Acts of Peter (late 2nd century).

Lessons

• Stay away from sorcery, which we are warned about in both testaments (2 Kings 9:22; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 47:9,12; Micah 5:12; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 9:21, 18:23). On the other hand, there is a difference between black magic and innocent fantasy. For more, please weigh my comments in my podcast on Harry Potter.
• Not so quick to judge people's repentance. (Rebaptism isn't all it's cracked up to be.)
• Beware the sensational. Sensational doesn't equate to spiritual. Am I moved by hype and glitz, or by heart and truth? Do I consciously or even unconsciously hope to impress others by my story (Colossians 2:18-19)?
• Simon's problem wasn't that he was too deep (profound or esoteric), but that he was shallow. He was concerned with the appearances of things. Yet deep spirituality is rooted in a Christ-like character, purified by suffering, evidenced in perseverance through loving ministry.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Background

• The name derives from the name of the sun-god of the ancient Greeks (and Romans), Apollo.
• He was an Egyptian, and more specifically an Alexandrian.
• Alexandria was the intellectual capital of Egypt, Africa, and perhaps the entire Mediterranean world at the time. Founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great, it became the capital of Egypt for a millennium, until the Muslims took over in the 7th century.
• Like the majority of leaders in the first generation of Christianity, Apollos was a Jew.
• After he linked up with Priscilla and Aquila, he became a ministry associate of the apostle Paul.

Scriptural study

• Acts 18:24-19:1
• 1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4-6,22, 4:6, 16:12
• Titus 3:13

Questions

• Q1: Who had taught Apollos?
• Q2: As he was "fervent in spirit/Spirit," did he possess the Holy Spirit when Priscilla and Aquila first reached out to him?
• Q3: Who taught him the second time, and what (if anything) does this say about women teaching?
• Q4: Was Apollos baptized again?
• Q5: What is the connection between Apollos and other followers of John the Baptist (Acts 19)? It appears he had been taught correctly, yet they had not.
• Q6: What scriptures did he use to prove Jesus was the Christ?
• Q7: Are we willing to be corrected where our doctrine is incomplete?
• Q8: Do we appreciate the value of evidences, not only for those who lack faith, but also for those who already believe? With respect to why young people overwhelmingly reject the faith they grew up with, read the results of the important Barna poll.
• Q9: In expressing my preferences for leaders / leadership styles, am I more a unifying force in the local church, or a dividing influence?
• Q10: Do I lead in such a way that others rally behind me and withdraw support from others to whom they owe allegiance and respect? Or am I a team player?
• Q11: Do I feel at liberty to make my own decisions?
• Q12: If I am a leader, do I allow others the liberty of making their own decisions? Or am I so forceful that they feel they cannot say no?

Conclusion

• We need more Apolloses!
• Apollos should be an upward call. Yet if we only say, "He was an exception," we let ourselves off the hook for our own responsibility to (1) know the scriptures, (2) engage with others, and ultimately (3) allow the Lord to use us as he sees fit.
   

Further

• Tradition: Lutherans and others consider him to be a saint.
• Jerome (Hieronymus) of Bethlehem, c.400 AD, said that Apollos was so dissatisfied with the division at Corinth that he retired to Crete with Zenas, a doctor of the law; and once the schism was eliminated by the influence of 1 Corinthians, Apollos returned there and became its bishop. But such a perspective reflects the church polity of the subapostolic age (2nd century onward), not the apostolic age, when "bishops" did not exist in the singular; a body of overseers [episkopoi, bishops] led the local churches.
• Martin Luther and various modern scholars propose that Apollos is the (anonymous) author of the epistle to the Hebrews.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Background

• If you haven't listened to the podcast on Mary & Martha, it might be good to listen to that one before this lesson on Lazarus, as they're integrally related.
• He lives in Bethany (2 miles from Jerusalem), with his sisters; apparently there are no parents or children living in the home, but this surmise can never be proven.
• His name, Greek, comes from the Hebrew Eleazar, which means something like "God is my help." (The help the rich man in Luke 16 would not give to Lazarus was lavished on him by the Lord, while the rich man's fortunes were completely reversed. Parable inspiration?)
• As for Lazarus' character, nothing is known for sure. Yet we can rightly expect that, in terms of personality, there would have been a family resemblance. His sisters were faithful, devoted, giving, and "real." It isn't hard to imagine that Lazarus was a winsome individual; and as a fellow male, Jesus would easily have connected with him.

Scriptures read in this podcast:

• John 11:1,3-4,5-6,11-15,17,33-37,38-41,43-44,45-46
• John 12:1-2, 9-11, 17-19
• John 13:23
• Ephesians 2:1-6

Five facts about Lazarus' life
 

• The dead man walks out of the tomb (John 11:44).
  • Many come to faith as a result (11:45).
  • The notoriety this miracle accelerates the collision-course Jesus and the religious establishment are on.
  • Why was Jesus so deeply moved at this time? His emotion suggests his humanity (an emphasis in John), though (surely) also his divinity.
  • Was Jesus angry? Find out.
  • Did Jesus wait the extra days to prove beyond all doubt that Lazarus was dead? Is it true that the Jews believed the soul hovered around the body for three days after death? According to later Jewish belief, yes; check out this link or that one. And yet it is uncertain that this view was current in the first century.
• At dinner, he reclines with Jesus (John 12:2).
  • This is a special dinner, hosted at the Bethany home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
  • At ancient meals, people lay around the table on couches (on their left elbow) and ate with their right hand.
• After his resuscitation, Lazarus becomes, like Jesus, a target (John 12:9-11,17-19).
  • The impact of the miracle is mixed.
  • Some are moved to faith, others are moved to resistance. So it is with our lives!
• Then Lazarus disappears (or does he? -- see below).
• He was deeply loved by Jesus (John 11:3,5,11,36). While the Lord loves everyone, not all relationships are the same. This is not a general love, but a very specific one: love for a person as a genuine friend.

An intriguing possibility

• About the disciple Jesus loved, see John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7,20.
• Note: The Twelve are referred to in chapters 6 and 20, though the apostle John is never designated by name. The closest we come is "son of Zebedee" (21:2).
• "The disciple whom Jesus loved" makes his appearance at the very point that Lazarus "disappears." Consider the suggestion of N.T. scholar Ben Witherington III. Click here.

Application

• John 11:6 -- God loves us, yet still he allows tough things to happen to us. We should never doubt his love, or the relief that will eventually come.
• When God does great things through us, there will be some who are acutely uncomfortable. (Those among whom the Lord is not doing great things? Those whose influence or reputations is diminished.)
• We were dead in our sins before we knew Christ (Ephesians 2:1-6). We could no more have raised ourselves up than Lazarus could have brought himself back to life. We are wholly dependent on Christ.
• God's love for us isn't just platonic, or abstract. The Bible gives every appearance that God feels--that he cares.
• We should pay attention even to the minor characters in the Bible. Although there may be no character development, still there may be things to learn about God (theology).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Background

• Martha (Aramaic) means something like "the lady." It comes from the masculine form for master, mar.
• Miriam, named after the sister of Moses, usually Mary in English, comes from the Hebrew for "bitter."
• Catholic tradition equates Mary with Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene), while in Orthodox and Protestant traditions these are two separate persons. In John 12:1-7 and Luke 7:36-50, the anointing is of the feet, not the head, as in the older source Mark 14:3-9 (appearing also in Matthew 26:6-13 and Luke 7:36-51); one Bethany home belongs to Simon the Pharisee (and leper), the other to the home of Martha; and so scholars cannot easily confirm that the anointings represent separate events. This is not easy to decide.
• The sisters may have been born into wealth. Notice the spare room for guests, the family vault, and the expensive perfume.
• Martha is usually mentioned first, suggesting that she was the older of the sisters. Though it doesn't seem possible to prove this, her being the firstborn is more consistent with her display of personality in the gospel accounts.
• They lived with their brother, Lazarus. (Is it more than coincidence that the figure in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus [Luke 16:19-31] is also named Lazarus?) No mention is made of children or aged parents, though of course the silence does not rule out their presence.

Martha & Martha
 

• Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-12:8
• Mary sat at Jesus' feet, even as Saul of Tarsus sat at Gamaliel's feet (Acts 22:3). The purpose was presumably not only to learn, but also (in turn) to teach. This is revolutionary. See note ** below.
• Contrasting characters
  • higher-strung / lower-strung
  • more task-oriented / more relational
  • more controlling /more accepting
  • standing and serving / seated and learning and waiting
  • leader / follower

Application

• People are wired differently, whether due to nature or nurture, genetics or family of origin, social conditioning, or other factors. Personality differences are not condemned in the Bible. There's always room to improve, and to the extent that we fall short of the character of Christ, we should never become complacent about "who we are." Still, contentment (when accompanied by godliness) is a positive thing, and highly desirable (1 Timothy 6:6).
• Even in a single family, personalities differ significantly. Everyone interacts with Jesus Christ in his or her own way. We shouldn't try to force everyone to respond the same way. Genuine commitment may manifest differently in different people.
• Jesus Christ, as busy as he was, made time for relationships. It is clear that this family held a special place in his heart. Notice also that among his friends he counted not only men, but also women. Of course he comported himself with propriety at all times, but the requirements of holiness and dignity did not dictate that he hold aloof from those with whom he had no immediate "ministry business."
• Life can be burdensome and distracting, and it's all too easy to focus too much on all the duties and chores. Every day let us take time to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn. May we all strive to have a "Mary heart" in a "Martha world." (There's a book about that!)

Further study: See this Q&A.

Next podcast: Lazarus.

** "[Mary] is ‘sitting at his feet’; a phrase which doesn’t mean what it would mean today, the adoring student gazing up in admiration and love at the wonderful teacher. As is clear from the use of the phrase elsewhere in the NT (for instance, Paul with Gamaliel), to sit at the teacher’s feet is a way of saying you are being a student, picking up the teacher’s wisdom and learning; and in that very practical world you wouldn’t do this just for the sake of informing your own mind and heart, but in order to be a teacher, a rabbi, yourself. Like much in the gospels, this story is left cryptic as far as we at least are concerned, but I doubt if any first-century reader would have missed the point.“ -- N.T. Wright, "Women’s Service in the Church: The Biblical  Basis," St John’s College, Durham, England (September 4, 2004).

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

The mystery of Barabbas' name

• Original pronunciation: Barabbás (accent on last syllable)
• Bar is Aramaic for son, and is found in names like Bartholomew, Bar-Jonah, Bartimaeus, Barsabbas, Barnabas
• Meaning of Barabbas
  • Traditional view: this was the son of Abbas
  • Another possibility: Bar-rabban (son of the rabbi)
  • Either way, he must have had a first name; he was more than merely "son of Abbas" or "son of the rabbi."
• Another Jesus?
  • Some late manuscripts (see Matthew 27:16-17) supply a first name: Jesus. Pilate then would have been asking which Jesus he should release.
  • Jesuses in the Bible: Joshua, son of Nun; Jesus son of Sirach (Apocrypha); one of Jesus' ancestors (Luke 3:29); Jesus called Justus (Colossians 4:11); Jesus of Nazareth... the early church may have known as many as 12 men named Jesus.
  • Note: Jesus was a common name in the first century AD.

The political situation

• High tension. The Roman occupation had begun in 63 BC. Discontent will boil over in the revolution of 66-73 AD. By 70 AD, however, both Jerusalem and her stunning temple would lie in ruins.
• Zealots dissatisfied with the Roman occupation longed for autonomy, and were willing to result to violence to achieve their ends.
• Might persons like Barabbas have been heroic figures for some of the Jews?
• Yet would the Romans really release such a (presumably dangerous) man? This is exactly what another Roman governor did in 85 AD, so the Barabbas account appears historical.

Barabbas: crime & punishment
 

• Matthew 27 - notorious prisoner
• Mark 15 - murderer
• Luke 23 - murderer
• John 18 - robber
• Acts 3:14 - murderer
• The Romans would have crucified Barabbas. This was a common punishment for rebels and political criminals.

Scriptural study

• Matthew 27:16-17
• Mark 15:6-15

Application

• We relate. We know guilt.
• We know the shame of saying "Never again," only to backslide. We know the destructive power of anger, what it is to be impulsive, how far we sometimes go to get our own way.
• Barabbas was robber, rioter, murderer.
  • Yet haven't we too robbed the Lord of his time, his money, his honor? We have treated as our own what truly belongs to him.
  • We have rioted in our hearts, our innards a seething sea of attitudinal, chaotic, self-focused feeling.
  • As for murder, collectively we share the guilt for the crucifixion of our Lord.
  • A substitution has taken place!
    
    • "He paid a debt he did not owe / I owed a debt I could not pay / I needed someone to take my sins away…”
    • Human substitutions are rejected (Moses, Exodus 32:32; Paul, Romans 9:3). But a divine substitution? See Psalm 49! (And be sure to follow up this lesson with the Ransom podcast.)

Conclusion: Who goes free?

• "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" (Matthew 27:17)
• Shall the guilty be released and the innocent suffer? Yes. The innocent is willed by God to suffer, and the guilty walk free. "Go in peace," they said in former times.
• We are all Barabbas!
• With all of this in mind, let’s live a life worthy of our Lord: grateful, making the most of our new lease on life!