#49 John Sends Disciples to Jesus

#49 John Sends Disciples to Jesus

Please first read: Matthew 11:2-30; Luke 7:18-35

Jesus continues his ministry in Galilee. He has drawn crowds of people but there has been opposition … many people refuse to repent and believe. He has just left Nain and word of his raising the dead son of the widow has gone throughout all Judea and Samaria. It is now summer and John the Baptist (JB) has been in Herod’s prison at Machaerus Castle since last fall. It is possible that news of the events at Nain have already reached John. There is no question in JB’s mind regarding Jesus. He knows Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He is now trying to get his faithful disciples to understand they are to leave JB; his mission for God is through. They are now to transfer their allegiance to the one for whom John prepared the way. It is understandable they would be reluctant to leave John, and him in prison as well. Since Jesus in now in the area John may very well wonder if Jesus intends to free him from prison. This action by JB of sending his disciples to Jesus is a final great testimony that Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is relying on their seeing and hearing the Master, the Spirit will prompt them to go to this greater light.                                                                                                                                                                                               

Points considered in these scriptures:

·         Getting JB’s followers to now follow Jesus

·         Jesus’ efforts to make this happen … he does not say “yes” to their question

·         Jesus testifies of John the Baptist

·         The people have had two different messengers from God testify of the Messiah who is now here … many have refused both of them

·         Jesus testifies of himself

John’s disciples come and ask Jesus if he is the One, the Messiah, or should they be looking for another. Instead of saying “yes” Jesus makes them think of the marvelous things they have seen, and heard him do, and then sends them back to John who will give testimony and confirmation of Jesus as the Messiah. A new age has dawned … new words and new deeds are appearing.   They are seeing and hearing these events against the many-centuries-taught expectation the Messiah will come with great power and over-throw all Israel’s enemies. (They expect the second coming.)

When they went out to see JB who and what did they expect to see? A reed shaking in the wind … someone fickle, of easy persuasion? Someone clothed in soft raiment … someone weak, unsure? What they did see was a prophet in the style of the Old Testament dispensation … rough, strong, forceful, unbending, fearless. They reject John, they believe he has devil in him.

Now Jesus comes with a sympathetic, loving heart, healing and helping, and they call him a “winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. He offers evidence of being the Messiah and teaches from Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah and others) that the time of salvation has come, but they reject him also.

Luke 7:28: No greater prophet than John the Baptist.

·         He was chosen to prepare the earthly way before the Lord.  A signal honor.

·         He baptized the Savior.

·         He was the only legal administrator with Priesthood keys and powers on earth in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28:  

“he (Jesus) that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he (John.)”

Joseph Smith said: “Jesus was looked upon as having the least claim in God’s kingdom, and (seemingly) was least entitled to their credulity as a prophet; as though he had said, “He that is considered the least among you is greater than John – that is I myself.” (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” p.276)

Matthew 11: 16-19; Luke 7:31-35:

“What illustration can I choose to show how petty, peevish, and insincere are you unbelieving Jews? You are like fickle children playing games; when you hold a mock wedding, your playmates refuse to dance; when you change the game to a funeral procession, your playmates refuse to mourn. In like manner you are only playing at religion. As cross and capricious children you reject John because he came with the strictness of the Nazarites, and ye reject me because I display the warm human demeanor that makes for pleasant social intercourse.” (“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary,” volume one, Bruce R. McConkie)     

Matthew 11:20-24:

“Woe,” Judgement of the cities … Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum. Translation of the word “woe” means/reveals judgement not as a curse but more as pity and sorrow than anger.      Capernaum was Jesus’ home city for his work in this Galilee area. It was beautiful, well-populated, on the Sea of Galilee, economically prosperous with fishing, agriculture, and a commercial center. There was a toll station there … caravan routes passed through … and a military post. Jesus did much of his teaching here and in the surrounding cities and areas. This passage is a strong warning as to the unbelief of these cities. In the final wars between Rome and the Jews, Capernaum and the surrounding towns were obliterated; this area was almost totally destroyed. Only the ruins of a later synagogue remain.

Prophet Spencer W. Kimball:

President Kimball loved to walk in the paths of Jesus. He once visited the site of the three cities mentioned herein and shared the following in a Conference talk in April 1961:

“We asked our guide for the cities in which Jesus lived and performed so many miracles, for we remember that in this area of but few miles, much of his work was done, much of his ministry was accomplished. We would like to walk through the triplet cities he so often visited: Bethsaida, Chorazin, and Capernaum. We see no spires nor towers, nor walls. We ask our guide:  Where is Chorazin? He shakes his head. There is no Chorazin. We conclude it must have been on those hills where now are sprouting grain and vegetables and dry weeds.

“Then where is Bethsaida? We ask. Where is that noted city where so many sick were healed and the lame were made to walk; where deaf could hear and lepers lost their curse? Where is his favorite place he often lodged, the home of Andrew, Peter, and Philip, his dearest friends?   Where is Bethsaida? the house of fishers, the place of miracles, the seat of gospel teachings, where fishermen became apostles? In these very few miles much of interest happened. Where is Bethsaida? Our guide shakes his head again. There is no Bethsaida.

“Capernaum, then? We ask. Where is that important place, the port where fish were loaded, traded, marketed? He shakes his head again, then smiles as he thinks it through and changes the accent, and, Oh, you mean CaperNAUM. He shows us the ruins of a large synagogue. If this is of the Messianic period … it is the sole survivor. A back wall, great stones tumbled in disarray.   But (this IS) Capernaum, his own city, the great Capernaum, the haughty, wicked rebellious, Capernaum!”

Glenn R. McGettigan

February 2016

References: 

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Complete Biblical Library: Matthew and Luke.”

“Communicator’s Commentary: Mathew and Luke.”  

“Companion Study of the New Testament.” Ludlow

#26 John is Imprisoned

#26 John is Imprisoned

Please first read: Matthew 14:3-5; Mark 6:17-20; Luke 3:19-20

As the scriptures indicate, the events leading up to the imprisonment of John are a bit complicated.

Jesus and John are both preaching and baptizing in the same general area, now governed by Herod Antipas, one of the sons of former King Herod the Great. Antipas is married to a daughter of Aretas, Emir of Arabia. There are two other sons of Herod the Great… Aristobulus and Herod Philip.

A daughter of Aristobulus, Herodias, marries her uncle, Herod Philip. On a visit to Rome, Antipas becomes involved with Herodias, his brother Philips wife and she leaves him to marry Antipas; there is no divorce. Herod Antipas has now married to his sister-in-law who is also his niece. There is adultery, incest, and illegal marriage involved in these actions.

We can only imagine, given the strong character and personality of John the Baptist, how he would confront, accuse, and criticize Herod Antipas as well as the others … visually and vocally for these sins … and he did so, as well as also condemning Antipas for his other evil doings. The time would come when Antipas would put John in prison to silence him, and possibly in part for John’s own protection.

Apostle James E. Talmage:

“Even before Jesus had returned to Galilee after His baptism and the forty days of solitude in the wilderness, John the Baptist had been imprisoned by order of Herod Antipas, tetrarch (governor) of Galilee and Perea. During the subsequent months of our Lord’s activities, in preaching the gospel, teaching the true significance of the kingdom, reproving sin, healing the afflicted, rebuking evil spirits and raising the dead to life, His forerunner, the God-fearing, valiant John, had lain a prisoner in the dungeons of Machaerus, one of the strongest of Herod’s citadels. The tetrarch had some regard for John, having found him to be a holy man; and many things had Herod done on the direct advice of the Baptist or because of the influence of the latter’s general teaching. Indeed, Herod had listened to John gladly, and had imprisoned him through a reluctant yielding to the importunities of Herodias, whom Herod claimed as a wife under coverage of an illegal marriage. Herodias had been and legally was still the wife of Herod’s brother, Philip, from whom she had never been lawfully divorced; and her pretended marriage to Herod Antipas was both adulterous and incestuous under Jewish law.

The Baptist had fearlessly denounced this sinful association; to Herod he had said: ‘It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.’ Though Herod might possibly have ignored this stern rebuke, or at least might have allowed it to pass without punishment, Herodias would not condone. It was she, not the Tetrarch, who most hated John; she ‘had a quarrel against him,’and succeeded in inducing Herod to have the Baptist seized and incarcerated as a step toward the consummation of her vengeful plan of having him put to death. Moreover, Herod feared an uprising of the people in the event of John being slain by his order.

In the course of his long imprisonment John had heard much of the marvelous preaching and works of Christ; these things must have been reported to him by some of his disciples and friends who were allowed to visit him. Particularly was he informed of the miraculous raising of the young man in Nain.”

Comment: Later, Herod is tricked by Herodias into ordering the death of John.

Continuing from Talmage:

“Herod was sorely troubled over the murder he had ordered; and when, later, the marvels wrought by Jesus were reported to him, he was afraid, and said: ‘That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.’ To those who dissented, the terrified king replied: ‘It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen form the dead.’”

Glenn R. McGettigan.        

August 2014

References:

“Companion Study Guide for the New Testament.” Ludlow

“Our Lord of the Gospels.”  Clark, Jr.

“The Mortal Messiah.”  Volume 2. McConkie

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage

“Gospel of Matthew.” Albright and Mann

“Gospel of Mark.” Mann

“Gospel According to Luke.” I-I. Fitzmyer

#10 Flight to Egypt; Herod Slays Innocents; Return from Egypt

#10 Flight to Egypt; Herod Slays Innocents; Return from Egypt

Please first read: Matthew 2:1-23

JST Matthew 3:2-6, 13, 14, 19, 22

Timeline of events:

Flight to Egypt

After the Wise Men leave, an angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a vision and tells him to flee to Egypt “until I bring thee word” for Herod will try to find and destroy the Child. Joseph promptly leaves by night for Egypt and remains there until the death of Herod, fulfilling the prophecy “out of Egypt have I called my Son.”

Babes and Children Slain

Herod realizes the Wise Men have tricked him ... he is furious and orders all children in and around the coasts (area) of Bethlehem, two years old and under, slain. Herod used the time of his seeing the Wise Men and the time the star appeared to them to reckon from.

Return from Egypt

After the death of Herod, the angel comes again in a vision to Joseph in Egypt and tells him to take Mary and Jesus “into the land of Israel” as it is now safe. Joseph does so, but then he learns that Herod's son, Archelaus, is reigning in his father's stead in Judea, (Bethlehem and Jerusalem are both in this province.) Joseph is afraid ... he receives another vision from God telling him to go into the province of Galilee instead as Archelaus has no authority there.  (There is an ancient prophecy that “He shall be called a Nazarene.”)

Nazareth to Egypt

As we reflect on the first few years of Joseph and Mary as a newly married couple, and then as a family with a child, we easily see numerous difficulties and hardships which they faced.  

When Mary returns to Nazareth from her visit to Elizabeth, she is obviously with child. The betrothal is completed in marriage, and in the next few years they travel:

·         from Nazareth to Bethlehem; Jesus is born

·         from Bethlehem to Jerusalem; to the temple

·         from Jerusalem to Nazareth

·         from Nazareth to Bethlehem

·         from Bethlehem to Egypt

·         from Egypt to Bethlehem and on to Nazareth

Considering the normal range of age (mid-teens) in which Jewish girls were betrothed into marriage, Mary would be in her late teen years when they at last settle as a family in Nazareth.   Among other things, they faced financial and logistical problems, hazards of travel, security, and, it would appear, with only a small support group. God certainly made sure that the necessary events would take place, but it must not have been easy for the young couple.

At this time Egypt was a Roman Province but outside of Herod's jurisdiction. It had been a place of refuge for Jews since the time of the house of Jacob. A million or more Jewish people lived there at this time. Joseph would have found work, friendship, and hospitality in these communities. It is unknown how long the family may have lived in Egypt, maybe weeks, or months, or possibly, up to several years.

Herod Orders the Slaying of Innocents

Herod lived in constant fear of anyone that might be a threat to him as king. The forthcoming of a Messiah, a Deliverer, had been prophesied and anticipated for many years throughout these middle-east nations. Stories of such a possible arrival had caused fear and hostility among powerful people in the past. When the wise men came to Herod asking where the newborn king was it threw him into a frenzy.

Herod was a very cruel and evil tyrant ... merciless to any family, friend, or enemy that might be a threat to his reign. He was not unlike many other tyrannical rulers of that time (and since) whose regimes existed on the lives of those slain. Infanticide was a crime dreadfully rife in the days of the Roman Empire and the ancient world. Those Herod had ordered murdered included priests, nobles, his wife Mariamne, several sons, uncles, a father-in-law, mother-in-law, and various ‘friends.’ Of Herod, Augustus Caesar said, “It is better to be Herod's pig than his son.”

Herod is now ill and near his death. When the wise men fail to return and tell him where the Child is, he orders the slaying of all male children two years old and under. This means those born in and around the area of Bethlehem within a three-year period. The total population was small in number and historians believe probably as many as 20 children were slain ... a maximum number of 40. No historical record exists outside of the Bible that tells of this event of murder.

Return from Egypt

The time arrives when Herod and others who “sought the young child's life” are dead. An angel comes to Joseph in vision and tells him it is safe to “take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel.” They find that Herod's son, Archelaus, now reigns over the area of Bethlehem so for this and other reasons Joseph and Mary do not settle there. They make their home again in Nazareth.

Other Items of Interest

When the wise men visited Jesus, they may have hinted to Joseph their misgivings about Herod's inquiry as to the location of the child.

Ancient Jewish prophets had foretold of various things about the Messiah when He would come:  He would be of the line of David ... He would be born in Bethlehem ... “He shall be called a Nazarene” ... “I have called my Son out of Egypt"... “He shall be a Galilean.” There is no record of Jesus ever being challenged as to not fulfilling any of these.

                                 

Fleeing to Egypt for a period of time and then returning to a small village away from Jerusalem gave time for the excitement and opposition surrounding His birth to subside.

The rich gifts of the wise men could have helped make the trip to Egypt possible.

Glenn R. McGettigan

January 2012; Revised March 2014

References:

“Our Lord of the Gospels.” Clark

“Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ.” Brown, Holzaphel, Wayment

“Doctrinal New Testament Commentary.” McConkie

“The Mortal Messiah.” Volume 1. McConkie

“Jesus the Christ.” Talmage