Desert Road Miracle

Acts 8:25-40

I love this part in the Bible about Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.  God evidently knew that the eunuch in a queen’s chariot on a desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza, was having trouble understanding a passage in Isaiah.  God wanted Philip to go to the eunuch, and he did.  Philip shared Jesus with him, and a baptism followed.  Acts 8:36-38 reads,^“36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”^[b] 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.”

If you’re wondering what the water source was by that desert road, Wikipedia says, “One of the traditional sites of the baptism is the Ein Hanya Spring.^[6] Others place the traditional site of baptism at the Dhirweh fountain, near Halhul.^[2]”

What happened next most likely stunned the Ethiopian (and Philip).  Acts 8:39-40 says, “³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.”

According to TheBibleSays.com, it’s roughly 30 miles between Gaza and Azotus.  God teleported Philip quite a distance!

Even though we know where Philip ended up after the baptism, it might be that while on earth, the Ethiopian eunuch never found out where Philip went.  However, in Heaven, the eunuch could see Philip, and hear details of the account we don’t know.

Dramatic Reunions With Jesus

John 20:11-17, Luke 24:13-35, John 21:4-10

If you’ve been listening to Christian radio for awhile, you’ll probably remember hearing Brandon Heath’s, “Jesus in Disguise” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqKzuXR958g. Some of the lyrics say something like, “ever get something in your head nothing you’ve heard or what you’ve read.” Later, he sings about Jesus in disguise.

Brandon Heath seemed to be sharing moments of his Christian walk with Jesus. I’d like to take a different approach on “Jesus in Disguise.” Here are three times in Scripture where I think of Jesus being in disguise since His followers didn’t recognize Him:

John 20:13-17

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Luke 24:13-32

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. …

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

John 21:4-10

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^[a] 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

Mary thought Jesus was a gardener, and didn’t recognize His voice until He said her name. The walkers thought Jesus was a visitor to Jerusalem, and didn’t recognize His voice. The disciples seemed to think Jesus was just a man on the shore, even when He called out to them. Only after He performed a miracle did John, who was like a best friend, realize the man on the shore was Jesus Himself.

God’s Wisdom

Proverbs 17:22, John 16:33, 1 Peter 4:14, John 15:10-11, Luke 24:45-53

 

When we celebrate a New Year, we never know what the year will bring.  This year, my sweet dad passed away in May, and our cheerful Aunt Maureen on my husband’s side, passed away in June.  After they were received by Jesus, I felt some happiness for them, but I felt more sadness after their departure from Earth.  My daughter, Emily, called the blow of loss, “a deep wound.”  She’s so right. 

As tears intermittently flowed after triggers from reminders of my loved ones, I realized I had been crying too much.  I started to get concerned that my numb sad state could turn into depression, and hurt my health.  During that time, I believe the Holy Spirit helped me to remember Proverbs 17:22 that says, “²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”  Prior to that day, I had focused mostly on the first part of that verse, about a happy heart being like medication.  I decided to park on the second part of the verse.  It was basically about sadness hurting bone health.  Curious, I searched depression and bone health.  The Columbia University Department of Psychiatry said on April 4, 2023, 

“A number of studies have found a link between depression and bone health. Some indicate reduced bone mineral density, accelerated bone loss or an increased risk of fractures among those who are depressed compared to those who are not. The mechanisms that underlie this relationship are still not known.”

 

God is wise.  God made us, so “the mechanisms that underlie this relationship are” known to Him.

 

So back to the first part of Proverbs 17:22 about the happy heart.  I need to be happy.  We need to be happy. Here’s Scripture to support that:

 

 

John 16:33

³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Read full chapter

 

 

 

1 Peter 4:14

¹⁴ If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Read full chapter

 

 

John 15:10-11

 

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Read full chapter

 

 

Luke 24:45-53

 

⁴⁵ Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

⁴⁶ And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

⁴⁷ And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

⁴⁸ And ye are witnesses of these things.

⁴⁹ And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

⁵¹ And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

⁵² And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

⁵³ And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Read full chapter

 

Happy Palm Sunday!

John 12:12-19, Matthew 27:50-54

Today, Christians can remember reading about how King Jesus rode into Jerusalem accompanied by an excited crowd with palm branches. Later, Matthew 27:50-54 says, “⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵² and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[a] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

According to Christianity Today’s 12/21/21 article,  Biblical Archaeology’s Top 10 Discoveries of 2021, “A luxurious public building located next to the Temple Mount has been excavated…Now that the excavation is complete, archaeologists have dated its construction to A.D. 20—during the lifetime of Jesus. The building contained two identical chambers, separated by an elaborate fountain. The luxurious nature of the facility and its adjacency to the Temple Mount indicates it was probably used by the elite members of the first-century Jewish community, the families of the high priests, and other leading religious figures. Archaeologists say it was damaged by an earthquake in A.D. 33, then later rebuilt and reconfigured into three vaulted halls. The destruction date suggests possible evidence of the earthquake recorded in the Gospel accounts at the crucifixion of Jesus.”

We Christians already know Jesus is real, but it feels satisfying to watch the evidence roll in.  Happy Palm Sunday!

Uncle Paul

Acts 22:3, 23:12-35, Acts 24

Many people have heard of Paul and how he suffered while spreading the Gospel.  His Christian mission is spelled out in the letters he wrote in the Bible.  He became a famous traveling missionary because of Jesus.

What do we know about Paul’s personal life?  In Acts 22:3, he said he was “born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city.”  He was raised in Jerusalem and had a sister (Acts 23:16).  His sister had a son, giving Paul a nephew.

I believe the Lord sent Paul’s nephew to help him.  Paul’s nephew was in the right place at the right time to hear the bad plot that over 40 enemies made an oath to not drink or eat “until they had killed Paul.”  Paul’s nephew was able to tell him what he heard, which led to Paul’s rescue.  The nephew’s actions showed he loved Uncle Paul.

I wonder what happened to the 40+ men that didn’t love Paul, the men that made the oath not to drink or eat until they murdered Paul.  I lost track of the time that passed after they made that oath, but it would have been at least two years and eight days.  My husband and I think they gave up.

 

Thrill Ride?

Acts 8:26-40

On this Memorial Day weekend, I’m thinking about Philip.  Per a Heavenly angel’s command, Philip intercepted an Ethiopian in a chariot on the Jerusalem to Gaza road.  Philip helped him understand Scripture and then baptized him.  After they left the water, God teleported Philip to another place called Azotus.  If Philip and the Ethiopian were at Gaza when God made Philip disappear, the NIV Study Bible says that would be roughly 20 miles away.  Teleporting Philip over about 20 miles?  I wonder what Philip was thinking.  Maybe it was a memorable thrill ride that he described to others on Earth.  And it’s possible that he could have told/can tell his teleportation tale to others in Heaven.

 

Help. Me.

John 12:12-19

Mark 11:1-11

I hope that someday in Heaven, the scene is recreated of Jesus going into Jerusalem on an unridden colt surrounded by a crowd wielding palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna!”  As you read this account you can feel the excitement.  I wonder if the new colt tossed its head in reaction to the frenzied crowd.

As I went shopping this afternoon for palm branches, I wasn’t feeling the world’s excitement.  I went to three different stores and although there were plenty of pink rabbit planters and neon-colored polka dot plastic eggs for Easter, there were no palm branches.  I came home empty-handed except for a bag of popcorn that looked good.  I was surprised since Palm Sunday is this upcoming Sunday and Easter is the week after that.

As I got in the car, I turned on a Christian radio station and heard the words of Sidewalk Prophets’ song, “Help Me Find It.”   I had to smile.

King Jesus at the Mount of Olives

Mark 11:1-11

When Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, they came to the Mount of Olives.  According to wikipedia, the Mount of Olives used to have olive groves all over the slopes.  I like to think that the olive groves were there when Jesus came.  Maybe He and His disciples ate olives there before the rest of the trek to Jerusalem.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_of_Olives

As I read today’s Scripture in English, I wondered what praise Jesus, who spoke Greek, would have actually heard as He rode the colt to Jerusalem.  My Bible says, “Hosanna!”  I looked up the Greek word for Hosanna, and although I don’t think this computer has the characters to type the written word for Hosanna, I can at least type a pronunciation which is very close to the English word.  In Greek, it is pronounced, “Osanna, ” without the “H” sound, and with the last syllable accented.

So, today, you can praise Jesus in English, Greek, or in whatever language you speak.  Happy Palm Sunday!

Jesus’ mom

Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 1:26-45, Luke 2:8-40

Jesus’ mom, Mary, had out-of-the-ordinary experiences before Jesus was born, but also after.  When she found out from an angel of God about her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she went to her house and greeted her.  Elizabeth let her know that when Mary greeted her, the baby inside her leapt.

When Jesus was born, shepherds came the same day after the angel encounter to Bethlehem to see Him.  I don’t think Mary or Joseph would have known any of the shepherds.

Eastern wise men came, worshiped the child Jesus in a house (Matt. 2:11), and gave gifts including gold.  The Reformation Study Bible (Sproul) says, “Jesus was no longer in a stable (Luke 2:7).  This visit was some time after the birth (v.1), perhaps a year or more (cf. v. 16),” and, “The “Magi” were not kings, but priests or court advisers…They were probably from Mesopotamia, the region of ancient Babylon, although other locations east of Palestine have been suggested.” Mary (and Joseph if he was there) were probably amazed to see the wise men with their gifts and hear their story of the star.

When Mary and Joseph brought their son to Jerusalem, a righteous man named Simeon blessed them.  An elderly prophetess, Anna, gave thanks.  Since Mary (and Joseph) were from Nazareth, they may have not known Simeon or Anna.

Of the people above that either knew of or saw Jesus as a baby or as a child, Mary probably only knew  Elizabeth.  It seems to me that Mary might have expected the unexpected.

The Shepherds

Luke 2:8-20

The last thing we know about the shepherds in Jesus’ birth story is that they were praising God.  The angel had told them that a Savior, Christ the Lord had been born.

Since the shepherds were so excited about Jesus, I wonder if they sought updates on Him.  Maybe they were even present for Jesus’ celebratory entry to Jerusalem.  Going from Bethlehem to Jerusalem would be about six miles.

Even if the shepherds weren’t at Jerusalem during that time of praise, they’re surely in Heaven praising Him.  As we head into the New Year, let’s share the past and likely current enthusiasm of the shepherds for Jesus!