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 "Just
Folks"
(above is titled "Saying Grace" by
Norman Rockwell, from the front cover
of The Saturday Evening
Post, November 4, 1951 - click for larger view.)
Since I first learned to read, one of my
favorite verses of Scripture has been Luke 2:52: “And Jesus
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
For all of the power and glory that was and is His in the Spirit, in
the flesh Jesus was like other men. (We do not say that Jesus was
exactly like other men, nor that He was merely human, for Scripture
clearly teaches that though fully human, Christ was also fully
divine, and in that respect like no other man who ever lived — see
John 1:14; Colossians 1:19 and 2:9.) In the flesh, Jesus developed
as young men do. He got tired. He became hungry and thirsty. He
endured physical labor. He liked to talk with the older men in the
synagogue. He enjoyed the company of friends. He attended weddings
and funerals. He was kind to children. He loved His mother. He took
boat rides.
Though He was to be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), Jesus put on no
airs. He did not expect people to come before Him bowing and
scraping. He wore no ring for people to kiss when they entered His
presence. All kinds of people felt welcome to approach Him — tax
collectors like Zacchaeus, sinners like the woman at Simon the
Pharisee’s house, foreigners like the Roman centurion, outsiders
like the Syrophoenician woman, social outcasts like the woman at
Jacob’s well, noblemen like Jairus, rulers like Nicodemus, blind
beggars like Bartimaeus, and little children like those of whom He
said, “Of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus could have demanded
honor, as He who wears the name at which every knee should bow. But
rather than having others kneel before Him, He knelt before His own
apostles and washed their filthy feet.
And when Jesus chose those apostles, what manner of men did He
select? Did he go to where the Sanhedrin met, the leading men among
the Jews, and choose from among those in the highest seats? Did he
visit the palace of the Herods, and make His selection from those
who dined at the banquet table? Did he go to the house of the
governor, Pontius Pilate, and appoint Caesar’s finest? No, He did
not.
Instead, Jesus called Andrew the fisherman, and his brother Simon
Peter. He called James and John, two young men who fished with their
father. He called Philip, whose best friend Nathanael was a man
without guile. He called Matthew Levi, the tax collector. He called
Thomas, who didn’t believe anything until he saw it. Jesus called
James the son of Alphaeus, a fellow so unremarkable that all we know
of him is that he was younger than the other James. Jesus called
Simon, who had belonged to an obscure religious sect called the
Cananeans. He called Judas Thaddaeus, notable mostly for not being
the other Judas, whom Jesus also chose, knowing that he was a liar
and a thief and a betrayer. Just folks, like you might know from the
office or meet at the barbershop.
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to
the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has
chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and
God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the
things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the
things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are
not, to bring to nothing the things that are” (1 Corinthians
1:26-28).
Look around you. The disciples of Jesus are just plain folks. Not
smarter than others. Not richer. Not more powerful. Not better
looking. And you could be one of them, if you will only believe and
obey (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). ~
by Michael D. Rankins, “The Lord’s Day,” April 13, 2008
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The Unity of the Bible:
Joseph & Jesus by Jeff Smelser
One of the amazing things about the Old and New Covenants is the
great amount of continuity. Not only are there prophecies in the Old
Testament pointing to Jesus and the establishment of His church
fulfilled in the New, we even see the very stories themselves
fulfilling each other. Consider the story of Joseph and how Jesus’
story parallels.
There is a loose parallel regarding their births. Joseph was born to
a barren mother whose past made it seem she simply couldn’t have
children. Jesus was born to a virgin who clearly shouldn’t be having
children.
Who was responsible for selling Joseph? His brother, Judah (Genesis
37:26). Who was responsible for selling Jesus? His disciple, Judas
(Matthew 26:14-16). The names are not merely similar. They are
simply different forms of the same name. Just as Simon and Simeon
were forms of the same name.
Joseph was sold for 20 shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28). Jesus was
sold for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15). No doubt, the amounts
were not exact. However, one can hardly miss the similarity.
Joseph was framed and punished for crimes he didn’t commit (Genesis
39). Jesus was framed and punished for crimes he did not commit
(Luke 23:41).
I can’t help but notice the use of three days when Joseph
interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker (Genesis
40:12, 18). We see the issue of three days happening again and
again, culminating in Jesus being in the belly of the earth for
three days.
When Joseph first appears to the brothers, he appears to 10 of them
because Benjamin was at home with his father (Genesis 42:3). When
Jesus first appeared to the apostles, He appeared to 10 of them
because Judas was dead and Thomas was not there (John 20:19-29).
On the second appearance, Joseph appears to all 11 brothers (Genesis
43). On Jesus’ second appearance, He appeared to 11 disciples (John
20:26).
Perhaps there are more parallels, but you get the picture. It is as
if the very story of Joseph prepares the way for the story of Jesus.
What an amazing demonstration of continuity and unity in the entire
word of God.
Why would God use this kind of parallelism? Because those who
already knew the story of Joseph could not help but make the
connections as they heard the story of Jesus. As the negative issues
of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion are told, they can’t help but know
victory is coming. Finally, we can’t help but remember what Joseph
said to his brothers toward the end of their lives. “You meant evil
against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many
people should be kept alive” (Genesis 50:20). That is exactly God’s
plan for Jesus. He meant it all for good that many should be kept
alive. The question is, will you believe and submit to the story of
Jesus? ~
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