Gospel Writers and Colts #T

The other day we were addressing some differences in the records of the Triumphal Entry and why they might have existed.  We observed that both Matthew and John specified that the animal Jesus requested for his entry into the city was the colt of a donkey.  Mark and Luke did not specify that the colt was a donkey.  Why? I asked.

Most scholars agree that Matthew was written by an anonymous author, but one who was well-versed in Jewish tradition and the Law.  Clearly he would have been familiar with the role of the donkey in the Exodus, its position in Jewish life, and of peter chamor.  He would have recognized the importance of distinguishing the colt as that of an ass.

Similarly though his life-style differed radically from that of the writer of Matthew, John, a cousin of Jesus according to tradition, would have been thoroughly familiar with the Law.  Mark and Luke, however, had much different backgrounds.  Mark was born in North Africa and though he became one of the Four Evangelists he was probably much less familiar with Jewish tradition.  Luke was born  in a Greek city and was quite possibly a gentile, though many scholars believe he was a Hellenistic Jew.  He was no doubt highly educated, a physician.  Rather than religious studies he would have focused on such scholars as Aesclepius, Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Pythagoras,  He became a traveling companion of Paul and doubtless learned most of what he knew of Christ, his life, and associated theology, from Paul.

Now we see the likelihood that Luke and Mark considered it of small import to specify that Jesus's mode of transport was a donkey, whereas Matthew and John were careful to include that detail in their account.

To us today it is a matter of scholarly interest to pursue detail and speculate on motive of persons long gone from the scene.  As a matter of importance, it would make no difference to us had he ridden into Jerusalem in a Mercedes limousine.  Well, except for the anachronism.  What matters to us is that Jesus Christ, Creator God, assumed human flesh, lived among men and died for us; that he arose from the dead and ascended to the Father where he prepares a place for us!

Persevering for Christ

Fickle?

 Paul and Barnabas went into Lycoania and there in the city of Lystra preached to the people.  So impressed were the inhabitants that they supposed these missionaries to be gods and called Barnabas "Jupiter" and Paul "Mercury" (for he was the chief spokesman).  So they brought animal sacriifces and garlands with which to honor these "gods."  When Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they rent their clothes and cried out in protest that they were there to preach salvation through Christ.

So the people took Paul and stoned him, thinking him dead, dragged him outside the city.

Paul was a god one minute, and a corpse the next.

Yet Paul survived and he and Barnabas went to Derbe.  But this does not end their efforts with Lystra, for they returned to that city!

Perseverance in the Cause of Christ!  (Acts 14)

The Stoning of Saint Paul at Lystra

 Drawing by Jan Lievens

Pen and Brown Ink, c.1621

Fair Time 2015: Not Animals

There is more to the Fair than the animals, even if they are mostly my favorite part.  Sunday evening we went to a presentation by a local church youth group called "Liberated."  They presented the gospel through singing and dancing, and with their personal testimonies.

They were bustin' some moves, for sure.  I told one of the young ladies after the performance that I understood that in addition to the hour they just gave us, they had practiced for three hours that afternoon.  "Yes."  

"Ah, youth!" I said.  "I may have enough energy left to walk to my car, and all I did was watch."

Well, I could have told her, "You don't know what you got 'til its gone."  But that's not very original.

Monday afternoon we did the Exhibition Hall.  Lots of work represented in the displays of crafts and arts.  Very much worth the time spent there.

Well, yeah.  That's why I went to point-and-shoot long before digital made the scene.  This display fascinated me, though, and it clearly had taken the eye of the judge.

The title says, "White horses do not exist."  The "not" in bold, clear blue letters, looking just like all the other letters.  But when I snapped the picture, the "not" disappeared.  I took a second picture. Same result.  Weird.

Anyway, the presentation was well-done and very interesting.

A day in which one doesn't learn something is a wasted day.

Preacher Mama #T

Did I tell you about the time your Mama hold a revival meetin' over to Haswell?  Oh, yes, she tol' you about it, but I hain't.  This was afore your Mama met your Daddy.  So anyways, your Mama and her sister Min go over to Haswell to sing and play the music for Preacher Cubbins whilst he's preachin' the salvation message to them heatherns over there.  So Min borry they brother's ol' Essex and drives 'em on over to Haswell.

Now Lars Banks has a farm, sorry place it were, too, just th'other side a town.  Scarce a jackrabbit could make a livin' there, but people done it.  Miz Banks, that's Eula Banks, was no doubt the kindest Christian lady whut ever walk God's green earth, Miz Banks had that whole gospel crew over to her house, bedded 'em down, fed 'em three squares a day, she did.  Eula grow up in Missoura, you know, lived over to Laquey.  Her ma and pa come on over here with her when she was prolly twelve, thirteen.  Ol' Lars, he 'lowed as how he had need to be off to the mountains, up above Cotopaxi, or somewheres like that, on account it was the openin' a deer season.  He'd a had a good reason to be scarce around Haswell during these doin's no matter the time a year.  Leastways, I think so.

So one mornin' at the breakfast table, Min an' your Ma, Esther and Max Cubbins 'round the table and Miz Banks bustlin' 'round, pilin' on the hotcakes and keepin' the eggs and bacon comin', and Max, he's the preacher, ya know, up and says, "Esther 'n me got to get on down the road now.  We been here long's we kin stay. The Lord has released me from this charge."

 "Well, whut about the meetin'?" Miz Banks says.

 "I guess it would be over," says the preacher, "less'n these fine young ladies here would stay and keer on."

"Well," says Min, "As for me, I've had quite enough of this desolate place, and we have striv mightily to bring God to these people, and I think the Lord will excuse me to go on back home now."

And your Mama speak up and say, "The Lord has laid this place heavy on my heart, and I think there is yet someone here who needs to get saved.  I will stay so long as the Lord places a message on my tongue."

And that is how your Mama come to be a preacher.

© 2013 David W. Lacy

The true story on which this fictional account is based was published here two years ago.