Hello visitor!!!
My name is Benaiah. No, you haven't heard of me. This is my story
I was a young rabbi, not quite part of the Sanhedrin - but I was a student of Gamaliel - and a good student at that. I was there on the day that Gamaliel said to let the followers of Jesus continue - for if it was of God, we would not be able to stop the movement, and if it was of man, it would die away.
That day caused me to reflect on this Jesus. As a young rabbi, I could disguise myself to be part of the audience when Peter, James and later on, Paul spoke. Fairly quickly, the Holy Spirit worked on me - and I too became a Christ follower (or as you might say - a Christian).
I was 'found out' and was cast out of the assembly - no longer studying with Gamaliel, no longer a rabbi. But God is merciful - I soon became a leader (you might call me a pastor) in Antioch. There I tended a growing group of Christians and shared the good news that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, that he was born of a virgin - just like the scriptures foretold. He taught like no one ever before (and probably ever will) as the Son of Man (and as the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity). He healed the sick, he fed thousands at a time with just a few fish and a few loaves of bread. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey - and later that week died on a cross - BUT THREE DAYS LATER HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD - just like he said he would!!!!
Yes, there have been some tough times - sometimes the Roman soldiers harass us Christians (but, I guess the also harass the Jews too). The Jews generally hate us (although many have come to believe). In my congregation we have Jews and Gentiles - all loving and following Jesus.
Tonight, God spoke to me through the Holy Spirit and told me to visit my old teacher Gamaliel tomorrow. I hear it is a broken old man - stubborn and empty - and near death. May God give me words to share with my old teacher.
My name is Benaiah. No, you haven't heard of me. This is my story
I was a young rabbi, not quite part of the Sanhedrin - but I was a student of Gamaliel - and a good student at that. I was there on the day that Gamaliel said to let the followers of Jesus continue - for if it was of God, we would not be able to stop the movement, and if it was of man, it would die away.
That day caused me to reflect on this Jesus. As a young rabbi, I could disguise myself to be part of the audience when Peter, James and later on, Paul spoke. Fairly quickly, the Holy Spirit worked on me - and I too became a Christ follower (or as you might say - a Christian).
I was 'found out' and was cast out of the assembly - no longer studying with Gamaliel, no longer a rabbi. But God is merciful - I soon became a leader (you might call me a pastor) in Antioch. There I tended a growing group of Christians and shared the good news that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, that he was born of a virgin - just like the scriptures foretold. He taught like no one ever before (and probably ever will) as the Son of Man (and as the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity). He healed the sick, he fed thousands at a time with just a few fish and a few loaves of bread. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey - and later that week died on a cross - BUT THREE DAYS LATER HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD - just like he said he would!!!!
Yes, there have been some tough times - sometimes the Roman soldiers harass us Christians (but, I guess the also harass the Jews too). The Jews generally hate us (although many have come to believe). In my congregation we have Jews and Gentiles - all loving and following Jesus.
Tonight, God spoke to me through the Holy Spirit and told me to visit my old teacher Gamaliel tomorrow. I hear it is a broken old man - stubborn and empty - and near death. May God give me words to share with my old teacher.
No comments:
Post a Comment