Bring My Scrolls, Especially the Parchments by Sharon Espeseth

Free Bible Image--Jesus Teaching the People

Why did the apostles write?

1. Because they wanted to share the story of Jesus and his ministry on earth.
2. Because they were believers.
3. Because somebody had to tell the story and they felt called or compelled to write it.
4. Because they were present during Christ's ministry.
5. Or because they had the connections and the ability to research and write the story.
6. So the story wouldn't be forgotten.
7. So readers would have access to the story of God who loved the world and gave his only son so
    that they might be saved.
8. So they could figure out for themselves what actually happened when Jesus came to earth.

Rather than a scholarly study, these are ideas that come to mind in light of the topic, "Why do you write?"

What did a tax collector, fishermen, a youth and a physician have in common?

Free photo from foundationsofmyfaith.blogspot.com

See the list above. Then also consider that they had--
1. Love for Jesus, God's only begotten son who came to earth to carry out God's plan of salvation.
2. A God-given ability to write, even if they didn't realize it at the time. (They were ordinary men, but they had been with Jesus.)
3. Faith in God's calling along with the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
4. Courage, for Jesus had told them, "Be not afraid. I will be with you." Even in your writing.
5. Belief that God would bless their efforts if they obeyed his commandment to go into all the world
    and preach the gospel.
6. Their desire to bring honour and glory to God by sharing the good news Jesus brings.
7. Enthusiasm for the gospel.

None of these lists is exhaustive, but they do give pause for reflection and a desire to further study the lives of the writers God called and infused with the Holy Spirit to write.

Why did God ask more than one person to write the gospel?

1. So that we would see and understand the story from more than one perspective.
2. So that one story would corroborate the others.
3. Because each writer would bring his own life experience to the story.
4. To further exemplify the universality of the God's plan of salvation.

Reference to the following link will show examples of how the "Saga of Salvation," as one writer calls it, has universal appeal and authority.

https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/matthew-mark-luke-john-a-look-at-the-gospel-writers/...

In the above text you will read that Matthew's gospel closes like a hinge on the door of the Old Testament and opens into the New Testament. Matthew's many references from the Old Testament explain the gospel to the Jews by pointing to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah foretold.

In this same web article, you will discover that the Gospel of Mark is believed to be Peter's testimony as told to young Mark. Mark was Peter's scribe while Peter was imprisoned in Rome. This  gospel seems written with the Greek or Gentile Christians as the original target readers.

Luke, the Physician, wrote a scholarly and well-researched account. Although Luke didn't meet Jesus in person, he is considered one of the greatest historians of all times. His readership may have been the Greeks, as this was his ethnic origin. At the beginning of Luke, he writes that although others have attempted "to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us," he too has "investigated everything from the beginning. With this mindset, Luke decided he too would write "an orderly account . . ."

John, in his gospel, beautifully writes about God's love and plan of salvation. The writer of the above online article says that if he had access to only one gospel, he would prefer that it be the Gospel of John. Why? Because this gospel "shows the divinity of Christ and the great passionate love Jesus had for his disciples and lost sinners."

Remembering the apostles were ordinary folk like me, I ask myself,

Why do I write?

Why do I write?

1. Because Jesus commanded: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." I may not 

    get to the far corners of the world, but when I write, I do not know where my words may go.

2. Because God has given me the gift of writing and teaching, i.e. an instructed tongue.

3. Because God has built the urge to write within me and he calls me to write.

4. Because I have stories only I can tell.

5. Because the Lord is my shepherd.

Writing this blog reminds me how easy it is to write on a computer compared to the arduous task of writing on papyrus or parchment, especially if you had to make your own writing material from animal hides. How about writing on parchment as Paul did? How about a reed pen you had to dip in ink every 6th letter?

We don't know the exact tools the gospel writers used, but we do know that Paul, writing around the same time as the gospel writers, used scrolls of parchment and possibly of papyrus.

For more information on parchment, go to

godisforus.com/information/bible/nttext/methods.htm

Imagine a writer like Paul being stuck in prison with no writing materials. That would explain Paul's words to Timothy, "When you come, be sure to bring the coat. . . and my scrolls, especially the parchments." (2 Timothy 4:13)

Paul writing in prison
Free Image--missionbibleclass.org

Maybe we need to ask ourselves, my fellow writers, "Why do I not write?" 

A Glimpse of Heaven-Sulo Moorthy

When our Women's ministry chose to study the Book of Revelation this Fall, I got excited. For years, I've avoided reading  the last book of the Bible thinking that I wouldn't even understand what's written in those chapters even if I try my best to grasp the meaning of the symbols and signs mentioned in the book.

My enthusiasm for the study heightened  when I learned that we were going to follow Beth Moore's teaching on Revelation through video sessions. Along with me,  80-100 women signed up for this study to get a grasp of what is uniquely revealed in this Book.

As Beth Moore points out in her study book-" No scholar, commentary, denomination, preacher or teacher can plausibly claim to have all the answers and ultimate interpretation for this fascinating finish of scripture. It's futile to expect a full understanding of everything written in the book. As long as God is glorified and His Word held sacred and inspired, having our views challenged can be a very healthy thing."

Surely, our concept of God and understanding of His Word shape our lives and reflect in our faith walk. As a child attending church on the other side of the globe, I grew up calling Christ as Jesu Papa and picturing  Him with the image that I saw on calendars hung on the wall or on Sunday school takeaways- the smiling Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes having  little kids on His lap, or the One with a staff in His hand and a lamb around His neck.

 In my teen years, when I was introduced to the meaning of grace and salvation, I began to see Jesus as the One who died on the cross for my sins in order to give me a place in heaven. . As I grew in years and in my faith, He became my Lord and Savior. When life and family brought challenges and threw uncertainties to fog my view, I saw Christ as my provider, protector, deliverer and counselor,

 In this last book of the Bible, through the eyes of Apostle of John, God has revealed to us the majesty of Christ which we haven’t seen before. Even John couldn’t compose himself to stand straight, but to fall as if dead at the sight of his Lord.  He couldn’t see the Son of Man as Jesus of Nazareth with whom he once walked, talked and ate in Galilee, or as the One who stood silently with a twisted crown of thorns on His head before the mockers, who shouted,“ Hail King of Jews”, and struck Him with their hands. Nor did John see Jesus as the risen Christ, who showed up within closed walls with nail marks on His hands and feet, or the One who was taken up to heaven in clouds while two men robed in white apparel stood on guard.

 Instead, in the first few chapters of the book that I’ve studied so far, John sees Christ as Son of God whose eyes shone like blazing fire and feet looked like burnished bronze, and  voice sounding like rushing waters announcing that He’s the First and the Last. Later, in the throne room of God, where the throne dazzled with the brilliance of jasper and carnelian, and voices of angels numbering ten thousand times ten thousand singing,

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain
To receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
And honor and glory and praise!”

John  sees Christ as a slain Lamb, the only One worthy to open the scroll that was in the right hand of God seated on the throne.

“ To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” sang every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them. Rev: 5:11,13.

 Wow! What a glorious scene, and what a mighty King we serve! It's too wonderful to realize that, such a holy and glorious Christ, who is hailed day and night by thousands of angels in heaven, knows my name,  hears my prayers from His throne room and comes to my rescue in my time of need. Such a knowledge makes me want to fall flat on my face in gratitude and worship Him with adoration till my last breath. Instead of confining a day of celebration for thanksgiving, I pray that thankfulness would become my way of life.