tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094248114996261058.post7464906976341455776..comments2023-08-27T06:33:12.637-05:00Comments on The Bible in a Year - and Beyond!: Friday, 14 June 2013 ~ RoxieTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045517118866436340noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094248114996261058.post-17031308979180725242013-06-14T14:44:36.053-05:002013-06-14T14:44:36.053-05:00Due to his wealth as a tax collector, and the fact...Due to his wealth as a tax collector, and the fact that it would've been impossible to get his job back once he'd given it up - I think Matthew gave up by far the most of the disciples in order to follow Jesus. There was no going back if this didn't work out. And he was such a humble man. Even though he wrote an entire book in the NT, he never mentions himself except a brief note about his conversion. That's it. Because of Luke we know that Matthew was so excited about meeting Jesus that he threw a big party so that his friends - other sinners like him - could meet Jesus. Love it!<br /><br />Thomas - though always pessimistic and seeing things on the negative side, he was intensely loyal. MacArthur pointed out that it's easy for the optimists to be loyal, but it's so much harder for the pessimists. And he was loyal, wanting to go and die with Jesus. A heroic loyalty. MacArthur also noted (and I think it makes sense) that Thomas' intense love for Jesus resulted in intense grief - his worst nightmare had come true: Jesus had died without him. He couldn't even be with the other disciples, he was wallowing in his misery. <br /><br />Though we know virtually nothing about James from the Bible, historical tradition tells us that he went to Persia (modern Iran) to preach the gospel where he was crucified for his faithfulness to Christ. He was influential enough to bring about his own martyrdom.<br /><br />I liked this quote....<br /><i> So there isn't anything that we know about them. And the reason for that is that the men aren't the issue. We don't need, apparently the Lord knew, a biography of these men. It was enough to know that they were chosen by the Lord, empowered by the Spirit, and carried the gospel to the world of their day. And they just sort of disappear. And the Scripture always keeps the focus on the power of Christ and the power of the Word. They preach the Word filled with the Spirit and that's what you need to know. The vessel is not the issue, the Master is. So in a sense, James the son of Alphaeus was like the rest of the Apostles, he was harnessed to the Master's chariot, a slave of love. He lived only for His glory and died without leaving any earthly record. But believe me, there is a heavenly record. He right now shines in heaven. His name right now is on the foundation of one of the gates that lead into the New Jerusalem. </i>Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045517118866436340noreply@blogger.com