Jesus
His Birth, Ministry & Death

There were several timelines I developed here. Whether I'm correct or not, you can judge, I really don’t know. But how I have them lined out shows no contradictions and are reasonably sound. Just suggesting here.

The part that gives the alleged contradiction are not my words, but those from other websites showing these proposed contradictions. The remarks in [-] are my remarks added with the original questions or comments made at that other website.  My answers are in italics.

Birth of Jesus

Father of Joseph?
Matt1:16 Jacob is the father of Joseph.
Luke 3:23 Heli is the father of Joseph.

Luke says that Joseph, as “ is supposed” was the son of Heli. The Greek word for “supposed” means “supposed by law” therefore, Joseph was the son by law customs of Heli....Heli’s son-in-law. Which of course means Mary was the daughter of Heli. Jewish custom does not trace through the women for lineage, therefore husbands were used.

Where did Joseph & Mary live?
Matt 2:11 says that Joseph and Mary lived in a "house" in "Bethlehem."
Luke 2:1-7 says Joseph and Mary were forced to stayed in a manger while they were in Bethlehem because their home was in Nazareth. But there were no inns in Jewry at that time; the story betrays its fabrication by some Greek Father in a foreign country, who knew nothing of such details.

The word Paidion-young child means anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of years. The word for newborn infant was not used in Matthew. Therefore, The house they were staying in was not their home, it was just where they were staying at for Mary’s purification rites. The shepherds say the newborn child, but the wise men were a little while later--up to a couple of years! The magi went not to Bethlehem perhaps as Herod wanted them to. They didn’t return to Herod because possible they didn’t want him to know he was in another place by that time.

Inn in the Greek word was “a place of dissolution of a journey.” Not necessarily a building for travelers with beds. They weren’t forced to “stay” at the barn the entire time they were, probably only the night of His birth. And according to some secular sources, animals were stabled in the courtyard with people in “apartments” on raised platforms around the court.

Did Herod kill all those children?
Matt 2:13-23 Herod wanted to kill all children under 2 years old.
Luke 2:1-39 doesn't Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt after the birth of Jesus, for there is no evil king; and therefore, no need to slaughter the children of Bethlehem & Nazareth is their home!

The magi saw the star probably within 2 years of reaching Herod. There is no record of where the Magi came from, so there is no way of knowing how long it took them to reach Jerusalem. Bethlehem was very small at that time, assumed less than 50 children. So, since Herod is famous for enormous blood shed, it was par for the course, 50 children or so wouldn’t be enough to even mention. And Augustus Caesar has been known to say “it was better to be Herod’s sow than his son.” Showing me that Herod thought nothing of killings his sons.

Did they flee to Egypt?
Matt 2:13-23 Joseph & Mary flee to Egypt because of Herod
Luke 2:21-39, Mary was required to undergo the rite of purification.
Luke 2: 41-42 "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast."

Well, this one took a bit of studying. The following scenario is how I figured it must have happened.....Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. The wise men have already started their journey months before and sought to talk with Herod. In the first night, Jesus was born in the stables/courtyard in Bethlehem. The shepherds come in from the fields and sees the newborn child. The wise men see the star again and start heading the right direction. Eight days after His birth, He is circumcised according to law. For the next 32 days, give or take, Mary goes through the purification rite. The wise men show up where Joseph and Mary were staying during the purification (probably with Elizabeth and Zechariah) and leave. Joseph gets the word to leave town, Herod figures out the wise men tricked him and issues the order to murder all children under 2. So on the 39th or 40th night, they leave for Egypt.

Using the time around Sept (Tishri-New Year) 5BC, this leaves 6 months from the time of Jesus’ birth and the death of Herod. Giving the family about 2 weeks for travel to and from Egypt, they (simply for the representation of the time the Israelites were in Egypt) probably were in Egypt for 4 1/3 months. The night, give or take, Herod died, the angel tells Joseph to go to the land of Israel. They go back to the temple so that Mary could “accomplish”,( Lk 2:22- imbue by influence) the purification rite. When Joseph and Mary find out the Herod’s son was reigning, they decided after His presentation in the temple, would travel on back home to Nazareth.

There is no conflict whatsoever here, and the story is very believable.

What year was He born?
Matt 2:1 "Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king" He died in the year 4 B.C or by another’s account 4AD. [the more agreed upon death is late March, early April 4BC]
Matt 2:16 Herod wanted to kill children “from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men" Thus, Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC or between 2AD and 4 AD.
Luke 2:1-7 Joseph & Mary went to Bethlehem from Galilee, when Jesus was born, to be taxed and “in those days...there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was the first census that took place while when Quirinius was governor of Syria)" It is well known that Galilee was annexed to Syria and Cyrenius (Quirinius) made governor in 7 A.D. which makes out the birth to have been no earlier than the year 7 A.D.

Considering the shepherds don’t keep their flocks in the field after early October, it was probably late summer, early fall, which also coincides with the Jewish New Year, Tishri, our September. By taking into consideration the Matthew and Luke story blending as done in the previous question, I would say He was born in 5BC. But it is still possible for 6 BC.

Quirinuis was actually governor twice, the first being sometime between 6BC to 1 AD and did direct the census, which record shows was issued in 6BC. Recent archeological discovery clearly indicates this. Records were not recorded between 4 BC and 4AD. Also the word “first” can also be “before”, therefore the census was before Quirinius was governor of Syria.”

But either way, it seems the census was issued/directed by Quirinius in 6BC and it took almost a year to get word throughout the land. Joseph and Mary come up in late summer, early fall in 5BC.

Prophecies of virgin birth?
Matt 1:23 The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means God with us. from....
Isaiah 7:14-23 Isaiah saying to Ahaz....”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel....But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since ........in that day, the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River-the king of Assyria to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also....in that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briars and thorns.

If one reads the seventh chapter of Isaiah, they will see Isaiah 7:14 has nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus; but is a sign given to Ahaz concerning two kings troubling Judah. A young woman, and not necessarily a virgin in the Hebrew language, is to give birth to a son who will be called Immanuel. And before that child knows to refuse evil and choose good, the land of the two kings troubling Judah will be laid waste. Also see the very next chapter, Isaiah 8:3-8 about the prophetess that becomes pregnant and the king of Assyria will carry off the plunder of Damascus and Samaria before the boy even knows how to say Mom or Dad.

See next answer.

Prophecy of fleeing from Egypt?
Matt 2:14 the words of Hosea were fulfilled in Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt, "Out of Egypt I called my son." from.......
Hosea 11:1-2 "When Israel was a child I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called "them," the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to Baals, and burning incense to idols." Seems then that Joseph and Mary would the “them” that sacrifice to idols!

The word “fulfill” was used in Greek when concerned with prediction, meant “to coincide.” Though the verses seem to be taken out of context by Matthew, does not necessarily mean so. For the virgin birth, Matthew felt the “virgin” birth of Immanuel “coincided” with the virgin birth of Jesus.  Matthew, as once a popular belief amongst the Jews, believed the Israeli slavery by Egypt coincided with Jesus’ birth to bring us all out of Egypt. And if you would look at timelines, God does tend to use them extensively. Repetition in the world is seen over and over again, one way or the other.

Prophecy of Herod’s slaughter?
Matt2:16-18 the words of Jeremiah were fulfilled by the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem....from
Jere 31:15-17 A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because her children are no more. This is what the Lord says, Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded. They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for the future, declares the Lord, Your children will return to their own land.

Same as the previous 2 questions.  What happened in Rachel’s day was happening at that particular travesty in Bethlehem.

Prophecy from who?
Mark 1:2 claims to be quoting Isaiah; yet it is the words of Malachi 3:1 which have been spliced together with Isaiah 40:30.

When scribes referred to the prophetic books, they always used the title of that book. The textbook of Isaiah contained the words of Malachi.  Malachi was not split into its own book until much later.  Therefore, this reference is not wrong. And also, the KJV did not have “Isaiah” there, so a later translator decided to add this in on his own!

The true genealogy of Jesus?
Not only are the names messed up with in the genealogy, but also how many there were. Matthew lists 41, yet he claims there are 42. He omits 4 generations, etc.

MATTHEW (i, 6-16)

1. David 11. Ezekias 21. Sadoc 2. Solomon 12. Manasses 22. Achim 3. Roboam 13. Amon 23. Eliud 4. Abia 14. Josias 24. Eleazar 5. Asa 15. Jechonias 25. Matthan 6. Josaphat *16. Salathiel 26. Jacob 7. Joram *17. Zorobabel 27. Joseph 8. Ozias 18. Abiud 28. Jesus 9. Joatham *19. Eliakim 10. Achaz 20. Azor

LUKE (iii, 23-31)

1. David 17. Elmodam 33. Naum 2. Nathan 18. Cosam 34. Amos 3. Mattatha 19. Addi 35. Mattathias 4. Menan 20. Melchi 36. Joseph 5. Melea 21. Neri 37. Janna *6. Eliakim *22. Salathiel 38. Melchi 7. Jonan *23. Zorobabel 39. Levi 8. Joseph 24. Rhesa 40. Matthat 9. Juda 25. Joanna 41. Heli 10. Simeon 26. Juda 42. Joseph 11. Levi 27. Joseph 43. Jesus 12. Matthat 28. Semei 13. Jorim 29. Mattathias 14. Eliezer 30. Maath 15. Jose 31. Nagge 16. Er 32. Esli

*Indicates names which occur in both lists.

As explained in the first question, Matthew follows the royal genealogy of Joseph from David, while Luke used the physical/bloodline genealogy of Mary from David. Therefore, Jesus was both heir to the throne, by the royal lineage (the legal right to claim through kingship) and the bloodline (the right to claim through humanity). Remember, Jews do not allow the woman’s genealogy. Neat how God works, huh!! And Matthew used David twice, once in the first list and once in the second list, NEVER does he say “42 names”!

Was Jesus required to be a descendant of David?
If Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, then how could He have the blood of Joseph, much less David? MT 22:41-43,45, MK 12:35-37, LU 20:41-44 Jesus himself denies positively that he is a "son of David"; for, ... If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?" (from PS 110:1, but contradicts many OT prophecies that says He must be an offspring of David, but Peter uses the same passages to argue that Jesus was of David’s lineage!) RE 22:16 But John the Divine, about one hundred years later, quotes Jesus as saying in heaven: "I am the root and the offspring of David"

Yes, this is supported over and over because God promised David he would always have a son on the throne. The scriptures from Jesus talking to the Pharisees/Sadducees, Jesus was asking them to explain how a son could be higher than his father. Since the Pharisees were so stubborn in their beliefs, they couldn’t answer it, for in their beliefs, son would never rise above the father.  They refused to give Jesus right to the throne by way of His Deity. All they could understand was the royal or blood lineage. David recognized this, do you? Read 1 Chron 17:10-14.  And remember the very first question.  Jesus did have the DNA of David—through Mary his mother.  I still haven’t found where the naysayers got that Jesus was “the blood of Joseph”.  I guess it was a guy writing that one, you know, didn’t even cross his mind to think that Mary, a female, could have given Jesus David’s DNA.  It’s the son’s that drop 1/2 their mother’s contributed DNA, while us girls just keep on giving all that DNA from both Mom & Pop. Therefore you could say us girls just never drop the ball.  Just poking’ in fun!

Ministry of Jesus

What age at start of ministry?
Luke 3:1,23 "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. ... Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age" The reign of Tiberius began in 14 A.D.; the fifteenth year of his reign would be 29 A.D. If according to Matthew’s birth account (6-4BC) works out, Jesus would be 33 or 35. But according to Luke’s birth account (c. 7AD), Jesus would be but about 21 or 22 years of age when his ministry began.

Somewhere between 33 and 34. A ruler’s reign started with the next New Year. Jews have two New Years-Nisan and Tishri. I showed above where Luke was not incorrect, the original writer of the questions had not been informed of a previous rule by Quirinius.

How long did His ministry last?
The ministry of Jesus lasted, according to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, for only one year; according to John it covered at least three years. The former writers record but one visit of Jesus to Jerusalem; John brings him there at least four times (John 2, 13; 5, 1; 10, 22, 23; 12:12). In this brief space of one or three years, so great was his activity, says John, that besides all the things which he relates in his gospel….

I can’t find any scripture in the Gospels that say specifically how long Jesus actually led His ministry.  It’s been computed by several mathemathicians and other knowledgeable people about that kind of activity recorded in each book.  So, it was calculated out many later centuries.  If I’m wrong in this, someone let me know.  I may have overlooked a verse or two.  Most Christians that I know believe his work lasted 3 years, and having started it at the age of 30, would mean that He died on the cross at 33.

Was John in jail or not?
Mark 1:14 Now, after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
John 3:22-24 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea... and John was also baptizing Enon... for John was not yet cast into prison.

In John 2:4, Jesus plainly said His time had not come yet. These “miracles” were done before His ministry started. In John 4:3 Jesus went again to Galilee. There’s no contradiction here. Mark simply didn’t record the first trip to Galilee.  As a matter of fact, he left out a lot of the others stories that Mathew and Luke had included prior to the time.  Mark just wanted to start at a point in time (with a reason) and build up from that.

Was Jesus baptized?
John 1:28-29 logically does not say that John baptized Jesus; only that John saw Jesus coming.
Matt 3:1,6,13-17 “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now. ... Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

MK 1:9-11, repeats that Jesus was baptized. LU 3:20-2 , Luke's account of Jesus' baptism occurs after the account of John's imprisonment . Omission is not contradiction. John was more interested in the ministry workings, not what led up to them. He simply did not include it. The baptism happened before verse 19. Luke 3 finishes the testimony of John, it doesn’t mean it happened right then at that time. Many authors do this- will finish part of tale before going on with a second part of the story. It does not say Jesus’ baptism happened after John’s imprisonment.  There is a very interesting book that lays out exactly how Luke laid out his storytelling. It’s very intriguing and ingenious if you ask me.  The book is called ”The Synoptic Gospels”. This will also help explain some more of the differences in writings and in these so-called contradictions.

Why did John baptize Jesus?
Matt 3:11 John baptized for repentance. The gospels offer no explanation for Jesus' baptism, apart from the meaningless explanation given in Matthew 3:14-15 "to fulfill all righteousness."

Jesus was baptized as in obedience to the rules set for righteousness. He had to live the life we live if He was to complete His “mission.”  This was done to ensure that we could live the life that Jesus lived. He is our Mentor, not only our Saviour.

Who did the voice address?
Matt 3:17 The heavenly voice addressed the crowd: "This is my beloved Son."
Mark1:11, Luke 3:22 The voice addressed Jesus: "You are my beloved Son...."

Talk about being nit-picky.  But anyway this still shows that there were 3 witnesses to this particular scene.   And just like any time the cops are asking for details on the perp’ from 3 different witnesses, they are going to get at least 2 different points of view and more times than not, a full three.  So, I guess there were actually witnesses to the voice.  After all, the voice had to have been there since all 3 of them heard it.  But they were probably standing at such amazement, it took them the first word or two before they gathered their senses back together in order to actually hear the rest of the sentence.   And also, these writers took several years before they wrote all this down (and remember they were written at different times and different places, so this also shows there wasn’t a whole lot of copycatting going on), so a lot of details are lost in the time.  They were no less or no more human than you and I. And there have been plenty of studies to show just how much loss of memory of details occurs after different periods of time.  Check out the documentaries, see for yourself.

What about after His baptism?
John 1:29-51 After Jesus saw John baptizing, the next day He went to Galilee.
MattT 4:1, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1 all say He went then to the desert for the satanic temptations.

Again, the 40 days happened before verse 19 in John.

Was John in prison at the beginning of Jesus ministry?
Matt 4:12, 17 "Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee...."From that time Jesus began to preach. -- thus beginning his ministry after John was in prison. Yet in, JN 2:1-2 Jesus called His disciples and turned water into wine.
John 2:12-13 had traveled around Galilee and Judea
John 2:14-16 had cleansed the temple
John 2:23 had performed many miracles at the Passover in Jerusalem
John 3:22 and had come with his disciples again to Judea, and baptized
John 3:23-24 “And John also was baptizing in Enon ... For John was not yet cast into prison" (John iii, 23, 24)!

Chap 2 & 3 were before His ministry began. A comedian can tell jokes, launder his clothes and do some favors for a cuz, before going on the stage for the first time in order to do what he really wants to do—in this case, be paid! Jesus just did some miracles for His mother’s sake, did some traveling around (probably casing out the place to see what kind of folks He was going to be talking with), doing some cleanup (getting the really soused drunks out of there), done some more miracles for friends (getting the feeling and the mood of that state beforehand and John 2:24 stated that Jesus would not tell them about Himself yet) and started helping out his cousin John ‘cause he was probably quite backed up, with Jesus knowing ahead of time that John was about to get his time cut short, if ya know what I mean.  All this before HIS ministry started.  I need to look this up more closely, but I don’t remember seeing that Jesus did any kind of actually preaching or revealing to the people. 

John the Baptist
Matt 11:14, 17:11-13 "This is Elias, which was for to come" Matthew to prove it -- a prophecy of Malachi: MAL 4:5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Yahveh"
John 1:20-21 "And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No."

John is not Elijah reincarnated as many assume this means. But he came in the “spirit” or power of Elijah to do what Elijah will do in the second advent. Remember, the Bible tends to “coincide” with events of different eras.  And Matthew just is again showing us here that this is just another one of those providential coincidences.

Where was Andrew & Simon when first called?
John 1:40 "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him [Jesus], was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother!" here following John by the Jordan.
Matt 4:18 & Mark 1:16 both Peter & Andrew fishing--on the Sea of Galilee.

Andrew stayed fishing until later when he went to find his brother. Verse 39 shows Andrew and John only 1 day with Jesus. After this Andrew went to find Peter and then Jesus crossed paths with them at the Sea of Galilee the next day.

Who were the 12 disciples?
Matt 10:2, Mark 3:16-19 The twelve apostles (disciples) were: Simon (Peter), Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, John his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (Labbaeus), Simon, and Judas Iscariot.
Luke 6:13-16 The above except that Thaddaeus (Labbaeus) is excluded, and Judas the son of James is added (and Judas Iscariot remains).
Acts 1:13, 26 Same as MT and MK except that, like LK Thaddaeus (Labbaeus) is excluded, Judas the son of James is included, and Mathias is chosen by the others to replace Judas Iscariot.

Judas, the son of James, is supposed to be the same as Thaddeus, which is not a Hebrew name. He was also the brother of James which is what Luke 6 says. It doesn’t say “brother” or “son” in Greek, it was listed as Judas James. The brothers were always grouped together. Poor Judas, the brother of James, probably adopted the name Thaddeus due to the possible confusion of Judas Iscariot. In my Hebrew concordance, it refers to each name-Thaddeus, Labbaeus, and Judas as the same name.

Has everything been recorded about Jesus?
John 21:25 The world probably could not contain the books if all that Jesus did were to be recorded.
Acts 1:1 The author of Acts has already written about all that Jesus began to do. It is avowed by Luke that in his "former treatise" all was recorded.

I don’t see that in reading. It says “began” to do. Also “all” in Greek here was “pas” all, any, or every. I’m sure he mentioned all the types of ministries-healing, raising people from the dead, miracles, teachings, forgiveness, love, etc. Could you record every word or action you did for up to 3 years? But couldn’t you say that through keeping a daily journal you have a record of all you did? Yet I’m sure that you wouldn’t have actually been able to record all you did.   And Luke does seem to contain more than the others, so he probably considered himself more thorough. And it is pretty much known, not yet proven, that Luke had used other manuscripts to try to get every detail he could.  So he may have been saying that he did records all that had been already recorded.  And by the way, just in case you didn’t know, Luke wrote both Luke and Acts. 

Jesus was not given absolute wisdom?
Luke 2:52 Infinite wisdom is absolute; but Jesus "increased in wisdom”

No, He was not given absolute widsom. He was human and had to learn and hear the Spirit just as we do. If He had been born with His spiritual wisdom and godliness, He could not have been a proxy nor a mentor for us.

Jesus First Sermon
Matt 5:1,2 stood on a mount
Luke 6:17, 20 stood in a plain

Jesus went up the mountain to pray. Then when He was set (Matt 5:1) after coming back down from the mountain and positioning himself on the plain, He preached. Matthew didn’t say where Jesus stood  preach.  But Luke does say in verse 12 that Jesus had gone into the mountains to pray.  Then in 17 Luke said He went down with them and stood in a plain.

Who did Jesus say witnesses for Him?
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
John 8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself...

When Jesus was talking in the fifth chapter, He was saying that if He bear witness for Himself, it would not hold up in court. True is “alethes”-is hidden-unconcealed. It doesn’t mean His witness was false, just not given out as pure fact as another person witnessing for you would. But He is one of several that do bear witness, just not Himself alone as John 8:18 says.

Did Jesus have all power?
Matt 28:18 All power is given unto [Jesus] in heaven and in earth.
Mark 6:5 And [Jesus] could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands on a few sick folk and healed them.
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
Matt 20:23 Jesus said to them, "....but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

All power (Greek exousia-“ in the sense of ability…magistrate...delegated influence”) has been given to Jesus, but just like our judges, He still has Higher rules in which He abides. He could heal those people mentioned in Mark, but those people wouldn’t receive the gift, they wouldn’t even bring them their sick to Him for Him to heal them. I could give someone smiles all day long, but if they refused to look or scorned at my smiles, then the influence of a smile would not work on that person.  One must have faith and then accept the gift given to them.  Jesus isn’t going to cram it down your throat if you don’t want it, nor would our judges of today.

Divorce
Mark 10:11-12 "Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.” A Jew could not have said or written this, for by the Jewish law a woman could not put away her husband at all.
Matt 19:9 "Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery"

Mark just didn’t put the “fornication” in there. Again, omission is not contradiction. And Mark was not a Jew as far as I know.  In my reference material, Mark probably the cousin of Barnabas who was only known as an Israelite, not necessarily a Jew. So it would seem that the people Mark was talking to needed this message and as someone not under Moses’ law would have written this.  Jesus was not talking just for the Jews here either.  He was saying this to the disciples that when it came to God’s original will, (not just for those who followed what “Moses had told them about divorce” as mentioned just a couple verses earlier), but for all nations, all of God’s children.

Baptism
John 3:22 Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with and baptized.
John 4:2 in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
Mark 16:16 Whosoever believes and is baptized will be saved. (is after His resurrection even though this was added later)
Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit....
Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5 all say to baptize in the name of Jesus.

”In the name” means “by the authority of” as Acts says, it is by His authority we baptize at all and by that authority we baptize by the authority of all three. If it wasn’t for Jesus’ sacrifice, there would be no authority given from any of them. This is why the acceptance of Jesus as our Savior is SO important! Without Him being our sacrifice, we could never be given the gift He has offered us .

Preaching to all nations??
Matt 10:23 Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be comes.
Mark 13:10 The gospel first be published among all nations
Matt 10:5 Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

When Jesus died on the cross, His ministry was then to be spread through ALL nations. He just wanted the Jews to hear it first apparently.  You see, when Jesus came in the human form, He had at the minimum of 2 purposes. One to show the Jews that God is real and keeps to His word, and second to be our ultimate sacrifice by living through the exact struggles and real life as we do and then giving His life and blood for ALL of us. When the Jews rejected Him, He was then free to offer His life for us as well (or instead), and this was in accordance with God’s plan-to save ALL people. When He became the Gentiles’ light, His disciples could follow His example.  And the “Son of Man” came when Jesus was resurrected and it’s my guess that there were still a lot of cities left that He and His disciples had not gotten to before His cruxificion.

Who has gone to heaven?
2Kings 2:11 Elijah went up to heaven.
John 3:13 Only the Son of Man (Jesus) has ever ascended to heaven.
2Corin 12:2-4 An unnamed man, known to Paul, went up to heaven and came back. HE 11:5 Enoch was translated to heaven.

“Heaven” here is shameh-lofty “sky” or as far out as the celestial bodies, but not the “abode of God.” More than likely, Elijah and Enoch are in Paradise, the garden of God. Paul was in the “spirit”, most likely not the body and besides, this was after Jesus stated only He had ever ascended to heaven. Hebrews say nothing about the heaven or the abode of God. Enoch was “translated” (orig Hebrew word used) to Paradise, again, not the abode of God.

Do we see death or not?
Matt 24:9 Even some of the disciples of Jesus will be killed.
John 8:51 If anyone keeps Jesus' words, he will never see death.
Heb 9:27 [All] men die once, then judgment follows.

There are two deaths, first the physical, second after the resurrection. No Christian will see this second death. See the previous verse (John 8:50), after the final judgment, he will never see death, the second death. In Hebrews, the men in Greek here is “athropos” meaning human being, this the physical.  The second death is the soul.

Did Jesus purposely hide His teachings?
Mark 4:11-12, Matt 11:25 Jesus says that he uses parables so that the meaning of some of his teachings will remain secret to at least some persons so they would not turn and be forgiven. He explains the meanings of the parables only to his disciples. He thanks God for hiding some things from the wise while revealing them to "babes."
John 18:20 Jesus says that he always taught openly, never secretly.
Mark 4:22 Jesus says that all things should be made known.

In the first references here, Jesus said when it came to the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, not the saving grace God gave us. Jesus did teach openly, but in John 18, they, the listeners refused to hear. The wise referred to in the first reference are “the prideful and self-conceited” and they too refused to accept what He was saying. In Mark 4:25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. That is, for those that hear and accept what he hears will be told more, for those that know a little and reject it, even that will be taken from him.

The “they” He was talking about were those that saw, heard, but refused to believe it. Those who won’t give up their old way, or have hardened their hearts, won’t hear any more. And He knows who wants to hear and who doesn’t. All are given a chance, but not all will accept. Read the passages for yourselves.

When did the Holy Spirit come into the world?
Luke 1:15 John the Baptist had the Holy Spirit from before his birth or the birth of Jesus.
Luke 1:41 Elizabeth had it long before Jesus went away.
Luke 1:67 So did Zechariah.
Luke 2:25 So did Simeon.
Luke 11:13 It is obtained by prayer (presumably at any time).
John 7:39, John 16:7, Acts 1:3-5 The Holy Spirit cannot come into the world until after Jesus has departed.
John 20:22 In his first resurrection appearance before the assembled disciples, Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4 The Holy Spirit was received much later (on Pentecost.)

The full blessing of the Holy Spirit did not come until the day of Pentecost. Read 1 Corinthians 12 to see the extra gifts given at Pentecost.

Does Jesus judge?
John 5:22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
John 8:15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
John 12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to save the world.
John 5:27-30 And He has given Him the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man
John 9:39 For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.
Acts 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 2Corin 5:10 For we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

In John 8:15, He was saying He didn’t use human standards, but God’s standards for a latter time. John 12:47 He did not come to judge the world the first time, but He will the second time. John 9:39 is because He’s going to come back as a judge. In other words.......when Jesus came to earth as a man, He came to save all those that will accept Him. When He comes back at the end times, He is coming as a Judge, it will be too late for redemption then!

Signs or no signs?
Mark 8:12 "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.
Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

When Jesus said there would be no further signs, He had already done many for them and still did not believe. Basically, they had rejected Him and He simply brushed the dust off of His feet as He had instructed His disciples to do if rejected.

Sign of His coming Kingdom?
Matt 24:29-33 , Mark 13:24-29 The coming of the kingdom will be accompanied by signs and miracles.
Luke 17:20-21 It will not be accompanied by signs and miracles. It is already within.

The person here was definitely confused as to the difference between the end of the age and the Kingdom of God. In Luke 17, He said you could not see by “observation” which is in Greek “hostile watching” as if for a war. If we become a Christian and give our life to God 100%, we will experience the Kingdom of Heaven. In the end, the whole world will be totally in accordance to the Kingdom of Heaven.

What kingdom?
Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
John 1:11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Kingdom of God. “His kingdom” is Jesus’ kingdom, not David’s. But He is going to bring His kingdom to earth, David’s kingdom.

Do they take the staff or not?
Mark 6:8 These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff-- no bread, no bag, no money in your belts.
Matt 10:9 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; (10) take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.

In Matthew, He said don’t take an EXTRA staff.  If you look at Matthew 10, He said don’t provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, then in 10, he says “nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, not yet staves.”  And since it doesn’t make any sense at all that He would expect you to go traversing without ANY shoes, it seems that He meant here, no extra pair of shoes (which was not uncommon in that period and place), nor any extra staves, but the one needed initially.  I. E. Don’t take any money or food bags and don’t take anything but one tunic, one pair of shoes and one staff. And it seems in Mark, this is in agreement as it says,” wear sandals, but not an extra tunic” in the next verse.

Jesus was not one that was good.
Mark 10:18 & Luke18:19 "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God"

The Greek word for “good” here means “benefit” He was sowing the source of His goodness--only through God is He of benefit. It’s God’s will and grace that’s saves us, but again only through Jesus. Jesus could have gone through all He did, but if it had been against God’s will, every thing He did would not have been of benefit to us. Thank God for His grace and mercy!!!

Show off our works or not?
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works.
Matt 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them.

First off, alms is money, our light is our good works. In the second reference, the Pharisees did this to glorify self or man. The first instance will glorify God, not self.

Loan money with or without interest?
Lev 25:37 [I add first part of passage.......If one of your countryman becomes poor].....you must not lend him money at interest [also this is during the Year of Jubilee]
Psalms 15:1, 5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
Matt 25:27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
Luke 19:23-27 why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest. [same parable as the one above--the one who hid his talent]

Matt and Luke was a parable-the one who refused to increase the gifts God gave to us-not our money, but gifts! Didn’t Jesus say something about open eyes so that you may see, and the ears to hear, when it came to parables?  And USURY means “to charge exuberant amount of interest, to take advantage of....” And the first passage was during the Year of Jubilee for the countryman who might have become poor. No where does the Bible say we can’t charge reasonable interest for our loans other than for the destitute or during the Year of Jubilee.

Did Jesus lie?
Matt 5:37, 15:19, Mark 7:22, John 8:14, 44, 14:6, 18:37 Jesus says that you should answer a plain "yes" or "no," that his purpose is to bear witness to the truth, and that his testimony is true. He equates lying with evil.
John 7:2-10 Jesus tells his brothers that he is not going to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Tabernacles, then later goes secretly by himself. (Note: The words "not yet" were added to some versions at John 7:8 in order to alleviate this problem. The context at JN 7:10 makes the deception clear, however.)

To go on to verse 14, “in the midst He went to the temple” so He was 4 days behind! The Feast of Tabernacles were from like Sept 15-22. And He didn’t arrive at the temple, where all were to be, until halfway through the celebration. Verse 10 doesn’t say He immediately left, just after they left.

Was the Kingdom already prepared?
Matt 25:34 Heaven was prepared before the Ascension of Jesus ‘since the creation of the world.’
John 14:2-3 It was prepared after the Ascension of Jesus. ‘Jesus goes to prepare a place for us.’

Matt says kingdom, translated from the Greek “realm”.  John’s “place” is translated from the Greek “occupancy”.  So, Heaven’s always been there, but your house might not be.

Did they ask where Jesus was going?
John 13:36 Peter asks Jesus where he is going.
John 14:5 Thomas does the same.
John 16:5 Jesus says that none of them have asked him where he is going.

But they had not asked now that it was relevant, now that the time had actually come, they were too sad to care anymore.....”sorrow has filled your heart...But I will send a Comforter.”

Death & Resurrection of Jesus

Judas Betrayal?
It is very unclear in the gospels just what Judas Iscariot's betrayal consisted of, probably because there was absolutely no need for a betrayal. Jesus could have been arrested any number of times without the general populace knowing about it. It would have been simple to keep tabs on his whereabouts. The religious authorities did not need a betrayal - only the gospel writers needed a betrayal, so that a few more "prophecies" could be fulfilled.

Lk 22:2 The priests couldn’t find a way to turn popular opinion. By Judas turning against his own leader, Jesus, it solved their problem. What could the crowd say if one of His own had turned against Him?!?!

According to Matthew 26:15, the chief priests "weighed out thirty pieces of silver" to give to Judas. There are two things wrong with this: In Jesus’ time, silver had gone out of circulation 300 years before. And minted coins, not weighed pieces were used.

So we don’t use silver today? Maybe Judas didn’t want coinage to show what he had done. Actually, what’s really bad is that I’ve seen the true answer to this one, but can’t remember it now!  I believe it had something to do with the temple.  When I run across this info again, I’ll be sure to add it here.

Who bought the Field of Blood?
Matt 27:5, 7 Judas threw down the pieces of silver, then departed, the chief priests buy the field.
Acts 1:18 Judas buys the field.

The field was bought with Judas’ money. The priests wouldn’t take the money back, so they used the money for Judas to buy the field.

How did Judas die?
Matt 27:5 Judas hangs himself. Here Matthew attributes the words to Jeremiah, they were actually Zechariah’s
Acts 1:18 he bursts open and his insides spill out.

Popular belief is he hung himself on a tree overhanging a cliff. The rope broke or gave way, and he fell into the valley below him and busted his guts open. Hanging oneself’s on a tree overhanging a cliff is probably the simplest way to lose the ground below your feet, just jump!

Did Jesus lose Judas or not?
John 17:12 Jesus has lost none of his disciples other than Judas. [in a prayer to God]
John 18:9 Jesus has lost none, period. [reflects back on JN 6:39]

In John 17, the first “Kept” was to use careful pastoral regard-from loss or injury. The second “kept” was to guarded externally-prevent escaping. Jesus did not lose him by not “keeping” him improperly, but by Judas’ own choice to leave. Judas could have asked for forgiveness, like Peter, but chose not to and accepted suicide as the answer to his sorrow. In John 18:9 “loss” means to destroy or put away by punishment and Jesus definitely didn’t do that. Judas did.

How did the Field of Blood get its name?
Matt 27:6-8 it was purchased with blood money
Acts 1:18 says because of the bloody mess caused by Judas' bursting open

It was not the bloody mess, but because Judas died there and it was his money it was bought with-see verse 20-”for it is written in...Let his habitation be desolate and let no man....” It doesn’t say in Acts anything about so named for the bloody mess.  As a matter of fact the beginning of the verse says “With the reward he got for his wickedness Judas bought a field…so they called that field…Field of Blood.  Sounds like Matthew and Luke said the same thing.  Luke just gave the details as to what had happened there.

How about the donkey?
Matt 21:2-6 Two disciples sent by Jesus to get donkey and colt (also Matthew was said to have misunderstand the prophecy he used here and changed what had happened to fit what he thought should have been!! Which he did--he has Jesus sitting on them both.)
Mark 11:2-7 Luke 19:30-35 Two disciples sent to find colt.
Luke 19:30-35 The disciples follow Jesus instructions and bring him the animal (or animals, in the case of MT).
John 12:14 Jesus finds the animal himself.

First off, this was a pretty good laugh. But Matthew doesn’t say Jesus sat on the donkey and the colt, the “them” he was talking about was the cloaks! In John the word “found” in Greek was “acquired, obtained, get, find....” It doesn’t say Jesus went after the donkey himself, just that He obtained, acquired the animal! And there are no other contradictions whatsoever in these passages.

What about His hearing before Pilate?
Matt 27:11-14 Jesus answers “not a single charge” at his hearing before Pilate.
John 18:33-37 Jesus answers all charges at his hearing before Pilate.

In Matt, He answered the questions about being king, just not about any of the charges brought against Him. The questioning in John is a second round of questioning, see verse 33-entered again-and was then asked personal questions, nothing about the charges.

What color was His robe at the cruxificion?
Matt 27:28 Jesus is given a scarlet robe (a sign of infamy).
Mark 15:17, John 19:2 A purple robe (a sign of royalty).

Scarlet-in Greek word was Kokkinos-crimson and Matthew said nothing about a sign of infamy.  For Mark it was Porphura- a cloth died from the purple mussel.  John said it was Porphurous-kind of like the dye from the purple mussel.  The dye may have been actually the same.  Oh and neither Mark nor John said anything about this representing a sign of royalty.

What had Barabbas done?
Mark 15:7 and Luke 23:19 say that Barabbas was guilty of insurrection and murder.
John 18:40 says that Barabbas was a robber.

Probably robber by trade, but when arrested, started mouthing off about the government and then murdered one of those who tried to arrest him. John says he WAS a robber, Mark and Luke says he was GUILTY of insurrection and murder.

Did Pilate actually release Barabbas & give in to mob?
The only authority given by Rome to a Roman governor in situations like this was postponement of execution until after the religious festival. Release was out of the question. It is included in the gospels for the sole purpose of further removing blame for Jesus' death from Pilate and placing it on the Jews. The gospels have Pilate giving in to an unruly mob. This is ridiculous in light of Pilate's previous and subsequent history. Josephus tells us that Pilate's method of crowd control was to send his soldiers into the mob and beat them (often killing them) into submission. Pilate was eventually recalled to Rome because of his brutality.

Pilate could have been fearful of Jesus being a god in human disguise as the Romans believed wholeheartedly could happen. And more importantly, he definitely didn’t want Caesar to think that he was against him! This was not a postponement-it goes back to the Maccabees-it was a Jewish custom, not Roman, and Pilate was letting the Jews decide what to do with their prisoner.  I thought it was common knowledge that Roman leaders let the local people keep most of their customs.  I’ve seen this over and over again on secular documentaries.

Who carried the cross?
Mark 15:21 Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry it
Matt 27:32 Simon of Cyrene was forced to
Luke 23:26 Simon of Cyrene was forced to
John 19:17 Jesus himself carried the cross

John-”He bearing His cross went forth”--doesn’t mean He didn’t falter and fall along the way, causing Simon to be chosen to carry it the rest of the way.

What did they give Jesus to drink on the cross?
Matt 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall. -he didn’t drink.
Matt 27:48 second time offered wine vinegar, doesn’t say if He drank it.
Mark 15:23 It was wine and myrrh, and he did not drink it.
Luke 23:36 offered vinegar to drink, but doesn’t say if He did.
John 19:29-30 offered wine vinegar, he did drink it.

He was offered a drink 3 times.....first the arrival (MT 27:34, MK 15:23-He did not drink), second during the cruxificion (Luke 23-doesn’t say if He did or not) and the last time at the end of His life (MT 27:48, JN 19-He did drink this time)

Thieves on cross
Luke 23:39-40 one of the thieves crucified with Jesus mocked him, while the other thief defended him.
Matt 27:44 says that both thieves mocked Jesus. Mark and John have their own versions.

LK says malefactors (evil men, criminals, villains) were led with Him to the place of cruxificion. MT says THEN there were 2 thieves, apparently brought up later. The malefactors, not thieves, in Luke both mocked him. Later when the thieves (can be a thief, but not a malefactor!) came, one mocked, while the other defended Him.  It is also well known that in an usual day, the Romans would crucify as many as 500 people at a time.

Paradise vs Heaven?
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
John 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

This just improves my argument that Paradise is not Heaven-the abode of God.

Was Jesus buried alone?
Isaiah 53:9 Usually taken to be a prophecy re: Jesus, mentions burial with others.
Matt 27:58-60, Mark 15:45-46, Luke 23:52-53, John 19:38-42 Jesus was buried by himself.

The “grave” mentioned in He was assigned to was Hades where the wicked go upon death. Not a sepulchre.

How long was Jesus in the (Totally against Jewish burial custom) tomb?
Matt28:1 3 Days 2 Nights
Mark16:2 3 Days 2 Nights
Luke24:1 3 Days 2 Nights
John 20:1 2 Days 2 Nights!
Matt 12:40 Jesus said 3 Days & 3 Nights
He did not fulfill the prophesy!

Yes, He did. The Jews celebrate Sabbaths that are not on Saturdays, they are known as the High Sabbaths, I believe. This particular Sabbath landed on Thursday. In the tomb Wednesday, Thursday, Friday nights, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday days. The Sabbath ends at sunset (or about 6 pm) on Saturday. This was an easy one.

What happened at the tomb?
Matt 28:1-4 two women went to the guarded and sealed tomb of Jesus. After an earthquake, they, on the outside, witnessed the descent of an angel from Heaven, who rolls away the stone sealing the tomb, causing the guards to be frozen with fear. Only in Matthew is the tomb of Jesus guarded and sealed!
Mark 16:1-4 says when the sun had risen three women went to an unguarded tomb, wondering who would remove the stone. There is no earthquake, nor an angel seen descending from Heaven to roll the stone away, for the stone had already been removed!
Luke 24:1-2 an unknown number of women went to an unguarded tomb and found the stone removed. There isn't an earthquake, nor an angel seen descending from Heaven.
John 20:1, while it was still dark, Mary went alone to an unguarded and unsealed tomb. There is no earthquake, nor angels seen.

Okay here we go----see the next question for full explanation

Who do the women see or tell?
Matt 28:2-8, The angel tells the two women that Jesus has risen and to look inside the tomb for themselves. The women are told to tell the disciples that Jesus will see them in Galilee.
Mark 16:4-8 And inside the tomb they saw a young man dressed in a white robe. The man in white tells them that Jesus has risen, to go and tell the disciples that Jesus will see them in Galilee. But the women are too afraid to tell anyone. The original manuscript ends here, the rest was added later.
Luke 24:3-12 an unknown number of women entered an unguarded tomb and found nothing. And as they were standing there, two men in dazzling apparel appeared beside them. The women were not told to go and tell the disciples
John 20:1-19 Mary goes to tell Peter & another disciple the body’s stolen. They come back to the tomb. Peter and the other goes back home, but Mary stays behind. Here she sees 2 angels and Jesus. But Mary didn’t recognize Jesus and thought he was a gardener.

In MT, the earthquake happened before the women got there. Matthew just told how the stone was rolled away and that an angel waited for the women to show up later. Then Mary and the others arrive and the angel tells them that Jesus has risen, tell the disciples, and look inside to see for yourselves. They all enter the tomb. There are two young men of which one asked, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead?” And reaffirms that He is indeed risen! And don’t forget to tell the disciples! The women left very quickly! Mary M, who has taken off in another direction, sees Peter and one other disciple and tells them. They go back. The first disciples doesn’t enter the tomb, but when Peter caught up, he did. They both leave, Mary M stays behind and is alone now. She gets curious and looks into the tomb, here she sees 2 more angels and asked why she was crying? For by this time Peter and the others are out trying to figure who had taken His body! Now Jesus appears to her, first. And He tells her to go find the other disciples. She runs off and Jesus catches up with the other women who are still looking, (not so whole-heartedly I would think due to their fear) and tells them to tell the other disciples and meet Him in Galilee. Jesus later finds 2 of His disciples on the way to Emmaus who haven’t heard the news yet. And then later, He appears to all eleven.

Okay, here’s the most detailed explanation of the event without any contradiction and again, it’s very believable, but just my opinion.  I might check deeper into this one later if necessary.

Touching after resurrection?
Luke 24:39 "Behold my hands and feet...handle me and see..."
John 20:17 "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father..."

The word “touch” here means “cling, hold on to” It was okay to touch, but don’t hold on to at this time. But Jesus had at some time in between appearing to Mary and finally catching up with Thomas, gone to see God and then returned for a short time. And again, Jesus apparently did not go to heaven when He died, only after His resurrection.

Where would Jesus meet the disciples?
Matt 28:6-7,16 angel(s) tell them to meet in Galilee and then later Jesus tells them to go to Galilee.
Luke 24:33-49 Says Jerusalem (about 75 miles apart!)

In Galilee. Okay, here goes some more details....Matthew leaves out a lot of time in between the women telling the disciples. He then skips to the 11 in Galilee on the mountain. Even now, some still doubted. Then it skips again to the Great Commission. Matthew doesn’t mention the ascension.

Mark tells about some doubting. Then Jesus later appears to the 11 as they ate. Then He tells the Great Commission. Mark says that after the Lord had spoken to them He was received, but doesn’t not say where, so we can still assume it’s Galilee.

Luke says after the 2 get back to Jerusalem, they find the others. They could have traveled here to Galilee, but I think not. Jesus then eats with the disciples and gives the Great Commission. Then He leads them some place “as far as to” Bethany, not Bethany but some distance about the same length (which could have been Galilee if talking the country Bethany). While He blessed them, He was parted from them and carried up. Again doesn’t say where, could have been Galilee.

John-as 10 disciples were gathered, Jesus appears, and probably eats with them here. Some thing like the Great Commission was said here, but doesn’t seem likely it was the Great Commission. Eight days later, Jesus appears to all 11. And a week later, they are at the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee.

So it seems that they were ALL at Galilee, though He had seen some of them before.

His Ascension from where/when?
Luke 24:51, Jesus' ascension took place after supper in Bethany, on the same day as his resurrection.
Acts 1:9-12, Jesus' ascension took place at Mount Olivet, forty days after his resurrection.
Mark 16:14-19 The Ascension took place (presumably from a room) while the disciples were together seated at a table, probably in or near Jerusalem.
Matt 28:16-20 No mention is made of an ascension, but if it took place at all, it must have been from a mountain in Galilee since MT ends there.

Again, as explained earlier, it did not take place at Bethany and definitely not the same day-where in reading that passage could you get this? It says “as far as” Bethany and it does not specify any timing. I do believe Acts is probably correct. Mark again doesn’t say where and MT doesn’t even talk about the ascension. Just ‘cause an author doesn’t tell points they don’t feel necessary, doesn’t mean you can take their words and twist them to mean what you want. Omission once again, is not contradiction. But it does seem that the ascension took place on Mount Olivet. I would almost assume this was in Galilee, can anyone help with this one?

New Testament

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