The New Testament tells us of Jesus’ life, his teachings and the activities of his apostles in the early church. My favorite books are attributed to the only apostle to have a peaceful death: John, a former fisherman. John was called a son of Thunder by Jesus and cared for Mary, mother of Jesus, after the crucifixion. You can visit the graves of Mary and John at Ephesus. Five books of the Bible are attributed to John. One, the Gospel of John, is recommended by many as a good way for new Christians to begin the process of knowing God and his will and purpose for us.
The writings of Paul, on the other hand, are harder nuts to crack. His thirteen books have provided many scholars with enough conundrums for lifetimes of study and inspiration. I especially like his first letter (Galatians) for a very helpful verse (5:22): “the letter of the law kills and the spirit of the law gives life.” I’ve used the verse many times to loosen up the bureaucracies in developing nations.
After Galatians, the second epistle Paul wrote was his first to the Thessalonians. After helping establish a new church in Thessalonica, Paul was run out of town. Later he learned that the Thessalonians remained enthusiastic Christians. Paul wrote the letter to encourage them to stand strong despite the pressures and persecution they faced.
Beyond general encouragement, Paul briefly addresses several theological issues. He urged his readers not to grieve at the funerals of believers since they have eternal life with Jesus. Paul also contradicted many modern preachers by saying Jesus will return to Earth “like a thief in the night.”
I especially like Paul’s concluding comments: 5:16 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all.
However, watch out for one passage in Thessalonians: (4:14)
For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last
Thessalonians 4:14
In modern America, especially so soon after the horrible attack on the Jews on October 7 2023, these words are not welcome. Nonetheless, they are the words of our Lord and we must take them to heart.
Jews themselves are quoted directly in Matthew 27:24-25: So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
But any search engine you try won’t lead to these passages. Enter “jews killed jesus” and you will learn that such a sentiment should not be spoken. You will find a sanitized set of websites all asserting that Jesus was killed by Romans. Even Christian websites say: “Jesus was crucified as a Jewish victim of Roman violence. On this, all written authorities agree.” All written authorities except the Bible and the church fathers until recent years.
Of course, all of these arguments are rendered moot by that fact that Jesus gave his life willingly (Mark 10:45; John 18:11). Jesus sacrificed himself for us. Let’s remember that and put on the back burner the inconvenient truth that, technically, the Jews killed him and gladly took responsibility.
Resilience 