Thank You Jesus!

   It seems unreal 25 years have passed since I began following Jesus.  25 years ago today, on April 15, 1990, I was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  It was Easter Sunday.  Since it was Easter, as I hiked alone through woods for hours and hours, I was thinking of Jesus.  The Appalachian Trail led up Mt. Albert in North Carolina.  On the top of that mountain was a firetower, which I went up.  It was a beautiful day, and the view was great.  Yet I was still thinking about Jesus.  For the past eight months, I had been going to a caring church where I had learned some things about Jesus.

   There on the firetower, I became convicted Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and I became convicted I needed Jesus, and I wanted Him.  I believed in Jesus!  I started to pray.  I prayed with much enthusiasm.  It was awesome.  That is when I gave my heart to Jesus.

   At first I did not realize all that had happened, but I began to realize God was with me.  In a trail register outside of Catawba, Virginia, I gave a public “thank you” to God.  I hiked with such joy for the rest of that day.  I also started signing my postcards to friends saying “God bless you.”  I had never said that before.  And I became thankful I had been saved.

   That was all just the beginning.  Twenty-five years later, I have countless testimonies.  I truly have been changed in my heart by God, bit by bit, all along.  The love of Jesus in my heart has resulted in many blessings.  There has been much suffering.  Many times Jesus has had to carry me.  Many Christian brothers and sisters have come and gone from my life.  And I have seen enough church strife for a lifetime.  Yet Jesus has always been with me, from average days where I need Him to live the single celibate life I have lived, to days such as when my grandma had to go to the emergency room on Christmas Eve, or the evening when she passed away as I was singing to her.  I have needed Jesus.  What Jesus has given me all along is joy and peace.

   Praise be to God I have a passion for doing ministry work, and I especially enjoy writing and preaching.  It has been a challenging journey.  From mountain highs like when I spoke to 300 students at Denver Christian High School for a chapel service, to a time when I could do no more than pray and cry for a student in our youth group who had a brain tumor, there is always the need to rely on Jesus to do the work He has given us to do.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV).

   I know Jesus was the substitutional atonement, dying on the cross for the sins of anyone, and I thank Him for dying for the forgiveness of my sins.  And I thank Him for being faithful to me.  After 25 years, my desire is that I may continue to be thankful daily that Jesus loves me.  I love Jesus!
Hunter

The Stone is Rolled Away

The Stone Is Rolled Away

Matthew 28:2-6

A sermon offered at Awaken Fellowship on April 10, 2015

by Hunter Irvine

Matthew 28:2-6

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay…” (NIV).

  The message of this passage is that Jesus is risen from the dead!  Yet how does this involve us today almost 2000 years later?  I start by examining why Jewish people rolled stones in front of tombs.

  Around the time of Christ, Jewish people practiced what is called “secondary burial.”  After 20 B.C., dead bodies were put in tombs which were often carved within the limestone cliffs.  A stone would be rolled over the entrance so wild animals would not get in there.  The flesh would slowly decay off of the bones.

  About one year later, someone would go back in the tomb and collect the bones.  Most often the bones were collected and put in another room carved out in the foothills, often with many other bones.  Yet for religious or wealthy families, the bones were put into an ossuary, also called a bone box.  Ossuaries were made of limestone, which is a softer stone.  The wealthier would be able to afford carvings in the ossuaries whereas other bone boxes where plain.  A typical size was about two feet by one and a half feet.

  Archaeologists have dug up thousands of these bone boxes!  They have been digging them up for years!

  Why did they do “secondary burial?”  For the sake of time, the short answer: Pharisees started saying bones needed to be preserved for resurrection.  They were misinterpreting Ezekiel 37:1-14, making a double entendre of this vision, which is a bad Biblical interpretation practice.  Granted there are some “types,” which come from concrete items or events which foreshadow an important future event in the Hebrew Scriptures, but a “type” never comes from a metaphor, which is what the vision from God to Ezekiel was.

  God’s plan for resurrection had nothing to do with bones.  God’s plan for resurrection had to do with the Messiah!  Jesus was both physically and spiritually resurrected!!!

  We know He was physically resurrected.  Mary Magdalene hugged him! (John 20:17).

  Yet He was also spiritually resurrected!  John Stott: “His birth was natural, but his conception was supernatural.  His death was natural, but his resurrection was supernatural.” [1]

John 20:3-8   “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb.  He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.  The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside.  He saw and believed” (NIV).

  When Lazarus was resurrected by Jesus, he came out of the tomb wearing his grave clothes.  When Jesus was resurrected, His graveclothes were still lying in the tomb.  Why did Jesus lose His clothes?  John Stott explains: “What then should we have seen, had we been there [in the tomb]?  We should suddenly have noticed that the body had disappeared….transmuted into something new and different and wonderful.  It would have passed through the graveclothes, as it was later to pass through closed doors…”[2]

  In fact, no one ever saw Jesus come out of the tomb.  I think a careful reading of this passage suggests Jesus was already gone before the angel rolled away the stone!!!

  So Jesus is alive, physically and spiritually!

  And there is a personal message for us (the hermeneutical message): The message is that you can be spiritually resurrected in Christ!  How?  By believing in Jesus!!

“We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 NIV).

The “him” is Jesus.  He is the Lamb of God who was the sacrificial atonement for sins.

  This is a classic story from the 1800’s by Dwight Moody: “A farmer was once found kneeling at a soldier’s grave near Nashville.  Someone came to him and said, “Why do you pay so much attention to this grave?  Was your son buried here?”  “No,” he said.  During the war my family were all sick, I knew not how to leave them.  I was drafted.  One of my neighbors came over and said: ‘I will go for you; I have no family.’  He went off.  He was wounded at Chickamauga.  He was carried to the hospital, and there died.  And, sir, I have come a great many miles, that I might write over his grave these words, ‘He died for me.’”[3]

  Jesus Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins of anyone.  He was the atonement for the consequences of sins, which is spiritual death in h-ll.  If you believe in Jesus, you have eternal life with Him.

  If you have never opened your heart to Jesus, you can do so right here and now.  Jesus loves you.

Hunter

[1] John Stott, Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1958), 46.

[2] John Stott, Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1958), 53.

[3] D.L. Moody, Prevailing Prayer (Chicago: Moody Press, [no date, no copyright]), 58-59.

Is Easter over?

   On a Monday morning in the wake of Easter Sunday, and in the wake of completing a huge study on the twelve apostles, I post Acts 4:33 - 
“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all"(NIV).

   The radical fact of Christianity is that being a witness to Jesus' resurrection continues to be a call for all true followers of Jesus.  And the Holy Spirit enables.

+ I thank You Father that all of us who follow Jesus can know in our hearts, even during horrible times, that Jesus has been resurrected.

love, Hunter

Matthias, an apostle of Jesus

   Matthias was the apostle who was picked to replace Judas Iscariot after Judas committed suicide.

   The Hippolytus text, whose author is questioned, and which probably has at least a bit of corruption, yet which I think has serious validity, states Matthias had been one of the seventy, (called the 72 in many Bible texts), before he was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.[1]

   Eusebius wrote the same, I think utilizing this Hippolytus text, and maybe even a more pure copy of that text.[2]  Again, Eusebius' citing gives validity to this text.  The seventy-two disciples were chosen by Jesus, told in Luke 10.

   Jesus calls some to be leaders.  The apostles had special positions of leadership.  The “seventy-two” were called to be leaders.  Also the teachings of Paul instruct there to be church leaders in post-apostolic times of elders, with “overseers” and deacons.

   There have been countless disciples of Jesus throughout the past almost 2000 years who have been called to be leaders.  However the Bible shows Christian leadership is not an oligarchy.  The apostles and other disciples worked as a team, though with struggles, as I discussed in the introduction, with Jesus Christ always being the Head leader.

   Christian ministry is not about elite leadership as Jesus clearly taught:  Matthew 20:28  “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NIV).

   True Christian leadership is not about being bossy.  This was incredibly illustrated by Christ washing the apostles’ feet!

   Dorman Newman stated Matthias ministered in Sebastopol, which is Ukrainian and Russian today.

   Dorman Newman stated Matthias was crucified in Sebastopol.[3]

In Conclusion:

   For those of you who have been reading along with this study of the twelve apostles, thank you.  My hope is that people have or will benefit from the hard work I have done.

   For many years, countless hours have been spent in Denver metropolitan area Christian bookstores.  One Saturday in my favorite bookstore, I moseyed into the back room where I had never been before, which was the kid’s section.  I wanted to see what books they had for young people.  After a time of browsing, I picked up a paperback which was mis-shelved.  I became excited as I read the title and then as I read a bit of the incredible content.  It was the book by Dr. McBirnie.  That began a study of these first Christian leaders.

   They were not chosen by Jesus to be “rulers.”  They were not chosen by Jesus to be worshiped.  They were chosen by Jesus to be leaders in telling the Gospel.  The amazing thing is that if you are a follower of Jesus, you have the same calling.

+ Thank you Holy God for enabling me to persevere with this incredible study.  I praise You Jesus, my Savior and my Lord.

Hunter Irvine

   I close by saying Thomas Chisholm, author of the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness," wrote in a letter in 1941, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now.  Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”[4]  During those years, he wrote one of the greatest hymns of the 20th century.

   Personally, I have been in rough circumstances the past year.  During such, I have been able to continue to carry out incredible ministry work.  God has been faithful to me!

[1] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 5:535.

[2] Eusebius, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, trans. C.F. Cruse
(Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1998), 28.

[3] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 244-245.

[4] Kenneth Osbeck, Stories of Favorite Hymns (Grand Rapids: Family Christian Press, 2002), 35.

Simon the Zealot, an apostle of Jesus

   A Hebrew zealot was an Israelite who totally advocated regaining Jewish rule for Judea back from the Roman Empire which had conquered Judea.  The zealots ended up being defeated after a military attempt to regain control in 68 A.D.  The Roman empire demolished Jerusalem in 70 A.D., murdered over one million people, and drove the Jewish survivors from their homeland.  It was an epic tragedy.

   Simon the Zealot is not recorded as saying anything in the Bible.  Some think Simon the Zealot may have been one of the people asking the question recorded in Luke 1:6  “Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’”(NIV).  We do not know if he said this, but it would have been the concern of a Hebrew zealot.

   Simon the Zealot definitely ministered in Africa, he probably ministered in modern day England though it may have been brief, and he possibly died in Persia.  Like many apostles, Simon apparently ministered in more than one place, but the historical evidence is trickier to put together.  If you want to study an excellent examination for Simon the Zealot, read chapter 13 of Dr. McBirnie’s book.[1]

   How incredible a man who was so devoted to his own country ended up ministering in countries which were not even allies with his beloved country.  He likely went into parts of Africa, first and foremost Mauritana, which were away from the more culturally diverse towns near the Mediterranean Sea.  The kingdom Simon the Zealot became concerned with was God’s Kingdom.

   Dorman Newman had a book published about the apostles in 1685, which is in the British Museum, and which I have had a dream to read for over one decade.  Dr. McBirnie cites Newman’s book throughout his book.  Dorman Newman gives a fine overview regarding Simon's physical death, explaining there is a dispute as to whether he was crucified in Great Britain, or martyred in Persia.[2]  I add Dr. McBirnie strongly goes with the site of Persia.

Hunter Irvine

[1] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 207-231.
[2] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 210-211.

Thaddaeus (Jude), an apostle of Jesus

   Judas is the Greek form of Judah.[1]  Thus it was a common name in Judea.  I discussed the name confusion with James, son of Alphaeus.  Back at the time the Bible was written, no one wanted to be confused with Judas Iscariot!  Thus this apostle called Judas in John 14:22, which was probably his common name, is listed in the apostle lists as his formal name Thaddaeus or as Jude.

   Clement of Alexandria, who lived from approximately 153 A.D. to 217 A.D., said the book of Jude, the last book before Revelation, was written by Jude the “brother” of Jesus.[2]  This authorship is widely accepted among scholars, yet Clement could have been wrong, and the author could have been this Jude who was one of the Twelve.

   John 14:22   “Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’” (NIV).

   This is the sole Bible verse where Jude speaks.

   Jude ministered in Armenia![3]  By ministering in this country, and probably Mesopotamia, Jude himself showed Jesus to the world!!

   My big find in this study has been the ancient apostle list loosely attributed to Hippolytus, though the authorship is questioned.

   Dr. McBirnie did not mention it.  It is not surprising that he may not have seen that in the Ante-Nicene Fathers.  Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s, an electronic copy of the ten volume Ante-Nicene Fathers was not available.  Now I can do word searches!  I do note research work by Dr. McBirnie was incredible, as his bibliographies display.

   Dr. McBirnie stated he read in a Bible encyclopedia published by Wm. B. Eerdmans from 1960 that Beirut and Egypt were burial places for Jude; there could be more than one site if bones were separated.  But in a visit to Lebanon in 1971, Dr. McBirnie talked with Christians in Beirut in both the Roman Catholic and the Syrian Orthodox Church, and they heard nothing about this.[4]  Yet ancient Berytus, which is modern day Beirut, is exactly where the questioned Hippolytus list states Jude died and was buried.[5]  Interesting.

   That questioned Hippolytus text could have some corruption.  Thus the Berytus statement could be incorrect.  In fact, maybe that Hippolytus text is where a 1960 Bible encyclopedia got some information.

   Yet there are a number of things in that ancient text which check out with primary sources.  I think it is legit.  I consider it an important document, and I am thankful to God I unearthed it after persevering with a word search into that fifth volume one night.

   I add I think Eusebius had access to that writing!  That supports the document not being a late addition.

   I have spent much time doing this research, God has blessed it, and I give Him the glory.

   Jude’s martyrdom is not debated, since his death preceded Bartholomew who then came to Armenia, or who was there when he died.  Yet how Thaddaeus was killed is not clear.

   The strong tradition is he was martyred in Armenia, and that he had a shrine in Artaz (Macoo), which was in ancient southeast Armenia.[6]

Hunter Irvine

---

[1] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 195.
[2] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 2:1207.
[3] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 199.
[4] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 202-203.
[5] Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, eds., The Ante-Nicene
Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (1867; digital repr.,
Albany, Oregon: SAGE Software, 1996), 5:535.
[6] William McBirnie, The Search for the Twelve Apostles
(Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1973), 200.

James, son of Alphaeus, an apostle of Jesus

   One bizarre fact I learned in my New Testament Survey class at Colorado Christian University: the name “James” in the New Testament, which was written in Greek, was originally Jacob, which comes from the Hebrew word Ya'akov.  Translators many years later translated the name as James instead of Jacob in the New Testament.

   Bizarre.

   At least this explains why the name was so common for Jewish people.

   James, the son of Alphaeus, is sometimes called “the lesser” to distinguish him from the other apostle names James.  Nonetheless, for James “the lesser” we have an identity crisis.  First, James “the lesser,” even in ancient times, was confused with James “the just” (or righteous), the “brother” of Jesus; brother in the sense that he was a natural child of Joseph and Mary.  They both ministered in Jerusalem, thus the confusion.  Second, James “the just” the “brother” of Jesus, has solid historical coverage.  Eusebius gives much information about James “the just.” [1]  The reason is he was the first overseer.  The apostles picked James "the just" as the overseer in Jerusalem.  Noteworthy that the first overseer, or bishop, was not one of the Twelve.

   When it comes to James “the lesser,” there is a lack of information.  James the “lesser” seems to be the apostle lost in history.

   From 1998 to 2000 I was a Youth Minister in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.  And then as a volunteer, I did much youth ministry work at that same church from 2002 to 2009.  That church was named after James, but which James was the church named for?  Everyone assumed James “the greater,” but there was no proof.

   Whoever it was named for, looking back that church fit much more the ministry of James “the lesser.”  The ministry work there was in the shadow of nearby churches like Crossroads and Faith Bible Chapel.  The number of people who worshiped at our church were few.  And that little church had some big problems over the years.  Yet, there were loving people at that church who followed Jesus thanks to His mercy and grace.  There were blessings of Jesus at that church!  There are people from that church I will see in heaven!

   Following Jesus may not lead to making history books, as James the son of Alphaeus failed to do.  Following Jesus leads to people gaining their name in our Holy God’s Book of Life!

   And in heaven, there will be no “lessers,” only blessed children of God who will be loved for all eternity by God.

   Again, Jerusalem was where James the son of Alphaeus ministered.

   He may have been murdered by people stoning him.

Hunter Irvine

[1] Eusebius, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, trans. C.F. Cruse
(Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1998), 35-36.