Five hundreds credible eye-witnesses, all hand-picked by the Lord Himself

While being prompted to write this episode on the five hundreds eye-witnesses, I asked the Lord who they are. Then I realized that they had to be honest, reliable, accurate, living persons who knew Jesus personally, and because of their own personal miraculous experience with the supernatural Son of God, they became credible as witnesses for the risen Christ because many people already knew of them and their previous significant encounters with Christ and the resultant transformation in their lives! They were still alive when Paul and/or Luke interviewed them and recorded down their testimonies as eyewitnesses. They were alive in the aftermath of Jesus’ resurrection and subsequent ascension. Why do I posit that the risen Jesus Christ had shown Himself to them? Because He would want to reassure them and further built them up to be His eye-witnesses. Since they had already faithfully given their healed testimonies to many about Him before, they could be entrusted with this greater work, testifying for the risen Jesus!

In 1 Corinthians 15: 3-7 Paul had this to say:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15: 3-7

After being prompted of the criteria, I am led today to read through the four gospels and the book of Acts to identify them and compile the following list: (Including those who were named and in addition to the five hundreds)

Mary Magdalene, the other Mary (mother of James and John), Mary the mother of Jesus, Salome, Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herold’s business manager, and many other women from Galilee who followed Jesus to the cross and later visited the tomb, the two disciples who walked back to Emmaus (Cleopas and a companion), Peter (Cephas), the twelve apostles* (minus Judas Iscariot who hanged himself), and the others who have gathered with the eleven in Jerusalem while hiding from the authority right after Jesus’ arrest (and death), and James the half-brother of Jesus. (The twelve apostles included a new addition, Matthias.) Jesus lastly appeared to apostle Paul.

The five hundreds (Some of them)

At Capernaum, Galilee: a man in the synagogue, formerly possessed by a demon and was delivered and set free by Jesus right in front of a crowd in the synagogue. The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region. Many would have heard of this healed man’s testimony and got to know him.

Simon Peter’s mother in law. Jesus healed her of fever and she immediately got up and prepared a meal for Jesus and others in Simon’s house. People throughout the village came to her house after that to be healed by Jesus. Those who did not know her before got to know her and her testimony.

A man with an advanced case of leprosy in one of the villages. he was healed instantly by Jesus. Despite Jesus’ instructions this man not only went to the priest and certified his being totally healed and cleansed, this man spread the report of Jesus’ power everywhere, and caused vast crowds to go to Jesus to hear Him preach and be healed of their diseases.

The paralyzed man on a sleeping mat who was carried by four friends with faith who lowered him from the roof through a hole after removing the tiles, and Jesus saw their faith and healed the man instantly. The house was packed with religious leaders and teachers as well as a crowd. The healed man jumped up, picked up his mat, went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, praising God, exclaiming, “we have seen amazing things today!”

A man with a deformed right hand in the synagogue was healed and fully restored by Jesus on a Sabbath day, while Jesus was teaching. The enemies of Jesus went wild with rage and began to scheme how to get rid of Jesus. After that, large crowds from all over Judea, Jerusalem, even the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon came to hear Jesus and be healed, because healing power went out from Him and He healed everyone.

Capernaum: A Roman officer who loved the Jewish people and built a synagogue for them, sent respected Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his valued servant, who was sick and near death. The officer was later commended by Jesus for his great faith and belief that Jesus could heal by saying the word from where He was, instead of going to the man’s house physically. Jesus did exactly that.

At the village of Nain: Jesus raised a dead young man, the only son of a widow, at a funeral procession. The dead boy sat up from his coffin and began to talk. Jesus gave him back to his mother. Great fear swept the crowd, and the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.

The immoral woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with an beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume at the pharisee Simon’s house, wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair and tears. Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases and became His followers. Many women who followed Jesus and contributed from their own resources to support Jesus and His disciples.

Family of Jesus (younger half-brothers and sisters) who, in addition to James, became converted after the death of Jesus and joined Mary, their mother to Jerusalem, among whom Jude (his youngest half-brother) who later wrote the epistle of Jude.

A demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee, who was homeless, naked, and living in a cemetary outside the town when Jesus went over to deliver and set him free from a legion of demons. Jesus commanded the demons to come out from the man and they entered a large herd of pigs who plunged into the lake and drowned. A great wave of fear swept over all the people in that region. The healed man with sanity completely restored, went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him.

A sunagogue ruler, Jairus, his wife, and their only daughter, raised from the dead (at twelve years old) by Jesus. The parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened. Obviously they could not help but witness. The house-full of people who were earlier weeping and wailing would have been stunned too.

The father and the boy who had an evil spirit that kept tormenting him, making him scream, and threw him into convulsions. The disciples failed to cast out the evil spirit. The father came to Jesus for help. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Awe gripped the large crowd of people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.

The little child who was brought to Jesus’ side, and He told the disciples, “anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf, welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me also welcomes My Father who sent Me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

The Bethany family with a big house: Martha (who was a caring and capable hostess showing regular hospitality to Jesus and His disciples), her sister Mary (who liked to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His teaching, and anointed Jesus’ feet with a twelve ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, prophetically in preparation for His burial), and their brother Lazarus, who was raised from the dead (after buried for four days) by Jesus.

A woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit and had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. Jesus saw her while teaching in a synagogue on a Sabbath day, called her over and healed her. The leader of the synagogue and those who opposed Jesus were indignant and shamed, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things Jesus did, such as setting this woman free from Satan’s bondage.

A man whose legs and arms were swollen in the religious leaders’ house. Jesus was invited to dinner there and saw the poor man. He immediately healed the man after questioning the religious leaders and people who were watching Him closely, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?” They could not answer.

The one leper (out of ten lepers who were healed by Jesus) who came back to thank Jesus, falling to the ground at Jesus’ feet, shouting, “Praise God!” This leper was a Samaritan.

Some parents who brought their children to Jesus to be blessed. And He told the disciples not to stop them, and the truth that anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

The very rich young ruler who came to Jesus to ask what he should do to inherit eternal life. When he heard that he had to let go of everything he treasured and follow Jesus he became very sad. Jesus used his example to illustrate how the things of the world could become an obstacle for discipleship.

A blind beggar who sat outside Jericho. He shouted loudly for Jesus to give him sight. Jesus responded and instantly the man could see., and he followed Jesus from then onward. And all who saw it praised God, too.

Zacchaeus, the very rich tax collector, who climbed up a tree to see Jesus. Jesus called him by name, went to his house and be his guest. That same day, Zacchaeus became a changed man, donating half his wealth to the poor, giving back to those he had cheated on taxes four times as much. He became another true and faithful disciple of Jesus.

The Roman officer overseeing Jesus’ execution who saw what had happened at the crucifixion—the signs (darkness fell at noon time until three o’clock, temple sanctuary curtain torn down the middle), was converted and worshipped God, and said, “Surely this man was innocent.”

The two Jewish Sanhedrin counselors, also secret followers of Jesus: Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night to find out how to enter the Kingdom of God, and Joseph from Arimathea in Judea, who went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body for burial in his own new tomb.

The Samaritan woman at the well: She became an instant evangelist for Jesus after encountering Jesus at the well. Jesus told her about worshipping God in Spirit and in truth, as God is Spirit, and that He is the Messiah. She believed and witnessed to many Samaritans who became believers too.

In Jerusalem, A lame man at the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. The man was lying there together with crowds of sick people, and he had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, asked him whether he wanted to get well, and healed him instantly. The man stood up at Jesus’ command, rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking. This miracle happened on the Sabbath, in the sight of many, creating objections and investigations from the Jewish leaders. When questioned, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, who is above the Sabbath, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

A woman was brought to Jesus for jurisdiction while He was teaching: Her accuser charged that she was caught in the act of adultery and they put her in front of the crowd at the Temple court. They charged that the law of Moses says to stone her and wanted to know what He said. He replied, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” They all left her alone. Jesus acquitted her and said, “Go and sin no more.”

A man born blind was healed by Jesus. He believed that Jesus was from God and argued His case before the Jewish leaders. They threw him out of the synagogue after that. Jesus appeared to him later and told him that He was the Son of Man. The man said he believed, and worshipped Jesus.

A woman who suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind Jesus in the crowd and touched the fringe of His robe, thinking that she would be healed if she touched his robe. Power came out from him and she was instantly healed. Jesus commended her for her faith.

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End notes: There are many more. I managed to list just a few whom I believe will stir us to think and ask ourselves: What had the Lord done for me? How may I witness for Him at this crucial time, which is like Noah’s time…

Kainotes, 2021-04-28

These women had accurately aligned with the great destiny set for them

Two poor widows, (at the time when the judges ruled), Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi returned across the River Jordan from Moab to Bethlehem.

The Book of Judges recorded that Eglon, king of Moab, invaded Canaan as far as Jericho and subjugated the Israelites for eighteen years before being assassinated by Ehud the Benjamite (1302-1204BC). The time of the judges displayed repeated cycles of peace and oppressions, brought about great apostasy in Israel. The nation underwent political and religious turmoil. The tribes fought among themselves. The people rebelled against God through idolatry and unbelief, and brought judgement upon themselves through foreign oppressions. God then raised up a deliverer/judge, and the people repented and turned back to God and had peace for their nation.

During a famine, Israelite Naomi left Bethlehem with her husband and two sons and migrated to their enemy’s country, Moab (c.1294BC) and stayed there for ten years. Her husband died and her two sons were killed (possibly at war between Moab and Israel). Naomi was widowed with her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem after the famine was over. She dissuaded them from following her. Orpah finally agreed. But Ruth persisted in her decision to follow Naomi.

Here is a quote of the related Bible verses:
Ruth 1:15 And she (Naomi) said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.
17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
18 When she (Naomi) saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

Ruth’s journey to Bethlehem (source: thebiblejourney.org)

The journey was illustrated in the above map.

Although the war had ceased, there was still great risk for two vulnerable women to walk through difficult and dangerous terrain, during a time threatened by lawlessness, bandits and wild animals. They had to walk on uneven ground and climb slope as steep as 2000 foot. Crossing the Jordan River at the time of the first grain-Barley harvest when the river was full from snow melting at early spring was another tough challenge.

Ruth was obviously an attractive and pleasing young woman because Naomi twice expressed her confidence that Ruth could still marry to a good man and had children. There was no rational reason for Ruth to insist on following her mother-in-law to the enemy’s country and live among aliens with no other social support. Why did Ruth make this seemingly foolish (in the eyes of her countrymen) choice? We can find some answers in the Book of Ruth from her interactions with her mother-in-law and her future husband, Boaz.

Ruth’s character: a caring, loyal, trusting and obedient daughter-in-law, a hard working woman, a humble and unassuming person.
Relationship between the two women: More like mother and daughter.
Conversion and discipleship: Despite the general apostasy of her nation, Naomi had taught Ruth her religious belief and very likely had set a good example in her own faith in God.
Ruth’s faith: Most significantly, we note that Ruth really believed in the God of Israel. Her faith in God made her align with the great destiny God had prepared for her.

“And your God, my God.” Ruth declared. This is the ultimate reason why she was later exalted by God from a poor foreign widow to the highly honored and respected position as the legal wife of one of the richest men in Bethlehem and together they became the ancestors of David, from whose lineage Joseph and Mary derived.

If Ruth had followed her own race, culture and parental religion, she would have missed out her illustrious destiny. If Naomi had not kept her own religion and belief in God regardless of her circumstances, she would not have been able to influence and converted Ruth to the right belief and right way.

Naomi had a strong character. She was able to ask the right questions, analyze, size up the situation and reached the right conclusion. She took charge and made the right decisions. She instructed Ruth with authority and confidence. But if Naomi had not obeyed her husband’s decision and moved to Moab with him, stayed there for ten years until her two sons died, she would not have brought back Ruth and Ruth would not have appeared in the lineage of David, Joseph and Mary too. Naomi too would not have been instrumental in fulfilling a great destiny.

Thus, both women’s belief, faith in God and their willingness to humble and submit themselves to God, had contributed to Ruth choosing rightly and thus fulfilled God’s marvelous plan for their lives!