JETHRO. O.T.
JETHRO. O.T.
He
was prince and priest of Midian. He accomodated Moses. He was then given the
name of Reuel Ex 2/18. Moses married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro
Ex 3/1; 4/18; 18/1-12. It is Jethro who taught Moses what the delegation
is. Ex 18/13-27.
JEWS.
See
Israel; Juda.
The Jews are the descendants of the twelve tribes of Israel. But those who are
not Jewish by birth can become so, provided they practice the religion, the
way of life and all the traditions of the people of God.
Yet,
we should not forget that it is the tribe of Juda which has the sceptre,
Gn 49/10, till the coming of Jesus-Christ. The Gospel of Jesus-Christ is
a power of God for salvation of the Jews first Rm 1/16. But the true
Jew is the authentic disciple of Jesus-Christ.
JEZEBEL. O.T.
See
John-the-Baptist and
Elijah in the beginning of this Book. Phenician woman, wife of the king
Ahab 1 Kg 16/30-31. They reigned on Israel at the time of Elijah. The
union of Ahab with Jezebel is the origin of the fall of Israel. It is Jezebel
who introduced in Israel the idolatry which was practiced in her country.
She
was the sworn enemy of the prophet Elijah like Herodiad was with John-The-Baptist.
See Herodiad. She tried to kill Elijah Kg 19/1-3. She exterminated the
prophets of the Lord 1 Kg 18/4. She died like Elijah had prophesied.
2 Kg 9/30-37.
JOB. O.T.
Job
endured terrible ordeals, but remained faithful to God. This book shuts the
mouth of those who believe that, if we suffer, it is because we sinned. We see
the devil talk with God. We see Job showing the wisdom of infinite variety of
God.
Chapter
1 and 2, prologue. Ch 3- 31 A series of discussions between Job
and his three ''friends''. (When we are lucky enough to have friends like them,
we need not have enemies!) Ch 32-37, discourse of Elihu a fourth ''friend''
who has new reasons to condemn Job. Ch 38-42, conclusion of the book
of Job. If, like Job you truly know the Lord and lead a life which is acceptable,
and you can overcome. Your faith in God is unshakable. You are then capable
of saying like Job: ''God has given, God has taken back, Blessed be the name
of Yahweh!'' Job 1/21. God loves Job and says it to Ezekiel Ezek
14/14. James quotes Job Jm 5/11.
JOEL. O.T.
Prophet
in Juda. When did he live? No one knows for sure. He is thought to have lived
between 850 BC and the return of the tribe of Juda from captivity to Babylon.
His
book talks mainly of the great starvation and of the locusts which destroyed
Israel at a certain time Jl 1/4-20. He exhorts the people to repent
and seek the benediction.
The
chapter 1, proclamation of an assembly in the House of God. Ch 2,
wars and desolations just before the reign of Jesus on earth during one thousand
years. Ch 3 the lasts days. All the nations will be in war and Jesus
comes to dwell in Zion. Peter quotes Joel about his prophecy fulfilled on the
day of Pentecost Jl 3/1-5. and Acts 2/16-21.) Joel talks of
the rain of the rear-season which is experienced right now by those who receive
him. Throughout the seven ages of Church the the false religion has destroyed
the spiritual food which was reserved to the true Church. See Church
. Joel sees the false church as many locusts, of jelek, of hasil and of gazam.
These are insects which destroy the harvest.
But
God says through Joel, until the end, during the rain of the rear-season, He
would replace what had been devoured so that his Bride be satiate with the good
food of his Word finally restored. He who has ears to hear will hear, and he
who has eyes to read, read.
His
father is Zebedee. See Apocalypse.
Apostle. Gospel.
The
son of Zebedee was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus-Christ. He was the brother
of James. As a young man, he was a fisherman Mk 1/17-20. He may be the
disciple of John-the-Baptist who is not named in Jn 1/40. Some time
later, he has been called by Jesus-Christ Matt 4/21- 22. Lk 5/1-11.
He wrote what we call the Gospel of John. The three letters of John and the
Apocalypse are of John, son of Zebedee.
He
attended the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus Mk 5/35-42. See
James (son of Zebedee) He was also at Gethsemane Matt 26/36-46. When
he writes, he talks of himself as being the disciple whom Jesus loved or as
the other disciple Jn 13/23; 21/20 and Jn 20/2-8. His brother
James and him received from Jesus the name of ''Son of the Thunder.'' Boanerges
Mk 3/17. Mentioned at the crucifixion and the resurrection Lk 28/8.
Jn 18/15; 19/26-27; 20/2-8; 21/1-2. It is in Patmos that he wrote the
book of Revelation (Apocalypse).
About
the three letters of John, due to the ressemblance with the writing of the Gospel
of John, we believe they are from him.
In
1 Jn 1, exhortation to enter the communion with God Ch 2, to
know God in obedience and not to love the world. Ch 3, become the children
of God and love one another. Ch 4 God is Love. He lives in those who
love him Ch 5, By faith, we are born anew.
In
2 Jn John rejoices of the fidelity of the Church. (or Chosen).
En
3 Jn Congratulatory adresses to Gaius.
The
Gospel of John is the testimony that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the Christ
and that he is the son of God Jn 20/31. John starts by showing Jesus
before His coming on earth. Jesus was God, the Word of God. He is the one who
has created everyting. He came in the flesh as the only son of the Father. John
shows the divine Jesus-Christ. He stresses the resurrection of Jesus-Christ.
Everything proves that Jesus-Christ is the son of God: His miracles, the prophets,
those who have known him and Himself clearly testify.
John
writes as the disciples of Qumran thought. He expresses himself in terms of
Light and darkness, Truth and lies, good and evil, God and Satan. It is the
dualism, the polarity. The holiness of Jesus is put on one plate of the scale
whereas the wickedness of the clerics is put on the other plate. Whereas Matthew,
Mark and Luke mainly talk about Jesus in Galilee, John talks of Jesus in Judea
see Gospel. He is not counted with
the three synoptic Gospels ( which offer a general overview of the life of Jesus-Christ.)
the 'fathers of the Church' considered that one should first read the synoptic
Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke to have an idea of the litteral-historical sense
of the life and practice. Then, one could read the Gospel of John which was
more based on the spiritual, theorical and comtemplative side. The prophet William
Branham talks about the outlook of the Eagle, of the Vision of the Humble Bride
of Christ. See Gospel.
JOHN-THE-BAPTIST. N.T.
See
the beginning of this Book. He is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The reason
of his ministry Jn 1/19-27. Isaiah prophesies his coming. Is 40/3.
Malachi too Mal 3/1. The angel Gabriel announces his birth to Zechariah
Lk 1/5-25. Jesus says that he is the greatest prophet Lk 7/24-28.
John-the-Baptist recognizes that Jesus-Christ, his cousin is the Messiah, the
son of God Jn 1/29-34. The disciples of John become those of Jesus-Christ
Jn 1/25-29, 35-42. Acts 1/21-22. John made no miracle Jn 10/41.
He is imprisoned and decapitated Matt 14/3-12. Mk 6/17-29.
JONAH. O.T.
Prophet
called to preach to Nineveh. Jon 1/1-2. Nineveh is not a Jewish town.
The book of Jonah thus shows to the Jews that God loves also the people of the
nations and also rules over them.
In
the chapter 1, God calls Jonah and Jonah goes in opposite direction.
He is swallowed by a big fish. Ch 2 Jonah prays the Lord. Jonah is vomited
on a beach. Ch 3 Jonah goes to Nineveh to preach what God had told him
to preach. Nineveh repents. Ch 4, Jonah is not happy at all and wonders
what the people will think of him since what he prophesied did not happen ...
God rebukes him.
The
disappearance of Jonah in the fish during three days and three nights typifies
Jesus' death and resurrection. Matt 182/39. 16/4. See
Jesus