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TOPIC A24

“SPECIAL PEOPLE” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

BY RON FOSTER

Lay Member

RIVERSIDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH UPPER ARLINGTON, OHIO

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“SPECIAL PEOPLE” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®

This TOPIC was written in 2013.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Section

Page

Introduction………………………………………………......4 Andrew, the Disciple….……………………………………...5 Cornelius, a Roman Army Officer…………….……………..5 Elizabeth, Mother of John …………………………………...6 John, the Baptist ……………………………………………..6 John, the Disciple……………………………………………..7 Joseph of Arimathea ………………………………………….7 Joseph, Husband of Mary …………………………………….8 Mary, Mother of Jesus ………………………………………..8 Matthew ………………………………………………………9 Nicodemus ……………………………………………………9 Paul…………………………………………………………..10 Peter………………………………………………………….10 Thomas……………………………………………………….11 Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well…………………………..11

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INTRODUCTION All the people in the New Testament contributed positively toward my being an “effective Christian.”* I consider some of these contributions as unique and the people who made these distinctive contributions as being “special people.” For me, this group is comprised of the following: Andrew, the Disciple

Cornelius, a Roman Army Officer

Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist

John, the Baptist

John, the Disciple

Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph, Husband of Mary

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Matthew

Nicodemus

Paul

Peter

Thomas

Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well

*An “effective Christian” is defined in this TOPIC as a Christian who does well what he or she should be doing in helping Jesus Christ attain His purpose.

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ANDREW, THE DISCIPLE Biblical Sketch 1. Fisherman. 2. Follower of John the Baptist. 3. Brother of Simon Peter. 4. One of Jesus’ first four disciples. 5. Became the patron saint of Russia and Scotland. 6. Brought Simon Peter to meet the Messiah (Jn 1:43-51). Lesson Learned 1. Christians are obligated to bring other non-believers to Jesus Christ. Selected References: Mt 4:18-20; Jn 1:35-42; 6:39; 12:20-24.

CORNELIUS, A ROMAN ARMY OFFICER Biblical Sketch 1. A Roman army officer. 2. Sought, and revered God. 3. Helped meet the needs of other people. 4. Prayed to God. 5. Sought knowledge about God from Peter. 6. His conversion helped the Christian church realize that belief in Christ was for all people. Lessons Learned 1. God does not hide from people who want to know Him. 2. God rewards those who seek the truth. 3. There are people everywhere eager to learn and believe in Jesus. 4. Christianity is for all people. Selected References: Acts 10:1-8. 5

ELIZABETH, MOTHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST Biblical Sketch 1. She was a homemaker, wife of Zechariah, a priest. Both were faithful to God. Both were old and had no children. 2. An angel promised her husband that she would bear a son and that his given name should be John. 3. She was mother of John the Baptist, who was to be the forerunner of the Messiah. 4. When her cousin Mary visited her, Elizabeth was six months pregnant with son-tobe John, who moved to welcome the child Mary was carrying, the coming Savior. Lessons Learned 1. God rewards those who are faithful to Him. 2. God’s timetable may not conform to what we expect. 3. A person is never too old to come to Christ. Selected References: Lk 1:5-25, 39-80.

JOHN, THE BAPTIST Biblical Sketch 1. John was the forerunner of Jesus. 2. Was a preacher who lived in the wilderness. 3. He called large crowds for moral renewal, baptism, and Messianic hope. 4. His baptism of people was his way of preparing them to meet God. 5. He wore odd clothes and ate strange food. Lessons Learned 1. What it means to be a fully committed messenger of Jesus Christ. 2. We must focus our lives on the truth that God wants us to know. Selected References: Mt 3:1-17; Mk 1:1-8; Lk 3:1-7.

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JOHN, THE DISCIPLE Biblical Sketch 1. Was a fisherman follower of John the Baptist who became one of Jesus’ 12 disciples. 2. He was the son of Zebedee and brother of James. 3. He called himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 21:20). 4. He wrote five New Testament books: The Gospel of John; 1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation. Lessons Learned 1. The Word was God and was a member of the Trinity from the beginning (Jn 1:1-2). 2. The Word became Jesus (Jn 1:14). 3. Planted the seed in my mind that Jesus resurrected Himself from the dead (Jn 2:1821; 10:17-18). Selected References: Jn 1:1-2, 14; 2:18-21; 10:17-18; Mk 1:19-20.

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA Biblical Sketch 1. He was a wealthy and honored member of the Jewish council. 2. He was also a secret disciple of Jesus. 3. He cared enough about Jesus to ask for Jesus’ body so he could give it a proper burial. 4. He placed Jesus’ body in a tomb cut in rock, one he had prepared for himself. Lesson Learned 1. If witness for Christ endangers one’s reputation, remember Joseph who risked his reputation for Jesus. Selected References: Mt 27: 57-60; Lk 23:50-53.

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JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY Biblical Sketch 1. A man with strong beliefs and integrity. 2. He was a descendant of King David. 3. Was engaged to Mary when she told him about her pregnancy through the Holy Spirit. 4. An angel told Joseph to take as his wife and to name her son Jesus. 5. By Jewish tradition, Joseph was the legal and earthly father of Jesus. Lesson Learned 1. God sends messages to living humans. 2. Listen very carefully for the guidance from God. 3. Be willing to follow God’s direction no matter what the consequences. Selected References: Mt 1:16-25.

MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS Biblical Sketch 1. She was an ordinary person who was the mother of Jesus. 2. She was a virgin engaged to a carpenter, Joseph, but the angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would give birth to the Messiah. 3. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s murder of all males under two years old. 4. She was with Jesus from His birth to death. Lesson Learned 1. The conception of Mary by God the Holy Spirit and the birth of Jesus clearly show that nothing is impossible for God (Lk 19:37; Mt 19:26). 2. She was an active participant in one of the two most important events in the history of the world. The first is the conception and birth of Jesus and the second is His resurrection. Selected References: Lk 1:26-38. 8

MATTHEW Biblical Sketch 1. He was a tax collector under the authority of Herod Antipas and was hated by the Jewish people. 2. Jesus saw Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth, and told him to “follow me” (Mt 9:9). 3. Matthew got up and followed Jesus without any hesitation. 4. He invited many friends to his home to meet Jesus. 5. He became one of Jesus’ allies. 6. Matthew was the author of the Gospel of Matthew. 7. His purpose was to prove that Jesus is the Messiah. Lesson Learned 1. Jesus gives each of us a new life. 2. Jesus uses our given skills for His purpose. 3. Jesus needs people from every occupation and level of society. 4. Once we accept Jesus, it is our obligation to help Him achieve His purpose. Selected References: Mt 9:9-13; Mk 2:13-17; Lk 5:27-32.

NICODEMUS Biblical Sketch 1. Nicodemus was a wealthy Pharisee, A member of the Jewish ruling council, and well trained in Old Testament law and tradition. 2. He came to Jesus at night to get some answers to the truth about God. 3. He was told by Jesus that “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Lesson Learned 1. No one can believe in Jesus Christ unless they are first “born again” or regenerated by God in the Holy Spirit. 2. To emphasize, regeneration by God the Holy Spirit precedes one’s belief in Jesus Christ. 3. Every person who claims to be a Christian is “born again.” 4. It would be nice if the media knew that truth. Selected References: Jn 3:1-15. 9

PAUL, THE APOSTLE Biblical Sketch 1. Paul was born a Roman citizen but was given the Jewish name “Saul.” 2. He was well-versed in Jewish orthodoxy. 3. He was confronted on the road to Damascus by the resurrected Christ. 4. In an instant, his life was reoriented. Jewish law was replaced by faith in Jesus Christ. 5. Paul became an apostle to Gentiles in Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Rome. 6. He is the most influential teacher of Christianity. 7. He lives a righteous life through his faith in Christ. 8. Paul is the only writer in the New Testament who speaks of the church as the body of Christ. Lesson Learned 1. A Christian has duties that must be discharged in an effective and productive manner. 2. Christians must lovingly accept taking Jesus’ message to all people in the world. 3. God accepts men and women freely when they respond to His love. Selected References: Ac 9:1-31; 13:1-28, 31.

PETER, THE DISCIPLE Biblical Sketch 1. Peter’s given name was Simon. 2. He was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. 3. He was a disciple of John the Baptist before he joined Jesus. 4. Peter was the first disciple (learner or apprentice) (Mk 1:16-18) and later, the first to be named an apostle (commissioned messenger) (Mk 3:14-16). 5. He was the recognized leader of the disciples (Mk 1:36) and a member of an inner circle of Peter, James, and John. 6. Peter was the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Mt 16: 13-17; Mk 8:22-30). 7. During Jesus’ trial, he denied three times that he knew Jesus. 8. Often spoke without thinking. 9. Found it difficult to treat Gentile Christians as equals. 10. Wrote 1 Peter and 2 Peter. Lesson Learned 1. Christians sometimes fail but Jesus forgives them, strengthens them, and used them again as allies for His purpose. Selected References: Mt 4:18-22; Mk 8:27-30; Lk 22:31-34. 10

THOMAS, THE DISCIPLE Biblical Sketch 1. Thomas was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. 2. He is best known for his inability to believe that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. 3. He did not believe until he touched the nail prints and put his hands into Jesus’ side. 4. When he did, Thomas’ response was, “My Lord and my God” (Jn 20-28). Lesson Learned 1. Honest doubt can lead to truth and stronger belief in Jesus Christ. Selected References: Jn 20:24-29.

SAMARITAN WOMAN AT JACOB’S WELL Biblical Sketch 1. A Samaritan woman came to draw water from Jacob’s well at which Jesus was sitting. 2. She was surprised that Jesus--a Jew--asked her to draw water from the well to give Him a drink. 3. Although they had not met before, Jesus reminded her that she previously had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. 4. Jesus declared to her that He was the “Messiah.” Lesson Learned 1. Since Jesus does not lie, in his own words, He is the Messiah. 2. Jesus’ conversation with the woman proved his omniscience or the power to know all things. Selected References: Jn 4:1-26.

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