Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, spent forty days on earth. During this time, Jesus appeared visible in a different form to more than five hundred believers. Paul was the very last who heard the voice of Jesus, but he did not see Him. Jesus was no longer visible to the human eyes! Nevertheless, Jesus was present in the Spirit. Luke, a Gentile, had a profound understanding how Jesus, the Son of God, was disclosing Himself and continued His work among his converts. While Peter slept, he had a similar vision because he had to be ordered to go to Cornelius. Paul, himself, confessed that he did not know the human Christ (II Corinthians 5:16). Paul is important to our faith because the Gospels were yet to be compiled. It is doubtful that the Gospels were available before Paul and Peter were martyred. That makes Luke and John very valuable. Unfortunately, even Luke was not able to finish Acts and he also may have died with Paul.

In contrast to the stipulations to Adam and Noah, Abram’s was the most demanding; yet, Abraham was to make the greatest sacrifice. God demanded that Abram share his son Isaac with God. In Isaac God would begin to built a nation that would represent Yahweh on earth. Isaac lived up to the expectation and trusted in God. He married at the age of forty. His wife Rebekah was barren for twenty years. During this time, Isaac did not turn to other women to secure an heir like his father Abraham did. Isaac prayed and trusted God who answered by speaking to Rebekah:

The Jewish captives will learn to become priestly in Babylon and learn to trust in God away from home. The seventy years in captivity proved that Israel could live without the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and without the endless sacrifices that most people could not afford. Mary and Joseph had to bring “a pair of turtledoves, or two pigeons” to the priest for giving birth to Jesus (Luke 2:24). This was not in the Ten Commandments, but it was a health code favoring the need for a priest.

The Jewish captives will learn to become priestly in Babylon and learn to trust in God away from home. The seventy years in captivity proved that Israel could live without the temple, the city of Jerusalem, and without the endless sacrifices that most people could not afford. Mary and Joseph had to bring “a pair of turtledoves, or two pigeons” to the priest for giving birth to Jesus (Luke 2:24). This was not in the Ten Commandments, but it was a health code favoring the need for a priest.