Month: January 2025

What language did he speak?

It is probably surprising to Americans that Jesus was certainly multilingual. He spoke two or more languages during his lifetime in Palestine. While there has been debate among scholars, the consensus is that Jesus primarily spoke Aramaic, the common language of Roman Judaea at the time of Jesus.

The movie about Jesus, “The Passion of the Christ,” was filmed in the Aramaic language and had English dubbed for those of us watching.  It was the native tongue of Galilee, where Jesus grew up and spent most of his time preaching. The Gospels provide evidence of Jesus using Aramaic, such as his last words on the cross: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?). This suggests that Aramaic was his everyday language, particularly when addressing common people.

However, as a Jewish man, Jesus would have known Hebrew, the language of the Scriptures. The Gospel of Luke mentions Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, which would have been in Hebrew. Jesus probably used Hebrew in theological discussions with religious leaders and when quoting from the Old Testament.

A possible third language was Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire. It was widely spoken in Palestine. Given Jesus’ interactions with non-Jewish people and his debates with educated religious leaders, it’s probable that he also spoke Greek.

The language Jesus spoke is not a salvation question, but in our quest to know more about Jesus, it is of interest.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

More About Jesus

When I was about nine years old, I had a conversation with a man in my neighborhood who had been drinking. He asked me, “Do you know who Jesus is?” I gave him a simple answer. He looked at me and said, “You’re really smart.” Looking back, it didn’t mean I was particularly smart; it just showed that I had a basic understanding of who Jesus is. 

Let’s dive into some things about Jesus you may or may not have heard before.

When was Jesus born? 

As I write this it is the year 2025 AD. I used to think BC stood for “Before Christ.” Right! I also thought AD meant “After Death,” as in after Jesus died. Wrong! AD actually stands for Anno Domini, a Latin phrase meaning “in the year of our Lord.” This refers to the time starting from Jesus’ birth.

If AD begins with Jesus’ birth, you might assume Jesus was born in the year 1 AD. That’s not quite right. Based on historical evidence, Jesus was most likely born between 4 BC and 6 BC. This timing lines up with the reign of King Herod, who died in 4 BC and while Jesus was alive.

How did we get this wrong. A monk came up with the AD/BC system in the 6th century, but he made some mistakes when calculating the year Jesus was born. We’ve just gone with his system ever since.

Does it really matter if Jesus was born in 4 BC or 1 AD? Not at all. What truly matters is that He was born. That’s the most important part of the story!

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Meeting Judas 

There were twelve original apostles. Many can name Peter, James, and John without much trouble. But after those three, the names blur for many—except for Judas. His name is unforgettable, and not in a good way. Calling someone a “Judas” today is an insult everyone understands. 

So, who was Judas Iscariot, the man whose name became a byword for betrayal? 

Judas was one of the twelve apostles handpicked by Jesus. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include him on their lists, but interestingly, they always place him last, almost as if they hesitated to write his name. 

Let’s begin with his name. “Judas” comes from the Hebrew name Judah, a name that once carried honor. But Judas tarnished it forever. His last name, Iscariot, likely refers to his hometown of Kerioth, a village in Judea.  

Judas wasn’t a passive member of the group. In fact, he held an important role: treasurer of the disciples. He managed the ministry’s money bag, which reflected a degree of trust. Yet, John’s Gospel reveals a darker truth—Judas was a thief who would help himself to the funds (John 12:6).  

When Judas betrayed Jesus, it was for 30 pieces of silver. This payment carries significant meaning in Scripture. It was the price of a common slave. Exodus 21:32 reveals that 30 pieces of silver was the compensation owed if a slave was killed by an ox. After Judas returned the silver to the chief priests, they refused to take it back, declaring it blood money. (Matthew 27:3–6).  

Judas sealed his betrayal with a kiss—a customary greeting in that time and still practiced in some cultures today. 

After Jesus’ arrest, Judas was consumed by remorse. In his despair, he ended his own life by hanging himself. Judas’s story is a sobering one. It reminds us of the dangers of misplaced priorities, the weight of unrepentant sin, and the eternal consequences of our choices. 

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is 1 Samuel 25:3.

“His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.”

Nabal, though wealthy and powerful, is not the main focus. Instead, we meet Abigail, his intelligent and beautiful wife, married to a man described as both harsh and foolish.

When Abigail spoke to King David, she described her husband plainly: “My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him.” Her words, while direct, were truthful and intended to save him. She brought provisions to David and his men, atoning for Nabal’s insult and averting disaster.

Though we see Abigail’s intelligence and wisdom, it is her courage that saves the day. She courageously acted to protect her husband, while he was at home, drunk and oblivious. The next morning, when she told him what she had done, he was overcome with shock and died ten days later. Shortly after, King David, impressed by her wisdom and character, and no doubt by her beauty, made Abigail his wife, elevating her from a rich fool’s wife to a queen.

Abigail’s life is a great story. She acted decisively, trusting that doing the right thing would yield the best outcome. It still does.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is from Second Timothy 1:5:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.”

These words, written by Paul to Timothy, are all we know about Lois and Eunice. Yet, they reveal so much.

Having preached many funerals, I’ve stood at gravesites in a variety of places—some were beautifully maintained parks, while others were little more than neglected fields. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed reading the epitaphs on headstones, which often provide glimpses into lives once lived.

Here are a few famous examples:

• Merv Griffin, TV talk show host: “I will not be right back after this message.”
• Frank Sinatra, singer: “The best is yet to come.”
• Martin Luther King Jr.: “Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty I’m Free at Last.”

If I were to imagine an epitaph for Lois and Eunice, it might read, “Gone, but not forgotten.”

Though these two remarkable women eventually left this world, the faith they instilled in Timothy ensured their legacy lived on. Their sincere faith became a part of Timothy’s life and ministry, impacting countless others.

I don’t know how the world will remember me, nor what might be written on my headstone. But like Lois and Eunice, I hope to be remembered for the faith and love I pass on to my children and grandchildren—those I send into a future I will never see.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Jonah’s story begins with the first two verses of the book of Jonah.

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”

God had a mission for Jonah. How does Jonah respond? The next verse tells us.

“Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.”

Look at those last seven words, “Away from the presence of the LORD.” Jonah makes a very human mistake. He thinks he can run away from God. No! Wherever you go, God is there and waiting for you.

Let’s continue reading the sad story of Jonah.

“He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.”

He keeps on trying to run from God, but it is futile. God is not done with him, or you yet.

We continue our reading in verse 4.

Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.

When you run from God, there is always a storm!

The Prodigal son wound up in a pig pen. Adam and Eve wound up outside of the Garden. Judas wound up hanging from a tree. Jonah wound up in the belly of a great fish. The storm always comes, eventually.

Let’s read one last verse. Verse 5,

The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

The sailors did nothing wrong, but they were afraid and Jonah went to sleep. Here is a great lesson in life: Your storm hurts others.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Scripture for today is Luke 8:1–2:

“The Twelve were with Jesus, as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.”

If you ever hear someone say, “People don’t change,” tell them the story of Mary Magdalene. We remember her for all the good she did, not for how she used to be. The fact that seven demons were cast out of her tells us that at one time she had lived a troubled and dark life. Demons didn’t enter Moses, Mary, or Matthew. Demons entered the hearts of those who, by their choices, opened themselves to their influence. Such was Mary Magdalene.

Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t know the details of Mary’s past sins? Instead, we know her as a woman who traveled with Jesus and the apostles, supporting His ministry with her time, resources, and love.

When Jesus was on the cross, Mary was there.  
When Jesus was laid in the tomb, Mary was there.  
When Jesus rose from the grave, Mary was the first to see Him.  
When the story of His resurrection needed to be told, Mary was the first to tell it.

Mary Magdalene’s life—from being healed of demons to proclaiming the resurrection—shows us God’s power to transform lives. Her story reminds us that no matter our past, we can be part of God’s work in the world. Like Mary, we shouldn’t dwell on old sins. Instead, we should move forward with faith and hope, trusting God to use us for His purposes.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking. 

Who was Rizpah? Here is her story:

During a three-year drought in Israel, King David sought the Lord for the reason for the drought. God revealed that it was punishment for Saul’s slaughter of the Gibeonites. To make amends, the Gibeonites demanded they be allowed to execute seven of Saul’s sons. David handed over seven of Saul’s sons, including Rizpah’s two sons.

The Gibeonites hanged the men and left their bodies exposed to the elements. Rizpah’s response to this tragedy speaks volumes about her character. Verse 10 tells us:

“Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.”

Rizpah was powerless to stop the execution of her sons, but she did what she could. For six months, she camped under the stars near her son’s bodies to protect them from being eaten by wild animals.

Finally, King David learned of her story and remembered that he had allowed the bodies of King Saul and his son Jonathan to remain publicly hanging in shame. He retrieved their bodies and those of Rizpah’s sons and gave them a fitting burial.

When we think of this story, we ought to realize the power of doing what we can, even when it seems hopeless. God will decide the outcome.

May God give us all hearts like Rizpah.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is Acts 18: verses 1 through 3.

“Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to visit them, and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.”

Aquila and Priscilla were a sharing couple in every sense of the word. They shared a home with each other. They shared the work of tentmaking, supporting themselves and the ministry of Christ. When Paul came to Corinth, they opened their home to him, sharing their space, their meals, and their lives in a gesture of selfless hospitality.

Their spirit of selflessness extended beyond practical needs. They shared the gospel together, teaching others about Christ. Their names are mentioned six times in Acts. Three times, his name is first, and three times, her name is first. She was his partner in life and in teaching others about God.

Later in Acts 18, they encounter Apollos, a gifted preacher who needed teaching. Together, Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and explained “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Their shared efforts helped Apollos become an even more effective minister of the Word.

This couple also shared in the work of the church. Their home became a meeting place for believers, a sanctuary where the early church gathered for worship and fellowship (Romans 16:5).  

If it is true that “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle,” then Aquila and Priscilla were candles in the early church. They remind us that sharing is at the heart of Christian living.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Sometimes, you encounter stories of people who truly amaze you. Shiphrah and Puah are two such individuals. Their story unfolds during the time when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt under the rule of a paranoid Pharaoh. Fearing the growing population of Israelite slaves, Pharaoh perceived their numbers as a threat. In his desperation, he issued a chilling command:

Exodus 1:15-16:
The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the delivery stool. If it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”

Shiphrah and Puah, midwives tasked with assisting Israelite women during childbirth, were given this horrific order to kill all male infants at birth—Pharaoh’s decree aimed to weaken the Hebrew people and prevent any potential uprising against Egyptian authority.

Yet these courageous women defied Pharaoh, choosing instead to obey God. They spared the male babies, risking their lives to preserve the future of God’s people. Their faith and bravery played a critical role in safeguarding the early generations of Israelites, setting the stage for their eventual deliverance from Egypt.

Their story is a powerful reminder of faith and the courage to stand for what is right, even in the face of grave danger. Shiphrah and Puah demonstrate that true heroism isn’t confined to generals or kings—ordinary people can also change the world by doing the right thing.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.