Tag Archives: Ray Vander Laan

The apostles followed Jesus “until they were covered by the dust of his feet,” as the ancient saying goes. And they were immersed in the text. Jesus learned the text, lived the text, taught the text, prayed the text, and … Continue reading →

RVL continues to consider what it would have been like for newly converted Greeks in the First Century. He reminds us that all the pagan religions promised a form of heaven to follow death. What made Christianity special? The lesson … Continue reading →

Sea of Galilee Jesus made talmidim (disciples) from among the Jewish Galileans.  But eventually, a Galilean had to make a Greek or  Roman disciple. Priene Priene is a city in Asia Minor, near Ephesus. The lower city is the part … Continue reading →

Omrit, Herod’s temple to Caesar The lesson begins at what is probably the northern temple to Caesar built by Herod. Caesar claimed to be a “son of god.” If the site is that temple, then the Damascus Road is likely … Continue reading →

Scythopolis is filled with arena, theater, and gymnasia (universities), but Jesus chose no disciples here. But nearby is Bethsaida, a fishing village in Galilee, a town of 600 or so, with just 8 or 10 families. Hardly the place to … Continue reading →

How was it possible for the disciples to suddenly have the willpower needed to change the world. We can find the answer at Pentecost, on the southern stairway at the temple mount. The southern stairs are inside the City of … Continue reading →

No one knows exactly where Jesus was buried, but if the Garden Tomb is not that place, it’s very much like the genuine tomb. Jesus’ death fulfills a promise God made to Abraham thousands of years earlier, as part of … Continue reading →