The Trunk

By Rahimah Rahim

The story begins in the year 2002 in Boston, Massachusetts, the cradle of liberty. The setting is an attic of an old house in Roxbury, Mass, a working class, neighborhood, in Boston, made up of mostly descendents of former slaves in America.

Times had changed, but two young girls, playing in the attic of their parent's home, wer

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: Aug 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9781947620407

Rahimah Rahim

Rahimah is the author of seven books, one of them is “The Trunk”. She is a registered nurse and has a BS in Elementary Education from Boston University. Rahimah is the mother of five children and the grandmother of 21. She has been seriously writing for 15 years. She loves doing family research and currently is the administrator of two of her own family trees.

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Commentary on The Gospel book of John

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV)

Rev. Raymond G. Cross

Copyright © 2017 by Rev. Raymond G. Cross.

Hardback: 978-1-947620-33-9

Paperback: 978-1-947620-32-2

eBook: 978-1-947620-34-6

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the King James Version of the Bible, published in 1769, Public Domain.

Note that the KJV copy occasionally uses a light blue italic for certain added words. The author uses Italic type for Illustration with: (Emphasis added)

And

The English Standard Version (ESV) copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011

by Crossway Bibles, all rights reserved. Used by permission.

The author copied Bible verses from E-Sword – the Sword of the Lord with an Electronic edge, copyright 2014 – Rick Meyers, all rights reserved worldwide.

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Contents

I am the LORD;

that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Isaiah 42:8 (ESV).

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

About the Author

References

Dedication

Behold, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them."

Isaiah 42:9 (ESV).

Dedicated to:

The LORD Jesus Christ, who is the creator of all things, visible and invisible.

And also to:

All Jews and Christians

who suffer injustice by the world

the life was made manifest, and we have seen it,

and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life,

which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 

1st John 1:2 (ESV)

Preface

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

Proverbs 10:17 (ESV)

I think the Bible is one of the most owned and least read of all books. People usually carry Bibles to church, have more then one copy, but rarely open it. Most church goers and Christians understand the basics of Christ’s birth, life and death, but do not bother to really understand God and His teaching. Everyone wants to go to heaven, but not today. Truthfully, one has to really read and study the Bible to understand more about God, His thoughts, His ideas. After all, He has created you, He is real, He wants and deserves your attention! The Bible story and prophesies are very clear, but the information is spread over the entire book. Reading a statement in one area may be answered in an entirely different area. One has to read and re-read to understand who God is and His plan for your life. God planned it that way, that you would read and re-read His word and Yes, He has a plan for your life! He tells us: Jeremiah 29:11-13 - for I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (ESV). Reading Scriptures is truly reading the Holy word of God, written for man’s comprehension. All knowledge is contained in the Scriptures for humankind to see and understand. We say all knowledge, because without the Scriptures, humankind is lost forever in moral death, by separation from God, in a place called ‘the lake of fire and brimstone.’ Revelation describes it for us: Revelation 20:10 - And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (ESV). God does not want anyone to go there, but His Holiness, justice and righteousness demand that evil be punished and separated from Him. Evil came into the world through Adam and Eve, caused by Satan, in the form of disobedience to God and named sin. Understand that Father God wants you as His child, but you have to show Him you want to be with Him. If you reject Him, He has the right to reject you. All peoples, having been born through Adam and Eve are born in sin and therefore, are under God’s wrath as evil sinners. Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ESV). John told us: John 9:33-34 - If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered him, You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out. (ESV). There is only one way the wrath of God can be appeased and that is through God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (a Greek name which translates as Anointed Savior). God sent Jesus to earth to be the sacrifice to redeem sinful mankind. Born of a virgin, Mary, He was conceived through spiritual means by God The Holy Spirit. This was the only way Jesus would be born sinless, so that He would be the perfect sacrifice. Paul tells us: Titus 2:13-14 - … waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (ESV) (Emphasis added). We do not understand everything yet, but God demands a living sacrifice to make things righteous. No animal sacrifice would suffice, nor non would be good enough, except His Son Jesus.

However speaking of sacrifice, we are to forfeit some things after we become one of His brothers or sisters. Romans 12: 1-2 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV). (Emphasis added).

Jesus was born and lived a sinless life, as fully God and fully man. He came to earth to die by sacrificing Himself to a horrible death by crucifixion to pay for our sins, past, present and future, that we might have eternal spiritual life with Him in heaven. Paul told us: 1st Corinthians 5:7 - Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior means one is really sin free or unleavened, because Christ our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us. Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you become unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (ESV) (Emphasis added). And again: Ephesians 5:2 - Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God. (ESV) (Emphasis added). That is basically the Biblical story, but there is one catch. To receive God’s gracious gift of salvation and Spiritual eternal life with Him – one must accept His terms and be ‘re-born.’ How does one become ‘born again?’ John tells us: John 3:1-6 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (ESV).(Emphasis added).

To be born again requires us to receive Jesus as our LORD and savior by believing in Him in simple faith. Believing that He is the only God! Paul tells us how to do this: Romans 10:8-13 - But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (ESV) (Emphasis added).

To begin understanding of the Bible, theologians usually recommend to start reading the Scripture’s in the book of John. The book of John was chosen by me for a commentary, because it contains more of Christ’s spoken words while on Earth. This book has Christ’s words in BOLD. The books by John were the last of the Gospel books written and John centered his works on Christ, on things He said and His ministry in Jerusalem. Matthew, Mark and Luke center on Jesus birth, His Baptism, temptation by Satan, the last supper, his agony in Gethsemane, parables, demonic encounters, crucifixion and ascension. The four Gospels enhance each other in all ways and each one is an eye-witness account.

Quite probably, John was born at Bethsaida on Lake Galilee, where his father was a fisherman and he grew up. The general impression left to us by the Gospel narrative is that he was younger than the brother whose name commonly precedes his in several verses such as: Matthew 4:21 And going on from there he [Jesus] saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. (ESV). The Gospels give us the name of his father as Zebedaeus and his mother Salome.

The traditions of the time make the latter, Salome, the daughter of Joseph by his first wife, and consequently half-sister to our Lord. Recent critics have identified Salome as the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as stated in John 19:25 - but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. (ESV).

There are many theologians who believe that the sons of Zebedee, as well as John the Baptist, were of the tribe of Levi. This is believed, because of the intimacy of the families living at Bethsaida and associated with each other. Also, the name John, although common, deserves some notice. The name appears among the kindred of Caiaphas, the high priest, in Acts: Acts 4:5-6 - On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. (ESV) (Emphasis added). The fact that the apostle John was known to the high priest Caiaphas, suggests the probability of some early intimacy between the two families.

The disciple John describes detail about John the Baptists ministry, because he and his brothers were followers of him. They were looking for messiah to come and John the baptist was his announcer. Luke also describes for us the details of John The Baptists birth, as the fore runner of Jesus. Luke 1:5 - In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. (ESV). The forerunner of Jesus was called John the Baptist. He was also a priestly child, from Zecharias and Elizabeth. Zechariah was doing his duties as a priest in the temple, when an angel told him: Luke 1:13 - …But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. (ESV).¹

The author of the book of John was often called ‘John the Beloved,’ because he had a special bond with Jesus, shown to us during the last supper: John 13:21-26 - After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples [John], whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple [John], leaning back against Jesus, said to him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, So when It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it. So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (ESV) (Emphasis added).

John and his brother the Apostle James, (called the ‘Greater’) may have had tempers. They were given the name Boanerges by Jesus, that is, Sons of Thunder. Mark 3:17 - James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he [Jesus] gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); (ESV). Boanerges, is the Aramaic pronunciation of the Hebrew word, B’ne-ragesh; B’ne, (sons,) and ragesh, (thunder.) This name may have come about, because Jesus knew their reaction to some circumstances, such as: Luke 9:52-54 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them? (ESV).

The entire theme of the book of John is to present Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Messiah come. John, in verse one, uses the the Greek word Logos, which translates as ‘Word.’ According to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionary, ‘Logos’ translated as ‘Word’ (capitalized), informs us that this Greek word attempts to