Match These New Testament Characters -- #3 Quiz

Answer: Meeting at night

There is considerable conjecture as to why Nicodemus visited Jesus at night. One school of thought has it that Nicodemus didn't want it to be known that, as a teacher of the law, he had any interest in Jesus' teachings, since he was often surrounded by tax collectors and the dregs of society.

Another school of thought has it that Nicodemus had no choice but to visit Jesus at night if he wanted a one-on-one meeting because Christ was always surrounded by large crowds. In John 3:3, Jesus tells Nicodemus no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

Then in Verse 16, Jesus makes the famous declaration: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It's that statement which has become a pillar of the evangelical Christian movement.

Answer: Euodia's adversary

Syntyche and Euodia, it seemed, were always at loggerheads. The disagreement must have been severe as Paul "implores" the two women to agree with each other in the NKJV Bible (Philippians 4:2). In the next verse, he asks believers in Philippi to help the two women to be of the same mind. Scripture doesn't say why the two women were at loggerheads. (It all brings back memories of a message I heard at the Salvation Army Citadel in Nanaimo, B.C., a number of years ago when a lieutenant preached a message about 'My Phobia' and 'So Touchy' being in disagreement.

The message, of course, was a play on words in regards to Euodia and Syntyche and how people like them can be easily found in today's church.)

Answer: Daughter revived

The story of Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead is told in Mark 5:21-43. (Accounts are also found in Matthew and Luke.) It's a fascinating story and Mark provides a wealth of information. Sandwiched in the middle of the account is another fascinating story which tells of a woman who had suffered from a bleeding disorder for a number of years and was healed by simply touching Jesus.

According to Scripture, Jairus' daughter is one of three people Jesus raised from the dead. The New Testament reports He also raised from the dead the widow's son at Nain and Lazarus in Bethany. (Luke 7:11-17 and John 11:1-44)

Answer: At crucifixion scene

According to Scripture, John, "the disciple Jesus loved", was the only one of the original Twelve Disciples to be at the crucifixion scene. By this time, Judas Iscariot had killed himself and the other ten disciples had basically gone into hiding. John 19:26-27 states John was at the crucifixion scene and while dying in agony, Jesus made arrangements for John to take care of his mother Mary.

However, it must be stressed some modern theologians dispute the belief "the disciple Jesus loved" was actually John, one of the original Twelve Disciples. If this is the case, there would not have been a single disciple at the crucifixion scene.

Answer: Walking to Emmaus

The account of a resurrected Jesus appearing before Cleopas and his unnamed friend while they were walking to Emmaus can be found in Luke 24:13-35. This is the only time Cleopas' name appears in Scripture. Cleopas and his friend didn't recognize it was Jesus they had met on the road until He had accepted their invitation to stay with them at their house and they were breaking bread and giving thanks. Scripture says their eyes were opened and they recognized Christ and then He disappeared from their sight.

Answer: Sleepy young man

Yes, Eutychus was the sleepy young man who fell from a third story window when he fell into a deep sleep after Paul apparently preached on and on. When the people rushed down stairs to help Eutychus, they found him dead. Scripture says Paul raised the young man from the dead and went back upstairs; after breaking some bread and eating, he preached until daylight! The account about Eutychus can be found in Acts 20:7-12.

Answer: Overseer of money

Judas was the overseer of money used for Christ's ministry. However, it appears he wasn't good at his job. According to Scripture, he often pocketed money for himself. John 12:6 in the NIV Bible states "as keeper of the money bag, he [Judas] used to help himself to what was put into it."

Answer: Walked on water

Peter actually walked on water, according to Scripture. However, when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and paid attention to the wind and the waves, he started to sink.

Matthew 14:24-32, in the NKJV, gives this account of the miraculous event: "But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!' And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.' And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased."

Answer: Extremely skeptical

Thomas is forever known as Doubting Thomas or Thomas the Doubter for his stubborn refusal to believe in reports about Jesus being resurrected from the dead.

According to Scripture, Thomas said he would not believe reports of the resurrection unless he could place his fingers in the wounds on Christ's hand and reach his hand into the wound on Christ's side.

The 20th chapter of John tells of Jesus appearing before the disciples who were meeting in a locked room. Many theologians believe the door was locked because the disciples were afraid of being rounded up in a mass persecution against anyone who had anything to do with Jesus. When Christ appeared in the room, it must have been an electrifying moment for Thomas. By putting his fingers in the wounds on Christ's hands and by putting his hand in Christ's side, Thomas had irrefutable evidence Christ had indeed ascended from the dead. His life would be forever changed.

In John 20:28, Thomas put all doubt aside and proclaimed "My Lord and my God!"

Answer: Mount of Transfiguration

James was one of three disciples taken by Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration. The other two were James' brother John and Peter. Accounts of the transfiguration appear in the seventeenth chapter of Matthew, the ninth chapter of Mark and the ninth chapter of Luke.

Matthew 17:1-8, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!' And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, 'Arise, and do not be afraid.' When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."