The Gospels: Who? What? When? Where? Why? Quiz

Answer: Peter

Jesus and the disciples had just finished singing a hymn and had walked a short distance to the Mount of Olives. Jesus knew absolutely what was about to transpire with his arrest and crucifixion, and the disciples had no idea. Peter may have refused to believe that he, of all the disciples, was capable of being reduced to being offended in Jesus.

Jesus even told him that he would deny Him three times before early morning, and yet Peter still stubbornly clung to his belief that he was above such action. Later in the text, we see that ALL the disciples made similar statements, perhaps so as not to be outdone by Peter's display of "loyalty"; yet the prophecy about the Peter's three-fold denial of Christ proved to be an accurate one, leaving Peter weeping as he realized that his own words had fulfilled the prophecy.

Answer: the son of Man

The title "Son of Man" shows His capacity for overcoming and conquering all the sin that Adam, the first man, introduced into the world. It is a manner of showing His authority and, Christians believe, the sovereignty lost by that first man. They also believe that He is God's son, or God in the flesh, having come to save that which was lost. Perhaps the most familiar scripture attesting to His status as God's only begotten son is found in John 3:16, although several other passages in the Bible indicate the same concept.

Answer: he had always been obedient to his father, and was jealous of his brother

The older brother, who is seldom focused on in this story, was resentful because he had been obedient and felt that he had never been rewarded by his father. This account is found in Luke 15:11-32, and in verses 29-30, we read of his complaint to his father. The father responded in the next two verses, explaining to his eldest that everything that he possessed already belonged to his son, and that he was glad that his youngest child had come home.

Christians generally take this story as a description of how the heavenly Father feels over the salvation of lost souls. Someone who has attended church all their lives might feel a twinge of this same type of resentment when a sinner suddenly converts and is welcomed into Christianity, but as this text points out, that is likely an incorrect attitude. The underlying theme seems to be that joy should be felt, rather than resentment.

Answer: Thomas

In John 20:17, Jesus informed Mary that He had not yet ascended to His Father, but in verse 26, eight days later (a number that represents new beginnings), Thomas was given permission to touch Jesus. His only response was, "My Lord and my God." The Bible doesn't actually state that Thomas ever touched Him.

Some believe that Jesus had to go to the Father to carry His blood sacrifice, along with the key of life, before returning to earth to appear to more than five hundred different people, (at different times), prior to His final ascension. (1 Corinthians 15)

Answer: charges of treason had been levied against Jesus

If prisoners were accused of fomenting revolution against Rome, then such accusations required a trial by the representative of Rome; in this case, Pontius Pilate. During Jesus' trial in John 18, Pilate even asked Him about his status as a "king", trying to ascertain if, in fact, Jesus was guilty of open rebellion against Rome.

The Jewish council could not take such an action, unless sedition or treason against Rome was NOT a part of the accusation. (Stephen was later stoned by the Jews themselves, but no charge of treason against Rome had been brought against him.) Pontius Pilate gave the final go-ahead for Jesus to be put to death, in spite of his original intentions of allowing Him to go free with only a scourging (beating).

Answer: a dove

The significance of the parallel of a dove is generally seen to represent gentleness and peace.

Furthermore, in Matthew 10:16, Jesus advises His disciples to go out to witness being as wise as serpents, yet as harmless as doves. The spirit of gentleness was easily recognized by them in this commandment.

When a dove alights, it flutters downward, unlike many other types of birds. The grace with which it lands, and the gentle manner of its appearance may be the concept that is described as being like the Holy Ghost.

Another, deeper thought may be derived from this as well. Poorer people of ancient Israel used pairs of doves or pigeons for sacrifices at the temple on the Day of Atonement. Christians believe that even at Christ's baptism, God was actually foreshadowing Jesus' ultimate role as the sacrificial lamb for Israel, and indeed for all of mankind.

Answer: He was saying that He was the sustenance for mankind

Christians believe that Jesus was figuratively claiming to be all that they needed to live forever. Not only did He claim to be the bread of life, He also referred to Himself as the source of "living waters".

Jesus was born in the 'Land Of Bread' (the name Bethlehem translates as such), and He demonstrated this same idea to His disciples in the upper room during The Last Supper, instructing them to drink of His "blood" (wine, or life) and to eat of his "flesh" (the bread served with the meal). See Luke 22. This may be seen as a figurative way of having all who are willing being able to share in His eternal life, both at that time and later, throughout eternity.

Answer: it was actually a demonic spirit speaking

In reading this account in the book of Mark 5, we see that many unclean, (demonic) spirits had taken up residence in this man. So many, in fact, that when Jesus cast them out, about two thousand pigs lost their minds when the demons entered them. According to Jewish custom and belief based on Old Testament writings, pigs are considered to be an unclean animal, so it may appropriate that the unclean SPIRITS entered into unclean ANIMALS.

Later, when the man was clothed and in his right mind, he wanted to become a follower of Jesus, but Jesus told him to stay in his own country and to tell of the things that had happened to him, as a witness for Christ.

Answer: Lazarus

Verses 29, 30 and 31 say, "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

This passage seems to indicate that some people will never repent, no matter how plainly the message is delivered.

Answer: they were not supposed to know the mysteries of heaven

At this point in Jesus' ministry, His message of the coming kingdom had been rejected, so He did two things. First, He repudiated His relatives, instead embracing His disciples and other believers as "family" (Matthew 12:46-50). Second, He left the house and went to sit by the sea, thus removing Himself physically from them as well. (Matthew 13:1)

When a huge crowd gathered, He no longer stressed the nearness of the kingdom, but began explaining things in parable form, concealing much of the true meaning of His intentions. Even the disciples were at least slightly bewildered by this approach, and when they questioned Jesus, He told them that they were privy to information that the rest of the crowd was not aware of.

Answer: John had told him it was illegal for Herod to marry his sister-in-law

In Matthew 14:3-5, John had openly rebuked the king for taking his brother Philip's wife, Herodias, as his own wife. For the sake of her dubious "honor", or perhaps even at her request, Herod placed John in prison for daring to speak negatively about Herod's illicit affair and marriage.

Answer: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost"

The first thing that Jesus said after He had entered in their presence was, "Peace be unto you."

The next thing He said after breathing on them was, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost..."

Answer: they were symbols of kingship in Jerusalem

In 1 Samuel 10:1, Samuel anointed the very first king of Israel, Saul, with oil. Later, King David was also anointed, as were many of the kings which followed. This was not a mere dabbing of a few drops on the forehead; this procedure involved literally pouring out oil all over the king's head.
Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings, and as such, that it is absolutely appropriate for Him to have been anointed twice in this manner, signifying His status as The King of all Kings.

(Today, some people practice a symbolic type of anointing, but it is usually a more restrained version of what originally involved a complete dousing.)

Answer: He was welcoming sinners, going so far as to even eat with them

Indeed, He had done exactly what they were accusing Him of, receiving sinners and eating with them. Had they but known, they were speaking an absolute truth.
Christianity teaches that the Lord loves sinners. Jesus loves sinners.
Self-righteous people, in this teaching, think that they are safe, and do not seek God's help.
As I see it, that is the whole point of this object lesson.

Answer: the Mount of Transfiguration

Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and were probably very interested in Christ's upcoming suffering, but Peter, in his enthusiasm, was focused merely on the event of the transfiguration itself. Perhaps foolishly, although inadvertently, his wording could be construed as an attempt to place Elijah and Moses on the same level as Christ, whom Christians believe to be the Son of God.

God's instructions to the disciples were quite plain -- to hear His son.
When they heard this, they prostrated themselves face down on the ground and grew very afraid. Jesus then approached them and, physically touching them, told them to not be afraid. When they looked up, only Jesus was present.

Hebrews 1:1 and 2 may help to explain this further. "God, who at sundry [various] times and in divers [different] manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son..."