👣Bad Wraps & P.R. Problems: Bible Characters Who Got A Bad Shake!

Today we will take a look into a compilation of lies, misunderstandings, and misdemeanors. These are Ideas that have infected the minds of some concerning stories and characters in the Bible. Little impressions we get from sermons and stereotypes from movies. That upon closer inspection, we find actually are factually incorrect. So, let’s take a look at our sampler platter of perceptions that need to be reassessed.  #BadWraps  #BibleStories  #NewInformation

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Today we will take a look into a compilation of lies, misunderstandings, and misdemeanors. These are Ideas that have infected the minds of some concerning stories and characters in the Bible. Little impressions we get from sermons and stereotypes from movies. That upon closer inspection, we find actually are factually incorrect. So, let’s take a look at our sampler platter of perceptions that need to be reassessed. 

Sleeping Baby Disciples Who Don’t Care Enough To Stay Awake For Jesus

Matthew 26:36-46 “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”  (37)  He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.  (38)  Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”  (39)  He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”  (40)  He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?  (41)  Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  (42)  Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”  (43)  He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  (44)  He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.  (45)  Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  (46)  Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

  When In Reality, It Was Something Very Understandable

Luke 22:42-45 “saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  (43)  An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.  (44)  Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.  (45)  When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,”

Sarah: The Silent Laugh

Heard Around The World

Genesis 18:9-14 “They asked him, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” He said, “There, in the tent.”  (10)  He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.  (11)  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.  (12)  Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”  (13)  Yahweh said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Will I really bear a child when I am old?’  (14)  Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the set time I will return to you, when the season comes round, and Sarah will have a son.”

  Abraham Laughed Out Loud

Genesis 17:15-17 “God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah.  (16)  I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her.”  (17)  Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to him who is one hundred years old? Will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”

  When In Reality, it wasn’t the laughing by either Sarah or Abraham That was the issue.

Genesis 18:15 “Then Sarah denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

“Albert Barnes Commentary” on Genesis 18:15 believed she was called out to help her faith, not embarrass her in her deception.

Hebrews 11:11  “By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.”

  The Laughing Continues

Genesis 21:1 “Yahweh visited Sarah as he had said, and Yahweh did to Sarah as he had spoken.”

Genesis 21:5-7 “Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him.  (6)  Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.”  (7)  She said, “Who would have said to Abraham, that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Doubting Thomas:

The Poster Child For Failing Christians

Let us remember that the other disciples ran for their lives, just as the rest did. 

Not the best witness to put your faith into at the time, I would say.

John 20:24-27 “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.  (25)  The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  (26)  After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”  (27)  Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

  All He Wanted was What The Other Disciples Received

John 20:19-21  “When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”  (20)  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.  (21)  Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

  As We See Here, Thomas was Ready To Die For His Faith In Jesus

John 11:11-16 “He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”  (12)  The disciples therefore said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”  (13)  Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.  (14)  So Jesus said to them plainly then, “Lazarus is dead.  (15)  I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.”  (16)  Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.”

“Bath Time  Peter”:

The Great Water Walking Failure

  At least Peter Tried

Matthew 14:25-33 “In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.  (26)  When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.  (27)  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”  (28)  Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”  (29)  He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.  (30)  But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  (31)  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  (32)  When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.  (33)  Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

It is easy to mock the failure of others. But Peter had the most faith of the entire group. Peter attempted what the others would not. Yes, he failed in the attempt, at the very last. But he should be applauded for the faith he had to attempt such a feat. And might I add, he succeeded for a bit until he got distracted. And the only other person I can think of that has ever walked on water. As in the rest of scripture, God would just part the water.  So, I would say that was a pretty productive life long achievement. I dare any of us to do better!

Jesus: The Daddy’s Boy  

Jesus was not given a pass by God, nor was His path free of earning God’s affection and love. He was never spoiled, nor was He allowed to phone it in on His name alone.

  Jesus Had To Grow In Favor With God

Luke 2:51-52 “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  (52)  And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

  Jesus Was Loved By God Because He Obeyed

John 15:10 “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.”

  Jesus Received No Unfair Treatment Given

Hebrews 4:15  “For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.”

  Jesus Had To Be Perfected Through Suffering

Hebrews 2:9-10 “But we do see someone who was made a little lower than the angels. He is Jesus, who is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might experience death for everyone.  (10)  It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering as part of his plan to glorify many children,”

Hebrews 5:6-10 “As he also says in another place, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."  (7)  As a mortal man, he offered up prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his devotion to God.  (8)  Son though he was, he learned obedience through his sufferings  (9)  and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,  (10)  having been designated by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”

  Jesus was Loved By God Because He Sacrificed Himself

John 10:16-17 “I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.  (17)  This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.”

David: The Unstoppable Warrior Of God

  Amazing God-Given Victory

1 Samuel 17:45-51  “Then David told the Philistine, "You come at me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.  (46)  This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I'll strike you down and remove your head from you. And this very day I'll give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the earth, so that all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel,  (47)  and this whole congregation will know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or spear. Indeed, the battle is the LORD's and he will give you into our hands."  (48)  When the Philistine got up and came closer to meet David, David quickly ran to the battle line to meet the Philistine.  (49)  David reached his hand into the bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.  (50)  David defeated the Philistine with a sling and a stone; he struck down the Philistine and killed him, and 

there was no sword in David's hand.  (51)  David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took the Philistine's sword, pulled it from its sheath, killed him, and then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.”

  Amazing Disaster With Almost Certain Death

2 Samuel 21:15-17 “Afterwards, war broke out between the Philistines and Israel, so David went down to fight the Philistines. David became weary,  (16)  and Ishbi-benob, who had been fathered by giants, said he intended to kill David. (His bronze spearhead weighted 300 shekels, and he carried state-of-the-art weaponry.)  (17)  But Zeruiah's son Abishai came to David's aid, attacked the Philistine, and killed him. After this, David's army told him, "You're not going out anymore with us to battle, so Israel's beacon won't be extinguished!"

“Pebble Peter”: The Boulder Rock?

  IS Peter Really the rock The Church IS Built Upon?

Matthew 16:15-19 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  (16)  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  (17)  Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  (18)  I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.  (19)  I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”  

  Peter Sets Things Straight

1 Peter 2:1-9 “Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,  (2)  as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,  (3)  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:  (4)  coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.  (5)  You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (6)  Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”  (7)  For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”  (8)  and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.  (9)  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”

  Peter Is Confirming Prophecy

Isaiah 28:14-16 “Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:  (15)  “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’”  (16)  Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.”

  Paul Also Sets The Story Straight 

Ephesians 2:19-22 “So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,  (20)  being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;  (21)  in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;  (22)  in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.”

  Jesus Again Prophesied To Be The Stone /Rock

Psalms 118:20-23 “This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it.  (21)  I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation.  (22)  The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  (23)  This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes.”

  Jesus References Psalms 118:20-23, Concerning Himself

Matthew 21:42-45 “Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’  (43)  “Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.  (44)  He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.”  (45)  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.”

  Jesus Again Alludes To Himself And His Teaching Being the Rock/ Foundation Of The Faith

Matthew 7:24-25 “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.  (25)  The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

So, we can clearly see that no one thought Peter was the Rock, not even Peter. Nor was it ever prophesied as such. From Jesus, Peter, Paul, then prophecy, we are clearly taught that Jesus is the Rock- the foundation stone that the church is built upon.

  What Was Jesus Really Saying To Peter?

Despite the fact that Peter denied Jesus three times in Matthew 26:69-75, and Satan possessed Peter in Mark 8:33 to try and convince Jesus not to fulfill His calling. Some still think Peter is the Rock that the gates of hell will not prevail against. Moreover, if we read Jesus’ statement with the correct background information, we can see that Jesus is talking about the confession of faith that “Jesus is the Son of God.” The profession of faith the church is built upon: Jesus being our Lord and Savior. And those who make this confession of trust and faith in Jesus will not be overtaken by the forces of darkness. We will destroy the evil works of darkness and free souls through His precious blood. So, the foundation is Jesus “The Rock & Truth.”

  What Is He Saying Here?

John 8:31-32 “Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.  (32)  You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

  He Is Saying that You Will Know Me “The Truth”

John 14:6-7 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.  (7)  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”

  Let’s read: 

Matthew 16:15-19 

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  (16)  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

 (17)  Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  (18)  I also tell you that you are Peter,

 and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”  

Even if you still want to say peter is a rock, we can take peter at his own words that he is not the rock just one built upon the chief cornerstone. 1 Peter 2:3-5  “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:  (4)  coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.  (5)  You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 

See Also: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, Genesis 49:22-25,

Deuteronomy 32:3-4, 2 Samuel 22:47