Monday, June 24, 2024

It is the 24th of June 2024. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

A very happy Monday to you- we had to the mailbag today to answer a recent question- or series of questions from Brant in Chula Vista, California- a rangy place here in southern California- home to Mario Lopez, AKA A.C. Slater, Tom Waits, and the 619’s own Rey Mysterio Jr.

Brant wrote to ask me about a story recently in the new about the finger of St. Jude which made its rounds here in southern California- I had more than a few people ask me about this- and then Brant asked not only about this supposed relic but about the other disciples, their deaths and what we can know about them.

Ok- Brant- some great questions- and I love the “dump” style email where you just list off questions- let’s see what I can do…

As for St. Jude’s finger, maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. We don’t have the ability to be certain with something like this- so I’m agnostic. BUT- I know two things- the Scriptures don’t teach anything about relics or the power of the body parts or garments from the deceased. Belief and trust in the Christ? Serve the poor and needy, widows and orphans… ok… so even if it is St. Jude’s finger… maybe that’s more “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” than some new special vehicle for grace.

The fact is- when it comes to the disciples and their deaths and whereabouts, it seems that God, in his providence, has made it very hard for us to identify anything concrete- and I think this is good. We will make idols out of anything. You can be sure if a church had a definite relic, it would hype it and make itself about that particular thing.

St. Thomas- Thomas the Twin- doubting Thomas- he MAY have made it to India, as we talked about on a recent show, and still, to this day, many Christians in India call themselves the “St. Thomas Christians” because of that affiliation.

I think of St. Paul’s exasperation in 1st Corinthians 1 when Paul says, “Oh man, you guys are already fighting, saying “I’m of Paul… or I’m of Apollos….”  Of the 12… or 11… or 13 original disciples, what happened to them?

James, son of Zebedee- whose relics are said to be in Spain- is the only disciple, besides Judas Iscariot, to have his death recorded in Scripture- in Acts.  

His brother, John, son of Zebedee, is traditionally the author of the Gospel and epistles and perhaps Revelation. He is the only one who is said to have died of old age, and this seems to have been foretold to Peter in John 21.

One tradition for many of the disciples is that they were martyred but refused to be crucified on a cross, similar to their lords. They imitated him in martyrdom but not in the exact method. Peter is said to have been crucified in Rome under persecution, but his cross was placed upside down. The same is said of Matthew, while Andrew, refusing the traditional cross, is said to have been crucified on an “x” shape cross called the Saltire- or now, St. Andrew’s Cross. The flag of Scotland- where Andrew is the patron saint- is a white Saltire- or St. Andrews cross on a blue background.

James, son of Alphaes- things start to get tricky. Is this James the less? James the just? James, the author of the Epistle? James, the brother of Jesus? And there’s another Judas- but he would go by Jude or Thaddeus because of that whole “Iscariot” thing; there’s a Simon the Zealot who may or may not be Simon the Canaanite. And Bartholomew! Is that the same as Nathaniel? And with about Matthias, who gets the call for the disembowled Judas?

It seems the historical narrative and biblical model is for us to acknowledge the faithful disciples of Jesus but not end up elevating them to the detriment of Jesus. The finger of Jude can do nothing for me. The death of Peter or James or even Bartholomew can’t do anything for me- except point me TO Jesus.

When our fan fiction of “what may have happened to them” or questions about “what might be a part of their body or cloak…” have tended to obscure the real thing and the good news, and thus I tend to give a “who knows” when asked about these things- which I think is both the best historical answer and from the perspective of our faith… thanks Brant from Chula Vista- you can send me your questions at danv@1517.org

The last word for today is from the daily lectionary- from Psalm 65:

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
    God our Savior,


the hope of all the ends of the earth

    and of the farthest seas,

who formed the mountains by your power,

    having armed yourself with strength,

who stilled the roaring of the seas,

    the roaring of their waves,

    and the turmoil of the nations.

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

    where morning dawns, where evening fades,

    you call forth songs of joy.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 24th of June 2024, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who, along with all of us, waited with bated breath as A.C. Slater took on Valley’s Marvin Niedick- Bayside forever; he is  Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man with more knowledge of Saved by the Bell than maybe anything else… I dare you to quiz me- I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.