Cameo Appearances in Scripture

I have often thought about people who made a brief but important appearance in Scripture. How were they “prepared” for the situation? What was their life like before and after the encounter? How do the stories relate to our lives today? What do the snapshots of their lives tell us? So, I decided to go through the Gospels and review some of the occurrences.

Matthew 1, 2– Joseph

^1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph, her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.”

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Later- ^2:13 An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Later- ^2:19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

I find it interesting how little we know about Joseph; the man God the Father chose to be the earthly father to Jesus and build into Him from a human perspective. For example, Joseph taught Jesus how to be a carpenter. Scripture tells us Joseph, “was faithful to the law.” Each time he was directed by God to take action in a dream, he did it immediately.

We know nothing about his childhood. His parents must have been Godly people to have been given the task of building into Jesus’ future earthly father. He probably learned carpentry from his father, as was the custom. A very normal life destined to be part of God’s plan of redeeming His people. Amazing thought.

It was the Jewish custom for a man to ask the girl’s father for her hand in marriage. Usually, they were barely acquainted. Joseph was led by God to seek Mary as his wife. Both Mary and Joseph were hand pick by the Father at just the right time in history to guide Jesus. “Joseph’s song” has always touched my heart as a father. The line, “How can a man be father to the Son of God” touches me deeply when I imagine the scene of Joseph holding baby Jesus. I can only imagine what it was like raising Jesus from a baby to a toddler, to a young boy, to a teenager and finally to a man. Joseph disappears from our sight early in Scripture. He probably died before Jesus earthly ministry, but he walked with Jesus like no other man from infancy to manhood. We can only imagine, but it must have been amazing.

What I learn from Joseph is how important it is to stay faithful to God and His Word. Then when God is ready for us to play a part in His plan, we will be ready, whatever the call on our life is.

Luke 1– Zechariah and Elizabeth- John the Baptist’s parents

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

²⁰And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.

Later- ³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!”

In this story we can really see the hand of God.

1. They were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive. (Like Sarah and Hannah)
2. He was chosen by lot. (God’s timing)
3. Now you will be silent, not able to speak until the day this happens (Zechariah becomes mute as a sign)
4. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (God’s confirmation to Mary who her baby was.)

Then like many others, they disappear from Scripture. Amazingly blessed people living ordinary lives. Imagine your son becoming John the Baptist. There are probably 30 years between the birth and ministry of John. This Godly couple was chosen to wait until just the right time for their son to be the forerunner of Jesus. Years of wanting a child. Suffering the humiliation in that culture of being childless. And yet walking close enough to God to be the priest chosen to give the sacrifice at the right time to hear the angel’s proclamation.

This is a lesson about waiting for God’s timing. Elizabeth never wavered in her obedience of God and His principles even though she was childless. She accepted God’s plan for her life and waited, unlike Sarah who tried to “help” God’s plan. I learned from their experience that our life is God’s plan and timing, not ours. I need to accept the blessings He has chosen to give me; not lose my focus over things I wish were different.

Matthew 2– The Magi–

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”

From Bible Archaeology Report- Who were the Magi?

Many scholars believe that the Magi came from the area of ancient Babylon and Persia (under Parthian control when Christ was born), which would satisfy the biblical criteria that they came “from the east” (Mt 2:1). Perhaps those from the tribe of Magi were the first to become the caste of Persian priests that were so highly valued by the king. Given their fixation on the star, some attempt to make a connection between the Magi and earlier groups of astrologers or astronomers from Babylon.

However, given that the word magi had assumed a more general meaning by the first century, it could also refer to wise men in general, those with special knowledge, particularly in the magic. Thus, in many modern English translations, the word magi is simply translated wise men. This is in keeping with their apparent role in the courts of the ancient kings, particularly in Babylon or Persia. The magi may have been a priestly caste who dabbled in astrology and magical arts, and were revered for their knowledge, often consulted by the kings of old. Perhaps the Parthian king, Phraates IV (ca. 37-2 BC), who was likely ruling at the time of Christ’s birth, also used magi/wise men in this way, and sent them to honor to the newborn king when informed of the significant sign in the heavens.

Whoever they were I imagine they must have had God-given curiosity to make that long journey just to worship the child Jesus, leave gifts, and then leave for the long trip home. We can only imagine the conversations they had on their way back and for years after. I wonder if they followed the ministry of Jesus. I wonder if they became believers. I see this as a lesson to follow God’s leading no matter where it takes you. I don’t believe anyone could make such a commitment to anything that intensive without God’s inspiration.

John 2– The servants where Jesus turned water into wine.

³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Woman, why do you involve Me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so, they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

I try to imagine being one of the servants. They were busy taking care of everything and Mary says, “Do whatever He tells you”, which is probably not an unusual request for a servant to hear. But when Jesus tells them to fill the stone jars with water, dip water from the stone jars and take it to the master of the banquet, I can imagine their hesitation. Would the master of the banquet get mad about this silly request? Imagine their reaction when they discover Jesus had turned the water into wine. This was His first miracle. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Did they become followers of Jesus? I imagine them telling the story over and over. They would never forget the experience. I am sure their lives were affected forever.

It makes me ask the question, am I willing to “do whatever He tells me”? Do I have “ears to hear” His voice directing me? If it could make others think I am foolish, will I still obey?  

Matthew 8– The Faith of the Centurion

⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. ¹² But the subjects of the Kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

A Gentile with amazing God-inspired faith. His life and his servant’s life were deeply affected. He heard Jesus say, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

That would have taken my breath away to hear that.Do I have that great of faith? This man requested healing for his servant from a distance and then believed the healing happened before he had proof. Do I have the peace to know God is in control without me having the proof? 

John 9– Jesus Heals a Man Blind from Birth

¹ As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

The rest of the detail of how Jesus healed him continues in John 9. However, verse 3 to me is a faith stretcher. His parents said later he was of age, so we know he was in his twenties or thirties. Living in complete darkness for his whole life to this point, including living as a beggar, was God ordained for him, “this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” From that day on everywhere he went he was a witness of Jesus Divinity. And yet think of this man’s life going forward. He was blind all his life. He had not acquired the skills needed to support himself.

I imagine he had a hard life. People might say God wouldn’t do that to someone. Scripture says different. Michael Card has a line in a song I have quoted many times. “Sometimes the questions bring us better answers than the answers every will.” God’s plans are beyond us. Am I willing to gratefully accept the “lot in life” God has chosen for me to accomplish His overall plan? I think a blessed life is often seen as comfortable. I believe a blessed life is walking with Him hand in hand through whatever He needs us to do. I see Paul as an example of that. Am I that surrendered?

There are many more examples where people briefly show up and have an impact and then disappear from Scripture. As you read through the Bible pause a moment and get in the shoes of the characters before and after they appear. Think about how that challenges your life. I believe pondering Scripture takes us deeper. I hope you will try it.