The Gospel according to John teaches that after Jesus was resurrected He appeared to Mary Magdalene and instructed her not to “hold” Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father. Yet after that and before the ascension, He told Thomas to place his hand in His side. What happened between the events to allow Thomas to touch Him when Mary could not?

Thank you for your site -it is a great source of my inspiration. Thanks to your articles and answers to people’s questions published on your site, I feel constantly on fire to study the Word.

I am a bit confused about the meaning of Exodus 22:28 – “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” Also in John 10:34 – “Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” What gods does it talk about?

Do you know the answer to the folded napkin in Jesus tomb? Is there scriptural proof of what that could represent?

I have a question about an article you wrote on tithing, you said: “great blessings are given to those who voluntarily follow God’s Law”. Will you explain what you meant by that statement?

In fact if you “give” (tithe) as if you are voluntarily following the “law”, read the book of Galatians you will find that Paul told some gentiles whom he had led to Christ that if they obeyed any part of the old Jewish law, including the law of circumcision,in order to be right (justified) with God, they have fallen from grace. (Gal.5:4)

I was just wondering if there was any reason why Judah was chosen to be the tribe that Jesus descended from? If I remember right Reuben lost his inheritance due to the sin of sleeping with one of his father’s concubines. He was first born. I thing Judah was born fourth and from Leah. Doesn’t it seem more logical that Jesus would come from Rachel’s son Joseph as she was who Jacob really wanted for a wife, not Leah and he was Rachel’s first born as well?

I’m confused about the Ark of the Covenant. I know that it was not among the things reported stolen by any of the conquerors of Jerusalem, and that it has been missing for 2.5 K years. But there is much speculation about its location, particularly for use in the Third Temple certain Israeli groups are preparing for.

John saw it in the Celestial Temple, but the Bible never mentions it again as being on earth, or anywhere else, for that matter. Because of its enormous importance for Temple worship, I find the absence of further reference to it interesting. It suggests to me that it will never be found. Can you shed any light on the subject?

I thank you for your website! “Ask-A-Bible-Teacher” is my homepage and I have learned much as of late. I do have one quick question:

All my life, I was taught to pray both God the Father and Jesus. I recently heard a Bible teacher on the radio (of whom I have great respect and admiration), say that are not to pray to Jesus. He said that when we pray, we pray to God, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. I do agree w/ that. But is it wrong to pray to Jesus?

Does it say anywhere in the Bible if souls are created at conception or if there exists a finite number of souls that were created at the beginning of time?

I have a co-worker who is a Jehovah Witness. He states they believe that Jesus is the archangel Michael. He questioned that if Jesus was God, why did he pray to himself. And he also referenced that when the disciples asked when he would come again, he said only the Father knows the time and hour of his return. Could you help me in showing him, with scriptural evidence, that Jesus was God with us?

I just finished your Daniel audio study. I absolutely loved it!

I am very curious about how you came up with Petra, Jordan as the place fleeing Jews would run to (from Mathew 24:16) in the Great Tribulation. I understand why Jordan is the most likely country to choose (Because Jordan’s King Abdullah is the closest living relative to Mohammed). Is Petra the most likely city because of the old Roman Amphitheater? It there something else I am missing? It seemed like there was a cross-reference you mentioned with the Book of Revelation.

Also, wouldn’t the current Jordanians be less than in favor of Petra being invaded? What would have to happen to welcome the Jews?