Thomas the apostle inter alia

[Henry4]

Dear sir or madam,
I was reading the Gospel of John, chapter 20. It is recorded that Jesus appeared to the apostles in the evening of Easter Sunday and in lines 22-23, that he conferred on the apostles the power to absolve from sin. It is also written that Thomas was not present. Does that mean that Thomas did not acquire the power to absolve from sin? Another question is as follows. Whose wedding was celebrated in Kana?
In chapter 21 of the Gospel of John, Nathaniel is called “of Kana”. Would it perhaps have been a relative of his who was married? I have another question. For what crimes were the 2 thieves crucified?
I heard that the wood of the cross of Christ was dogwood. I have been trying to buy it online but I am looking for something from the Middle East and I think that what is for sale is not from there. Finally, I wonder is it possible to find stones used to kill St. Stephen? I know that some were held in Battle Abbey in East Sussex, England but they may have been destroyed during the reformation.

 

[TMC]

Welcome to the forum Henry!

You have a lot of questions. Most could be whole thread (or even books) of their own, but I will say a little something.

I was reading the Gospel of John, chapter 20. It is recorded that Jesus appeared to the apostles in the evening of Easter Sunday and in lines 22-23, that he conferred on the apostles the power to absolve from sin. It is also written that Thomas was not present. Does that mean that Thomas did not acquire the power to absolve from sin?

Interesting question. I have never heard it suggested that this was a “must be present to win” situation. But remember that Thomas was presumable present when Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 18, and Thomas was there at the Pentacost, so I don’t see any reason to think he was lesser than the other Apostles in that regard.

Whose wedding was celebrated in Kana?
In chapter 21 of the Gospel of John, Nathaniel is called “of Kana”. Would it perhaps have been a relative of his who was married?

I don’t think anyone knows. Maybe someone here knows if there is any tradition on this, but I don’t have any reason to think it is Nathaniel.

For what crimes were the 2 thieves crucified?

A lot of dispute on this one. Some people think they were Zionist rebels, others say plain old robbers. I don’t know that anybody knows for sure.

I heard that the wood of the cross of Christ was dogwood.

No idea.

Finally, I wonder is it possible to find stones used to kill St. Stephen? I know that some were held in Battle Abbey in East Sussex, England but they may have been destroyed during the reformation.

There were/are lots of supposed relics floating around Europe. Most were/are fake. St. Stephen was stoned in Jerusalem by people who would have no reason to keep the stones as keepsakes, so…

 

[Henry4]

Dear TMC,
Thank you for your reply. It was nice to learn that a book could be written in answer to some of my questions. I have other questions but they may not be related to scripture. For example, does the thorn bush at Glastonbury still blossom on Christmas Day? It is said that St. Patrick is buried at Glastonbury. That is what I read in William Of Malmesbury’s book. I also read that he is buried at Downpatrick, Ireland.
Which is correct?

 

[TMC]

I would suggest you start a thread for each of your questions, and see if other forum members can address them.

 

[PickyPicky]

My understanding is that trees grown from cuttings of the Glastonbury thorn flower twice a year, in winter and in spring. Fortunately hawthorn grows well from cuttings, so descendants of the original (whenever that form originated) still grow.

William of Malmesbury is considered more trustworthy than many mediaeval writers, but legends about Glastonbury should always be regarded with a degree of suspicion.

 

[Dovekin]

The glory of Lebanon shall come to you—
the juniper, the fir, and the cypress all together—
To bring beauty to my sanctuary,
and glory to the place where I stand.
Isaiah 60:13

This is taken by many people as a prophecy of the Cross. Books have been written on the subject, as has been said.

In fact, The Dream of the Rood is from the beginnings of English literature. I am sure books have been written about it, as well as about its subject.