A Cart for Christ and an Angel for an Englishman by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: A friend insists that the King James Bible states that Jesus was transported by cart to the high priests when He was captured. I've read all the Gospels in King James and New International and can't find it. Most all of the Gospels use the word "led." Can you tell me where it says He was transported in a cart? A: I'm not sure from where your friend's idea came, but it's not in any of the English Bibles I checked. All four Gospel accounts use some version of the Greek word with a basic meaning of bringing. Its form in Matthew, Mark, and John is best rendered as "led," just as your Bibles indicate. The form in Luke is different, but still has the same root meaning. All of them, and especially the word used by Luke, can also mean "bring" or "carry." None of these, however, brings us to understand that Jesus was taken away in a cart. Possibly, either in a translation I've not seen or in some sermon or Bible study illustration, someone used the expression "carted him away." It's unlikely that the guard took the time to find a cart and draft animal. Also, a group of armed men bent upon making a quiet arrest would have a more difficult time sneaking up on someone if encumbered with a cart. Even if it was human-drawn, the cart itself would be unwieldy and noisy, especially on rural roads and trails in the dark of night. Q: I'm a 16 year old living in England. I came across your web site while I was looking around and was wondering if you could help me with something. My friend and I were having this discussion the other day about angels. Basically, we just can't work out why they are there. If God created us because He loves us and He doesn't love angels (it says that somewhere in Hebrews, im not exactly sure where) why did He create them? The first idea we came up with is they are there to serve God. But then God is infinite, so why would He need servants if He can do literally anything at will? Then we thought they might serve as intermediaries between us and God. But then the same thing applies as before: God is more than capable of doing whatever He needs to by Himself. Then there's the thing about freewill. Do angels have free will? If they are merely extensions of God then they can't, but then how did Lucifer corrupt all those angels against God if they don't? And God gave us free will because He loves us, so does that mean He also loves angels? We just don't get it. On a completely unrelated note, do you like porridge? Sorry for the deluge of questions. If you could shed some light on this it would be a great help and both my friend and I would be really grateful. A: "Angel" comes from the Greek ~angelos~, meaning "messenger." Most instances in the New Testament are transliterations of the original. Similarly, when we find "angel" in the Old Testament, it also us used for the Hebrew word for messenger. Translators often attempt to distinguish between earthly messengers and heavenly (or demonic) messengers. Sometimes it's difficult to tell whether man or spirit is being referenced, as is the case with the seven angels of the seven churches in Revelation's opening chapters. The Epistle to the Hebrews does refer to the created spirit beings we commonly call angels. However, it doesn't say that God hates them. It notes that they are God's ministering spirits, doing His bidding. What the Epistle does in chapter one is compare Jesus "the Firstborn," (1:6) with the angels, showing the Son to be far superior to even the highest of the angels. That they were created with free will is evident by Satan's rebellion (cf. 2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6). Yet Paul speaks of the "elect angels" in 1 Timothy 5:21, so perhaps some of them cannot consider turning their wills away from the will of God. Answers to your "why" questions are locked in the mind of God. He didn't have to create anything, yet He chose to make that which He made. We do know that everything God makes has its purpose in His plans and fulfillment comes only within that purpose. Thus, while God doesn't ~need~ messengers, He ~wants~ them and He desires that they act according to His holy purpose. As for His love, free will isn't necessary for God to love it. This includes us, since our will following Adam and Eve's fall isn't free, but is bound and enslaved to sin and Satan. Now, relating to your unrelated question, I've seen and tasted several things that people have called porridge; some I liked, some I didn't. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe." Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2004 by Walter P. Snyder. 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