Acts 4.23-31 - The Nations

Peter continually comments on the Psalms. In this passage, he refers to Psalm 2.  The Psalm says:

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth....
Happy are all who take refuge in him.

As you celebrate the 4th, remember your first freedom, the freedom of religion.  We are free to take refuge in God in this nation. Kings (dictators and presidents & prime ministers, congresses & parliaments) and governments cannot protect us. God will protect and guide.Our freedom makes us servants to God.

As a bonus, read the first place this freedom appeared in American law in Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

Acts 4.1-22 - Conflict in the Temple

When Peter and John and the apostles begin to speak boldly and heal the lame, the authorities in the temple listen. When God heals the lame man, the Sadducee are once again "annoyed" by the teaching that there is a resurrection, now proclaimed in Jesus. Unlike the Pharisees, the doctrine of the Sadducees denied the possibility of resurrection. Jesus' followers went a step further.  In addition to their anticipated resurrection at the end of time, they proclaimed that one man, Jesus, had already been raised.
The apostles are bold to answer when the authorities ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” They proclaim Jesus Christ.
This scene reminds us of the courage it takes sometimes to proclaim your faith. Peter had denied Jesus before the crucifixion. Now, with the Spirit's help, he is no longer ashamed of his Lord.
May we have the same Spirit and the same boldness to proclaim Christ, especially to those who need to hear of the power of the resurrection.

Acts 2.1-13 - Pentecost

This Sunday, we begin the season of Pentecost.  I know, I know, Pentecost is supposed to be a day, and not a season.  But we want to view the entire scene, not just the tongues descending, but Peter preaching and the people changing. So we should spend a few weeks hearing the entire story.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is a gift for the church today.  The people saved at Pentecost were saved from the political and spiritual oppression of their daily life. People can find the same salvation today and receive the gift of the Spirit.
As you prepare for Pentecost, read the story of the tower of Bable and hear why and how human language divides us (Genesis 11.1-9).  Land, ethnicity, and language may divide us; God's Spirit can unite us!

Resurrected Jesus in Luke

What was Christ's resurrected body like? Like us, he ate (Luke 24.41). Like his previous ministry, Christ instructed the disciples (Luke 24.44).  And the disciples were able to touch him (Luke 24.39). He was, as he said, "No ghost."
The resurrected Lord had overcome death; yet, he was still human and divine as before.  May we listen for his risen teaching and his final instructions (Matt 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 21; and Acts 1.1-11).

Maundy Thursday - John 13

Popular understanding and the story we've received tell us that the Thursday of Holy Week should commemorate Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples and the insitution of the sacrament Lord's Supper.  And yet, by name, the word Maundy draws us to other locales in the scriptures.

Maundy means mandate, from the Latin mandare.  Jesus institutes a sacrament and delivers a new commandment: "love one another" (John 13.34).  In addition to loving the Lord our God and our neighbors, we are to love one another.  This is so that the world will know that we are Jesus' disciples (John13.35).

As you think about this Thursday, think not only about the Lord's Supper, but, as a disciple of Jesus, think of the commandment given in the upper room.

Luke 22.39-53 - Garden of Gethsemane

In the garden, Jesus' actions instruct us about prayer.  The Christian life is a prayed life.  What is prayer supposed to change? The world? Our problems? Our neighbors? The sick?
The first thing that prayer should change is us.  When Jesus prayed in the garden, he asked that the cup of his suffering would pass from him. Jesus asked first for God's will.
When we approach God in prayer, we should primarily ask "thy will be done."
May we use prayer as an opportunity to get our will in line with God's will.

Luke 9.37-50

This week's passage is found in all of the synoptic gospels.  Read Mark 9.14-37 and Matthew 17.14-18..5.  Compare the three tellings. In each gospel, some element of the story is more important, based on what they include or omit.  John Calvin calls this the "harmony of the gospel."  Like the parts of a song, each gospel varies in pitch, rhythm, and voice, yet they sing the same tune.  For instance, ordinarily, Mark uses the fewest words to tell the story.  Yet, in this case, Mark tells a more elaborate version of the story than Matthew or Luke.

Reading the synoptic gospels together can lead to a deeper understanding of Jesus life and ministry. Try it!