Paul wasn't the only one that amazing things were happening to. I think this section of Acts compresses time, not telling the story in a linear fashion. Acts 8 begins with the scattering of the Jewish believers after the death of Stephen. Acts 11:19 also begins, "Now those who had been scattered in connection with the persecution of Stephen..". The time line picks up again.
But in chapters 8-12, the section we've been calling "witnessing in Judea and Samaria" the narrative just hits the highlights, so to speak, of a period of time that changed everything. The believers scatter. As they go, even non-apostles like Stephen become miracle men. God picks Paul off the Damascas Road a changed man. Peter is so powerful he raises Tabitha from the dead.
The Holy Spirit fell on the disciples on Pentecost and on those who believed. Yet in the case of the Samaritans, it seems that Peter had to go there to witness and attest to the Spirit falling on them. Many equate this spreading of the Holy Spirit with the "keys to the kingdom" Jesus told Peter he possessed.
Even though in hindsight its easy to see that Jesus was offering himself to the whole world, not just the Jews, this transition required another miraculous sign before these early believers could cross over this last threshold, taking the gospel to the whole world. As Peter ministers in Joppa after Tabitha's healing, he little suspects he is in the first measure of a well orchestrated symphony composed to take us to that final frontier... the uttermost parts of the world. Those far parts of the world are made of mainly of non-Jews, Gentiles all, from the most sophisticated Greek to the most untamed barbarian. Surely Jesus didn't die for them......
Peter stays in Joppa after raising Tabitha, living with Simon the Tanner. Far up the coast in Caesarea there is a man, a Gentile, a Roman Centurion. He is described as "devout and God-fearing". He is generous to the needy. He is a man of prayer. And at the afternoon prayer time, about 3:00, he has a vision. God sends an angel to this God-fearing man, with instructions to send for Peter at Simon's house, and the old soldier immediately follows his orders.
The day the envoy from Cornelius arrives in Joppa, Peter is unsuspecting. He goes up to the rooftop to pray. He becomes hungry, and while he's waiting for the meal to be prepared, he dreams about food. But not a dream, a nightmare! All sorts of food, clean and unclean under the Jewish law, are let down from heaven in a great sheet, held at the corners by unseen hands. "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." The voice is from heaven but the command is appalling!
Surely that isn't possible, Peter thinks. In the first place meat has to be killed ceremoniously, you can't just butcher it on a rooftop! And besides, the assortment is disgusting! "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
The voice speaks again. "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." This happened three times and as Peter is pondering it's meaning, the men Cornelius sent from Caesarea call out at the gate for the one known as Peter. And the Spirit hovering on the rooftop tells Peter not to hesitate to go with these men.
Orchestrated. You wonder if the idea was so revolutionary that Peter couldn't be allowed to think about it very long. Give him the vision and get him on the road before he has time to forget what he saw, to forget that world changing command, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
Cornelius is a man of great faith. He reminds me of another centurion in the Gospels. "I, too, am an man under authority..." that gentile soldier said to Jesus, and Jesus said he hadn't seen such great faith in all of Israel. Cornelius gathers all of his family and friends together, a large crowd verse 27 says, and they wait for Peter to arrive.
Then Peter does come! "We are all hear in the presence of God to listen to everything he has commanded you to tell us." A commanding officer, aware of the chain of command, seeking the will of his Commander. And as Peter tells him of Jesus life, death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit falls on all of them and these Gentiles begin speaking in tongues and expressing the gifts of the Spirit, just as He fell on those first believers the day of Pentecost.
Peter gets it. "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Spirit just as we have." And he stays with them a few days.... in their house..... eating their food.
So the story gets back to Jerusalem before Peter does and there is great agitation! About the glorious new world opening up to the gospel? About a God-fearing soldier who opened a door that changed the world? No.... about Peter going into the house of uncircumcised men and eating with them.
Peter tells the story in first person in chapter 11. He's more detailed and enthusiastic than the third person narrative. The truth can't be denied; God bestowed the Spirit on the Gentiles who believed, just as he had bestowed in on the apostles, then on the multitude of Jews who were believing. The door had opened. "God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
And a new age begins. The hint is in 11:19. In Antioch the believers begin evangelizing both Jews and Greeks, telling all the good news about Jesus. All they talk about is Jesus, the Christ. Society begins calling them the Christians, those who follow Christ.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Paul; the Apostle abnormally born
In I Corinthians 15 Paul is stressing the importance, of first importance he says, of the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection is absolute truth. He reports that "he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time.......he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." That's the NIV translation. Sounds odd, doesn't it. We're used to the traditional, "untimely born" being applied to Paul's apostleship. The word used is "untimely", as in a miscarriage, a birth which is incapable of sustaining life on it's own.
I thought that was an amazing idea after our look at the life of Paul last Tuesday. I came away from that study just astounded by the supernatural circumstances of Paul's conversion, calling and ministry. Paul's own perspective is that he miscarried; his life didn't progress to full term. It's like he thinks of his life before that day on the Damascus road as only a gestation period...he wasn't born yet.... then supernaturally born, abnormally born on that road, almost more of a death he never really recovered from. He required God's sustaining life. Life support.
Paul's life story is certainly different from any other and I really enjoyed trying to piece a timeline together from the small narrative here in Acts 9 and his own account of events in his letters.
Here's what we learn of Paul before Acts 9. This is backstory is related in Philippians 3:5-6. He was "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." As a Jewish person, Paul was the best of the best. He had the right stuff. In fact, in Galatians 1:14 he says "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." He was climbing the ladder and by implication over the backs of anyone he could climb faster than. He was an ambitious Pharisee with his sights on the powerful places in Judaism.
When we left the Jerusalem story in Acts 8:3 "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison." The narrative continues in chapter 9 with Saul becoming so angry that the Jewish converts to Christ were getting away from him that he got letters from the High Priest himself to go to Damascus [about 150 miles] and bring back those who had fled to insure their proper punishment and imprisonment. He was "breathing out murderous threats"; his very atmosphere of his life, the breath he breathed was murder and threats.
Suddenly as he and his soldiers rushed toward the destruction of these enemies, light flashed around him and the light knocked him to the ground! Then a voice spoke out of the light saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
Saul replied, "Who are you, Lord?" We don't know what to make of that. Why did he call him Lord if he didn't know who he was? Why didn't he recognize Jesus as others did after the resurrection? But the question we do know the answer to is, "How scared was he?"
Jesus commanded him to get up and go into Damascus. Then he told him to await further orders. And Saul, blinded and confounded by the vision, did exactly as he was told.
Interestingly the people with him saw the light but didn't hear the voice. The voice was just for Saul. What a remarkable, miraculous calling! What is God going to do with this enemy of Christs? Maybe that's what Saul wondered about the next three days. He had given his life to Judaism, and after Jesus' death had devoted himself to destroying his followers...... and had been now been confronted by a very much alive and powerful Jesus. Everything he had ever believed was destroyed. He was so undone he didn't not eat or drink anything. But he remained in close communion with that living Christ! Verse 11 says Saul was praying and had a vision of Ananias restoring his sight.
This enemy of Christ had been stopped dead in his tracks. We hold our breath to hear the rest of the story, but God's word to Ananias tells it all. "This is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Literally Saul is God's instrument of choice.
After this, Saul spent several DAYS with the disciples in Damascus. AT ONCE he began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Days. Profound change. Now he finds himself the target of Jewish hatred and persecution and has to be lowered over the city wall by night to escape. That's only the first time that's going to happen.
If you want to think more about the change in Paul, there is much to be learned from 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:6, Paul's suffering for Christ. There is no better explanation or example of turning away from serving self to serve God. And there's some interesting biographical information in Galatians 1:11-2:10. Being me, I would love to say I have a timeline figured out for Paul's life. It's so intriguing. Even though Acts 11 to the end are about Paul and his missionary journeys, we discover in his letter to the Galatians events we've never heard of; a trip to Arabia and back to Damascus lasting three years; a 15 day meeting with Peter and James at a time he was filled with doubt; 14 years later the Jerusalem Council. We will fill some of that 14 years up with some mission work, but there is much more that we don't know about Paul than what we know.
But what we know is miraculous. God chose the greatest enemy of the church to be it's greatest evangelist.
I thought that was an amazing idea after our look at the life of Paul last Tuesday. I came away from that study just astounded by the supernatural circumstances of Paul's conversion, calling and ministry. Paul's own perspective is that he miscarried; his life didn't progress to full term. It's like he thinks of his life before that day on the Damascus road as only a gestation period...he wasn't born yet.... then supernaturally born, abnormally born on that road, almost more of a death he never really recovered from. He required God's sustaining life. Life support.
Paul's life story is certainly different from any other and I really enjoyed trying to piece a timeline together from the small narrative here in Acts 9 and his own account of events in his letters.
Here's what we learn of Paul before Acts 9. This is backstory is related in Philippians 3:5-6. He was "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless." As a Jewish person, Paul was the best of the best. He had the right stuff. In fact, in Galatians 1:14 he says "I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." He was climbing the ladder and by implication over the backs of anyone he could climb faster than. He was an ambitious Pharisee with his sights on the powerful places in Judaism.
When we left the Jerusalem story in Acts 8:3 "Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison." The narrative continues in chapter 9 with Saul becoming so angry that the Jewish converts to Christ were getting away from him that he got letters from the High Priest himself to go to Damascus [about 150 miles] and bring back those who had fled to insure their proper punishment and imprisonment. He was "breathing out murderous threats"; his very atmosphere of his life, the breath he breathed was murder and threats.
Suddenly as he and his soldiers rushed toward the destruction of these enemies, light flashed around him and the light knocked him to the ground! Then a voice spoke out of the light saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
Saul replied, "Who are you, Lord?" We don't know what to make of that. Why did he call him Lord if he didn't know who he was? Why didn't he recognize Jesus as others did after the resurrection? But the question we do know the answer to is, "How scared was he?"
Jesus commanded him to get up and go into Damascus. Then he told him to await further orders. And Saul, blinded and confounded by the vision, did exactly as he was told.
Interestingly the people with him saw the light but didn't hear the voice. The voice was just for Saul. What a remarkable, miraculous calling! What is God going to do with this enemy of Christs? Maybe that's what Saul wondered about the next three days. He had given his life to Judaism, and after Jesus' death had devoted himself to destroying his followers...... and had been now been confronted by a very much alive and powerful Jesus. Everything he had ever believed was destroyed. He was so undone he didn't not eat or drink anything. But he remained in close communion with that living Christ! Verse 11 says Saul was praying and had a vision of Ananias restoring his sight.
This enemy of Christ had been stopped dead in his tracks. We hold our breath to hear the rest of the story, but God's word to Ananias tells it all. "This is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Literally Saul is God's instrument of choice.
After this, Saul spent several DAYS with the disciples in Damascus. AT ONCE he began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Days. Profound change. Now he finds himself the target of Jewish hatred and persecution and has to be lowered over the city wall by night to escape. That's only the first time that's going to happen.
If you want to think more about the change in Paul, there is much to be learned from 2 Corinthians 11:21-12:6, Paul's suffering for Christ. There is no better explanation or example of turning away from serving self to serve God. And there's some interesting biographical information in Galatians 1:11-2:10. Being me, I would love to say I have a timeline figured out for Paul's life. It's so intriguing. Even though Acts 11 to the end are about Paul and his missionary journeys, we discover in his letter to the Galatians events we've never heard of; a trip to Arabia and back to Damascus lasting three years; a 15 day meeting with Peter and James at a time he was filled with doubt; 14 years later the Jerusalem Council. We will fill some of that 14 years up with some mission work, but there is much more that we don't know about Paul than what we know.
But what we know is miraculous. God chose the greatest enemy of the church to be it's greatest evangelist.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Samaria and Judea
I'm not going to take much time to write today but I'm so far behind, that I want to get a word in. We covered chapters 1-7, which according to common outlines of the book of Acts, are the "Jerusalem" section... as in, "You will be my witnesses first in Jerusalem, then in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."[1:8]
Chapters 8-10 are "Judea and Samaria". In the persecution that followed Stephen's death, the Jewish Christians scattered to other Jewish communities near and far. Phillip is one who was scattered, but spread the word as he went. He is fascinating because of being just a common guy, not one of the Apostles. He was faithful and trustworthy as proven by his choice to be an overseer of the food distribution in chapter 6. Yet in Chapter 8 we find him using the same miraculous signs as Jesus used and as the Apostles are using to tell the story of the Kingdom of God. We see him begin in the place in Isaiah that the Ethiopian eunuch is reading and explain the Christ from that Old Testament scripture. We see him spirited away by the Spirit. And later in the book we will see that he has settled and raised a godly family in Caesarea where he is know as Philip the Evangelist. Obviously there is more to his story than is recorded in scripture.
The important fact in Luke's story line is that the Samaritans came to Christ, a fact officially recognized by calling Peter and John to witness it. In fact, in their presence the the Holy Spirit came upon these formerly hated neighbors. Again, there is clearly much more to the story. Jesus himself in conversation with the woman at the well said there was a time coming when all who worship him, all clearly meaning Jews and Samaritans, would worship not in a certain place, but in Spirit and in truth. Remember these words from John 4. "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did,' So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers." That incident must have profoundly influenced the disciples. They had been raised not to talk to Samaritans... Jews even walked around the country of Samaria rather than going through it. One wonders if Jesus "had to go through a town in Samaria" [4:4] to break that cultural ice for his disciples.
Today we are going to be studying Saul's conversion. That event had such a profound effect on the history of the church that we read in Acts 9:1 that Saul was breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He wasn't content to wipe them out in Jerusalem: he obtained permission to follow them wherever they fled to bring them back as prisoners to Jerusalem. His effect was so powerful that we read in 9:31, after his conversion, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace." It must be quite a story.
Chapters 8-10 are "Judea and Samaria". In the persecution that followed Stephen's death, the Jewish Christians scattered to other Jewish communities near and far. Phillip is one who was scattered, but spread the word as he went. He is fascinating because of being just a common guy, not one of the Apostles. He was faithful and trustworthy as proven by his choice to be an overseer of the food distribution in chapter 6. Yet in Chapter 8 we find him using the same miraculous signs as Jesus used and as the Apostles are using to tell the story of the Kingdom of God. We see him begin in the place in Isaiah that the Ethiopian eunuch is reading and explain the Christ from that Old Testament scripture. We see him spirited away by the Spirit. And later in the book we will see that he has settled and raised a godly family in Caesarea where he is know as Philip the Evangelist. Obviously there is more to his story than is recorded in scripture.
The important fact in Luke's story line is that the Samaritans came to Christ, a fact officially recognized by calling Peter and John to witness it. In fact, in their presence the the Holy Spirit came upon these formerly hated neighbors. Again, there is clearly much more to the story. Jesus himself in conversation with the woman at the well said there was a time coming when all who worship him, all clearly meaning Jews and Samaritans, would worship not in a certain place, but in Spirit and in truth. Remember these words from John 4. "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me everything I ever did,' So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers." That incident must have profoundly influenced the disciples. They had been raised not to talk to Samaritans... Jews even walked around the country of Samaria rather than going through it. One wonders if Jesus "had to go through a town in Samaria" [4:4] to break that cultural ice for his disciples.
Today we are going to be studying Saul's conversion. That event had such a profound effect on the history of the church that we read in Acts 9:1 that Saul was breathing murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He wasn't content to wipe them out in Jerusalem: he obtained permission to follow them wherever they fled to bring them back as prisoners to Jerusalem. His effect was so powerful that we read in 9:31, after his conversion, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace." It must be quite a story.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
In Jerusalem
Jesus commissioned his disciples to be witnesses to him in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Chapters 2-7 are a snapshot of their early witness in Jerusalem, where, not surprisingly, the people who killed Jesus aren't very excited about these people claiming he raised from the dead.
Peter and John are immediately jailed for healing a crippled beggar. Peter takes the opportunity to proclaim Jesus as the power behind the healing: the Apostles' ministry really functions as a continuation of Jesus own ministry with healing and miracles opening the door for the message. Miraculous signs. The Jewish rulers and elders find themselves powerless to stop this new movement. They threaten them but let them go.
Their threats mean nothing to the Apostles.....threats from the very men who killed Jesus just months before! On one occasion the men are angelically released from jail and when the guard summons them to appear before the rulers, they are already out preaching in the temple courts! I already wrote about them being changed men. The Holy Spirit in them is transforming them into true witnesses for Jesus.
This transition time is interesting as far as the function of the "church" is concerned. We see the Apostles going up to the temple to pray....at the appointed Jewish times of prayer! Yet they are at constant odds with the religious rulers. They also meet together in homes for fellowship, prayer and teaching. Individuals sell property to support those displaced by their new faith. It's tempting to draw conclusions for the church today out of these amazing stories, but at this time the predominately Jewish believers are just finding their way out of the old wine skin of Judaism and into the new wine of the Kingdom of God.
Already there is a rift between those with a Jewish background and those with Greek or gentile backgrounds. I was surprised to see these two groups distinguished from each other within Judaism; one would assume a Jewish proselyte became a Jew. Anyone who would go through circumcision as an adult to join a club surely should get full membership!
But the Hellenistic Jews [the rift was real enough that the groups were labeled!] feel their widows are getting shorted in the food distribution. The Apostles let the people chose 6 men to oversee the distribution and they chose 6 very godly men, but interestingly, all of Greek backgrounds.
Then in the background to the story of Stephen we find a so called Synagogue of the Freedmen... within Judaism apparently this separation of Jews and Greeks was well established. One must wonder if the debates in this Synagogue of the Freedmen would more quickly get to the idea the Jesus didn't just come for the Jews. If that seems logical, it doesn't lessen the fierceness of the debate. In fact, out of their debate Stephen becomes this new faith's first martyr.
We must keep in mind Luke's agenda as we see the space devoted to Stephen's defense, a pattern of writing Luke develops thoroughly in the rest of the book. As he records the history of the early church at a time when persecution and trouble are really just getting started, Luke finds it necessary to prove that this young church is not the instigator. It is true that they will not be silenced. But the violence is clearly laid at the feet of the Jewish leaders.
[Although the Jews unfortunately have a history of persecution, one would hate to think that the terrible treatment of the Jewish people through the middle ages and even the 20th Century was influenced by this. One clearly hears the accusation, "Christ Killers" echo through the corridors of history.]
Almost everyone we are reading about so far is Jewish. We have the three kinds of followers of God in this earliest Christian era. Jews were born Jewish. Proselytes were born gentile but totally practiced the Jewish law and religion including circumcision. The only way to God was through the Jews. Yet we also have God-fearing men....[we will read about another one, Cornelius, in chapter 10]... monotheistic in their practice of religion, yet not accepting the totality of the Jewish law. Men who believed in God but did not become Jewish.
It think it's important to keep this in mind as we continue. Luke is not anti-Semitic. All the Apostles are Jews. The 3000 saved at Pentecost were Jews. Nearly everyone in Jerusalem, both those who hated Jesus and those who loved and followed him, were Jews.
Now I've lost my train of though, but the problem of Jews and Greeks united in the worship of God was already a problem in Jewish Jerusalem. It rears its ugly head already in chapter 6 with the issue of distribution of food, and it will be a main theme in much of the New Testament.
But Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew who believed in Jesus [now I remember what I was writing about] and was in conflict especially with the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which was likely where he worshiped. They accused him of sin against the temple and against the customs of Moses. His defense becomes much easier to understand if you keep in your head those two charges that are made against him.
Number 1: God has always been bigger than just the Jewish religion. He was before creation, remember, but Stephen's defense only goes back to Abraham, who predates the Jewish religion by generations.
Number 2: the Jews themselves have a history of ignoring both God and Moses. Stephen claims he is agreeing with Moses in 7:37. "This is that Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.'" This prophet was Jesus.
Number 3: "Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my footstool." God is not contained in within the Jewish religion or the Jewish temple. God is available, in Peter's words from Pentecost, to "all who call upon the name of the Lord."
Stephen died for those big truths, gazing into heaven and seeing God himself and Jesus standing at his side.
And with that, [8:1] a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." The narrative of the book of Acts moves with them. Chapters 8-12 are going to show the followers of Jesus being witnesses to him there, in obedience to his commission to them.
Peter and John are immediately jailed for healing a crippled beggar. Peter takes the opportunity to proclaim Jesus as the power behind the healing: the Apostles' ministry really functions as a continuation of Jesus own ministry with healing and miracles opening the door for the message. Miraculous signs. The Jewish rulers and elders find themselves powerless to stop this new movement. They threaten them but let them go.
Their threats mean nothing to the Apostles.....threats from the very men who killed Jesus just months before! On one occasion the men are angelically released from jail and when the guard summons them to appear before the rulers, they are already out preaching in the temple courts! I already wrote about them being changed men. The Holy Spirit in them is transforming them into true witnesses for Jesus.
This transition time is interesting as far as the function of the "church" is concerned. We see the Apostles going up to the temple to pray....at the appointed Jewish times of prayer! Yet they are at constant odds with the religious rulers. They also meet together in homes for fellowship, prayer and teaching. Individuals sell property to support those displaced by their new faith. It's tempting to draw conclusions for the church today out of these amazing stories, but at this time the predominately Jewish believers are just finding their way out of the old wine skin of Judaism and into the new wine of the Kingdom of God.
Already there is a rift between those with a Jewish background and those with Greek or gentile backgrounds. I was surprised to see these two groups distinguished from each other within Judaism; one would assume a Jewish proselyte became a Jew. Anyone who would go through circumcision as an adult to join a club surely should get full membership!
But the Hellenistic Jews [the rift was real enough that the groups were labeled!] feel their widows are getting shorted in the food distribution. The Apostles let the people chose 6 men to oversee the distribution and they chose 6 very godly men, but interestingly, all of Greek backgrounds.
Then in the background to the story of Stephen we find a so called Synagogue of the Freedmen... within Judaism apparently this separation of Jews and Greeks was well established. One must wonder if the debates in this Synagogue of the Freedmen would more quickly get to the idea the Jesus didn't just come for the Jews. If that seems logical, it doesn't lessen the fierceness of the debate. In fact, out of their debate Stephen becomes this new faith's first martyr.
We must keep in mind Luke's agenda as we see the space devoted to Stephen's defense, a pattern of writing Luke develops thoroughly in the rest of the book. As he records the history of the early church at a time when persecution and trouble are really just getting started, Luke finds it necessary to prove that this young church is not the instigator. It is true that they will not be silenced. But the violence is clearly laid at the feet of the Jewish leaders.
[Although the Jews unfortunately have a history of persecution, one would hate to think that the terrible treatment of the Jewish people through the middle ages and even the 20th Century was influenced by this. One clearly hears the accusation, "Christ Killers" echo through the corridors of history.]
Almost everyone we are reading about so far is Jewish. We have the three kinds of followers of God in this earliest Christian era. Jews were born Jewish. Proselytes were born gentile but totally practiced the Jewish law and religion including circumcision. The only way to God was through the Jews. Yet we also have God-fearing men....[we will read about another one, Cornelius, in chapter 10]... monotheistic in their practice of religion, yet not accepting the totality of the Jewish law. Men who believed in God but did not become Jewish.
It think it's important to keep this in mind as we continue. Luke is not anti-Semitic. All the Apostles are Jews. The 3000 saved at Pentecost were Jews. Nearly everyone in Jerusalem, both those who hated Jesus and those who loved and followed him, were Jews.
Now I've lost my train of though, but the problem of Jews and Greeks united in the worship of God was already a problem in Jewish Jerusalem. It rears its ugly head already in chapter 6 with the issue of distribution of food, and it will be a main theme in much of the New Testament.
But Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew who believed in Jesus [now I remember what I was writing about] and was in conflict especially with the Synagogue of the Freedmen, which was likely where he worshiped. They accused him of sin against the temple and against the customs of Moses. His defense becomes much easier to understand if you keep in your head those two charges that are made against him.
Number 1: God has always been bigger than just the Jewish religion. He was before creation, remember, but Stephen's defense only goes back to Abraham, who predates the Jewish religion by generations.
Number 2: the Jews themselves have a history of ignoring both God and Moses. Stephen claims he is agreeing with Moses in 7:37. "This is that Moses who told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.'" This prophet was Jesus.
Number 3: "Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my footstool." God is not contained in within the Jewish religion or the Jewish temple. God is available, in Peter's words from Pentecost, to "all who call upon the name of the Lord."
Stephen died for those big truths, gazing into heaven and seeing God himself and Jesus standing at his side.
And with that, [8:1] a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." The narrative of the book of Acts moves with them. Chapters 8-12 are going to show the followers of Jesus being witnesses to him there, in obedience to his commission to them.
Friday, February 26, 2016
Changed Men
Acts 2:14 says "Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd." He is a changed man. They all are changed men. They have spent the 40 days with the risen Christ as he opened their eyes to the scripture and explained again their mission to spread the kingdom of God. They have spent 10 days in prayer, waiting exactly as commanded, in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. And now the Holy Spirit has come and they are changed men.
The next section of Acts [2-8:3] is going to show us how changed these men, especially Peter, really are. The church explodes in Jerusalem. 3000 saved that first sermon! The summary in 2:47 says "The Lord added to their number DAILY those who were being saved."
Chapter three begins the story of Jesus working through these changed men. It begins like any other day. "One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon." We already read at the end of chapter 2 that these new believers were meeting regularly in the temple courts, as well as in various homes. This is a day like any other day. But Peter saw a beggar waiting by the gate for a handout and said to him, I don't have money, but I'll give you what I have.... stand up and walk!
What possessed Peter to say that? Clearly it was the leading of the Holy Spirit because the man, indeed, did get up and walk! We don't know if this was the first time Peter had healed someone. We don't even know how much time has passed. We only know Peter healed him. I love watching the movies of the gospels and Acts (the ones that are word for word from the Bible, especially) and in this place the look on John's face is incredulous. Evidently he didn't get the same message! You can see him wondering if Peter's lost his mind!
Just as Jesus used his miracles as a springboard for his message, Peter now does the same thing. He delivers another sermon to the "Men of Israel" again pointing out their part in Christ's death, but focusing on his resurrection. Jesus didn't stay dead. In fact, it's Jesus who healed this man standing before you. Again Peter uses the Old Testament, quoting Moses, and summarizing that "all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." [3:24]
At this point the captain of the Temple guard and the Sadducees seized Peter and John and put them in jail. In 4:5 we find the same men questioning them as were involved in the arrest, trial and death of Jesus! But we do not find Peter and John cowering and hiding. The are bold and sure of the truth. "It is by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed."
That's very bold. Not only do they accuse these leaders of the wrongful death of Jesus, but they bring up that controversial subject, resurrection. These men don't even believe there is such a thing as resurrection. It's a point of division between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Death is the end. It's against all they believe.
Peter and John are changed men. No greater testament to the astounding effect of the Spirit is written than the words of 4:13, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Jesus told the disciples they were going to do greater things than He did. Look at what they are doing in chapters 3 and 4 and remember: this is only the beginning.
The next section of Acts [2-8:3] is going to show us how changed these men, especially Peter, really are. The church explodes in Jerusalem. 3000 saved that first sermon! The summary in 2:47 says "The Lord added to their number DAILY those who were being saved."
Chapter three begins the story of Jesus working through these changed men. It begins like any other day. "One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon." We already read at the end of chapter 2 that these new believers were meeting regularly in the temple courts, as well as in various homes. This is a day like any other day. But Peter saw a beggar waiting by the gate for a handout and said to him, I don't have money, but I'll give you what I have.... stand up and walk!
What possessed Peter to say that? Clearly it was the leading of the Holy Spirit because the man, indeed, did get up and walk! We don't know if this was the first time Peter had healed someone. We don't even know how much time has passed. We only know Peter healed him. I love watching the movies of the gospels and Acts (the ones that are word for word from the Bible, especially) and in this place the look on John's face is incredulous. Evidently he didn't get the same message! You can see him wondering if Peter's lost his mind!
Just as Jesus used his miracles as a springboard for his message, Peter now does the same thing. He delivers another sermon to the "Men of Israel" again pointing out their part in Christ's death, but focusing on his resurrection. Jesus didn't stay dead. In fact, it's Jesus who healed this man standing before you. Again Peter uses the Old Testament, quoting Moses, and summarizing that "all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." [3:24]
At this point the captain of the Temple guard and the Sadducees seized Peter and John and put them in jail. In 4:5 we find the same men questioning them as were involved in the arrest, trial and death of Jesus! But we do not find Peter and John cowering and hiding. The are bold and sure of the truth. "It is by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed."
That's very bold. Not only do they accuse these leaders of the wrongful death of Jesus, but they bring up that controversial subject, resurrection. These men don't even believe there is such a thing as resurrection. It's a point of division between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Death is the end. It's against all they believe.
Peter and John are changed men. No greater testament to the astounding effect of the Spirit is written than the words of 4:13, "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Jesus told the disciples they were going to do greater things than He did. Look at what they are doing in chapters 3 and 4 and remember: this is only the beginning.
Monday, February 22, 2016
When the day of Pentecost came....
There are places in the Bible where God's control of the timing are nothing short of astounding. Jesus' death on the day of the celebration of the Passover Lamb is a wonderful picture. The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is equally amazing.
Bruce's commentary [The Book of Acts, F. F. Bruce] points out some details. Pentekostos, as we should have been able to figure out on our own, is 50. The 50th day after the first Sunday after Passover was the festival of first fruits. The first sheaf of the barley harvest was presented to God. Jewish tradition says the law was given from Mt. Sinai the same day and the Feast of Firstfruits or Feast of Weeks also remembered the giving of the Law.
The tie to the giving of the Law at Sinai is something I've never heard before, but it is surely not coincidentally similar. According to rabbinic tradition, the ten commandments were announced in a single voice, but all the people perceived "the voices" [Ex 2-18].
"As the voice went forth it was divided into seven voices and then went into seventy tongues, and every people received the law in its own language." [Bruce pg 54] Bruce sees that background, the feast as a commemoration of that miraculous gift of tongues at the giving of the law, in the crowd's reaction: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? --we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! What does this mean?"
Peter chooses a passage from Joel, a prophecy about the last days, to explain what is happening. "Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." [Joel 2:29]. Peter is saying these last days, the days of the fulfillment of God's purpose has arrived. The key is that the Spirit is poured out on everyone, something that had never happened before. In that pouring out is foreshadowed the change to come, and the wonderful promise, "And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Everyone? Yes: Jew, proselyte, Greek, gentile and barbarian. The Spirit is poured out on the world and the World is free to receive Him by faith in Jesus.
What a remarkable change! This is not a reformation of the Mosaic Law but the announcement of a new law, the Law of Grace. Each one can hear in his own language the Spirit of God speaking into his own heart. And each one can respond out of their own heart, calling on the one who has removed all barriers between man and God.
Bruce's commentary [The Book of Acts, F. F. Bruce] points out some details. Pentekostos, as we should have been able to figure out on our own, is 50. The 50th day after the first Sunday after Passover was the festival of first fruits. The first sheaf of the barley harvest was presented to God. Jewish tradition says the law was given from Mt. Sinai the same day and the Feast of Firstfruits or Feast of Weeks also remembered the giving of the Law.
The tie to the giving of the Law at Sinai is something I've never heard before, but it is surely not coincidentally similar. According to rabbinic tradition, the ten commandments were announced in a single voice, but all the people perceived "the voices" [Ex 2-18].
"As the voice went forth it was divided into seven voices and then went into seventy tongues, and every people received the law in its own language." [Bruce pg 54] Bruce sees that background, the feast as a commemoration of that miraculous gift of tongues at the giving of the law, in the crowd's reaction: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? --we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! What does this mean?"
Peter chooses a passage from Joel, a prophecy about the last days, to explain what is happening. "Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days." [Joel 2:29]. Peter is saying these last days, the days of the fulfillment of God's purpose has arrived. The key is that the Spirit is poured out on everyone, something that had never happened before. In that pouring out is foreshadowed the change to come, and the wonderful promise, "And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Everyone? Yes: Jew, proselyte, Greek, gentile and barbarian. The Spirit is poured out on the world and the World is free to receive Him by faith in Jesus.
What a remarkable change! This is not a reformation of the Mosaic Law but the announcement of a new law, the Law of Grace. Each one can hear in his own language the Spirit of God speaking into his own heart. And each one can respond out of their own heart, calling on the one who has removed all barriers between man and God.
Monday, February 15, 2016
What did the Book of Luke say?
We reviewed Luke last week both because of the long break we had and because looking more at the background in preparation for Acts has really clarified the book of Luke in my mind. Probably should have done it sooner! LOL.
But... we found we could fairly easily think our way through Luke. The narrative books are nice that way.
Luke 1-3 starts at the beginning....way at the beginning with the announcements of both the births of John and of Jesus. We noticed again how carefully Luke detailed times and places in his desire to provide an accurate historical background for all that would happen next.
Luke 4-7 is all we have of Jesus early ministry and significantly it centers around the call of three disciples, Peter, James and John. They are the "main" Apostles early in the book of Acts, so their calling is dutifully recorded. Also Jesus' announcement of the 12 Apostles is almost formal here: Luke's recording it for history.
Of course there are miracles; they were a significant testimony to who Christ was, both in the fact no one could do them that wasn't God, and that they were prophesied to reveal Christ when he came.
At the beginning of Luke 8 they, [Jesus, his disciples and the women] were "traveling about proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God." This section is all Luke records about most of the time Jesus was ministering on earth. Again we have documentation of miracles. Luke also records the large crowds following him in 8:4, 8:40, 9:14, and 9:37. This was not accomplished in secret. Jesus' life and preaching were a major historic event.
There's a transition in 9:44. Jesus admonishes the disciples to listen carefully and then tells them he's going to die. All the crowds and the excitement are making them think the kingdom is about to be established and he says to them.... I'm going to die. They don't understand it. They don't believe it.
They continue to argue about who will be the greatest.... probably thinking about the cushiest job in the kingdom...secretary of state or vice president....something big.
The next 10 chapters record Jesus last 6 months of life. In 19:28 the text says Jesus is headed to Jerusalem to die. I think that's why this section has such a big focus on discipleship and counting the cost and making the conscious choice to follow him. Jesus is getting his followers ready for their mission. Luke is getting his readers ready for Acts.
In chapter 19, verse 28 Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. He's proclaimed King! But the Jewish leaders repeatedly ask, by whose authority are you doing these things. It's all coming to a head.
Jesus trials are recorded in most of chapter 23. Look carefully at verses 4, 11, 13, 15, 22, and 25. Six times Jesus is found innocent. Luke wants everyone to be clear on this point: Jesus was not executed as a law breaker or because of rebellion and sedition. He was executed because of the disbelief of the leaders of Judaism, and more importantly, because of the will of God. He said he was going to die, and he did.
Luke's record of Jesus death, burial and resurrection, like the record of his birth, is full of names and places. We know exactly who the Jewish leaders were, who was the governor and king, who helped Jesus carry the cross and who rescued and buried the body. Historical detail. You don't believe Jesus was really dead? Ask Joseph of Aramethea... he handled the body. Would he have sealed him in a tomb if there was a chance he was still alive? The readers of Luke could have probably found Joseph's son or at least grandson and asked him about it. Historical detail.
We found we could think our way through a very simple outline of Luke:
Jesus birth,
the beginnings of his ministry and foundation for future ministry by establishing the Apostles,
the vast crowds during the middle years of his ministry,
the preparation of the disciples for that future ministry in Jesus' last 6 months,
his arrest, death and resurrection in Jerusalem.
But... we found we could fairly easily think our way through Luke. The narrative books are nice that way.
Luke 1-3 starts at the beginning....way at the beginning with the announcements of both the births of John and of Jesus. We noticed again how carefully Luke detailed times and places in his desire to provide an accurate historical background for all that would happen next.
Luke 4-7 is all we have of Jesus early ministry and significantly it centers around the call of three disciples, Peter, James and John. They are the "main" Apostles early in the book of Acts, so their calling is dutifully recorded. Also Jesus' announcement of the 12 Apostles is almost formal here: Luke's recording it for history.
Of course there are miracles; they were a significant testimony to who Christ was, both in the fact no one could do them that wasn't God, and that they were prophesied to reveal Christ when he came.
At the beginning of Luke 8 they, [Jesus, his disciples and the women] were "traveling about proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God." This section is all Luke records about most of the time Jesus was ministering on earth. Again we have documentation of miracles. Luke also records the large crowds following him in 8:4, 8:40, 9:14, and 9:37. This was not accomplished in secret. Jesus' life and preaching were a major historic event.
There's a transition in 9:44. Jesus admonishes the disciples to listen carefully and then tells them he's going to die. All the crowds and the excitement are making them think the kingdom is about to be established and he says to them.... I'm going to die. They don't understand it. They don't believe it.
They continue to argue about who will be the greatest.... probably thinking about the cushiest job in the kingdom...secretary of state or vice president....something big.
The next 10 chapters record Jesus last 6 months of life. In 19:28 the text says Jesus is headed to Jerusalem to die. I think that's why this section has such a big focus on discipleship and counting the cost and making the conscious choice to follow him. Jesus is getting his followers ready for their mission. Luke is getting his readers ready for Acts.
In chapter 19, verse 28 Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. He's proclaimed King! But the Jewish leaders repeatedly ask, by whose authority are you doing these things. It's all coming to a head.
Jesus trials are recorded in most of chapter 23. Look carefully at verses 4, 11, 13, 15, 22, and 25. Six times Jesus is found innocent. Luke wants everyone to be clear on this point: Jesus was not executed as a law breaker or because of rebellion and sedition. He was executed because of the disbelief of the leaders of Judaism, and more importantly, because of the will of God. He said he was going to die, and he did.
Luke's record of Jesus death, burial and resurrection, like the record of his birth, is full of names and places. We know exactly who the Jewish leaders were, who was the governor and king, who helped Jesus carry the cross and who rescued and buried the body. Historical detail. You don't believe Jesus was really dead? Ask Joseph of Aramethea... he handled the body. Would he have sealed him in a tomb if there was a chance he was still alive? The readers of Luke could have probably found Joseph's son or at least grandson and asked him about it. Historical detail.
We found we could think our way through a very simple outline of Luke:
Jesus birth,
the beginnings of his ministry and foundation for future ministry by establishing the Apostles,
the vast crowds during the middle years of his ministry,
the preparation of the disciples for that future ministry in Jesus' last 6 months,
his arrest, death and resurrection in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Being a Disciple
When we were studying from Luke 13, "Jesus went through the towns and villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem", through 19:28, where Jesus actually gets to Jerusalem, I got very caught up in the text's concept of following Christ. He focuses so much in that section [the last 6 months of his life] on counting the cost, making sure you're "in", making choices and following through.
You will remember me asking the question, "Is everyone who is called to be a follower of Jesus called to be a disciple?" Most of you thought no, but I was very much, because of my focus on the text, thinking yes: we are all called, we all need to count the cost, we all are required to give up everything and follow him. There is certainly a sense that is true.
But wriggling around in the back of my mind was this verse my quiet husband loves from First Thessalonians 4: 11, 12. "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." Neither Paul nor Peter spring to mind when you define a life as quiet, minding your own business. Is there a different way to follow Jesus, a regular guy kind of disciple?
As I've had plenty of time [lol] the last three weeks, I've been looking at that thought. I've been trying to think back to two things. 1) What was Jesus focus in those last 6 months? 2) What is Luke's focus in the gospel story he is telling us?
Luke wrote a two part account originally circulated as The History of Christian Origins. The accounts were only later separated when the four Gospels were grouped together for circulation throughout the church, the Apostle, was formed as a collection of some of Paul's letters , and the Acts of the Apostles was left as a freestanding entity. It's intention was never as a free standing entity, but I think it's isolation from Luke influences our understand of Luke more than it does our understanding of Acts.
If we think about the story Luke is telling in Acts, the story of the beginning of the church, and realize he is telling the same story in Luke, then his purpose becomes more clear. Luke's account that last 6 months is Jesus' preparation of those early disciples and Apostles [remember at one time Jesus sent out 72] for his death, his resurrection and the subsequent, literal dropping of the ministry into those disciples' hands.
So we are back to the transitional quality of these unique books, the Gospels and Acts. The five books tell the story of the men and women who pioneered the ministry. These men and women learned from Jesus, carried out his teaching about the Kingdom of God after his death and resurrection, and went on to fulfill his teaching by establishing the church. They were His witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and finally to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Who are we? We are the church. Our role might be different than theirs. Our job may be to live out the Kingdom in Community, in our larger community, loving each other and acting like Jesus. First Thess. certainly isn't the only place in the Bible that encourages us to do that. It may be that our ideas of what it means to be a disciple would be better gleaned from the letters to the churches than from the Gospels.
Too "Covenant Theology"? Maybe. I don't know. I'm still just thinking about it.
You will remember me asking the question, "Is everyone who is called to be a follower of Jesus called to be a disciple?" Most of you thought no, but I was very much, because of my focus on the text, thinking yes: we are all called, we all need to count the cost, we all are required to give up everything and follow him. There is certainly a sense that is true.
But wriggling around in the back of my mind was this verse my quiet husband loves from First Thessalonians 4: 11, 12. "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." Neither Paul nor Peter spring to mind when you define a life as quiet, minding your own business. Is there a different way to follow Jesus, a regular guy kind of disciple?
As I've had plenty of time [lol] the last three weeks, I've been looking at that thought. I've been trying to think back to two things. 1) What was Jesus focus in those last 6 months? 2) What is Luke's focus in the gospel story he is telling us?
Luke wrote a two part account originally circulated as The History of Christian Origins. The accounts were only later separated when the four Gospels were grouped together for circulation throughout the church, the Apostle, was formed as a collection of some of Paul's letters , and the Acts of the Apostles was left as a freestanding entity. It's intention was never as a free standing entity, but I think it's isolation from Luke influences our understand of Luke more than it does our understanding of Acts.
If we think about the story Luke is telling in Acts, the story of the beginning of the church, and realize he is telling the same story in Luke, then his purpose becomes more clear. Luke's account that last 6 months is Jesus' preparation of those early disciples and Apostles [remember at one time Jesus sent out 72] for his death, his resurrection and the subsequent, literal dropping of the ministry into those disciples' hands.
So we are back to the transitional quality of these unique books, the Gospels and Acts. The five books tell the story of the men and women who pioneered the ministry. These men and women learned from Jesus, carried out his teaching about the Kingdom of God after his death and resurrection, and went on to fulfill his teaching by establishing the church. They were His witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and finally to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Who are we? We are the church. Our role might be different than theirs. Our job may be to live out the Kingdom in Community, in our larger community, loving each other and acting like Jesus. First Thess. certainly isn't the only place in the Bible that encourages us to do that. It may be that our ideas of what it means to be a disciple would be better gleaned from the letters to the churches than from the Gospels.
Too "Covenant Theology"? Maybe. I don't know. I'm still just thinking about it.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Luke's Ending: Acts' Beginning
It interests me to compare the way that Luke concluded his namesake book after the resurrection, and begin the book of Acts after the resurrection. The accounts are not identical. Let's look at Luke first.
The Road to Emmaus is a very famous story, yet recorded only in Luke's gospel. Well, Mark tells the story in two verses, but Luke devotes 22 verses to this remarkable story.
"Now that same day," Luke 24:13 begins, the day of the resurrection, while Peter and the Apostles were wondering what had happened, two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem. We don't know why they were going. Maybe they were just keeping moving. Maybe they could just think better moving because scripture says as they were walking they "were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him."
For some reason they were kept from recognizing Jesus; and their eyes were opened at the end of the story. But as the story begins Cleopas (Mary the wife of Cleopas was one of the women at the cross re: John 19:25) and his unnamed friend, discussing everything that happened. They have the unusual opportunity to explain to Jesus recent events from Jerusalem.
[vs 19] "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel."
Their hope disappointed. And with that disappointment they forgot they believed Jesus was God. They demoted him to prophet; a wonderful and powerful prophet, but one who fell short of redeeming Israel. But the don't know what to make of the rest of the story.
[vs 22] "In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." What a mystery. They believed he was God, until he died. What does this new information mean?
I wish I could have heard Jesus' explanation of events. "'Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." The message is clear. You don't have to give up on the Christ, the Chosen Messiah, because of this mystery. Moses and all the prophets have predicted this very thing.
I think Luke is setting the stage for the book of Acts. This story is certainly not over. And what better way to communicate that than this remarkable account of the RISEN Christ, continuing to teach his disciples.
They couldn't bear for the meeting to end and persuaded him to stay in Emmaus and eat with them. Why didn't we recognize him? "Out hearts burned" while he was with them. Their emotions recognized their Lord; their eyes did not.Then he sat with them, broke bread, gave thanks and gave it to them...... probably something they had seen Jesus do over and over again.... and their eyes were opened.
Then they were brokenhearted again as he disappeared from their sight. But what now? [vs 33] "They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'"
Luke has proven what he needs to prove. Jesus is still alive. His death is not the end. The story is not over. The great commission and ascension are only end notes in the book of Luke. There's going to be a sequel.
So Acts picks up the story, citing many "convincing proofs that he was alive,"and also picking up the $64,000 question. "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Jesus continues to brush the question aside. It's not important. Here's what's important; your mission. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
So they do wait in Jerusalem. And you won't believe what they accomplish.
The Road to Emmaus is a very famous story, yet recorded only in Luke's gospel. Well, Mark tells the story in two verses, but Luke devotes 22 verses to this remarkable story.
"Now that same day," Luke 24:13 begins, the day of the resurrection, while Peter and the Apostles were wondering what had happened, two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem. We don't know why they were going. Maybe they were just keeping moving. Maybe they could just think better moving because scripture says as they were walking they "were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him."
For some reason they were kept from recognizing Jesus; and their eyes were opened at the end of the story. But as the story begins Cleopas (Mary the wife of Cleopas was one of the women at the cross re: John 19:25) and his unnamed friend, discussing everything that happened. They have the unusual opportunity to explain to Jesus recent events from Jerusalem.
[vs 19] "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel."
Their hope disappointed. And with that disappointment they forgot they believed Jesus was God. They demoted him to prophet; a wonderful and powerful prophet, but one who fell short of redeeming Israel. But the don't know what to make of the rest of the story.
[vs 22] "In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." What a mystery. They believed he was God, until he died. What does this new information mean?
I wish I could have heard Jesus' explanation of events. "'Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." The message is clear. You don't have to give up on the Christ, the Chosen Messiah, because of this mystery. Moses and all the prophets have predicted this very thing.
I think Luke is setting the stage for the book of Acts. This story is certainly not over. And what better way to communicate that than this remarkable account of the RISEN Christ, continuing to teach his disciples.
They couldn't bear for the meeting to end and persuaded him to stay in Emmaus and eat with them. Why didn't we recognize him? "Out hearts burned" while he was with them. Their emotions recognized their Lord; their eyes did not.Then he sat with them, broke bread, gave thanks and gave it to them...... probably something they had seen Jesus do over and over again.... and their eyes were opened.
Then they were brokenhearted again as he disappeared from their sight. But what now? [vs 33] "They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, 'It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'"
Luke has proven what he needs to prove. Jesus is still alive. His death is not the end. The story is not over. The great commission and ascension are only end notes in the book of Luke. There's going to be a sequel.
So Acts picks up the story, citing many "convincing proofs that he was alive,"and also picking up the $64,000 question. "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Jesus continues to brush the question aside. It's not important. Here's what's important; your mission. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
So they do wait in Jerusalem. And you won't believe what they accomplish.
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