Acts 1:12-26

After Jesus ascended, the disciples obeyed His instruction to stay in Jerusalem by returning to Olivet, an acceptable Sabbath distance from Jerusalem.  What is a Sabbath distance?  The Law states man is not suppose to travel on the Sabbath (Exodus 16:29).  However, sometimes travel was necessary, so the religious leaders set an acceptable distance in which one could travel on the Sabbath.  By Jesus' time, this distance was 4,000 cubits, a little under a mile.  So, basically, the disciples are staying in a suburb of Jerusalem. 

Gathered together are the eleven remaining apostles along with Mary - Jesus' mother, His brothers, and other women.  Note that women were always welcome in the fellowship.  They weren't considered second class citizens either!  As we continue to read Acts, we will see the important positions women had within the ministry.  Peter stands up and gives a lengthy speech that basically states they need to replace Judas Iscariot.  Two men are selected and after prayer, they voted on Matthias as the replacement. 

What happened to Judas Iscariot?  Some think that the Bible gives us two stories.  In fact, we have parts and pieces of the full story spread through the gospels.  So, let's look at a quick unfolding of the events found in Matthew 27:3-8 & Acts 1:16-19.

Judas returns to the Jewish council and throws the money at their feet.  The chief priests took the money and purchased a field in Judas' name because they didn't want tainted blood money.  The field became a potter's field, a place of burial for unknown or indigent people.  Meanwhile, Judas hangs himself.  When his body is cut down, it falls onto the ground and bursts open.  Pretty harsh, but not uncommon due to the decomposition of a body.  Why does Luke include such a graphic image in his writing?  I think there are three reasons:  1)  Luke was a doctor, so he would have been interested in the clinical details of Judas' death.  2)  To show people that Judas not only suffered a horrible death, but his body continued to be disregarded after death.  3)  To show that there are always consequences to poor choices. 

Acts 1:1-11

I'm back from a nice vacation with my family.  We went on a cruise to celebrate our son's graduation from High School and acceptance into the Navy's Nuclear Program.  It was a bittersweet vacation.  Sweet - because we spent time as a family.  Bitter - because at the back of our minds, we know that Mason will soon be leaving home to begin a new journey in his life.  Sweet - because we are so excited for him.  Bitter - because we know how much we will miss him.

I wonder if the disciples felt this way?  Excited for the challenges ahead, but sorrowful for the earthly loss of their teacher and friend.  Change, while exciting and necessary, is hard & sometimes scary.  Today we will begin the book of Acts.  Acts was written by the physician Luke as a sequel to his gospel.  It traces the establishment and spread of the Christian church. 

In today's reading, Luke sums up Jesus' earthly ministry after His death and resurrection.  Jesus appeared to the disciples over a forty day period.  During this time, He continued to teach them.  He also instructed them to stay in Jerusalem.  The disciples wonder if now is the time that Jesus will restore the kingdom of Israel.  Remember, many believed that the messiah would be a political leader who would restore the statehood of Israel.  Jesus tells them that the Father will accomplish all things in His time, the disciples need to focus on another kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, they are to continue to preach and witness concerning the kingdom of heaven and Jesus. 

After 40 days, Jesus is taken up to heaven.  It is important that the disciples witness this for it let them know without a doubt that Jesus was God and His home is heaven.  Two angels appear as Jesus ascends to remind the disciples that one day, Jesus will return in the same way He left.

So, what should I take from all this?
1)  Jesus is God.
2)  As His disciples, we are to witness to everyone.  All are equal & no one gets ignored.
3)  The Holy Spirit is a powerful helper - listen to Him, rely on Him.
4)  Jesus will return one day.
5)  Don't fall into the trap of believing what you think you know.  Form a relationship with Jesus.  Get into His Word.  Read, study, pray, seek & then rely on what He tells you. 

Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24:44-53

Mark tell us that Jesus was taken up to heaven to sit at the right hand of God.  This signifies that He completed His work, has the authority as God, and has been coronated King.  The disciples obeyed & preached the Word.
 - so two short Scriptures define who Jesus is & what we are to do. 

Luke goes into a little more detail.  In Acts Luke tells us that Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples.  After that time the events of 24:44-53 take place.  Jesus summarizes who He is & what His ministry is - He is God, who died on the cross to forgive your sins.  We are to tell the world about Him.  Jesus promised a helper - the Holy Spirit.  He is available to every believer today.  But, the disciples are to stay in the city - Jerusalem - until the helper arrives.  Then Jesus led them to Bethany, blessed them and was taken up to heaven. 

So - Jesus is God, He died, rose, and ascended into heaven.  He paid the price for sin - yours & mine.  If we believe that statement, we are believers.  Go out and tell others - become a disciple. 

I'm heading out for 10 days to celebrate my son's graduation & recruitment into the Navy.  While I'm gone, read through James.  It's a great how-to book.  As you read each day, comment on this page or Facebook & let us know what you are learning.

Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18

Even after Jesus' resurrection, some doubted.  They saw Him on the cross or they heard direct eye witnesses tell them about it.  They saw Him after His resurrection.  They saw the wounds, watched His miracles over sickness, physics, and death.  Yet still some doubted.  How often have you thought, "if I could just see Him, talk to Him, watch a miracle, I won't have any doubt."  Well, seeing isn't always believing.  Seeing definitely isn't faith, it isn't trust.  You still need to decide whether or not you will follow. 

To those who follow - Jesus gives them a purpose.  Isn't it nice to have something to do?  I remember the end of my first pregnancy when the doctors put me on bed rest.  At first I was so excited to have nothing to do but lay in my bed & read, until about halfway through the first day.  Then I was bored, bored, bored.  I wanted something to do.  Don't we all?  We were created for purpose.  Even in the garden, Adam & Eve had purpose, they tended the garden.  So, what is our purpose as believers?

Go & make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey Jesus' teachings. 
 - a disciple is a disciplined follower - I belief & I will follow
 - baptism is a public acknowledgement of belief

Jesus then reminds them that He will be with them always.  These instructions & promised didn't end 2,000 years ago.  They are still in effect today.  We are to follow, to obey, to make public proclamations of our faith.  We are to teach others to love God too.  How are you doing with your purpose?  Spend time in prayer this week concerning your fulfilment of this purpose.  What are you doing well?  What needs improvement.  What is God calling you to do?

John 21:1-25

Pastor Joe just gave a sermon on this passage last week.  Let's take a look.

The disciples have gone back to what they know - fishing.  This is pretty typical, when our world has fallen around us & things seem out of control, we fall back on what we know.  So, they fish all night & catch nothing.  Does this sound familiar?  When they met Jesus for the first time, they were also returning from an unsuccessful fishing trip. 

Jesus speaks to them from the shoreline & they don't recognize Him.  Once again scripture teaches us to open our eyes & pay attention.  We don't see what we aren't looking for.  Our minds make assumptions for us regarding what we see & what we know.  Have you ever seen the optical illusion tricks were letters are replaced with numbers or the letters in the middle of the word are mixed up.  We can still read it because our minds use our experiences and knowledge to interpret what we see.  So, the disciples are simply talking to a man on the shoreline.  He gives them some fishing advice, they take it & suddenly they have an abundance of fish.  John's (the disciple who Jesus loved) mind lights up - this has happened before when we met Jesus.  John then recognizes Jesus & Peter - oh, spontaneous all or nothing Peter - jumps out & swims to shore.

Jesus has prepared a fire & breakfast - He is still modeling servant hood, even after He conquered death.  See, it doesn't matter how awesome you become, how much you achieve, or what power you yield, you are still called to serve. 

While they are eating, Jesus speaks with Peter.  Three times He asks Peter if Peter loves Him.  Three times Peter replies "yes", each time Jesus tells him to serve the believers.  If you read this in the Greek - Jesus asks Peter about a different type of love each time:
1)  agape - self-sacrificial love - do you love me more than you love others?
2) agape - self-sacrificial love - do you love me more than you love yourself?
3) phileo - brotherly love - do you love me like a friend?

This is what our relationship with Jesus looks like - we love Him above others, above ourselves, but this love isn't the love of a servant, it's not just respect for an authority, it's the love of friendship - relationship. 

Peter then asks about John.  Jesus tells him to worry about himself.  Your focus is your relationship with Jesus.  When we focus on our own relationship & how to serve others, we are left with no time to judge others.  When we focus on everyone else's relationship with God - we begin to judge.  So, focus on Jesus, serve His people, and revel in the relationship that you cultivate. 

Mark 16:14; John 20:24-31

OK - bloggie is up & working & I've won my battle with the stomach flu (for the second time this year) - so let's get blogging.

Remember that Jesus appeared to the disciples while Thomas wasn't there.  When they told him, Thomas refused to believe until he saw Jesus for himself.

Fast forward a week - the disciples are behind locked doors when suddenly Jesus appears before them.  He speaks directly to Thomas - asking him to look, touch and verify.  Thomas acknowledges that Jesus is Lord.  Jesus gently rebukes him.

There are all times we wish we could just see Jesus.  If we could just see Him, we would have no doubts.  But the disciples saw Him, walked with Him, served with Him for three years & they had their doubts.  Faith isn't about proof.  It's about believing without seeing.  It is the belief in the things unseen.  We are blessed for we have faith.  How cool is that?

One other note - Yes Thomas doubted, but he didn't give up.  He was still there.  Still with the disciples, still seeking - & he found what he was looking for.  Don't let doubt defeat you, don't let it stop you.  You may have questions, you may wonder - keep searching, keep looking.  Jesus told us that if we knock the door will be open to us - just like it was for Thomas.

Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-21:25

Early in the morning, an earthquake shoke the earth and the stone was rolled away.  The guards ran to tell the chief priests and a plot was hatched to cover it up.  Unfortunately, you can't keep good news down.

What the gospels tell us - Mary Magdalene and other women went to properly anoint Jesus' body the morning after the Sabbath.  This would have been Sunday morning.  Jesus appeared to Mary, you then ran to tell the disciples.  Peter and John ran to the tomb to see it empty for himself. 

On that same day, Jesus appeared to two disciples and spoke with them.  When their eyes were open, they went and told the eleven disciples what they had seen.  Then Jesus appeared to His disciples in the room.  He ate with them & spoke with them, commanding them to stay in Jerusalem. 

The Good News of Jesus Christ - death could not hold Him.  As we read through the rest of the Gospels this week & into the book of Acts, we will see that Jesus didn't just appear once or twice, but He appeared to many people over the next 40 days.  Read along with us.