#44 - Paul's conversion: Acts 9:1-31 and Paul's testimony before King Agrippa: Acts 25:23 - Acts 26; Reflection by Chris Schaefer

“At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. ‘You are out of your mind, Paul!’ he shouted. ‘Your great learning is driving you insane.’ “ Acts 26:24

I think this is one my favorite quotes to come out of the Bible, but the reality is that it speaks to the heart of the matter in these sections of scripture. While en route to receive permission from Jewish officials to round up and imprison Christians, Paul (then a Jewish Zealot named Saul) had an incredibly dramatic and relatively immediate conversion experience, complete with literally blinding light and an encounter with a post-ascension Jesus. This was effectively the beginning of Paul’s ministry and massive expansion of Christianity.

It is rather mind-boggling to imagine how Christianity might be different today had this event never occurred. After his conversion, Paul began to preach the good news about Jesus in many countries, and he was subsequently arrested and put on trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin for being a “troublemaker”, amongst other accusations, and was then passed on to Roman authorities who can’t find Paul guilty of doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment (sound familiar?).

The entire experience is somewhat overwhelming to think about, and I can imagine listening to Paul’s explanation of everything that had happened and thinking, “This guy’s out of his mind!”, much like Festus (great name, by the way). I must say that I’m extremely jealous of Saul/Paul’s conversion experience, not so much in the losing my eyesight and appetite sort of way, but more in terms of having a clear and present “Ah-ha!” moment where the way, the truth, and the light are so apparent and obvious that one has no choice but to submit and follow with full conviction and belief.

I recently read C.S. Lewis’ book Surprised by Joy, wherein he details an autobiographical account of his life, and the full array of steps leading up to his experience as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England”. He describes his conversion as more of a long term chess battle, and I think this is probably closer to what most converts, (and lets face it, most lifelong Christians, too) experience in terms of faith and encounters with God. As a very wise man (my father) once put it, “we have little conversions every day”.

I believe our lives are an interactive preparation for God‘s master design, and this is most certainly true of Saul’s life pre-Paul. In pretty much every step of his ministry, Paul constantly makes references to his past life and status achievements as a way of connecting with others and sharing the good news. I don’t think it was just coincidence that God chose a man who somehow managed to be a member of seemingly every single social and political organization that existed at the time, because there was a need for a man with a varied past who could “become everything to everyone” in order to successfully deliver the message of Jesus to so many different people.

Paul’s conversion wasn’t just in that one blinding moment, and having this “Ah-ha!” moment didn’t make his life all cheese and crackers after, either. Sometimes it might feel like God is showing us “how much [we] must suffer for [his] name", and as active Christians living the gospel, we might often feel a little “insane”…but hey, if God did this much with a Christ hating Zealot, imagine what’s in store for us.

Acts 26

Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:
²I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, ³because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.
⁴All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. ⁵They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. ⁶And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, ⁷a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! ⁸Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
⁹Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. ¹¹By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
¹²With this in mind, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, ¹³when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. ¹⁴When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' ¹⁵I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' The Lord answered, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. ¹⁷I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles — to whom I am sending you ¹⁸to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
¹⁹After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. ²¹For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²²To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: ²³that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles."
²⁴While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!" ²⁵But Paul said, "I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. ²⁶Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. ²⁷King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe." ²⁸Agrippa said to Paul, "Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?" ²⁹Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am — except for these chains."
³⁰Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; ³¹and as they were leaving, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." ³²Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor."

#43 - Salvation in Jesus Alone, Acts 4; Reflection by Council President David Yaney

This is a story about repression and the thing which struck me was how little man’s politics and the psychology of power has changed in 2,000 years. In society we burden ourselves with many levels of this that span the range from what we call “spin” and “political rhetoric” all the way to propaganda and outright lies.

“When [the priests and Sadducees] saw the man who had been cured standing beside [Peter and John], they had nothing to say in opposition … For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through [Peter and John], we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn [Peter and John] to speak no more to anyone in [the name of Jesus].”

Truth has ultimate power. Yet somehow in society we create situations where communication of it is not in the best interests of some, often those who appear to hold political power over us. Actions follow to “protect” that political power and a muddy morass of confusion and deception follow. So many times we wish that the myriad persistent voices attempting to influence us would just shut up.

Yet we are somehow able to recognize what is truth and what is fabrication - this is God’s grace and a gift of the Holy Spirit. In the passage God shook the earth as a sign that the disciples were on the right track. We will most likely have to listen more carefully to a quiet internal voice yet the outcome is the same.

We pray, “…Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hands to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus,”

Acts 4

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, ²much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. ³So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
⁵The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" ⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, ¹⁰let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. ¹¹This Jesus is
'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.'
¹²There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
¹³Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. ¹⁴When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. ¹⁶They said, "What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. ¹⁷But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name." ¹⁸So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; ²⁰for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard." ²¹After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. ²²For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
²³After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, ²⁵it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:
'Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples imagine vain things?
²⁶The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'
²⁷For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, ²⁸to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." ³¹When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
³²Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. ³³With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. ³⁵They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"). ³⁷He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

#42 - Repent and be baptized: Acts 2:22-47; Reflection by Michelle Cockerham

In this passage of the Bible, a little story about David, the patriarch's, death and how he rose to God is told. It is said that no one witnesses his death or witnesses what he has witnessed but the word of God rings true within him. One can base this whole passage on the concept of belief and our own belief in God and the word of God. It does not matter if anyone else is able to witness our love to God because in the end there is only two important witnesses that really matter: yourself and the Lord himself. God should be the only one we should worry about when it comes to the subject of judgment.

There is that “joke” that I am sure many people have heard, whether you're Christian or not when it comes to worship and coming to church: why can't I just pray and worship alone at home? Most likely your first reaction is rolling your eyes and thinking how pathetic and lazy that is being. However, putting joking and laziness aside, sometimes praying at home and alone can be the most intimate you have with God. If you think about it, what is there to bother you in the privacy of your own home if you are absolutely alone? It is just you and God, one on one, with nothing or no one else around. Plus, if one is taking the time to be alone with God without others to see then it shows they are only doing it for God and not to seem great and righteous in the eyes of others.

In verses 42-43 it states the following: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” The people had devoted themselves to the faith of God and realized what amazing things they can do with God in their lives. That is a revelation that makes you feel good right there; in the soul and heart. That revelation changes you for the better and your relationship with God becomes even stronger after you two had worked together on faith.

The revelation that comes from devotion is something that atheists and agnostics can't understand and it is a shame that they can't experience. An agnostic is someone that isn't really if sure if there is a God in this world to protect and guide them and if they were somehow able to experience some sort of revelation through faith they question more than get that good feeling; “was that REALLY God? Did God honestly make this happen?” It's fine to question but an agnostic is only questioning it because of doubt and hesitant disbelief. On the other hand an atheist is someone who doesn't think there is any God out there, there is no Jesus or anything of that sort. Jesus is knocking is at the door but they're deaf to it and afraid of it and it will remain that way until they change themselves and realize faith isn't a spectacle, it should never be a spectacle, but however a belief is something you feel. It's that same feeling David had when he was with God; in verse 25 it tells us: David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” David had that intimate faith with God all along and agnostics and atheists lost that; it just happens.

When all is over and lost, we find that intimate moment with God again and come back to him ready to learn the fellowship like the people had done long ago in the New Testament; it's usually small and faint and grows at different paces depending on the person. You find ways and people to help you realize the greatness that God's love can bring and when you have that intimate moment again as you make your way into your own true belief of God, you know he is there and is your witness with everything and fear is no more. Those moments will come again and again throughout your journey with faith and God. That is why David had stated: Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave.” David isn't the only one to have this feeling, that is the feeling we all get with God because we know he is our witness.

Acts 2:22–47

²²You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know — ²³this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. ²⁴But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. ²⁵For David says concerning him,
'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
²⁶therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
²⁷For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
²⁸You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
²⁹Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,
'He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.'
³²This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. ³³Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. ³⁴For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
³⁵until I make your enemies your footstool." '
³⁶Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
³⁷Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" ³⁸Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." ⁴⁰And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." ⁴¹So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
⁴³Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

#41 - The coming of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:1-21; Reflection by Pastor Sarah Scherschligt

Masai Baptism, ELCA website

In Texas in 1920s a battle raged over whether or not Spanish should be taught in schools. Legend has it that the Governor ended the debate by saying "If English was good enough for Jesus, then it's good enough for Texas." This story might be more urban legend than truth, but it reminds me the Bible was written in languages I don't speak and came out of cultures I'd find foreign.

Just take the word "Lord." We use that word all the time in worship and prayer. But that word has lost its punch inside of church because it no longer has much meaning outside of church. Author Shane Claiborne, in his book Jesus for President, makes the case that we should think of Jesus as "President", not "Lord," because to American Christians, the term "President" is most like what the term "Lord" would have been 2000 yrs ago.

When the Holy Spirit enabled the Pentecost community to speak in a variety of languages, I imagine that they did more than translate their message into the grammar and vocabulary of a different language. I imagine that they changed accents, phrases, did what it took to communicate comfortably and in that natural way that made people feel like the Holy Spirit was speaking right into their hearts.

Across cultures and generations, the Bible has been interpreted into the language of the people, including the idioms and cultural references. A 9th century Germanic poem based on the Bible uses warrior images for Jesus. I've heard that an Inuit version talks about the "baby seal" of God, instead of the lamb.

I've become a fan of the Biblical interpretation "The Message," in which the interpreter tried to capture the meaning of the words and put them into images that contemporary readers would relate to. Here's a link to the text for today.

I find these kinds of translations wonderful for the insight they give into the big nature of God. They also put me in my place and remind me that followers of Jesus come in all languages, cultures and accents. Though I don't want to replace our classic texts with loose interpretations, I like going to alternative texts occasionally because they help me hear God in new ways.

I'm going to end with a creed developed by the Masai in East Africa in the 1960s. Our creeds aren't from the Bible so this isn't a scriptural interpretation. It is based on the apostles creed. I hope you like it.

We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created man and wanted man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in the darkness, and now we know him in the light. God promised in the book of his word, the Bible, that he would save the world and all nations and tribes.

We believe that God made good his promise by sending his son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He was buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, he rose from that grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.

We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love, and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen.

Acts 2:1–21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
⁵Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. ⁷Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." ¹²All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" ¹³But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
¹⁴But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. ¹⁵Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
¹⁷'In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
¹⁸Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
²⁰The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
²¹Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

#40 - The Great Commission: Matthew 28:16-20 and Jesus Ascends: Acts 1:1-11; Reflection by Pastor Steve Buechler

There are times in all of our lives when, at least in retrospect, we realize that something we thought was an ending actually turned out to be the beginning of something even bigger. The Gospels end in just such a way. The disciples of Jesus had thought that his death was the end. And even after they realized that he was alive, many still believed that their journey with Jesus had come to a close.

Yet in all 4 of the Gospels, in different ways, the Risen Jesus makes it clear that their journey as his disciples has just begun. In fact, following Jesus was now going to be a much bigger venture than it was in the past. Now, they weren’t simply going to follow Jesus around and watch. Instead, they were being sent out into the world to places they had never been before. They were being sent to be the conveyers of the message, not just the hearers. They were being sent to BE the physical presence of Jesus in the world, not just to talk about Jesus.

The Gospels end in this way because the writers of the Gospels understood that Jesus’ call to continue to live as his disciples wasn’t just for people long ago, but for disciples of all times and places. It’s Jesus’ call to us. We are also people who are called to be followers of Jesus wherever we are. We are also people who are called to be conveyers of Jesus’ message through our words and deeds and attitudes. And we are also people who are called not simply to talk about Jesus, but to be the physical presence of Jesus in the world – people through whom God can work to touch the lives of others.

Matthew 28:16–20

¹⁶Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Acts 1:1–11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning ²until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ⁴While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

#39 - Jesus' Resurrection: Luke 24, John 20. Reflection by John Wack

Thomas Cole - The Voyage of Manhood

These readings are obviously very central to the Christian faith, for they describe the resurrection of Jesus. The passages in these readings fulfill the story of Jesus and the purpose of Jesus, as well as the promises in the Old Testament of a savior.

There are a number of important themes one could reflect on in these readings, and the one that stands out to me is the initial disbelief of the disciples and, at least, confusion from others such as Mary. Connected with that theme is that Jesus does not reveal himself at first. What we see in these readings is a group of confused and somewhat terrified people, partially in hiding. The disciples have left their former ways and followed him, and perhaps in their eyes they have seen it all "go up in flames." Instead of the world catching on to Jesus's message, he gets condemned to death and suffers a long death staged as a public humiliation. At this point, any friend of Jesus might well have feared for his or her own life.

So initially upon reading this, I was struck by their terror and confusion immediately following the crucifixion, and that how, upon his resurrection, Jesus talked with the disciples “incognito” without them knowing who they were really talking to. When he does finally reveal himself, he mildly upbraids them -- in Luke, he says "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!” It's as if he was teaching them a lesson by first hiding himself and asking them questions about their state of mind, and then revealing himself and his exasperation to some degree that they don’t have more faith. Again, I was struck that the disciples, having known Jesus personally, walked the earth with him, and been witness to miracles he performed, would still doubt that he would rise again.

However, they had also witnessed his horrible, publicly demeaning death, and were very afraid; having fear in our hearts can do away with reason and judgment. Perhaps it's very symbolic that these readings include the encounters he has with Mary and the other disciples in which they are oblivious to his true presence. Jesus says to Thomas, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." And so this is what stands out to me about these readings: Jesus is with us, even though we may not be able to know that directly with our physical senses. But he is there nonetheless, and he may be there in the person next to me.

So I think about faith and what it is and what Jesus promises. It seems to me, quite obviously, that believing in Jesus means having faith in Jesus’ presence among us, even though I personally have to struggle and be reminded sometimes to accept that this is the case. To go still further, I find in these readings that Jesus does not ask us to believe in him so as to be rewarded with an easy life or better circumstances or to have our personal prayers answered, as if we actually might know what is best for us.

But it does come across to me that Jesus is saying here, believe in me and have faith that I am with you, and I will get you through the tough times. Believe in me and have faith that I am with you and I will get you to heaven. Go off now and do good things; it may not be easy but have faith and take comfort that I am always here for you.



Jesus' resurrection: Luke 24; John 20
Luke 24
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" 19He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." 25Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence.
44Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

John 20
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." 16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

#38 - The Death of Jesus: Luke 23:26-56; John 19:16-42; Reflection by Kari Oakes

Luke 23:26–56

²⁶As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. ²⁸But Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' ³⁰Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' ³¹For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
³²Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. ³³When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ ³⁴Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. ³⁵And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" ³⁶The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" ³⁸There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." ⁴³He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
⁴⁴It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." ⁴⁸And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
⁵⁰Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, ⁵¹had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. ⁵²This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. ⁵⁴It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. ⁵⁵The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.
On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

John 19:16–42

¹⁶Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
So they took Jesus; ¹⁷and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." ²⁰Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" ²²Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." ²³When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it." This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
"They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots."
²⁵And that is what the soldiers did.
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." ²⁷Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
²⁸After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), "I am thirsty." ²⁹A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰When Jesus had received the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
³¹Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. ³⁵(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) ³⁶These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, "None of his bones shall be broken." ³⁷And again another passage of scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they have pierced."
³⁸After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.