Affirmation and Truth
Third Sunday of Easter, April 6, 2008
Acts 2:14a, 36–41
Peter declared to the crowd in Jerusalem that Jesus of Nazareth is Lord and the resurrection is the ultimate affirmation of that fact. The acceptable response to the Gospel is repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and that message of grace and God’s acceptance extends to any and all who put their faith in Christ. At a time when many Christians seem to be working hard to exclude people from the kingdom of God, we might discover that a message of a sovereign God whose love extends to the farthest reaches of creation might result in three thousand souls being saved today.
Psalm 116:1–4, 12–19
At no point in life is our character as believers more in view than when we are in the face of danger, and it is at that same point that the character of God comes most clearly into view. Whom do we call upon when dangers arise that threaten our lives, our loved ones, our hope and our future? “Father, I stretch my hands to thee, no other help I know.” As a sign of thanksgiving I must tell others what God has done for me. I will sing praises to the Lord who has delivered my soul.
1 Peter 1:17–23
Our lives have been redeemed from sin and from the afflictions of the world by the blood of Christ; the unblemished Lamb of God who was killed by men but raised back to life by God. Now that we know the truth that Christ came to teach by word and deed, we should reflect that truth in our own lives by displaying genuine love for one another. That is the sign that we have truly been born again.
Luke 24:13–31
The two men who were walking from Jerusalem back to their home in Emmaus did not know they were walking with Jesus at that very moment, and it was not until he broke the bread with them over dinner that they discovered that Christ had been raised from the dead. We accept the resurrection today because we have known for two thousand years how the story of Calvary ended. For the men on the road to Emmaus that message was harder to hear and more difficult to understand. We should not preach about the resurrection too glibly; it is a great and humbling mystery.
Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 13, 2008
Acts 2:42–47
Those in Jerusalem who were converted by the preaching of Peter became part of a community of shared faith and shared resources. Their spiritual devoutness and their care and concern for one another won the admiration of a city that had not long ago seen their leader put to death. One of the distinguishing marks of the Christian community should be our willingness to share our resources with our brothers and sisters in need.
Psalm 23:1
The Lord is my shepherd and I have everything I need. That is the assurance of those who know that God will provide for them no matter what the need may be—in green pastures, in the presence of their enemies, and even in the valley of the shadow of death. There is a point in life when the care we need is greater than any other person can provide. It is at that point that I am comforted in knowing that my shepherd knows my needs.
1 Peter 2:19–25
Whatever pain or suffering we may experience as a result of our attempts to remain faithful to God should be endured with the same courage and determination that was shown by Christ when he suffered and died for us. His suffering on the cross served to accomplish our redemption, and our suffering can also prove to be of value in God’s work of salvation. Not every moment of personal testing is a matter of suffering for the cause of Christ. Sometimes the problems we face are the result of things we needlessly bring upon ourselves. However, when we are called upon to suffer “for righteousness’ sake” we should attempt to do so with the awareness that we are working together with God for a worthy end.
John 10:1–10
Jesus came into the world so we could discover the true meaning of life, not “the good life” but abundant life. Those who came before him offered a message defined by duties and obligations, but he brought a message of grace and mercy. We are encouraged to enter into his love and listen to his voice. If we do, he will never abandon us or lead us into any danger. His love for us is based on his deep commitment to us, a commitment of one who owns a flock as opposed to one who is more interested in his paycheck than he is in the flock itself. Once again, the Lord is our shepherd! We who preach to the flock of God might well ask ourselves whether we approach our work as shepherds or as wage earners. The answer to that question will greatly inform the quality of our work.
Fifth Sunday of Easter, April 20, 2008
Acts 7: 55–60
Stephen was stoned to death as a result of his courageous defense of the message of Jesus, declaring that Christ was the fulfillment of the salvation history that God had begun with Abraham. As he was being stoned he was comforted by the sight of Jesus standing at the right hand of God in glory. The Lord who had been killed and raised back to life was waiting to receive him into the kingdom of God. The resurrection is not only what God did for Jesus after Calvary; it is also what God has promised to all of us who are able to remain faithful even unto death.
Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16
“Into thy hands I commit my spirit.” These words spoken by Jesus from the cross were taken from this psalm of assurance. When we put our trust in God we will never be put to shame. God will deliver us from the hands of those who seek to hurt or kill us, or God will sustain us as we pass through those difficult moments. Such faith allows people to face an uncertain future with an uncommon courage. There are obvious moments in life when this assurance can make a difference for the believer. We are wise to say, “Into thy hands I commit my spirit” whether we are facing the dire circumstances of our personal lives or feeling overwhelmed by the horrendous events in the world around us, such as tsunamis, ethnic cleansing, or the ravages of war. He who has already conquered death and the grave is able to sustain us as we confront those same two inevitable realities ourselves.
1 Peter 2:2–10
Christ has made us into a chosen generation and a royal priesthood. We are the continuation of the work of redemption that God began with Old Testament Israel. Not everybody who hears the Gospel will receive it and be joined to this community. However, there will be many who will hear and rejoice over the message that called them from darkness to light. No matter how far along we are in our spiritual journey, we should always desire that spiritual food that will allow us to continue to grow in Christ.
John 14:1–4
Do not let your hearts be troubled. This is one of the great themes of the Gospel; God has already made provision for the things we are still worrying about. Jesus has prepared a place for those who believe in him so that even death cannot separate us from our savior. There is no greater freedom than being free of the fear of death or what may follow it. Where he is there we will be also. Whether it was on the Sea of Galilee, in the upper room in the days after the crucifixion, or at many other times in their walk with Jesus, the disciples had to be consoled with the words “don’t be afraid” and “don’t be troubled.” God is with us (Emmanuel) is not just a message for the Christmas season. Rather, as a result of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, it has become an eternal promise as well. Both in this life and in the life to come we should always remember that God is with us.
(The commentary for April 27, 2008 was contributed by Keith A. Russell)
Sixth Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2008
1 Peter 3:13-22, Acts 17:22-31, John 14:15-21
The reading from John’s Gospel focuses on the community of believers’ relationship to Jesus after the experience of resurrection. The section read for this Sunday is taken from a longer passage (14:1-31) that assures the believers that they will have special power and will be able to do the works of Jesus. In John 14:15-21 the community is promised that if they love Jesus and keep his commandments, Jesus will ask the Father to give them an advocate who will protect them. In John’s Gospel the experience of resurrection necessitates the reception of power. Hence, the coming of the advocate/Holy Spirit is promised to the early church. The Sixth Sunday after Easter is an echo of Pentecost, which will be celebrated and explored two weeks later. It is suggested in this reading that what the believers will receive is a “special revelation” that the world will not receive. Being on the inside gives the believers’ special access to this power.
The gospel reading is surrounded by two other readings. 1 Peter 3:13-22 promises the community that God will protect those who do good, who are righteous. Acts 17:22-31 is Paul’s address to the Athenians about the God of Jesus who is the fulfillment of their notions of divinity. In the midst of this promise of power, there is a reading about how to explain the power. One might ask why there is an “apology” alongside the promise? Perhaps apology and promise seem to go together because this message is being delivered to a conversionist sect.
How does today’s preacher interpret the promise of power to the contemporary Christian community? With the increase of discord and discouragement in the Christian community in so many denominational settings, how does one talk about power in a way that makes sense and is not reduced to personalistic piety? The need for power in contemporary communities of faith seems clear, but how do we talk about it in a way that invites and that does not condemn? Can we talk about power without reducing the reality to some creedal uniformity?
