testifying to rulers

Good afternoon sisters and brothers,
I hope you have a chance to enjoy this incredible afternoon that God has given us today. Today's reading continues the story from yesterday. Paul and John healed a disabled man in the temple, then testified to the gathering crowd that Jesus was actually responsible for the healing. Hearing the story of Jesus made a difference for many people in the crowd, but they weren't the only ones to notice. The religious leaders noticed what Peter and John were up to as well, and they didn't like it one bit. It's exciting to see how Peter, who ran and lied when Jesus was arrested, is able to testify to Jesus now with boldness when he is arrested himself. The Spirit will give us the strength we need to be Jesus disciples, no matter what situation we're in.

 
God bless,
Sam

Acts 4:1-10

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.

betrayal and arrest

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Simon, better known as Peter is the focus of Jesus' prayer because his leadership will be important in getting the disciples back on track after they scatter in the days to come. Jesus again warns the disciples of trouble to come. His words about needing a sword have always been a bit confusing to me, though later thinkers used the idea in thinking about state power as part of supporting the church. Jesus praying in the garden is one of the images from this story that haunts me, as is Judas's betrayal with a kiss. This is a powerful passage; one that shows Jesus in his humanness and faithfulness to God's call. I pray this passage will stay with you today and any time you face hardship, knowing that Jesus has been through trouble and will be with you.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 22:28-53

28“You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31“Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33And he said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” 34Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.”

35He said to them, “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “No, not a thing.” 36He said to them, “But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted among the lawless’; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.” 38They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” He replied, “It is enough.”

39He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. 40When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” 41Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” 43Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”

47While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?” 49When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” 50Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!”

welcome the king

Good morning friends,
We've been walking with Jesus towards Jerusalem for some time; today we finally get there. Jesus sends disciples into a nearby village to get a donkey for this procession. The crowd of people following Jesus welcome him not just as a teacher or prophet. They cry out praises to God and sing to welcome a king into Jerusalem. Not surprisingly, this makes the religious leaders uncomfortable. For one thing, they are scared of the Romans. The Romans have become pretty attached to ruling Judea, so they won't like the idea of a Jewish man claiming to be king without their blessing. On another level the Pharisees are uncomfortable because they expected a holy king from God, the Messiah to restore Israel's independence and faithfulness. They weren't expecting someone like Jesus to fill that role.

Jesus responds to their concern that if the disciples didn't welcome him with all this fanfare, the rocks would. In other words, Jesus is affirming that he is the anointed king. His redemption is so significant that even creation praises God for it, not just people. Jesus accepts this calling and is ready for the conflict and rejection that comes with it. May we hear our calling today.

God bless,
Sam

p.s. Please make sure to vote today.



Luke 19:28-40

28After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34They said, “The Lord needs it.”


35Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

protective custody

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Despite the smart plan of the elders to have Paul demonstrate his faithfulness to the Law, Jewish opposition to Paul quickly leads to his arrest. Notice that his arrest by the Romans actually saves him from being beaten to death by the mob. Jewish leaders from Asia (Turkey) stir up the mob by claiming that Paul is teaching against the Law and the temple and that he has brought gentiles into the temple. These claims aren't true, but they do get people stirred up.

Since the Romans intervene we will see how Paul presents his case in the coming days. Already we see Paul bound as the prophet in Caesarea predicted he would be. From here on to the end we'll see how the conflict between Paul and the Jewish leaders unfolds and how God uses these difficult circumstances to further the gospel.

Blessings,
Sam


Acts 21:27-36
27When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him, 28shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

30Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35When Paul came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”