trying to find His way
“Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us.” (Acts 1:20) Peter is addressing the symbolic leadership role of the twelve.He is not just replacing a leader, but restoring ‘the twelve.Many more leaders will be needed, but ‘the twelve’ is…
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” (Acts 1:14) Jesus is gone, but He is still with them (Matthew 28:20).He is still gathering His disciples together.Two or three or more, gathered and praying in His Name.What unites this diverse group of people is…
“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven,will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) What will Jesus be like when He returns?In Revelation 19:11-16, Jesus is described as coming as a warrior king.Blazing eyes, waging war, sword from His mouth striking down the nations.Treading the…
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Jesus commissions His disciples multiple times (Matthew 28:16-20, John 20:21-23).He says it in different ways, but they are essentially the same task.The Spirit empowers them to make disciples by witness to Jesus in word and deed.In…
“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” (Acts 1:7) The disciples want to know when God’s kingdom will be restored.But Jesus makes it clear the timing is not for us to know.To focus on the times and dates is to miss the point.Our task…
“In my former book, Theophilus I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven.” (Acts 1:1-2) The book of Acts was written by Luke as Part 2 of Jesus’s story.Part One goes through His birth, life, death and resurrection.It covers what Jesus “began to do…
“Jesus did many other things as well.” (John 21:25) I am intrigued by John’s point about Jesus’s “many other things”.Think of all the forgotten moments when Jesus blessed people.Jesus’s whole life, short as it was, was an expression of God’s love.Humility, grace and compassion were natural to Him, and people felt it.The ripple effect would have…
“What is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22) Three times Peter denies Jesus, three times Jesus recommissions Peter.Jesus is not rubbing it in, He is matching His grace to Peter’s failure.The Lord knows each one of us personally, our strengths and our weaknesses.He invites us all, just as we are, but He does…
“‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’” (John 21:16) Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, and three times Peter says YES!Then three times Jesus tells him to feed and take care of His lambs and sheep.Why does Jesus connect loving Him to feeding and taking…