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Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of "Digging into God's Word"! This week we're
looking at the readings for the 7th and final Sunday of the Easter season! Ascension Day
is here this week which means we've journeyed 40 days from Easter already. Today we'll see
the disciples replace Judas the betrayer, Peter continues encouraging Christians, reminding
them that they will suffer for the sake of Christ, and we'll hear Jesus praying for his
people.
We've been jumping all around in Acts over the past few weeks. Sometimes it makes sense
and other times it is hard to see why. In the weeks since Easter we have jumped from
chapter 5 to chapter 2 to chapter 6 to chapter 17 and now this week we're back to chapter
1.
In the first part of chapter 1 we hear Luke telling us about Jesus' last conversations
with his disciples before ascending back into heaven. Then, while they're on the Mount of
Olives, Jesus ascends back into heaven.
Our reading this week picks up with the disciples as they leave the Mountain and come back into
Jerusalem. Jesus had instructed them in the verses before our reading to stay in Jerusalem
until he sent them the Holy Spirit. In verse 12 we hear that this trip that they took from
the Mountain to Jerusalem was considered to be a "Sabbath's Day Journey". This was all
the further they could travel on the Sabbath without it being considered work. At this
point a "Sabbath's Day Journey" was about 800 meters.
They return to the upper room and we get a listing of the 11 apostles who were left.
We have Peter and John
James and Andrew,
Phillip, Thomas, Bartholomew
Matthew, James, Simon and Judas
Notice some duplicates there? How would you like to be the second Judas?
Luke tells us that they were united and spent their time in prayer. They're not alone as
we hear in this verse that the women including Mary as well as Jesus' brothers were also
there with them. The next verse tells us that there were about 120 people that were spending
this time together.
Peter stands up and addresses the issue of Judas's betrayal of Jesus. Notice that Peter
addresses this head on. He doesn't ignore it or sugar coat it. It is interesting because
Peter reminds the group that Judas was called to be a part of their group. This wasn't an
accident. Jesus didn't get fooled by someone who he thought was a good guy. Judas was called
and ended up rejecting Jesus.
Luke gives us a side narrative of what happened to Judas. There seems to be a little discrepancy
between what we hear about in Matthew and what we hear about here. In Matthew Judas
hangs himself while here in Acts Luke says that he fell headlong and burst open in the
middle. It is possible that Judas hung himself and then the rope broke causing him to fall
in the way that Luke describes.
Peter tells the group that they must replace Judas. It is important, however, that the
replacement be one who had been with them the whole time that Jesus was there and who
was a witness to everything that had happened.
Something I read this week suggested that this was a good tie in to the reading we had
a couple weeks ago about the women waiting for the groom to arrive. If you remember some
were prepared and others were not. The man who was going to fill this spot didn't know
that it was going to happen that way and he just had to be prepared.
They selected two men, Joseph called Barsabbas also called Justus and Matthias.
They prayed about the two men and then they cast lots and Matthias was selected to be
the replacement. Interestingly, this is the last place you hear about casting lots or
Matthias in the New Testament.
The Epistle reading this week is again from 1 Peter chapters 4 and 5 where Peter continues
writing about suffering for the sake Christ.
He starts off this section by saying "Don't be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes
upon you to test you, as though something strange was happening"
Have you ever known anyone or maybe you've even thought it yourself, that the life of
a Christian was supposed to be happy, calm, and prosperous? You'll hear that in many Christian
circles today. Unfortunately, that is the opposite of what we hear in much of scripture.
Peter's letter here is a good reminder. He encourages us to rejoice when this happens
for two reasons. First, because we share in sufferings similar to Christ's. Jesus told
his disciples that no servant is greater than his master. Why would we think that we would
avoid suffering if Jesus also endured it?
Verse 14 in many English Bibles will say "if you are insulted for the name of Christ.."
Some commentators have indicated that the Greek word here is probably more accurately
translated as "when you are insulted" along with the last phrase "for the name of Christ"
probably indicating "having the name of Christ on you -- being a Christian".
When this happens, Peter says the Holy Spirit is upon you.
But then comes the disclaimer. This is what is lost on many Christians today and even
non-Christians. Peter makes it very clear that he's not talking about suffering for
being a jerk or committing other sins. Often times in the church we try to defend a position
or make an argument for a practice and we do it in an unloving way and then when criticism
comes you'll hear the person say "See, I'm suffering for the sake of Christ". No, you're
suffering because you were acting in an unloving way toward that other person -- whether your
position was right or wrong doesn't matter.
Peter is making the point that you can have hope when you're suffering for the sake of
standing up for the truth in a kind, loving way. The hope that he speaks of comes in the
second part of this reading from chapter 5. Verse 10 says "after you have suffered a little
while, the God of all Grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself
restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."
You see, our hope is in the future, in God's promises. Suffering lasts a little while,
but what we have been promised far outweighs our sufferings.
In response to this hope that we have, Peter says that we should cast our anxieties on
God -- give him those things that worry you or stress you out, because he can handle them.
Peter then calls on us to watch out for the devil who is prowling around like a roaring
lion, seeking who he can devour. We are to resist him and do those things that God has
instructed us to do.
In fact, doing what God wills is a demonstration that we have entrusted ourselves into his
care. He will care for us because he loves us and has promised to do so.
Our gospel reading is from John 17 and is often called Jesus' high priestly prayer.
This section of scripture comes at the end of Jesus' last teachings to his disciples
before they went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed him and he was arrested.
Jesus gives us insight for all of his teachings that he outlines in the previous chpaters
in the beginning of chapter 16. He says, "I have said all these things to you to keep
you from falling away." Jesus gives everything that is necessary to remain in the faith and
when he is done teaching he ends in prayer.
The prayer starts in an interesting way. Jesus says, "the hour has come". Jesus had been
telling his disciples what was going to happen to him for quite a while now and if you remember
they didn't understand what he was talking about. Now the hour has finally arrived for
everything to be fulfilled.
He goes on to pray for himself, asking that the Father would glorify him through the cross.
It is here that we see that Jesus has authority over all things. He goes on to say that he
taught his disciples all things. He's praying for his disciples specifically in this part.
He prays that they will be kept protected from the evil one and kept in the word.
Jesus doesn't only pray for his disciples at that time though. He goes on to pray for
all who will believe on account of the disciples' teachings. He's praying for you and for me
so that we too may see his glory and be saved.
After this prayer, Jesus and the disciples went out to the Garden of Gethsemane. This
prayer shows us the relationship between the son and the Father. Jesus wasn't just some
special prophet, but rather he was the son of God. He was who he said that he was.
Think about it for a moment, Jesus the Son of God took time to pray for you! He cares
about you so much that he went to the cross to fulfill the plan of salvation so that you
might know him and see his glory. What a wonderful gift!
God's Blessings on you as you study his word this week. Remember, if you have any questions
please send them to me!