Day 35: Ascent and Descent -- Beginning of the Acts of the Apostles

Luke and Theophilus are back for the second volume of writing, often called, simply, "Acts."  Have you ever thought about that?  But the full title is really, "The Acts of the Apostles," and this second volume written by Luke is about many of the miracles, healings, and other things the disciples did in the name of Jesus and in the power of Jesus.

But it begins with Jesus eating with his disciples, teaching his disciples, and, after 40 days, promising them that he would send them the Holy Spirit, so that they could say the things he wanted them to say and do the acts he wanted them to do.

During that ten-day waiting period, one of the tasks that the disciples face is choosing a replacement for Judas (the gory details of his demise are also included).  They have two candidates and pray and cast lots to discover the right choice.  What do you think of this means of electing an apostle?

Then, In Acts chapter 2, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes down and fills the disciples.  And I'll be honest, as a pastor, I am extremely familiar with this story.  I read it and hear it every year.  But it never fails to strike me as strange, very strange, exceedingly strange.  Sort of in the way the story of Lazarus is exceedingly strange.  There are the tongues of flame and the many languages and the accusations of drunkenness.

The other thing is, no matter how many times I read this story, I never fail to find something new here.  One year it was the realization that the disciples are gathered on the day of Pentecost, which is a Jewish harvest festival, and that on that day there was a harvest of souls (3,000 people) who heard the message of the gospel and became the first congregation.  Another year I heard the story of the disciples speaking many languages and realized that the emphasis was not on the disciples speech but on what the people heard "we hear the in our own native languages."  Probably everyone there would be able to understand the message if the disciples had spoken the language of the Roman empire, which everyone had to learn.  But no, all of the people heard in their own native languages.  It is as if Jesus' incarnation has expanded even farther, into every culture and nation.

So Peter preaches his word of judgment and grace, and the people repent.

The close of Acts chapter 2 sounds like an ideal community:  sharing food, praying together, sharing all things in common.  In a way, it's a incredible and unbelievable as the tongues of fire and the mighty wind.  Perhaps more unbelievable.

Day 18: More Background, and Jesus begins his Ministry

.... in an orderly way, of course.

Chapter three starts off, as you'd expect (by this time, anyway), with the arrival of the adult John the Baptist on the scene.  His presence is announced, almost as if the Court is announcing, "Hear ye!  hear ye!  In the 15th year of the reign of emperor Tiberias....."  Do we expect some royal personage, in purple robes and aristocratic bearing, to enter the scene?  Instead, it is the lowly and humble John, appearing not in the seats of power but in the wilderness, preaching not prosperity but repentance.

But, that's Luke, for you.

Luke also has a geneaology, but notice that Luke works backwards from Joseph and arrives at Adam (instead of at Abraham), and, if you are brave, notice that some of the names are different, too.  What do you suppose the purpose of working backwards and ending at Adam would be for Luke?  what's the point?

In Luke 4, Jesus is tempted.  The content of the temptations is very similar to Matthew, but they are in a different order (an orderly account, remember?)  Afterwards, Jesus begins his ministry by going to his hometown, wowing them all with his preaching, and, within the space of a few minutes, making everyone angry enough to want to kill him.  The theme of Jesus' ministry is set then from the beginning.  The sentence we hear him read in the synagogue, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.  He has sent me to preach Good news to the poor....." is the theme of his ministry.  Large, appreciative crowds, and anger and rejection also appear right here in Luke 4.

In Luke 5, Jesus calls disciples.  John has already been put in prison (see Luke 3), so their ministries do not overlap.  When Jesus calls Simon, the fisherman immediately recognizes that he is in the presence of holiness, "I am a man of unclean lips", he says.  Then, Jesus begins healing and casting out demons. 

Luke 5 ends with the saying (we may recognize) about the new and old wineskins.  May I say that on one level I understand this metaphor (Jesus is the new wine, and the old wineskins will not be able to hold him), but on the other hand, there's more than meets the eye.  So what does the last verse mean:  "No one who drinks a well-aged wine wants new wine, but says, "The well-aged wine is better."  (It's literally true, of course, but otherwise, what does it mean?)  What do you think?

By the way, when I was looking for images, I found this great blog post about the miraculous catch of fish. 

Day 2: Jesus begins his ministry: Being Tempted, Calling Disciples, Preaching (part 1)

Suddenly (perhaps because of conversations I have had since yesterday), I am aware of the Old Testament peeking through all these stories.

Jesus is led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for 40 days.  Can it be a coincidence that the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years?  (I think not.)

Jesus calls disciples out by the sea of Galilee, while Matthew recalls the words of the prophet Isaiah:  "the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light."

Jesus goes up a mountain and begins to teach people.  Can it be a coincidence that Moses also went up a mountain and brings down God's great teaching, the Ten Commandments?  (I think not.)

So 'Jesus' ministry begins not with miracles but with temptations and with teaching.  In fact, although Jesus will eventually do plenty of miracles, he begins his ministry by refusing to do miracles: turning stones to bread, jumping off the temple and letting the angels catch him.  (You can make the case, I suppose that the disciples immediate decision to drop everything, get up and follow Jesus was a sort of miracle.)

Then there is the Sermon on the Mount.  It begins with Jesus making some incredible statements about who is really blessed in this world.  And it goes on and on.  "You have heard it said," "but I say to you."  "Even the Gentiles love those who love them.  You're better than that!"  (By the way -- you and me:  we're gentiles....)

So, what do you think?  What is the most challenging thing you have read so far in the Sermon on the Mount?  What is the most provocative?

Why do you suppose the first thing that happens to Jesus after he is baptized is temptation?  Do you think it's important HOW Jesus is tempted?

And, notice this:  When James and John, Peter and Andrew are called -- they aren't in church.  They're by the sea.  Hmmmm.