John 14:23-29 Acts 16: 9-15   We hear again in our John passage about Jesus promising the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in Christ’s name. Here the Spirit is referred to as the Advocate that will teach you all things and remind you of Jesus teachings.   In the book of Acts the Spirit is active in directing the apostles. Paul is directed in our passage through a vision to go to Macedonia. There they find the businesswoman, Lydia, who is said to be a worshiper of God. Paul in his preaching shares the good news of Jesus Christ and this God worshipper is receptive to believing in Christ, another part of the Trinity. She is baptized and asks him, if she is found faithful to the Lord, to stay at her house. So, Paul has a strong convert who will have a home church to reach others in Macedonia. All this happened since Paul was receptive to the Spirit. He shared the word of the Lord with Lydia and all he preached to in Macedonia.   Jesus again in John talks a...

John 13;13-35, Revelation 21: 1-6   Our passage in John 13 comes after the last supper and it is some of the last words of Christ to his disciples. He tells them of his upcoming glorification of God which will come from his crucifixion. Glory here means “to honor” and also to “magnify.”   Christ is to magnify God’s love for us by making a way for us to receive salvation by showing the ultimate love of dying for us. How apropos that his last commandment, one he calls new, is that they will love one another. They will follow Christ’s example in “as I have loved you, love one another.” By doing so everyone will know that we are his disciples – true followers of Christ. Jesus also says, “where I am going, you cannot come.” I believe he is talking about heaven which the disciples will not enter until their earthly deaths. In Revelations 21: 1-6 John sees a vision of this new heaven. God will live with us. There will be no more tears, mourning, and pain will be gone. God says ...

Matthew 25: 31-46 Acts 9:36-43   We learned of Peter’s call last week when Christ asked him to feed his lambs. The account of Tabitha coming back to life is one way Peter did so. Tabitha herself is said to be devoted to good works and charity. She also took care of Jesus sheep. She did so by making clothing for those in need. I think of Matthew 25 when it talks about the Son of Man coming in judgement. He honors those who clothed him along with giving him food and drink. When these honored folks ask, “When did we cloth you and give you food and drink Lord?” Jesus answers, “when you did it to the least of these you did so to me.”   Tabitha would have been one of these honored ones since she clothed the needy. Due to the “hole” – lack of aide opened up at her death, disciples traveled to where Peter was and had him remedy the situation. What a difference we see in Peter here. He is full of the confidence of the Lord as he kneels down and prays. His faith in the power of Go...

  John 21: 1-19 Acts 9: 1-20   Our passages today tells about God’s call to two men who will lead the preaching of the good news. Peter is told to “feed my sheep.” This means he is to preach the gospel to the Jews. Saul then is to bring Jesus’ name to the Gentiles.   Now if you were to look at the resumes of both of these men, you’d have a hard time hiring them for these positions. First, we have impulsive Peter who denied Christ three times before the Crucifixion. Then even worse, we have Saul who was purposefully arresting the disciples of Jesus. Who would choose either of these men? Jesus did. He saw beneath their flaws. Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved him. Three times to make up for his three denials. When he confirms that he does, Jesus gives the command to “feed my sheep” – take care of my chosen people – show them the way of the gospel. Saul’s conversion is much more dramatic. Christ talks to him directly and blinds him for three days. This is ...

  John 20: 19-31 Revelation 1:4-8 We all know the story of doubting Thomas. He really got a bad reputation due to his questioning. However, when you see Christ’s loving response to him by presenting himself to him and telling him to feel his nail prints and side, you see that Christ doesn’t chastise him for his doubt. What I think is the most beautiful thing to come from this story is not just Thomas’ belief but when Christ says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Jesus is talking to us many, many, many generations later. How did we come to believe? We did so by hearing the story of salvation as recorded in the Gospels. John 20:31 ends by saying that these things are written so we can come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and through this belief, we will have life in his name. Revelation 1:4-8 talks about the eternal God who is, who was – has always been and who is to come. God says I am the Alpha and Omega. These are the first and las...