Psalm 23 — Setting the scene
John 10:22-30 — Jesus reveals that He and the Father are One
Acts 9:36-43 — Peter like Jesus prays to raise Tabitha from death
Revelation 7:9-17 — Father and Son are One on heaven’s throne
• See also this week’s linked article Who Is The Jesus We Know?
• And this week’s 12-min video which tells the story briefly through narrative and shortened excerpts of the readings
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Psalm 23 — setting the scene
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
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John 10:22-30 — Jesus reveals that He and the Father are One
He was teaching at the Festival of Lights in Solomon’s Colonnade
22-23 Then came the Festival of Dedication {Hanukkah] at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.
“Festival of Dedication” – the Festival of Lights in December celebrates the re-lighting of the temple menorah in 164 BC following its desecration.
“Temple courts” — the Holy of Holies was surrounded by large covered colonnades and Solomon’s Colonnade was the best place to gather in cold weather and was where the early church first met.
24 The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
“Tell us plainly” – some wanted clarity but others were seeking a statement that would incriminate Him. Jesus’ teaching, miracles and manner of life all answered the question, but He had not affirmed His Messiahship except to the Samaritan woman by the well, John 4:25-26.
25-26 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify about Me, but you do not believe because you are not My sheep.
“Not My sheep” – then, as now, many did not believe in Him; some initial faith is needed.
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
“Listen to My voice” – or rather, “hear My voice” through uncomplicated faith. Where religious preconceptions expect something more involved, that will act as a barrier to knowing Him and listening to Him.
28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.
“Eternal life” – the gift Christ brings to all who turn to Him and believe Him, to receive the gift.
• For further study, let Jesus’ explain this in His detailed words to Nicodemus, John 3:1-21, in which he alludes to a prophecy by Ezekiel familiar to Nicodemus. “Water” in this context cannot be symbolic baptism.
“Never perish” – an even stronger denial in Greek. The security of the sheep is in the all-powerful shepherd, who will not allow a violent snatch to occur.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
“One” – in essence and nature, will and purpose, but not identical persons. This profound truth is what lies behind Jesus’ “I am” declarations in John, “Bread of Life”, “Good Shepherd”, “The Way, the Truth and the Life’ etc.
Reflection
SUMMARY Jesus is in the eastern covered colonnade of the temple courts, a favoured place of shelter for people to gather in the winter season. It is the time of the Festival of Lights and in an earlier teaching, Jesus would have indicated the lights in reference to Himself, teaching “I am the light of the world… the light of life.” Now, in saying “My sheep listen to My voice… I give them eternal life”, many find faith rising that He is the Messiah, while others want to trap Him into saying so in a way they can use a grounds for arrest.
APPLICATION Jesus then, and Jesus in us now, makes the kingdom of God real. It also has the effect of evil and darkness, the opposing order, becoming more evident. That’s the spiritual battle we are in.
QUESTION Why is it that we cannot know Jesus or see His kingdom until we have taken a faith decision to believe in Him and receive Him?
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Acts 9:36-43 — Peter like Jesus prays to raise Tabitha from death
Just as before the Ascension the ministry of Jesus is seen through Peter
36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
“Tabitha… Dorcas” – her name, ‘gazelle’, in both languages
37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
“Body was washed’ – as usual, prepared for immediate burial. Outside Jerusalem a day or two might be allowed.
38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
“Sent two men to him” – where he was staying nearby. Even in this coastal place, two days journey from Jerusalem, people knew of the Holy Spirit’s power present with the apostles.
39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
“Tabitha, get up” – almost identical words to those Jesus spoke to Jairus’ daughter, Mark 5:41.
41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
“Presented her… alive” – to complete her earthly life, but a reminder to other believers of their promised resurrection in Christ.
42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
“Many people believed” – as they saw the Lord at work: part of a pattern where miracles lead to people receiving the gospel and the Lord and finding new life.
43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
“A tanner” – a cultural barrier broken by Peter as tanners dealt with the skins of dead animals, a smelly trade and an occupation deemed to be ‘unclean’
Reflection
SUMMARY The focus of the story is on Tabitha’s death, perhaps considered untimely, and on Peter’s actions. But in Luke’s understated style, the presence of Jesus restoring Tabitha to life — a miracle very similar to those of Jesus’ earthly ministry — is central to the story. Tabitha was well-known in the community, and of course many came to faith as a result.
APPLICATION What does that teach us about how Jesus is revealed to our sceptical world? People today want more than ritual words or even Bible teaching about Jesus, they want to experience His presence. It is us as His rank-and-file disciples who He puts in place to speak His words, impart His blessing and exercise faith for His results. We don’t start with Peter’s experience or level of faith, but we can all grow in awareness of the spiritual dimension of ordinary people and situations — and ask the Lord what He is doing in them.
QUESTION If we don’t speak and act for Jesus, how will people come to know Him?
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Revelation 7:9-17 — Father and Son are One on heaven’s throne
A countless crowd of every kind of people praise God for saving them
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
“A great multitude” — a countless, multiethnic throng which v.14 tells us have come out of great suffering to be promoted to heavenly acclaim because they are identified with Jesus and His shed blood.
10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
“Salvation belongs to… God” – affirming and agreeing that salvation is God’s initiative, not the result of man’s efforts.
11-12 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
“Praise and glory…” — a praise stanza given by all the angels, the elders and the four living creatures. Its seven parts denote complete, total praise, similar to the praise of the Lamb recorded by John earlier, Rev. 5:12.
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
“The great tribulation” – there are different interpretations of the end times. The definite articles may refer to a final, intense time of hostility before Christ’s return, Daniel 12:1, Matthew 24:21, Acts 14:22. It also may refer to the persecution of John’s day, 1 John 2:18, and throughout the church age.
“Made…white in the blood” – shocking imagery, but only this Blood is effectual to purify.
15 Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence.”
“Before the throne of God… in His temple” – literally centred on the throne (and v.17). The Lamb is closely associated with God. The word used for ‘temple’ in Revelation is the one that is used for the Holy of Holies, not the temple precincts, in other words the place where God dwells – served, not by one tribe (Levites) but by all believers, made priests in God’s service.
• For further study, priestly worship in the New Covenant, Rev. 1:6, 5:10, 20:6; 3:12, 22:3.
16 ” ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.
17 “For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their Shepherd; ‘He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”
“Never again” — martyrs and other deceased believers are depicted as desert travellers who have found rest, shade and fresh water while they await their resurrection and their persecutors’ demise, as foretold by Isaiah.
• For further study of promises for God’s own people, now received by His people of all nations, see Isaiah 25:4-8, Isaiah 49:6,10.
Reflection
SUMMARY The Lamb who is also the great Shepherd, who shares the adoration of all of heaven in John’s vision is also the teacher in Solomon’s Portico, and the risen Lord who we see restoring life and health through Peter in Joppa. What is different is the reception. It is as if all the hostility of worldly, unbelieving people is recycled and turned into the exact opposite — dishonour into honour, critical comments into praise, power games into kingdom faith.
APPLICATION The Jesus we carry with us is worthy of the very highest of high esteem. When people get even a glimpse of who He, and believe, they experience a setting free and a spiritual impartation. The kingdom of God is poised and ready to bring God’s kingdom order — more ready than we are to seek it.
QUESTION Unbelief, religious prejudice critical hostility – even where the gospel has been known for many centuries these attitudes are increasing.. How do we face into them with the Lord?
PRAYER Lord Jesus, we love You and we want our world around to know You and respond to Your love, too.
Empower us, like Peter, to be aware and humbly confident in the partnership we have.
May we live in the courage the Holy Spirit gives, ready to step out with You and speak Your words when you nudge us to. Amen.
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The Living Word for May 8, 2022, is a non-denominational Bible study which relies on the Bible explaining the Bible, uninfluenced by any church’s traditions or preferences, and following the Bible’s own sequence of progressive revelation. Read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. The week’s readings are as set by the Revised Common Lectionary, an inter-denominational resource shared by many different churches and chapels. The Bible version, widely used in contemporary churches, is the NIV © Biblica. Ref. TLW18C
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PRINT EDITION There’s also a PDF print edition produced as a convenient Bible-sized folder which downloads from the link below. Permission given to copy for your own use, home group, or discipling use in the church generally.
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