This is The Living Word Bible Study for Sunday, May 21. It’s based on the following Bible readings which are the ones set for this Sunday by the interdenominational scheme widely used by churches and chapels.

Theme: Living in the power of God as those who are His

Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 — The power of God the Lord Almighty

John 17:1-11 — We are protected by the power of Jesus’ name

Acts 1:6-14 — Jesus promises the empowering of the Holy Spirit

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 — We resist the devil in God’s greater power

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Bible Study: Learning Prayerful Unity — Key to God’s Protective Power

Article post: May 21 Bible Study: Living in the power of God as those who are His

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Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 — The power of God the Lord Almighty 

• Praise for God’s might in historic acts and His presence with us now

1 May God arise, may His enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before Him.

“May God arise” – the voice of the worshipping community praises God’s glory going before them, from Mount Sinai in the desert to Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

• For further study, the song of Deborah, Judges 5 and scattering of God’s enemies in Psalm 18.

2 May You blow them away like smoke — as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.

3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

“The righteous… rejoice” – God’s people.

4 Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him — His name is the LORD.

“His name is the Lord” – Yahweh. This psalm also uses five other names: elohim God (v.1), adonai Lord (v.11), shaddai Almighty (v.14), yah elohim Lord God (v.18) and Yahweh Adonai God the Lord (v.20).

5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.

“A father to the fatherless” – God’s character is to defend the defenceless. Knowing God as Father is an emphasis of Jesus.

6 God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

“Sun-scorched land” – barren and alienated.

7-9 When You, God, went out before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. You gave abundant showers, O God; You refreshed Your weary inheritance.

10 Your people settled in it, and from Your bounty, God, You provided for the poor.

“Marched through the wilderness” – from the Red Sea to the Promised Land.

32-35 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to Him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. You, God, are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!

“You kingdoms of the earth” – appeals to all political powers to recognise God’s heavenly rule.

Reflection

SUMMARY Israel’s security from surrounding nations was in God’s presence giving power and strength to His people, v.35. God is a powerful presence — but also a caring provider.

APPLICATION This may have been composed by David when the Ark was established in its place of permanence. For us, it is the strength of having God established in our hearts.

QUESTION What in life’s journey are your milestones to praise God for?

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John 17:1-11 — We are protected by the power of Jesus’ name 

• Our security is in what Jesus has done for us and knowing the Father

1 After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.

“Jesus… looked toward heaven and prayed” – His longest recorded prayer.

2 “For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him.

“You granted… You have given” – this chapter emphasises God bestowing the path to salvation.

3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

“Eternal life” – which starts the moment we enter a personal relationship with the Father through believing, trusting and receiving Jesus Christ.

4 “I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do.

5 “And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.

“The glory I had with You before” – which Jesus gave up to be born as man, Philippians 2:6-8. Part of the divine exchange in Jesus’ death and resurrection was shame turned to glory.

6 “I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word.

7 “Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You.

8 “For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

“They accepted… they knew… they believed” – unlike most of the religious leaders who heard Jesus’ words without believing, the disciples had shown that they received Jesus’ teaching, understood His divine origin, and believed through a change of heart.

9 “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given Me, for they are Yours.

“They are Yours” – choosing to accept Jesus and His message is to be born again into the family of God.

• For further study, see John 1:12; 11:52; Romans 8:14-15; Galatians 4:5; Phil. 2:15; 1 John 3:1.

10 “All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them.

11 “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.”

“Protect them… so that they may be one” – also vv. 21, 23 which emphasise being brought into unity, a work of the Holy Spirit. Essential to continuing the work and witness of Jesus, unity would come under spiritual attack, as today.

Reflection

SUMMARY Belonging to God in eternal life comes through believing in Jesus, who then reveals God to us. He intercedes for those who believe in Him to be protected.

APPLICATION The power of God comes through unity in our relationship with Jesus. Spiritual attack is aimed at disrupting that unity, which is why our prayer (with Jesus) is vital. 

QUESTION When things seem to be going wrong, how quick are we to act on God’s promise to respond and protect?

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Acts 1:6-14 — Jesus promises the empowering of the Holy Spirit

• He reveals the truth about God and enables us to tell others 

6 Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

“Restore the kingdom” – first-century Jews longed for the restoration of David’s kind of kingdom and expected his descendent, the Messiah to bring this. The kingdom Jesus spoke about was spiritual, His rule in the hearts and lives of believers. At Pentecost the misunderstanding would be corrected.

7-8 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

“You will receive power… you will be My witnesses” – a verse summarising the story of Acts, and a task of unimaginable extent to these men. Acts describes how proclaiming salvation in Jesus in the power of the Spirit moved out from Jerusalem to the known world.

9 After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

“A cloud hid Him” – indicating the drawing near of the presence of God, Exodus 40:34; Luke 9:34-36.

10-11 They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Hhim go into heaven.”

“Two men dressed in white” – angels, also indicating heaven drawing near, foretell Jesus’s return in clouds and glory and the same resurrection body, Matthew 24:30.

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.

“Mount of Olives” – above Bethany and part of the “come back in the same way” statement.

• For further study, see Zechariah 14:1-15; Luke 9:26.

13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

“Judas” – not Iscariot; he was also known as Thaddeus.

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

“Joined together constantly in prayer” – the Holy Spirit preparing them, bringing them into alignment with Him and thereby unity with one another.

Reflection

SUMMARY This is Jesus’ commission concluding Luke’s gospel account with Jesus’ ascension to heaven, and introducing the follow-up. It explains how the disciples will be enabled to go out into the world with the good news and replicate disciples everywhere.

APPLICATION Prayer, unity and spiritual alignment is all of vital importance and it prepared the ground for a world-changing release of God’s spiritual presence.

QUESTION If where we are is our ‘Jerusalem’, where is our Judea and Samaria?

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1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11 — We resist the devil in God’s greater power

• The enemy brings threats and tests but we praise God for His power

12-13 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.

“Do not be surprised” – attempting to lead a Christ-centred life is a threat; hostility can be expected.

• For further study, see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Romans 8:17; Philippians 1:29.

14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.

“Under God’s mighty hand” – recalling God’s deliverance from Egypt in the Exodus, Exodus 3:19, 32:11, Deut. 4:34. Humility invites God’s affirmation for believers who submit to His deliverance and timing.

7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

“Your anxiety on Him” – actively trusting in God’s fatherly care.

8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

“Your enemy the devil” – the adversary and accuser of every Christian. Satan’s repeated strategy is to “roar” and plant fear in our minds. Faith that speaks out the victory Jesus won and the power of His shed blood is effective, Ephesians 6:12-18.

10-11 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

*”Suffered a little while” – what to us can seem a long while, is momentary in the context of eternity spent with God.

• For further study, see 1 Peter 1:6; Romans 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

Reflection

SUMMARY Opposition, both spiritual and social, is part of the territory for believers and disciples of Jesus. Peter teaches that much of the battle happens in our minds with thoughts the devil plants there.

APPLICATION The remedy is to be spiritually alert and quick to say ‘no’ to a thought that doesn’t belong — which we can do in God’s power.

QUESTION How discerning are you about ‘your’ thoughts and where they come from?

PRAYER Lord God Almighty, I humble myself before You in Your might, majesty, dominion and power.

When things get difficult, I often start by pretending that I can handle them.
But when I step aside and trust You, I see Your power come through and the enemy silenced.
Be filling me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may be growing in You, and can be a channel of Your love and truth to others.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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The Living Word has four facets: a Bible study based on the Bible readings followed by churches and chapels that use the shared scheme and ideal for home group discussion as well as individuals; a written article telling the story that emerges from the readings, a video and a podcast. It’s a three-year cycle and it’s searchable on https://thelivingword.uk

All four are hosted together on https://thelivingword.substack.com.

The written posts are especially readable on https://medium.com/the-living-word

Videos are on the YouTube channel ‘The Living Word with Ian Greig’

The podcast can be found on Apple, Spotify and other podcast sites — search for ‘The Living Word podcast with Ian & Alison Greig’

Videos are also posted on facebook.com/TLWbible study

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This week’s video links are:

Substack: https://thelivingword.substack.com/p/learning-prayerful-unity-key-to-gods-a5b?sd=pf

YouTube wide: https://youtu.be/JbL1sighwMk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cse3zMfgJyj/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Facebook wide: https://fb.watch/kFt4aIyYdN/

Facebook Tall: https://www.facebook.com/750131728/videos/3591602321128735/

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This is The Living Word Bible Study which is a deep dive into the Bible readings set for Sunday, May 14, in the interdenominational reading scheme used widely by both churches and chapels.

Knowing God personally, and telling others

Psalm 66:8-20 — Praise God, who is known through His faithful love

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+66%3A8-20&version=NIV

John 14:15-21 — The promise of the Holy Spirit who makes God known

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A15-21&version=NIV

Acts 17:22-31 — Athenians hear how God is personal and relatable

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A22-31&version=NIV

1 Peter 3:13-22 — Be ready to speak out why we revere Christ as Lord

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A13-22&version=NIV

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Psalm 66:8-20 — Praise God, who is known through His faithful love

• The psalmist’s testimony to what God has done in his life

8-9 Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.

“Preserved our lives” — praise, reflecting on God as the source of historic deliverances.

10 For You, God, tested us; You refined us like silver.

“Tested us” — God allows difficulties to refine faith, surfacing the dross of our lack of trust.

• For further study see Psalm 17:3, 26:2, Proverbs 17:3; Jeremiah 9:7.

11-12 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance.

“People ride over our heads” — submission to foreign rule.

13-14 I will come to Your temple with burnt offerings and fulfil my vows to You — vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.

15 I will sacrifice fat animals to You and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me.

“What He has done for me” — the psalmist’s focus is on God’s goodness, above the testing of vv.10-12.

17 I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue.

Cried out to Him… His praise” — prayer and praise went together in the OT but see Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1.

18-19 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.

“Cherished sin” — or aimed for sin: selfish prayer does not get heaven’s attention. Sincerity of heart, not sinless perfection.

20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!

Reflection

SUMMARY Looking back on the nation’s historic deliverances, the psalmist resolves to live in an attitude of praise and testimony to God.

APPLICATION Telling others what God has done gives Him glory and raises faith in us. With humility, it can be done without drawing attention to ourselves.

QUESTION How might we better integrate praise with prayer?

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John 14:15-21 — The promise of the Holy Spirit who makes God known

• Jesus promises He will be a continuing, living and enabling presence

15 “If you love Me, keep My commands.

“If you love Me” — the familiar language of the covenant, Deut. 5:10, 6:5-6, 10:12-13 but now with the enabling of the Holy Spirit, v.16.

16-17 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.

“The Father… will give you” — first in a series of important passages about the Holy Spirit to be given. This makes v.15a joyful consequence, not a hard command.

“The Spirit of Truth” — the Holy Spirit “who leads into all truth”, or communicates the truth about God.

“You know Him” — Judaism viewed the Holy Spirit as an aspect of God; now Jesus presents Him as a distinct spiritual person.

• For further study, see John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-15.

18-19 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see Me any more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.

“I will not leave you” — like Moses’ parting words to Israel, Deut 31:6; see also Joshua 1:5.

“You will see Me” — both with resurrection in mind and in a different way, at Pentecost.

20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.

“On that day you will realise” — this rounds off His reply to Philip who had asked, “Show us the Father”, John 14:8. Soon the indwelling He refers to would become a reality. 

21 Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them.”

“Has My commands” — as in v.15, the “who loves Me” relationship is shown in living Jesus’ way.

Reflection

SUMMARY Jesus presents two teachings which are inter-related. Lives that reflect Jesus’ teaching are the evidence of knowing and loving Jesus, But how do we do it? The Advocate or Helper, names for the Holy Spirit, will be the enabling presence of Jesus in those who love the Lord.

APPLICATION We come to this teaching post-resurrection. Jesus is teaching the disciples what to expect; we live in the reality of a spiritual empowering to live for Jesus.

QUESTION What did Jesus teach as the priority commands and how does awareness of the Holy Spirit help us? (Matt. 22:36-40)

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Acts 17:22-31 — Athenians hear how God is personal and relatable

• Paul discovers an altar “to the unknown God” and explains how to know Him

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

“People of Athens! I see…” — Paul, shows respect for his hearers in being familiar with current Stoic and Epicurean philosophies.

23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship — and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

“To an unknown God” — there were many such altars; centuries before, when sacrifices to all the known gods failed to avert a plague, a Cretan poet, Epimanedes, advised the Athenians to build altars to (any) unknown god.

“This is what I am going to proclaim” — Paul’s gospel starts where his hearers are.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

“Does not live in temples” — a challenge to the Stoics’ diversity of deities.

25 And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

“He Himself gives” — needing nothing from humans, God simply seeks relationship — and gives life.

26 From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

“From one man” — Adam

27-28 God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’

“Your own poets” — Paul also quotes Greek poets in 1 Cor. 15:33 and Titus 1:12.

29-30 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.

“In the past God overlooked” — and stayed judgment, but now full revelation has come with Jesus it is time to turn to Him, Acts 2:38, 3:19-21; Luke 3:7-9.

31 For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

“He has set a day” — Greeks had no concept of a coming day of judgment.

“The man He has appointed” — Jesus, the Son of Man, Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 25:31-46.

“By raising Him from the dead” — Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to the place of authority sets Him apart from religious teachers.

Reflection

SUMMARY God is brought close to us by the Holy Spirit, changing Him from someone we know about, to One with whom we enjoy an intimate relationship.

APPLICATION In the opposite way to pagan deities, who needed to be served and appeased, the Living God delights in giving us, His children, spiritual life and everything that goes with it.

QUESTION Is worship commanded to satisfy God’s needs, or thanksgiving in our relationship in which He draws close to meet our needs?

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1 Peter 3:13-22 — Be ready to speak out why we revere Christ as Lord

• Baptism is a sign of coming to know God personally in spiritual rebirth

13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

“Eager to do good” — the pagan world generally respects those who are kind and caring — and if doing what is right does bring harm, God’s reward will be in it as well, Matt. 5:10-12, Romans 8:31.

15-16 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

“Revere Christ as Lord” — over and above Jesus Christ as Saviour. To be a disciple is to put yourself willingly under the master — and be able to “give an answer” humbly and biblically about why you have done so.

17-18 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

“Suffer for doing good” — not seeking situations which will bring suffering, but to be sure that if they do it is through having been faithful to God.

19-20a After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits — to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

“Proclamation to the imprisoned spirits — difficult verses, either Christ declaring His victory on the Cross to the fallen angels of Hades (supported by v.22); or Christ reaching through Noah to the disobedient unbelievers of that time.

20b-22 In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him.

“Baptism… the pledge of a clear conscience” — the act cannot save; as Peter says, it is not about “the removal of dirt” but an outward sign of salvation and new life. While Christians disagree about the mode of water baptism, across denominations there has been agreement that water baptism is a sign of the inward reality of regeneration, received through grace by faith.

Reflection

SUMMARY Giving the reason for your assurance of belonging to God through Jesus is linked here to baptism, a public occasion when new believers do exactly this in sharing their story of becoming Christians.

APPLICATION Personal stories of faith are powerful and in recent years C of E churches have gained baptismal pools like their Pentecostal and Baptist family members down the road, to make more of baptism candidates telling others how they found Jesus.

QUESTION What other ways can we honour Christ by sharing the reason for our hope?

PRAYER Lord, I am so grateful I can know You through Jesus.
And I am so thankful for You giving us Your Holy Spirit so we are not left on our own trying to live this new life.
Praise You that I can share with others what You have done, and are doing in my life, through difficult times and good ones.
Thank You that knowing You makes all the difference in the twists of turns of life; give me opportunities to revere Christ and ‘give Him glory, through my story’. Amen.

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• The call to be a disciple of Jesus is to join all believers in being a very different kind of priesthood, where everybody represents God to man, and intercedes for man with God

This is The Living Word (TLW) for Sunday, May 7, 2023 — a Bible study based on the Bible readings set for this Sunday according to the revised common lectionary scheme used by a wide variety of churches and chapels.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 — Security is deeply trusting in God’s goodness

John 14:1-14 — Disciples have a place prepared for them in heaven

Acts 7:55-60 — Stephen in his dying moments sees heaven open

1 Peter 2:2-10— Living stones make a heavenly temple here on earth

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Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 — Security is deeply trusting in God’s goodness

• Relationship with God enables us to entrust our times and lives to Him

1-2 In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in Your righteousness. Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.

“Be my rock of refuge” — as David feels abandoned as he faces conspiracy.

3 Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.

“For the sake of Your name” — having promised through the prophet Nathan to be with David, 2 Sam. 7:8—11, God’s covenant reputation is at stake.

4-5 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.

“Into Your hands” — David pledges total dependence on God; Jesus spoke these words in His dying moments.

15-16 My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love.

“My times are in Your hands” — submitting all circumstances and timing.

16 Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love.

“Let Your face shine” — an expression of God’s favour, as in Aaron’s blessing.

• For further study, see Numbers 6:24-26; Psalms 4:6; 67:1; 80:1, 3, 7, 19; 97:11; 118:27; 119:135.

Reflection

SUMMARY This is about trusting God — in faith or more like hope? More the latter, which is a confident expectation in God’s faithfulness.

APPLICATION This is what Jesus, racked with pain, was expressing in His dying moments. We too can choose to put our times in God’s hands.

PRAYER Lord, I trust You — but help me in my moments of not trusting very well. Amen.

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John 14:1-14 — Disciples have a place prepared for them in heaven

• Jesus reminds them that they know Him and He is the Way

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.

“Hearts be troubled” — after difficult news, John 13:33, 36.

“Believe in God… also in Me” — Jesus’ simple but also profound solution to heart anxiety. “Believe” means personal, relational trust, as in the OT, Psalm 56:3-4; Isaiah 26:3-4.

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

“My Father’s house” — like the errant son’s return in Luke 15. Jesus promised a welcome into “eternal dwellings”.

• For further study, see Luke 15:11-32, Luke 16:9, Rev. 21.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you also may be where I am.

“I will come back” — Jesus’ second coming. If we believe in Him (v.1) we will be expected.

4 You know the way to the place where I am going.

“You know the way” — or you know the Way, anticipating what He will say, v.6.

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

“I AM the Way” — an answer rich with double meanings. Jesus’ I AM sayings echo God’s revelation of Himself to Moses, Exodus 3, and signal His divine origins as Messiah. Early believers were known as followers of the Way.

“Except through Me” — the only way to God, Acts 4:12, a claim opposed by our culture, but reasoning must not invalidate what Jesus plainly states. Those who claim to know God but reject Jesus, do not know Him, John 5:39-47.

7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

“Know Me… know My Father” — to know Jesus is to know the Father.

• For further study, see John 5:37-38, John 8:19; 1 John 2:21.

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

“Seen Me… seen the Father” — Jesus sets out His deity as He faces Philip in His humanity. Philip has yet to grasp that Jesus came to reveal the Father, John 1:14, 18, John 12:44-45.

10-11 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work. Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

“I am in the Father and the Father is in Me” — as explained in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one” where “one” is the neuter ‘one thing’, not one person. So one in essence, will and purpose — not identical persons. With the Holy Spirit, Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 3:14, the three distinct Persons constitute only one Being.

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

“Works” — Greek erga;  all of Jesus’ mission, teaching, merciful acts — and signs — would continue.

“Greater things” — the Holy Spirit to be given would replicate and multiply the ministry beyond Palestine and worldwide.

13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.

“Ask in My name” — meaning coming to God in the will of Jesus. Our alignment with Him (not just a form of words) is the key to this arresting promise.

Reflection

SUMMARY Thomas and Philip ask some good, honest questions, and the answers which Jesus gives are rich in clarity about His purpose.

APPLICATION Jesus is the Way in two senses: He is the exact representation of what God is like; and believing and trusting Him is the way — the only way — to God.

QUESTION  How would you answer someone who found difficulty with Jesus being the only way to God?

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Acts 7:55-60 — Stephen in his dying moments sees heaven open

• Through the pain he sees Christ standing to welcome him

55-56 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

“Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit” — in sharp contrast to the unspiritual religiosity of his Sanhedrin persecutors, who reacted in uncontrolled rage.

“Son of Man”, Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 22:69.

57-58 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

“Began to stone him” — without trial and illegally, possibly supervised by the up-and-coming Pharisee Saul.

59-60 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

“Do not hold this sin against them” — strikingly similar to Jesus’ words “Father, forgive them…” on the Cross, Luke 23:34. Jesus greatly emphasised forgiving others, Matt 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; also Luke 11:4; 17:3-4; Matthew 18:21-35.

“He fell asleep” — a common NT way of conveying that death for believers is a transition, Luke 8:52; John 11:11; 1 Thess. 4:14-15.

Reflection

SUMMARY Christ-focused Stephen was a courageous, fruitful evangelist who attracted the same hatred that had put his Lord on the Cross. Seeing heaven opening he proclaims heaven’s mercy towards those who were motivated by hell to kill him.

APPLICATION Stephen’s attitude in his dying moments underlines Jesus’ highest priority for us: to extend His grace to others.

QUESTION Who do you find impossible to forgive? How would Stephen counsel you?

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1 Peter 2:2-10 — Living stones make a heavenly temple here on earth

• Every believer is part of the new priesthood representing God to men

2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

“Grow up in your salvation” — views salvation both as an event (on deciding to entrust your life to Christ) and a lifelong process of the Holy Spirit bringing increasing freedom and  spiritual maturity.

4-6 As you come to Him, the Living Stone — rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.

“The Living Stone… you also, like living stones” — Peter describes the church as the new temple inhabited by the Holy Spirit of God. Every believer is a living stone aligned with Christ as Cornerstone— a picture of dependence and connection, echoing Paul’s teaching on all parts of the body being connected to the Head.

“A holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ” — in the OT, only priests born into Levi’s tribe had access, but in the NT, there is a shift. Under the New Covenant in Jesus, believers are reborn into God’s family to become a new and different priesthood. Every believer who has invited Jesus into their hearts and lives has ‘priestly’ access through that submitted relationship. Spiritual sacrifices have now become Spirit-led worship and service.

7-8 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message — which is also what they were destined for. 

“This stone… the cornerstone… a stone to stumble” — three quotations about Christ as the authentic, unique foundation stone of the new temple. Those aligned with the old temple reject it and it is a barrier for those unwilling to submit to Jesus as Lord. Everyone has the choice: not to stumble, but to step up on the rock.

• For further study, see Psalm 118; Matt. 21:42; Isaiah 8:14, 28:16; Romans 9:33.

9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

“Chosen people, royal priesthood” — Peter redefines familiar OT labels. The people of Israel were the former “chosen people”. The chosen people now in the NT are the believers.

“God’s special possession” — as OT priests were set apart for God, now all Christians, through the experience of the new birth, form a new ‘nation’ in a special relationship with God.

• For further study, read Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 4:20, 7:6, 14:2; Isaiah 43:10, 20-21; Malachi 3:17.

Reflection

SUMMARY Jesus calls us to leap of faith , trusting Him at the deepest level of our lives.  It’s called being born again and it changes us spiritually into what Peter calls “living stones”, which fitted together with all the others, form a living temple of God’s presence on earth.

APPLICATION This is how evangelism is designed to work — spiritually recreated believers being the new priesthood between heaven and earth and showing the world something so attractive that it is hard to resist. 

QUESTION How does our church practice and language need to change to reflect Peter’s integrated picture?

PRAYER Lord Jesus, like Stephen we look up and we see Your scarred hands extended to us in welcome. We give our lives to You again. We put our times and our actions in Your hands, pledging to keep aligned with You as Your living stones, and to represent You to others as yet untouched by Your love. Thank You for being the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.