Easter

This is The Living Word non-denominational Bible study for Sunday, May 16 (TLW19B) using the readings set in the Revised Common Lectionary which is shared across the major denominations.

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This week’s readings are:

OT: Psalm 1 — In life’s choices the good way is always God’s way

NT gospel: John 17:6-19 — Jesus prays for disciples to hold on to their unity against the deceptions of the enemy

NT narrative: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 — Witness to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection is a priority

NT letter: 1 John 5:6-13 — Believing the three witnesses to the truth of who Jesus gives us assurance of eternal life

Here’s the theme that emerges: Joy and confidence is God’s reward for upholding His truth

• See also the article Keeping a true course which is linked to this post’s theme.

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Psalm 1 — In life’s choices the good way is always God’s way

Delighting in God’s word as truth to live by invites God’s watchful favour

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers…

“Blessed” – ashrey, more literally ‘joys’ is an introduction to all the psalms, the promise for all those who read and reflect on them. This psalm promises joyful blessings to God’s people who choose a different path from the habitually wicked “mockers”.

2-3 …but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.

“That person” – the individual, as “blessed is the one” (v.1), who faces the unbelieving majority with a way of life that’s rooted in the Word and which “prospers” from the constancy of God’s provision and protection.

• For further study, see Jeremiah 17:5-8, Joshua 1:8, Matthew 6:33.

4-5 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

“The wicked” – showing a disregard for God and his Way. Failure to be anchored in God’s truth leaves us vulnerable to opinion and a weak influence to community or church. 

“Assembly of the righteous” — gathered for worship at the temple. “The righteous” is one of several terms in the OT for God’s people who honour Him and prioritise His will.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

“Watches over” – an intimate, relational word. “Wicked” – our ‘I know best’ independence casts us loose from the security of relationship with God. God is already encouraging the way of the righteous, but has no connection with the way of the ungodly except in judgment, Psalm 146:9, Galatians 6:7-10.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Those who delight in God’s way, choosing to reflect on His word and live by it, will know the joy of the Lord and His favour bringing success in what they do.

APPLICATION  God wants us to make our life choices in accordance with His word and that is what He will bless. We need the courage of our convictions to determine not to be drawn into the ways of the majority who have little regard for God.

QUESTION  How do we feed ourselves on God’s true word and still engage in regular life?

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John 17:6-19 — Jesus is praying for His present and future disciples

He prays for their unity to be maintained against the deceptions of the enemy

6-7  “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. Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You.

“I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me” – a summary of Christ’s mission, revealing the true person of God to the world, gathering up God’s people into His flock and being the Way to the Father, John 14:6.

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 knew with certainty” – the disciples, unlike the Pharisees, grasped that Jesus came from the Father, and believed what He taught knowing it was from the Father and was truth. The Holy Spirit’s revelation to come would enable them to fit the rest of the pieces together.

9-10  I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given Me, for they are Yours. All I have is Yours, and all You have is mine. And glory has come to Me through them.

“I pray for them… not… for the world” — because they belong to the Father, the more so, as He is leaving them to carry on the mission in the world, v.11 below.

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.

“That they may be one” – with the sense of continuing in the unity of mind and heart they have been given about God’s purpose and their mission.

12  While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name You gave Me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

“Doomed… so that Scripture would be fulfilled” — referring to Judas Iscariot.

• For further study, see Psalm 41:9; John 13:18; and Psalms 69:25, 109:8.

13-14  “I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. I have given them Your Word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

“Not of the world” – not having the pessimistic, unbelieving mindset of the world. They have been “born of the Spirit” and are “children of God”, John 3:8, John 1:12, and when the Holy Spirit is given, they will have the full measure of the Lord’s joy, John 16:20, 22-24.

15-16  My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

“Not…take them out of the world”— following Jesus brings protection under the New Covenant, and the realisation that Satan does not give up ground easily. Christians have to relate to people and policies of contrary beliefs and values, while drawing strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit as those who are not of the world.

17-19  Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 

“Sanctify them” — make them holy. Our coming to know Jesus, who is the truth, and our being empowered by the Spirit of Truth, changes us and set us apart for God – on a course of being sanctified, or made holy, in Bible language. All disciples of Jesus are “holy people” or “saints”, Romans 1:7, 1 Cor. 1:2, Ephesians 1:1.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Jesus prays for the protection and continuing unity of those who belong to Him, asking that they might be joyful and confident in upholding truth.

APPLICATION  Against a backdrop of decline in church attendance in the First World, the churches that are bucking the trend and attracting families and young people are those with a clear confident message about who Jesus is and our need to receive Him into our hearts.

QUESTION  What is our message for those who are seeking spiritual assurance?

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Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 — Witness to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection

Matthias, who had known Jesus from the start, was chosen to replace Judas

15-17  In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about 120) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

“Peter stood up” — Peter, who made mistakes and was quick to acknowledge them, is stepping up to the leadership he shows in these early chapters of Acts.

21-22  “Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

“Necessary to choose” — Peter had (v.20) spoken two well-known sayings from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 “May his place be deserted… May another take his place of leadership” which they took as a prophetic word to them to complete the number of the Twelve.

“Witness with us” – the candidate needed to be a witness to Jesus’ resurrection, who had also known Him for the preceding three years. It was essential for the first apostles to be first-hand witnesses of how Jesus showed Himself to be Messiah, to counter threats and denials of the Jewish rulers.

23-26  So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

“Casting lots” – a way of making a choice before the coming of the Holy Spirit who Himself guides and leads God’s people.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Peter stands up to offer leadership and shares a prophetic word about choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot to take over the apostolic ministry. They choose Matthias to be a fellow guardian of the apostolic truth.

APPLICATION  The ministry we can share depends on how well we know the resurrected Lord and can speak the truth about Him from our own experience. 

QUESTION  How could we follow Peter’s example of guidance from a prophetic word of Scripture?

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1 John 5:6-13 — Three (divine) witnesses to the truth of who Jesus is

The apostle says that believing the testimony is assurance of eternal life

6   This is the one who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

The Spirit, the water and the blood” — John is making a point to refute the serious Gnostic error of separating the divine Jesus and the human Jesus: He was fully God and fully man throughout life and in His death. He was affirmed as God’s Son

1. by the voice of God at His baptism

1. at His atoning death, accompanied by the signs of sudden darkness, earthquake and rending of the temple curtain and

1. by the witness of the Spirit in the hearts of believers. 

9  We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about his Son.

“Human testimony” – understood from the preceding verses. When Jesus encountered people who would not accept His testimony about Himself, He pointed them to His works, John 10:25. Better than the two or three witnesses required for human testimony, John calls three ultra-reliable witnesses of God Himself.

10  Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about His Son.

“Whoever believes in…” – the difference between an intellectual assent in Jesus as a historical figure who did good and set an example to follow; and personally trusting in Jesus, Son of God and crucified Saviour and Lord.

11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

“Whoever has the Son has life” — to “have the Son” comes simply through faith in Christ, not any good works, and this is what gives us a new dimension of life now, as well as assurance of eternal life (v.13), John 14:6, Acts 4:12.

13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 

“So you may know” — vv.11-13 makes the clearest possible statement that our relationship with the Son determines whether or not we possess eternal life.

Reflection

SUMMARY  John sets out the three witnesses of the Spirit, the water of His baptism and the blood of His sacrificial death to Jesus being the Son of God. These are the reliable witnesses of God Himself which speak against all philosophies attempting to diminish the truth of His unique redemptive role.

APPLICATION  John wants those that read or hear His letter to know assurance of eternal life by having confidence in the key proofs of who Jesus is. In an age where it fashionable to distrust absolutes — this is an absolute.

QUESTION  How do you respond to the heart-felt believing in Jesus that John expects?

PRAYER  Father, we thank You again for sending Your Son, Jesus, and giving us the joy of knowing You through Him.
May we who are not eye-witnesses have the Holy Spirit confidence of Your first apostles to testify to Jesus crucified, resurrected and living, as someone we know well.
Send us into the world with its scepticism and political correctness with a different voice — the voice You give us of clear and confident testimony in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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PRINT EDITION  The link below downloads a PDF to print on A4 paper to make a Bible-size four-page folder. Permission given to copy for your own use, for your home Bible study or other small group, or for inclusion with your church bulletin.

Welcome to The Living Word for Sunday, May 9 (TLW18B). This Bible study uses the set readings of the Revised Common Lectionary shared by many denominations and draws out a theme for the week. It is non-denominational and doesn’t lean to any liturgical preferences. It’s best to read the passage as a whole first, and then return to dig deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections.

Theme: The joy and love the Lord gives us transforms others

• See also the linked article Love and joy that transforms which tells the story of this theme.

• And the short video introduction

OT: Psalm 98 — Praise and joy celebrate the Lord’s purpose

NT gospel: John 15:9-17 — The Lord’s joy and love transform our world

NT narrative: Acts 10:44-48 — Dealing with our prejudices to share the gospel

NT letter: 1 John 5:1-6 — True believers are seen by how they love each other

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Psalm 98 — Praise and joy celebrate the Lord’s purpose

The psalmist extols God’s faithfulness, fairness and gift of salvation

1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvellous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. 

“Sing to the Lord” – a victory song of praise throughout, not just (as many psalms) at beginning and end. 

“Marvellous things” – also used for the picture of salvation which is the Exodus, Psalm 106:7

2-3 The Lord has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations. He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

“He has remembered” – praise for God’s restored order, and faithfulness in maintaining His covenant of steadfast love.

4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music…

“Shout for joy… all the earth” – the inspiration behind Isaac Watts’ hymn ‘Joy to the World’. 

5-6 … make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn – shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

The psalmist invites the whole earth to join in making music to praise God, see also Psalm 96:1. This psalm parallels Psalm 96 in many places.

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

8-9 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

“He comes to judge the earth” – salvation in Christ Jesus (vv.1-3) and the righteous rule of the Messiah (vv. 4-9) brings the possibility of renewal and blessing for everyone on earth. This is distinct from the exclusive ways of religious thinking.

“Judge… in righteousness… with equity” — eager anticipation of the coming of the righteous Judge, Psalm 96:11-13. God’s righteous judgment, and His fair vindication of those who have suffered injustice, are the same idea.

Reflection

SUMMARY AND APPLICATION God is love and He is known for salvation, bringing His righteous and fair judgments to steer everything to align with His goodness. Heaven is calling everybody and everything to join the praise and share the joy, and those who truly belong to Him catch this and respond.

QUESTION Why should we praise God with joy when people are dying of Covid?

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John 15:9-17 — The Lord’s joy and love transform our world

Jesus tells us to keep on growing more loving and so more like Him

9 “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. 

“Remain in My love” – compare with “remain in Me” or “abide in Me”, v.4. This implies union with Christ (through new spiritual birth) and then maintaining that fellowship.

10 If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

“If you keep…” – a condition. Doing what Jesus said to do is the key to knowing His abiding presence and being secure in His love. Jesus, fully God but also fully man, stuck closely to His Father’s instructions and intentions in His human life.

11 I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

“My joy…in you” – what defines Christian believers is having the joy of the Spirit of Jesus — and love. Obeying Jesus is joyfull, not drudgery, John 1:4, John 5:2-3. 

“Complete” – in a fallen world our joy flickers but the Holy Spirit’s joy is a secure connection.

12-13 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

“Love each other”, John 13:34.

“As I have loved you” – Jesus demonstrated sacrificial love, ultimately on the Cross. He calls us to go beyond what is polite and expected, showing His kind of love even when it costs us. We can’t claim to love God without showing love that extends beyond ourselves, 1 John 4:11-21.

14-17 You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. This is My command: Love each other.

“If you do what I command” – the languages suggests formal duty but what characterises Jesus’ friends is that they are always seeking to grow more like Him, and be found doing more of what Jesus Himself did. Appointed to bear “fruit that will last” is about showing Jesus to the world through changed hearts and attitudes.

“I have called you friends” – disciples of a rabbi entered a form of bond-service. By contrast, the bond for Jesus’ disciples is friendship. The kingdom of God operates through people and friendships.

• For further study, the OT prophets foresaw an era of people of joy, Isaiah 25:9, 35:10, 51:3, 61:10, Zeph. 3:14-17, Zech. 9:9.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Earlier in this teaching Jesus had urged, “Remain in Me”. Now He instructs, “Remain in My love” and “Go and bear fruit”. First we need the close, committed and submitted relationship. Then we need to uphold His values — and share them.

APPLICATION  Jesus didn’t come to start a religious institution, and especially not a solemn one. With His joy in us, and His love in us, His command is to go and share the love and joy of the Good News in a way that it seeds and multiplies.

QUESTION  How do we reduce our reliance on organisation and become more organic?

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Acts 10:44-48 — Dealing with our prejudices to share the gospel

Peter steps out in faith to tell his story in a Roman household

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

“Heard the message” — Peter’s vision and hearing the audible voice of God telling him not to call impure anything that God had made clean, was still fresh when he was invited to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, to speak to the household. Peter found a new love for these Romans and told them how God had anointed Jesus of Nazareth with power to do good, only to be crucified — yet was miraculously resurrected on the third day and instructed His disciples to proclaim that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness through His name.

• For further study: compare Acts 2:38; Acts 19:1-7.

45  The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

“Even on Gentiles” — the Scriptures, reinforced by Jesus, taught that the Good News was both for Jews and Gentiles. Jews found this hard to accept until they saw it for themselves.

46  For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

“Speaking in tongues” — the release experienced at Pentecost, and by other disciples at Ephesus, Acts 2:4,11 and Acts 19:1,6. The presence of the Holy Spirit on them confirmed their salvation, showing that God had initiated the mission to the Gentiles.

Then Peter said, 

47-48  “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. 

“Baptised with water” – when a believer declares their decision to trust in Jesus (so not infants!) and symbolically buries their old life, rising again again, symbolically washed clean, to new life.

“Received… just as we have” – The Gentile believers had received the same gift as the Jewish ones, Acts 11:17, and were given an unlearned prayer and praise language, just as the Jewish Christians had at Pentecost, v.46 and note above. This was unarguable evidence for treating the Gentile believers as one and the same.

Reflection

SUMMARY  As Peter is telling the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit comes on the non-Jewish household in front of him who begin to praise God in a heavenly language, like the Jewish pilgrims at Pentecost.

APPLICATION  The Good News is given, to be given away. Our natural tendency is to keep it for ourselves. But we have to rise above that, as Peter did, and go out of our comfort zone to love people who are not like us.

QUESTION  To what extent is what Peter expected and saw what  we should expect? What has changed, God or us?

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1 John 5:1-6 — True believers are seen by how they love each other

The faith and love of true believers puts Christ’s victory into the world

1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well.

“Born of God” – born again, the spiritual rebirth. John quotes a common saying to emphasise that true believers who love the Father, will be known by their love for other believers, His children.

2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.

“How we know” — as love for one another is evidence that that we love God, 1 John 4:7-8, 20; the other side of the coin is that loving God is inseparable from loving His way of unconditional love and therefore being loving towards all who are His children.

3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome…

Following God’s way may be demanding, but that doesn’t make it a heavy burden. If we are His, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be like Him; through faith, rather than effort, it comes (super)naturally.

4-5 …for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

“Born of God” – the decision to believe and trust Jesus as Lord triggers a spiritual rebirth. If we have decided to allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives, we have resolved to “overcome” the pull of the world’s values, to live by His. This is saying ‘no’ to selfishness and independence. It is victorious Christian living.

6 This is the one who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

“By water” – Jesus was empowered “by water” at baptism for His ministry which was fulfilled “by blood” at the Cross. John emphasises that Jesus was fully God and fully man – the Son of God as He was affirmed at His baptism, but also the human son at His death. 

Reflection

SUMMARY  John writes to encourage believers in  his young churches who face ridicule and persecution. Believers who have experienced spiritual regeneration and are truly “born of God” show it by the way they uphold His kind of sacrificial love. Others see the love there is in the fellowship. This speaks to them.

APPLICATION  It’s the joy and love that show who the Christians are. People can work out what is real, and the most cynical of them will take notice of Christian love which does not expect to be repaid. The Christian gathering that’s a real fellowship, while looking out for others to invite, is offering what everyone is looking for: love and acceptance.

QUESTION   Why is keeping Christ’s commands not a burden for those that are His?

PRAYER  Lord God, the joy we have of knowing You through Jesus is our inner strength, keeping us afloat when the world seeks to drag us down.
And the love you have put in us by Your Holy Spirit is what tells people about You when we can’t see the opportunity or find the words.
With your help, may we see others you bring across our path with Your eyes, and bless them with our actions.
May we contribute to a loving fellowship that everyone will want to be part of, to find You there. Amen.

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PRINT EDITION  A PDF of the print edition can be downloaded from the link below, with permission given to copy for your own use, for your small group or inclusion in your church bulletin. Prints on A4 paper to make a Bible-sized folder.

Welcome to The Living Word for Sunday, May 2 (Easter 5)TLW17B. Read the Scriptures as they stand first and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you about them. Then dig deeper with the verse-by-verse comment Ary and reflection notes. See also this week’s linked article drawing out the story that these Scriptures tell.

Theme: Receiving God’s love is the key to our fruitfulness

• See also the linked article ‘The big story — knowing we are loved enables everything‘

• And a short video telling ‘The Big Story of God’s love for us‘

Psalm 22:25-31 — A time will come when all people and nations are thankfully celebrating the Lord’s rule of love

John 15:1-8 — As God’s vine is Jesus, we are to be His healthy trimmed branches

Acts 8:26-40 — Philip is led by the Spirit to the right person at the right time and leads the Ethiopian to Christ

1 John 4:7-21 — Unselfish love sourced from God Himself is the stand-out quality shown by spiritually reborn believers

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Psalm 22:25-31 — A time will come when many respond to God’s love

The psalmist sees all people and nations thankfully celebrating the Lord’s rule

25-26 From You comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear You I will fulfil my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise Him — may your hearts live for ever!

“I will fulfil my vows” — share praise as a response to answered prayer in “the great assembly” of worshippers.

27-28 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations.

“All the families of the nations” — far-off nations recognising God’s grace to them.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him – those who cannot keep themselves alive.

“All the rich of the earth” — the proud and the poor of every nation celebrate God’s goodness together.

30 Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord.

“Future generations” — revival as future generations respond to the message of Christ crucified for us.

31 They will proclaim His righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

“He has done it” — prophetic of Jesus’ last words: “It is finished!”

Reflection

SUMMARY  The psalmist praises God for His goodness, recognised by future generations — a picture of His kingdom embracing all kinds of people with love, justice and equanimity.

APPLICATION  God seeks spiritual revival where people who are complete opposites find themselves receiving His love and salvation together.

QUESTION  What part do we play in God’s dominion and kingdom coming?

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John 15:1-8 — As God’s vine is Jesus, we are to be healthy branches

Branches are trimmed to produce more fruit, and taken out if they are barren

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener.

“The true vine” — begins an illustration in which Jesus is the vine, producing fruit through believers who are His branches.

• Further study: in the OT God’s people were the vine, Psalm 80:8-9; Hosea 10:1, or vineyard, Isaiah 5:1-7. Jesus makes this personal and organic, vv. 4-5 below.

2 “He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

“Branch… that bears no fruit” — removal of unproductive branches and attention to good ones to strengthen them during the growing season.

3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

“You are already clean” — by contrast with Judas.

4-5 “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

“Remain in Me as I… remain in you” — this simply describes a close relationship, connected spiritually.

“Apart from Me you can do nothing” — exaggeration makes the point that fruitfulness only comes through spiritual rebirth.

6 “If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

“Such branches are… thrown into the fire” — those claiming to belong to Jesus, but with unsubmitted hearts..

7 “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

“Ask… and it will be done” — in such a close relationship we are praying in line with His intentions.

8 “This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.”

“Bear much fruit [as] My disciples” — God needs us to “bear fruit” as the ones advancing His kingdom in changed lives.

SUMMARY  Jesus’ first hearers knew about Israel as God’s vine. Now Jesus makes it deeply personal. His disciples are growing and producing the fruit of love and knowing God personally as Father — His kingdom on earth.

APPLICATION  The lesson is, not trying to prove how much we can do apart from Christ, but finding His ways for us to be fruitful with Him.

 QUESTION  How have you become more fruitful through God’s pruning?

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Acts 8:26-40 — Philip is led by the Spirit to the right person

He shows the Ethiopian Jesus in the Scriptures and baptises him in an oasis

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

“An angel of the Lord said to Philip” — introducing a story of fruitfulness from following the Holy Spirit’s leading.

27-28 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.

“Ethiopian eunuch” — this high-ranking Nubian courtier, was searching for the truth in Judaism.

“The Kandake” — queen mother who managed the king’s civic duties and exchequer.

29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

“The Spirit told Philip” — believers were confident in being guided where and when to go, and what to say, v.26.

• For further study, see Acts 9:15, 10:19-20, 11:12, 16:6; 1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:12.

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

“Heard the man reading” — usually aloud in the ancient world.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

“Unless someone explains it” — for the born-again Christian the Holy Spirit reveals the Scriptures and gives us the words, as Jesus promised, Luke 12:12, John 14:26. 

32-33 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

34-35 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

“Who is the prophet talking about?” — Jews, unable to imagine a suffering Messiah, taught Israel as the suffering servant.

“Told the good news about Jesus” — that all and any can come to Jesus, believe in Him and receive Him as their Lord in salvation. Philip led this man to receive Christ.

36 As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptised?”

“What can stand in the way” — the rules of Judaism would not admit him but he knew Christ had died for him. 

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him.

39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

“Went on his way rejoicing” — by church tradition he became a missionary to his own people. Philip had been more fruitful than he knew.

40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

“Azotus… Caesarea — both with a large Gentile population, underlining the urgency of the mission to Gentiles.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Philip, one of the seven “men full of the Spirit and wisdom” of Acts 6:5 obeys an extraordinary prompting to head south on the desert road and encounters the Ethiopian minister of finance who is reading Scripture aloud. He is invited to explain it — and he shows the connection between the Suffering Servant of Isaiah and Jesus’ sacrifice and what it means for this man. He seeks to be baptised at the next watering place.

APPLICATION  Philip, listening to the Spirit of Jesus, took some risks and found this man at the right time and place and led him to personal faith. That is being fruitful.

QUESTION  What would Philip want to teach us from his story and experience?

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1 John 4:7-21 — How the source of love is God’s love for us

Unselfish love is the stand-out quality shown by spiritually reborn believers

7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

“Everyone who loves… knows God” — a spiritually reborn believer’s love for others is evidence of their connection to the source.

“God is love” — but also spirit, light, faithfulness and justice, and goodness, John 4:24; 1 John 1:5, 1 John 1:9, Luke 18:19.

9-10 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

“God showed His love” — in a concrete way, sending His only Son into a cruel world to pay the price for sinful men to receive forgiveness and new life.

11-12 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

“Love one another” — those who have received God’s love experience a fellowship with all others who have received the same.

13-14 This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.

“How we know” — introduces a section predicated on “He has given us of His Spirit” which sets out the spiritual hallmarks of genuine disciples, as distinct from unregenerate false teachers.

Spirit… the Father… His Son — a clear reference to the Trinity of God

15-16 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

“If anyone acknowledges” — in 1 John 4:2 it was to affirm Christ’s full humanity; here it is to affirm His deity. Believers hold both to be true.

16-17 God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus.

“Whoever lives in love” — living in God and living in love are inseparable (also v.12).

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

“No fear in love” — fear as an insecurity is linked to condemnation and eternal punishment. When our experience of God is complete in knowing His love, that anxiety has nothing to feed on.

19-20 We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

“Claims to love” — we cannot claim to love God and not love those who are His.

21 And He has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

“Love their brother and sister” — the claim to love God is verified by unselfish love within the fellowship, and beyond.

Reflection

SUMMARY  John writes about love being such an essential part of who God is, it will be an outstanding characteristic of anyone who truly belongs to Him in Jesus.

APPLICATION  To be fruitful for God is first and foremost to be channels of His grace and love. This comes from the close relationship and spiritual bond that Jesus spoke about in the branches fed by the vine, and that Philip knew when he was prompted to head off into the desert for a strategic encounter. In the growing churches, John emphasises showing the life of God by giving away the love of God.

QUESTION  Why does John portray God’s love as an antidote to the devil’s fear?

PRAYER  Father God, we reflect again on Your gracious love that sent Your only Son to an ungracious earth. We consider how He showed that love by taking on Himself the suffering of the Cross to purchase our freedom. May we live lives full of Your Spirit and overflowing with Your love for others, to grow in fruitfulness for You and Your kingdom. Amen.

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PRINT EDITION  There is a print edition of TLW and you can download a PDF from the link below. This prints on A4 paper to produce a Bible-size four-page folder. Permission given to copy for your own use, your house or home or other small group, or include with your church’s bulletin.

Welcome to the non-denominational Bible study for Sunday April 25 (Easter 4) TLW15B. Read the passages as they stand first and let the Holy Spirit reveal them to you. Then for a deeper dive you’ll find below the verse-by-verse commentary and reflections. There is also an article linked to this post, ‘Knowing the Good Shepherd — It’s personal’, see link below.

Theme: A personal relationship with the Good Shepherd

• See the article linked to this post ‘Knowing the Good Shepherd — it’s personal‘

• And there’s a video which tells the story ‘Knowing the Good Shepherd’

OT Psalm 23 — David’s special relationship with God points the way for knowing God through Jesus
NT gospel John 10:11-18 — Jesus reveals His mission as the Good Shepherd to rule His people with care and justice
NT narrative Acts 4:5-12 — Peter tells the court that salvation is found in no one else but the resurrected Jesus
NT letter 1 John 3:16-24 — Believers who truly belong to the Lord are known by their confidence before God and generous spirit

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Psalm 23 — Knowing the provider and protector secures the soul

David’s special relationship with God points the way for knowing God through Jesus

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

“Shepherd” — a common metaphor for kings in Israel and the ancient Near East. In OT, widely used for the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel. In the NT, used of Jesus the great and good Shepherd, John 10:11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 7:17.

• For further study on the Lord as the Shepherd of Israel, Psalms 28:9; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Genesis 48:15; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 17:16; 31:10; 50:19.

2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.

“Green pastures… still waters” — sheep, unlike the more independent goats, rely on the shepherd to find them good places for feeding and safe, still water for drinking.

3-4 He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

“The right paths” — free from danger, and not wandering off.

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.

“Darkest valley” — like the dark and deep wadis of dry riverbeds, inviting concealment and attack.

“You are with me” — these words emphasise God’s nearness and caring relationship, underlined by being at the exact centre of the psalm.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

“A table before me” — picture of a covenant treaty celebration with the vassal an honoured guest and enemies excluded.

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.

“Your goodness and love” — goodness coupled with mercy, chesed or faithful love, an intense expression.

“Dwell in the house of the Lord” — for a non-Levite, having ready access to the sanctuary for worship. This also describes the Christian of personal faith, who can worship any place and any time.

Reflection

SUMMARY  A psalm that describes the unusually close relationship David had with the Lord. It is clearly prophetic of Jesus who is both the Good Shepherd of the flock made up of those that trust in Him, and also the King with a perfect and caring rule that will be established.

APPLICATION  What God wants more than anything, is a personal relationship in which He guides, provides and protects through earthly life, as a preparation for eternal life in heaven. Life will bring challenges and darker episodes, but God is with us in them

QUESTION  In a recent life situation, good or bad, where in this psalm did you experience God?

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John 10:11-18 — Jesus reveals His mission as the Good Shepherd

Ezekiel prophesied that God Himself would shepherd His people with justice

11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

“I am” — one of seven (number of completeness) “I am” sayings by Jesus which for Jewish hearers resonated with the way God revealed Himself to Moses, Exodus 3:14 and the seven “I am he” statements in Isaiah.

“The Good Shepherd” — Jesus is alluding to Psalm 23 (above) and also the scathing rebuke through Ezekiel in which which God called out the evil leaders of Israel and promised to personally become Israel’s Good Shepherd. Jesus identifies Himself with God by using this title.

For further study, read Ezekiel 34:1-6 and 7-31.

12-13 “The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“Hired hand” — villages often had a communal flock and employed a shepherd to look after them. But a hired hand would not take the risks for the flock that their owner would.

14-15 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me — just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father — and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

“I know My sheep” — deep mutual experience, like the Father and the Son.

16 “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

I have other sheep” — for the first hearers, the gathering of God’s scattered people, Ezekiel 37:21-24; Micah 2:12 but here Jesus shows that He has sheep among the despised Gentiles also, John 7:35, and anticipates the mission to the Gentiles after Pentecost.

17-18 The reason my Father loves Me is that I lay down My life — only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

“I lay down My life” — this part of John’s gospel brings out Christ’s stated purpose of dying for His people. He would allow by His own authority; otherwise no one would have had the power to kill Him, Luke 23:46.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Jesus reminds His hearers of David’s psalm about the Lord who is his Good Shepherd. Less directly He references God’s rebuke of the harsh and corrupt leaders of Israel through Ezekiel, in which He stated He would be Israel’s Good Shepherd Himself. By identifying Himself as the Good Shepherd, Jesus was showing His deity and Messiahship.

APPLICATION  The relationship that God seeks can only come through Jesus the Good Shepherd. It is central to understanding how this works, that this Shepherd is exceptional in sacrificially losing His life to save His sheep.

QUESTION  What is the importance of the sheep listening to the Shepherd’s voice, v.16?

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Acts 4:5-12 — Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus

Jesus crucified then raised from the dead healed the lame man, Peter tells court

5-6 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.

“Rulers… elders… teachers of the law” — the three groups represented on the supreme court that was comprised of 70 of the wealthiest and mosat powerful men of Israel, presided over by the high priest of the time. This was the same court that had condemned Jesus.

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

“By what power” — the healing was indisputable; the question was about how the man was healed, and by whose authority.

8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

“Filled with the Holy Spirit” — there are a number of instances in Acts of people being filled with the Spirit, a repeatable and also a situational experience.

“Called to account” — Jesus had promised that the disciples would stand before kings and rulers and that the Spirit of God within them would give them what to say, Matthew 10:16-20.

• For further study, read Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; Acts 9:17; Acts 13:9.

11 “Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

“The cornerstone” — Peter uses the argument of precedent, as used in courts today, quoting Psalm 118:22 which Jesus has also used in His parable about the wicked tenant farmers, directed against these same corrupt leaders of Israel, Luke 20:17.

12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

“Found in no one else” — in that one sense exclusive, but in another fully inclusive, available to all who believe. The Bible is clear that there is no means of salvation other than Jesus the Messiah.

• For further study, read Matt. 11:27; John 3:18; 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 5:12.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Peter and John are brought before the same court that convicted Jesus. Jesus had told them that they would be put on trial before rulers, but the Holy Spirit would tell them exactly how to answer. This is seen in Peter’s bold, unapologetic reply which makes one of the clearest statements about Jesus and salvation in Him.

APPLICATION  To say that there are many paths to salvation and many dimensions of the truth may sound inclusive and politically correct, but it is impossible to square with this statement by Peter which is supported by the general thrust of the New Testament. Salvation comes through repenting of our own efforts and believing what Jesus has done for us.

QUESTION  Why is “Salvation is found in no one else” held by some to be controversial? Is salvation exclusive or inclusive?

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1 John 3:16-24 — Those who belong to the Lord have changed lives

Confidence before God, generosity towards other sets apart the true believer

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

“Lay down our lives” — in John’s churches some believers were martyred and slaves were often tortured for information. A believer might have to pay a big price to avoid betraying a brother.

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

“Material possessions” — material objects that sustain life, essentials.

18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

“Love… with actions and in truth” — or in reality. Love is not sentiment but has an outworking, James 2:15-16.

19-20 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.

“God is greater” — an inner conviction by the Holy Spirit that our love has lacked substance is more than matched by God’s capacity to forgive. 

21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him.

“We have confidence” —if we have a clear conscience, we can go to God confidently in the relationship we have with Him.

23 And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.

“To believe… and to love” — compare with Jesus’ answer to the scribe about the Great Commandment, Matthew 22:34-40

24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.

“We know it by the Spirit” —The Holy Spirit’s work in the believer is assumed throughout the letter. Here John summarises the test for discerning who has the Spirit — not (as the false teachers claimed) an elite who claim to be enlightened without their lives being changed but the evidence of believers growing in faith and sacrificial love, v.23 and Galatians 5:22-23.

SUMMARY  John writes from the perspective of Spirit-filled believers growing in the their faith and witness against the twin dangers of unregenerate and deceptive teachers; and the ever-present risk of martyrdom. True believers stand out by their transformed lives, their loving concern for others in sharing necessities, praying confidently and growing in discipleship.

APPLICATION  As James said in His letter, faith and love must be sincere, resulting in deeds and actions. John expands that teaching, emphasising that the born-again believer will be a transformed person, of confident faith and prayer life and evidently full of the Spirit of God and full of God’s love.

QUESTION  Most believers in the western world do not face the kind of persecution that John’s readers did. What does laying down our lives for our brothers mean to us?

PRAYER  Thank You, God our Father, for sending Your Son to make a way back for us to be accepted by You.
Thank You for His incomparable love shown in the self-sacrifice of the Cross, and for being faithful and merciful to us, when our love for You has often been fickle.
May we grow in faith and love towards You, and among all Your diverse children, as we share the precious relationship we have through Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

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PRINT EDITION  You can download a PDF print edition which prints on A4 paper to form a four-page Bible-size handout. Permission is granted to copy for your own use, your home group or Bible study, or to include with your church bulletin.

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Welcome to The Living Word for Sunday, April 18 (TLW15Br). This was posted earlier with the readings for April 25 in error. Humble apologies for that. Here are the correct readings for April 18 although there is quite a lot of variation in the Easter scheme. This is a non-denominational Bible study, so it won’t fit every church or chapel’s use exactly.

Theme: Restoration and renewal

• See also the linked article ‘Renewed and Restored‘
• And a video telling the story of God’s plan to restore and renew

OT: Zephaniah 3:14-20 — A word of hope: the Lord has taken away the punishment and promised to be with us

NT gospel: Luke 24:36-49 — Jesus encourages the disciples and reveals to them how what has happened is all in  the Scriptures

NT narrative: Acts 3:11-19 — Peter says faith in the living, healing Jesus has healed the crippled man and calls hearers to repent

NT letter: 1 John 3:1-7 — We believers should know we are children of God with the freedom to choose to live for Him

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Zephaniah 3:14-20 — The Lord has taken away the punishment

A word of hope — the God of love and justice has promised to be with us

14 Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!

“Daughter Zion… Daughter Jerusalem” — meaning the people of God.

“Sing… be glad and rejoice” — God promises unrestrained joy for His people. Contemporary worship emphasises praise and joy.

15 The Lord has taken away your punishment, He has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.

“The Lord… is with you” — this prophetic word of hope is fulfilled in part by Jesus’ reign through His church of joyfully forgiven people.

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp.

“Hands hang limp” — do not go about discouraged.

17 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Mighty Warrior who saves” — combining various attributions for Yahweh; and the Messiah.

• For further study, compare Psalm 24:8-10; Isaiah 10:21); Isaiah 42:13; Hab. 3:8-15; and Isaiah 9:6.

18 “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.

“I will remove from you” — better, “I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more” NLT.

19-20 “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.

“I will gather exiles” — those who have been abused and alienated for upholding God’s values will be first to know the justice of Jesus’ kingdom, Ezekiel 34:16; Micah 4:6-7; Matthew 5:3-4.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Zephaniah foretells God restoring justice, with His favour and joy for those who have been oppressed and marginalised by unrighteous power.

APPLICATION  Throughout history, those who exalt their position and power over God’s sovereignty have oppressed those seeking to live by God’s values. Bad things happen to morally upright people. But God’s  just kingdom is becoming more evident.

QUESTION  If you have found loving God costly, what does He say to you? (v.17)

Luke 24:36-49 — Jesus encourages the disciples and eats with them

He reveals to them how what has happened is all in  the Scriptures

36-39 Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

“Look at My hands and feet” — which bore the scars of having been nailed to the Cross. Jesus was not an immaterial spirit but had the same body that had been put to death, but now gloriously not corruptible nor subject to death.

• For further study, read 1 Cor. 15:1-19, 50-58.

40-43 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence.

“He took it and ate it” — Jesus proves that He is not a spiritual manifestation by allowing the disciples to touch Him and by eating.

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

“Fulfilled in the Law… Prophets and… Psalms” — meaning everything pointing to Christ in the OT. What Jesus did earlier on the road to Emmaeus,  Luke 24:25-29, He now shares with the wider group of disciples.

45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

“He opened  their minds” —  what was hidden before now becomes plain, with greater revelation promised, v.49.

• For further study, Peter’s Pentecost message references Joel, Acts 2:16-21.

“The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead” — the OT foretells this in several places, see Acts 3:13 and 18 and notes, below.

49 “I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

“I am going to send you what My Father promised” — essential ending (the set reading ends incomplete on v.48) of the encounter with Jesus, fulfilled at Pentecost, Acts 2:1-41 and link to the continuation in Acts.

Reflection

SUMMARY  It is the evening of the day of the resurrection and following reports that Jesus had been seen, He has appeared in a renewed resurrection body where they are gathered.  He shares fellowship — and food — and then takes them through the Scriptures (our OT) which point to Him, including the promise of the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION  This passage links the bodily resurrection of Jesus; the OT prophecies, Jesus, and the apostles; and divine empowering promised. They needed to understand from the OT references how this was always God’s plan. So do we.

QUESTION  Why was sharing food with the disciples important?

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Acts 3:11-19 — Peter says faith in Jesus has healed the crippled man

His hearers had called for Jesus to be killed; now God calls them to repent

11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.

“Solomon’s Colonnade” — a long portico enclosing the temple outer court near the Beautiful Gate where the disabled man had just been given new legs.

12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

“As if by our own power” — following the common pattern in Acts of a story related to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (vv.11-16), then calling for a response to who Jesus is (vv.17-26 in the Bible).

13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over to be killed, and you disowned Him before Pilate, though he had decided to let Him go.

“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” — Peter grounds the good news of Jesus firmly in the Hebrew Scriptures.

“His servant Jesus” — both God’s representative and the suffering servant of Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (see also v.18 below).

14 “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.

“You disowned the Holy and Righteous One” — chose against Him, although Pilate had six times declared Him innocent.

15 “You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

“You killed… God raised… we are witnesses” — a frequent theme in Acts (see below). They did not recognise Jesus as Messiah, and did not understand that the Messiah would be divine, Daniel 7:13-14; John 1:1-18.

• For further study, read Acts 2:23–24; 4:10; 5:30-32; 10:39-41; 13:28-29.

16 “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

“Faith in the name of Jesus” — the name stands for the truth about the person and the faith here is the Holy Spirit’s gift of faith operating in Peter.

17-18 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Messiah would suffer.

“Saying that His Messiah would suffer” — not only through Isaiah, v.13 and note above, but Luke also references suffering and rejection as follows: Psalm 2:1-2 in Acts 4:25-26; Psalm 16:8-11 in Acts 2:25-28, Acts 13:35; and Psalm 118:22 in Acts 4:11.

19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

“Repent” — turn to God in a change of mind and will that expresses remorse for sin.

“Times of refreshing” — every renewal movement of Christ’s church is a step change towards the ultimate end-time of refreshing.

Reflection

SUMMARY  A man disabled from birth has been miraculously given his mobility and as he goes leaping into the temple courts a crowd gathers. Peter addresses them in direct manner, saying that Jesus who they defied Pilate to have crucified, is alive, has been seen by t hem and is still healing people today. He calls for a response — repentance.

APPLICATION  Former fisherman Peter, now full of the Holy Spirit, has done what He had seen Jesus do, taking a miraculous sign and giving God glory for it. He knows that the same Holy Spirit will bring conviction in his hearers. He calls on them to repent and take the opportunity to get right with God. Many who heard the message believed, Acts 4:4 and the church now numbered 5,000 with women not counted..

QUESTION  To what extent is this a Christ-centred gathering, and a possible pattern for our meetings? What brings change and new life in us?

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1 John 3:1-7 — We believers should know we are children of God

Jesus has given us a remedy for sin and the freedom to choose to live for Him

3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

“See what great love” — amazement at the extent of God’s love.

“We should be called children of God” — a very big statement about the identity believers have through belonging to Christ, John 1:12.

2-3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.

“We shall be like Him” —God’s children reflect the image of Christ and will share in His glory, Romans 8:18-30.

“Purify themselves, just as He is pure” — developed in vv. 5-6 below. Knowing who we are in Christ helps to keep us true to Him.

4-5 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin.

“Sin is lawlessness” — likened  to a spirit of rebellion against God’s law. Lawlessness, Gk. anomia, is activity wilfully independent from God’s guidance and law. 

“He appeared so that He might take away our sins” — Jesus came so that our sin might be forgiven, but also to break the power of sin’s bondage.

6 No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him.

“Keeps on sinning” — the difference between a moral lapse and habitual sin. John has in mind false teachers who professed Christ without the evidence of new life or morality. Genuine believers will show their faith in generally upright, if not perfect, lives.

7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as He is righteous.

“Does what is right, is righteous” — true believers live in union with the One who is righteous, so will want to make righteous choices and guard against deceptive temptations to be independent from God.

Reflection

SUMMARY  John writes to believers in the young churches about living their new lives in right living. He warns that there are some who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk, and they are not to be deceived by them.

APPLICATION   Genuine believers will live like renewed people who love the Lord — because they love His ways.

QUESTION  What difference does it make to how you see yourself and how you pray, to know you are a child of God?

PRAYER  Father God we thank You for the joy we have in knowing You through Jesus, and for choosing us to be part of your renewal and refreshing of the world.
And thank You, Jesus, for breaking the hold of sin so we can choose to live for You — and we have You to restore us if we slip.
You are alive and with us, and with joy we can can tell others. Amen.

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