Year 2, Week 40, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 40, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of John 21; Acts 1.

Today’s reading completes our reading of John’s Gospel account and finishes our reading of the Gospel accounts. John 21 provides us with an extended post resurrection narration between Jesus and several of His disciples: “After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together” (John 21:1-2). But John 21 provides a more focused conversation between Jesus and Peter in which Peter is charged to serve the Lord’s flock: “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Today’s reading also introduces us to the Book of Acts. Acts 1 also provides an additional post resurrection narrative leading up to Jesus’ ascension: “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). In the meantime, the Book of Acts traces key moments in the early church’s obedience to Jesus’ commission: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). 

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is Luke’s explanation for writing the Book of Acts: “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen” (Acts 1:1-2). The Book of Acts is a companion to the Gospel of Luke, as each was addressed to Theophilus. Luke connects what he intends to demonstrate through the Book of Acts to what he demonstrated in his Gospel account. The Gospel of Luke showed “all that Jesus began to do and teach.” The implication from this reference to what Luke sought to show from his Gospel account is that the Book of Acts will seek to show what Jesus would continue to do and teach. But what is most intriguing about suggesting that the Book of Acts records what Jesus would continue to do and teach is that Jesus departs. Luke alludes to Jesus’ ascension in his introductory remarks and then Luke records the historical account of Jesus’ ascension. The Book of Acts demonstrates that even through Jesus departs, He remains—He remains by His indwelling Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

Jesus will continue to do and teach after His ascension what He did and taught while He was on the earth, by the agency of the Holy Spirit through the operations of His church. Jesus both promises and commands that His church would be empowered to represent Him: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” The scope of the church’s mission is laid out in the very context of the Spirit’s empowering presence: “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” These geographical markers serve as a structural outline to the Book of Acts. The book shows the gospel witness of the church moving out from Jerusalem in exactly this order, culminating in the city of Rome. The first segment of Acts (Acts 1:1-6:7) unfolds in Jerusalem: “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4-5). The second segment of Acts (6:8-12:25) starts with the stone of Stephen in Jerusalem and traces the movement of the church into Judea and Samaria: “And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1). With a base of operations set in Antioch, the third segment of Acts (13:1-28:31) describes the global advance of the church, with a strong emphasis upon the missionary work of the Apostle Paul: “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers…While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3). Acts ends with a final report as to how the Apostle Paul, empowered by the Spirit of Jesus is proclaiming the Gospel: “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:30-31).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe