TOMS: Acts 5

For an introduction to this series, click here.

May 30, 2007

This chapter starts out with the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This is a very strange story, and I think the significance of it has to do with establishing the church. God wanted a pure church, and He decided to make an example out of two people who seemingly made such a little deception. But there is no category of sin with God. I think the most important verse in this section is verse 11: "And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things." Why else would God do this, if not to make them an example? There's people who do lots worse in churches today, and nothing happens to them. But one day, God will hold them accountable for their deceit and pride.

The next section seems almost unbelievable: "And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed." (Acts 5:14-16) This was the high point of miracles in the church. Peter apparently was doing more spectacular miracles than Jesus did. But the problem you run into is when people assume that this is the natural order of the church for all time, when clearly this is not the norm. There are a few that claim to perform miracles in this day and age, but many of those have been proven to be frauds or they are healed of depression or some sort of thing that people can't see. God never promised to maintain the special gifts He gave to the church for all time. These miracles were given primarily as a sign to the Jews that the church was a legitimate work of God.

An even bigger miracle happened next, when the Jewish leaders arrested the apostles and then an angel freed them. They were furious when they found the apostles not in jail but back in the Temple teaching. They brought them before the Council and after hearing another sermon from Peter about how they crucified the Lord, they were ready to kill them.

But then a voice of reason speaks up: "But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, 'Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!'" (5:34-39, ESV)

It is interesting to note that Gamaliel had a certain pupil by the name of Saul. He will become more significant in the coming chapters.

Humanly speaking, Gamaliel could be credited with saving the church. Of course God would never allow the church to be destroyed, but this was as close as the devil ever got to wiping out the church. John's Gospel tells us that God allowed the high priest to prophesy while he was speaking in the council. Probably this is another example of how God used an unwilling and likely unwitting vessel to carry forth His plan.

TOMS: Acts 3

For an introduction to this series, click here.

May 24, 2007

This chapter starts out with Peter and John healing the lame man. He was lame from birth, and he sat by the gate of the Temple asking for donations. Peter simply says, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" (3:6) Now we cannot do this today. This was a special time in the history of the church. There was no New Testament scripture. All the church had was the Apostles. They were fighting a major uphill battle in trying to establish Christianity. God chose to allow the Apostles to perform miracles so that their legitimacy before God could be established in the eyes of those who were willing to acknowledge it.

A vast majority of the miracles in the Bible occurred in three eras: Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha and Christ and the Apostles. Moses and Joshua were leading the Jewish nation out of bondage and establishing a new nation. Elijah and Elisha were trying to bring back an apostate nation. Christ and the Apostles were establishing a new religion.

The second half of the chapter is a sermon by Peter. This passage is very indicative of Peter's typical sermon to the Jews. "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus," (3:17-20, ESV)

Peter said it didn't matter if they had crucified Jesus. God still wanted them to repent of what they did and turn to Him for salvation.

TOMS: John 11

For an introduction to this series, click here.

May 10, 2007

This chapter has the story of Lazarus being resurrected. I assume most of you are familiar with the story, so I won't delve too deep into the details. Lazarus, Martha and Mary were good friends of Jesus. Remember that it was common in Israel at that time for large families to live together in one big house, or in connected houses on the same property situated around a courtyard. Perhaps Lazarus and his sisters were married to people who are not mentioned; we don't know for sure.

This event occurred very late in the life of Jesus possibly about a month before He died. That is why Thomas said, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (11:16) The disciples knew that Jesus was under a lot of pressure, but it was a lot safer in Galilee, the northern part of Palestine, than Judea, the southern part where Jerusalem is. Now here goes Jesus back south to Judea, where the religious leaders want to kill Him.

When Jesus arrives, He finds a sad scene. Lazarus is dead, and most of the town has come out to memorialize him. Both Martha and Mary come to Jesus and ask Him why He hadn't come sooner, because if He had, Lazarus wouldn't have died. Even the townspeople feel the same way. John quotes them as saying, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" (10:37)

Imagine the scene when Jesus told Lazarus to come out. If you've always pictured a man quickly walking out of the tomb, you are mistaken. Remember the Jews would have mummified the body, wrapping it in strips of cloth. Even his face would have been covered. Also the body would have been packed with many pounds of spices to keep it from stinking. There is no way Lazarus could have walked out of the tomb. At best he could have bounced, but with his body being wrapped up tight and all the stuff wrapped up with it, it would no doubt have been next to impossible to bend his legs and arms in order to move. The people would have heard a rustling sound in the tomb, and perhaps a muffled cry. The people standing by would have then probably have had to either help him out or pick him up and carry him out. It would have been the understatement of the year when Jesus said, "Unbind him, and let him go." (11:44) Of course there is also the possibility that Jesus gave Lazarus supernatural ability to move, but the text does mention that his hands and feet were bound, and he still had his face covered. That would have been quite the amazing sight to see.

The last section of this chapter is a fascinating section. It is very long, but it is quite fascinating. John knew someone in the High Priest's house, and relayed to us the story of the conference of the Sanhedrin after this miracle. Caiaphas the high priest said "It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." (11:50, ESV) These religious leaders were under pressure, because the Romans did not like the unruly Jews under their control. The Sanhedrin saw Jesus as a threat to the nation. They were afraid Jesus' claims would give the Romans an excuse to wipe the Jews out of Palestine. It gives us a little bit of insight into what they were thinking, it makes them a little bit more human, but it does not excuse what they did.

TOMS: John 6, Part 1

For an introduction to this series, click here.

April 24, 2007

This is a terribly rich chapter of the Bible. It starts off with the feeding of the 5,000, which I shall skip because it has been commented on before, except for some comments added by John at the end of the story: "When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, 'This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!' Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (6:14-15) This seems more like a comment from Mark, but here we find it in John, and none of the other three Gospels mentions it. Of course John is setting up the discourse he is about to record, but it also gives proof of Jesus' deity. He is omniscient, and He knew what the people were wanting to do.

Next we have the story of Jesus walking on the water and calming the storm, although John curiously does not mention that Jesus actually calmed the storm, nor does he mention that Peter walked on the water toward Jesus.

John records a very funny observation next. The people saw the disciples get into the boat, but they knew Jesus did not get into the boat, the only boat at the dock that night. So they went looking for Jesus around the area where they had seen Him last night, but they didn't find Him. They went across the Sea, and found Jesus at Capernaum with the disciples. The community around the Sea of Galilee must have been a lot like the town I grew up in: Piedmont, Mo. In Piedmont everybody knows everybody else's vehicles. People wave to each other as they meet on the roads. You can drive by the grocery store and know at least half the cars in the parking lot. If you've never experienced small-town life, you probably won't understand that. But these people must have been like that. They saw Jesus staying while the disciples got in the boat, so they figured Jesus would still be there or somewhere close. There are numerous accounts in the Gospels of people seeing Jesus coming into town or seeing Him pass by from one place to another. People knew His boat, much like people know others' cars today.

Back to the story. The people who followed Jesus around to the other side were not interested in hearing or knowing Jesus. Most of them were there for the free food. If people figure they can get something for free, they will always line up at the trough to get more. Jesus confronts their hypocrisy: "'Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.' Then they said to him, 'What must we do, to be doing the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.' So they said to him, 'Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" (6:26-31) 

The people thought they could have it made if they kept following Jesus. After all, they thought, Moses gave the people food from heaven for 40 years. Jesus provided us one meal yesterday. If this man says he is better than Moses, then he ought to give us food for longer.

Jesus then said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.'" (6:26-33, ESV)

The people's lack of faith is demonstrated by their misquoting of scripture. The ESV marginal note refers the reader back to Nehemiah 9:15, while another source I have here says the people were quoting Psalm 78:24. The passage from Nehemiah is closer, and is a public prayer which acknowledged God's power in providing the manna, and Psalm 78 also attributes the manna to God, not Moses. Whichever one they were thinking of, the people misquoted the scripture, twisting it to say that Moses gave the manna. Jesus quickly corrects them, and tells them there is something more miraculous than providing food for a day. What could that be? Come back here tomorrow, hopefully, if my meeting doesn't go too long.

TOMS: John 5

For an introduction to this series, click here.

April 22, 2007

This chapter starts with an interesting story about a crippled man at the pool of Bethesda. Pools were very important things in those days, since unless you had an aqueduct or were lucky enough to find a well, pools or cisterns were often the only source of water during the dry season. 

This pool had an interesting legend, which is mentioned in a marginal note in the ESV: "An angel of the Lord went down at a certain season into the pool, and stirred the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had." Apparently this verse, which is included in the text of the King James and New King James, is not included in some manuscripts. However, the ESV includes the man's statement in verse 7: “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

I am certainly not in a place to judge whether or not it should be included, but to me looks like a case of the longer reading being the better one. It almost seems like someone (or several someones) didn't like the element of magic in the story and decided to get rid of it. I don't know whether there was ever an angel who actually stirred the water, but apparently plenty of folks believed that it happened, and that is why there were many people sitting (or lying) around the pool.

After Jesus healed him, the man was walking around the temple. Many of his friends are surprised to see him, and word spreads quickly. The religious leaders come to him and ask him who healed him. The man points Jesus out to them. They come to Jesus and question Him, and Jesus replies: "My Father is working until now, and I am working." (5:17) John inserts an editorial comment here: "This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." (5:18) It is not enough for John to simply quote Jesus' words, because they might be misunderstood. John leaves no doubt that everyone who was there understood that Jesus claimed to be God. 

John then records an extended argument by Jesus in which He defends Himself. The climax of Jesus' argument is in verses 39-47. I will let them stand for themselves; they need no comment: 

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" 

TOMS: John 2

For an introduction to this series, click here.

April 15, 2007

This second chapter begins with John's first recorded miracle, the changing of water to wine. Many commentators conclude this was probably Jesus' first miracle, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. (I will explain why later, in a couple of days, hopefully.) Jesus comes to a wedding, which in all cultures and in all times is a big deal.

It seems Jesus is dragging His feet here when it comes to performing this miracle. It almost seems like Mary is talking Him into doing it. When Mary comes up to Jesus and tells Him they have no more wine, Jesus said, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour is not yet come." (2:4) But Mary ignores His objections and tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." (2:5)

Now we can have a discussion all night about whether or not the wine Jesus made was alcoholic. I personally think it is irrelevant, but some people make a big deal out of it. No matter what people say, you will not find a single verse of scripture that explicitly forbids drinking alcohol. We can also be quite sure that Jesus would not have been providing more booze for a drunken party. Being drunk is always a sin, no matter which way you slice it.

Debating whether or not the wine was alcoholic is really missing the point of the story. The point of the story is that Jesus provided what was needed. It came in a way no one anticipated, and it was more than enough. Jesus will provide our needs, as well. The provision may not be what, when, where and how we expect, but it will be what we really need.

Next we have the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. The other Gospels record Jesus cleansing the Temple during the week before his crucifixion, but this is apparently very early in Jesus' ministry. I guess He did it twice, which only goes to prove the tendency everyone has, especially me, of drifting right back into our old ways. The Lord shows us something in our lives, and we change for a while, but then we fall back right into the same old routine. Jesus ran the money changers and the salesmen out of the temple once, and they came right back and set up shop soon after He left.

The last section of this chapter is an example of what I wrote about in the intro about John editorializing: "So the Jews said to him, 'What sign do you show us for doing these things?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken." (2:18-22, ESV)

The Jews were furious with Jesus for what He did, and demanded to know on what authority Jesus was doing these things. Jesus did not give them a straight answer, but gives them a cryptic sign. The other gospels would have stopped right there. But John goes on to mention that after Jesus rose from the dead (Mark and Luke in a way try to keep the Resurrection a secret, telling the story through the viewpoint of the disciples) the disciples remembered this word and believed. John is saying this is what we believe, you need to believe it too.