Wow, what a week, Chronos!
Key to keeping up: we wrap up the pre-crucifixion ministry of Jesus, start an entirely new dispensation, start the post-resurrection ministries of Jesus (bet you didn’t realize there was such a thing), and see the launch of the Church. That’s a lot!
Blessings,
Steve
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We’re reading The One Year Chronological Bible, New Living Translation (Tyndale). It’s best with your own copy. Or, paste in this link to the daily reading schedule:
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This week's highlights:
The Burial of Jesus. The resurrection (You had one jobs tomb guards!). Road to Emmaus. Jesus reveals his resurrected person to His disciples. The Great Commission. The Ascension. Replacing Judas. The Holy Spirit and preaching on Pentecost. Peter and John start their ministries. Early opposition to the apostles. Choosing the first Deacons. The arrest and stoning of Stephen. Philip starts his ministry. Saul’s conversion. Peter baptizes Gentiles! 😱 Barnabas sorts everything out. King Herod kills James (the brother of John) and imprisons Peter.
Comments:
November 5 —Mark 15:42-47, Matthew 27:57-61, Luke 23:50-56— Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were two members of the Jewish High Council who disagreed with the actions of their peers. They show up after Jesus dies to claim the body. They wrap Jesus in “a long linen cloth” and place His body in Joseph’s tomb. The tomb is hewn from rock and has “a great stone” sealing it.
Side note 1: interesting that Pilate “couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead.” Makes me wonder what Pilate expected.
Side note 2: (Matt 27:62) the leading priests and the Pharisees violate the Sabbath by “working” on it. What, not a problem if they do it?
Side note 3: (John 20:7) Jesus’ head was covered in a separate cloth, different from the one which covered His body ... raises questions about the Shroud of Turin.
November 6 —Luke 24:41-43— Jesus eats some fish to prove to them that He is not a ghost, that he is a physical being.
November 6 —John 21:3— “I’m going fishing!”
November 6 —John 21:9— ”When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them.”
November 7 —Acts 2:7— The disdain of the crowd for people from Galilee is something we can compare to ... Hobbits?! If interested, read my reflection “Hobbits at Pentecost?” https://steveorr.blogspot.com/search/label/1Spiritual%20Reflection%20-%20Hobbits%20at%20Pentecost?m=0
November 8 —Acts 5:1-11— Worth noting: Ananias and Sapphira did not die because they held back some of their money ... they died because they led others to believe they had donated all of it (lied, in other words). There is a real difference.
November 9 —Acts 6:1-7— The first servants of the church were appointed because of a disagreement between the people “who worked all day” and the people who got paid the same even though they “only worked the last hour.” Do you see the what Jesus’ parable had anticipated?
NOTE: We often call these folk “deacons” because they serve or minister to (or on behalf of) the church. It comes from the Greek word meaning “a servant, minister, waiter, anyone who performs any service, administrator.” —Strong’s Concordance
November 9 —Acts 7— Stephen’s instruction to the High Priest (which was a pretty ironic switcheroo) is one of these Bible chapters which should be read weekly (like Hebrews Chapter 11, 1st Corinthians 13, Romans 12, Isaiah 40, and Romans 13). Great anchors for our understanding of the comprehensive integration and spiritual sweep of scripture.
November 10 —Acts 8:26-40— the founder of the church in Africa was a person of color ... not a missionary from Europe or America.
November 11 —Acts 10:1 through 11:18— Not only did Peter break all sorts of Jewish laws and rules to preach the Gospel to Gentiles (entered their home, ate with them, touched them), he was then tasked with helping the church leaders in Jerusalem understand what happened. I’m pretty sure our missionaries are faced with similar difficulties in explaining their behaviors on the mission field. We need to let the Spirit run the show.
Next week:
Peter escapes from prison. Herod (finally) dies. Barnabas vouches for Saul (Paul) and then has to become his missionary partner. Lots of journeying by Paul and company. A bit of a dust up between Paul and Peter. Jerusalem Church sets some church-planting rules. Woman founds first church in Philippi (yeah, those Philippians). Paul teaches the Greeks a thing or two. First husband-wife missionary team. What do you do with a problem like the Corinthians?
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