Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

 

On the day of Pentecost, Jesus fulfilled His promise to send the Holy Spirit. The disciples were all together on that day. They all experienced the same things. They heard a sound like the blowing of a violent wind. They saw something like tongues of fire distributed to each of them. They all were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other tongues what the Spirit gave them to say.

 

I’ll be honest. This whole scene is marvelous to me. Almost baffling. I have never been in a place with other disciples, heard a loud sound, seen tongues of fire, been filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoken in other tongues – all at the same time in such a way that the Holy Spirit’s coming was perfectly obvious. In fact, of these five things, the only two that I have personally experienced are being with other disciples and being filled with the Holy Spirit. And again, being filled with the Holy Spirit didn’t come with all these other signs to confirm it.

 

But I want to do two things. I want to be faithful to the biblical account. And I want to faithfully portray what it teaches us with certainty. There are those who make this a normative description of what all believers should experience – the sound, the distributed tongues like fire, the different languages. I’m not there. But I certainly can’t argue against it from these four verses (and I’m not going to take the time today to do a thorough New Testament study to prove my points).

 

So, to be faithful to the biblical account: Please, please, believe that this is precisely what happened! When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples on the day of Pentecost, these marvelous things happened! While the disciples were gathered together in one room, a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came and filled the room. And they saw something like tongues of fire distributed and coming to rest on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they all spoke in other languages as the Holy Spirit gave them to say. None of this is fantastical. None of this is a lie. None of this is myth. This is real. When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples, the event was truly this drastic and memorable. And it should have been, because the coming of the Holy Spirit is one of the most distinctive characteristics of being a part of the church since Jesus’ departure and marks an enormous change from what God’s people experienced before Jesus’ coming. So whatever we do, those of us who may not have experienced anything so amazing must be careful not to reject this. We must receive it as something that happened for them. And therefore it happened for us who follow Jesus now. We must believe it if we believe our Lord.

 

What does it teach us with certainty about what we should expect? Primarily, the Holy Spirit is a gift from Jesus to all believers, and this began at Pentecost. I cannot say that the Holy Spirit is only received by groups of people at a time, that there is always a sound, that people always see something like fire being distributed among them, or even that those who receive the Holy Spirit always end up speaking in different languages. But the Holy Spirit is for all believers. Secondly, the Holy Spirit leads believers to speak what He gives them to say. Here in Acts 2, they spoke what He gave them to say, and they spoke in other languages. But whether believers speak in other languages or not, they will speak what the Holy Spirit gives them to say if they have been filled with the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit is accompanied by the gift of God’s words. Lastly, without saying that all believers will speak in tongues, there is something to notice in the tongues: The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to all whom He fills. Tongues continue to be mentioned throughout the New Testament as a spiritual gift, and so it is plain that all received a spiritual gift through the Holy Spirit.

 

Father, thank You first of all that through Jesus You have given us the Holy Spirit to be with us day by day. Thank You for this testimony telling us about the tremendous day You began to fill Your disciples with the Holy Spirit. Thank You that the Holy Spirit gives us something to say. We can depend on You to proclaim Your truth through us as we listen to the words of Your Holy Spirit in Your Word and as He guides us to speak. And thank You that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts as believers that we can use for Your glory and service, making You known to men. Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Acts 1:15-26

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."

 

 (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

 

"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, `May his place be deserted;let there be no one to dwell in it,' and,`May another take his place of leadership.' Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out 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."

 

So they proposed 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.

 

Apparently part of the disciples’ time was spent praying about Judas and what to do now that he was gone. And as they prayed, they were searching the Scriptures. That’s the full loop of a relationship with anyone, including God – a person talks and then listens, listens and then talks. Pray and hear from the Scriptures, hear from the Scriptures and pray.

 

The disciples found that the Holy Spirit (whom they had not yet received) had already told them about Judas in the Scriptures through David. Judas had betrayed Jesus and the ministry, but his reward had led to his death. And this was just as the Scriptures had said: “May his place be deserted, let there be no one to dwell in it.” But the Scriptures also said, “May another take his place of leadership.”

 

So based on what the Holy Spirit said (notice, the disciples did not find this through some inner voice, but through the recorded words of the Bible), Peter led the disciples to choose another witness of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension to be numbered with the remaining eleven apostles. Peter and the disciples sought to obey God as they prayed and waited for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Two men’s names came forward who fit the qualifications that the disciples felt led by God to set. And then, rather than making the decision themselves, the disciples did everything they could to leave the decision in God’s hands. They prayed again, this time asking God to show them which of these two men He had chosen to take over this apostolic ministry (because from outward appearances, both men seemed qualified, but the apostles knew that only God can see the heart). And then, rather than debating about which of the two each person felt led to call to the apostolic ministry, they simply cast lots, again leaving the decision in God’s hands. The apostles certainly didn’t believe in chance, but in the sovereignty of God. The lot fell to Matthias, so he was added to the apostles’ number.

 

Father, thank you for this wonderful example of dependence on You in decision making. The apostles were praying. They sought to understand Your will from Your word. Once they understood Your will, they acted on it. But rather than taking the whole decision into their hands, they found a couple of good options that matched their understanding of Your word. And they gave the decision back to You. In prayer. And in casting lots. They simply trusted You. Father, help me to trust You so much that I could do the same, obey Your word to the extent that I knew how and then pray and roll the dice to decide which of the good options in front of me I should follow, trusting You to control the dice. At the same time, Father, help me not to just leave everything to the dice precisely because You have called me to obey You, to use my mind and my effort in seeking Your will. Help me to listen to You, demonstrate my trust in you by doing what I can to the extent I am able, and then to demonstrate my continued trust in You where my wisdom and abilities end by putting all things in Your hands.

 

Acts 1:12-14

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

 

After the angels told them, essentially, that they needed to stop focusing on heaven and start obeying Jesus on earth, the disciples did as Jesus had said and went back to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit. Every disciple was there except for Judas Iscariot (obviously, since he had killed himself).

 

How did they wait for the Holy Spirit? They spent their time praying. The women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers were praying with them. I know. It sounds so simple. But I’m sure they had a lot to pray about. They had spent three years with Jesus, then watched as He was killed before their eyes. And then He had risen from the dead, taught them some more, and ascended into heaven leaving them with a promise that He would send the Holy Spirit and a command to be His witnesses. I’m sure there were prayers of thanks and praise for His goodness. But there were probably also prayers for their ongoing provision, for wisdom to know what to do, for protection (because there may well have still been some fear among them), and for the Holy Spirit to be given sooner rather than later.

 

We don’t know what they prayed, really, but the point is that they prayed. They depended on Jesus, even after He had ascended into heaven. They put their trust in Him.

 

Father, help me to bring everything to You. Yes, there may be things You have me do, but I need to find Your will and seek Your help. I need to depend on You, Your wisdom, Your power – rather than my own. Forgive me for my lack of prayer sometimes. Forgive me for too often making prayer a secondary matter. May I not only listen to You, but may I ask You for answers whenever I have a question and tell You my needs whenever I see them. May I lead my family in coming to You with thanks, questions, or requests day by day – prioritizing You in every decision we make and every need we have.

 

Grateful for my relationship with Christ

Some people think of me as disciplined, so it may come as a surprise to find out how irregular my devotions are at times. While I want to spend more time in God’s Word – I just love to hear from Him directly! – I thought my inconsistency recently would give me a chance to explain why I can sometimes go for a few days without personal devotions, yet still be confident of my relationship with Jesus.

 

First of all, it is not as though I have never heard from Jesus before. So even though I may not read His words on a particular day or days, I take great joy in remembering what He has already told me. I thank Him for providing for my food and shelter, giving me my wife and kids, teaching me to be patient and loving with my friends and co-workers, and forgiving me for my failures and sins – I need His forgiveness way too frequently, but He died and rose to give it to me! So I am confident in my relationship with Jesus, first of all, because I still have His words. He reminds me of them every day, and I thank Him for them every day.

 

Secondly, I have Jesus’ Holy Spirit. Just the fact that I remember Jesus words daily is evidence that the Holy Spirit is living in me, teaching me over and over again to follow Jesus. The Holy Spirit comforts me when I do not have the time or discipline to read God’s word, reminding me that my relationship with Jesus has never been about my abilities or perfections, but only about Jesus’ perfections. It is Jesus who keeps the relationship going, and I depend on Him by faith. So as the Holy Spirit reminds me of these things, I am encouraged because I know that my relationship with Jesus depends on Him. He spoke His words, He lived a perfectly sinless life, He died, He rose, He ascended to heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit. So my relationship with Jesus depends on Him, and remembering His words and having His Holy Spirit prove that Jesus has not given up on the relationship.

 

Lastly, I am a part of a church. I have brothers and sisters in the family of God. And even when I am not reading from God’s word, I get to talk with my brothers and sisters about life in God’s family. We remind each other of God’s words. In other words, Jesus directs us by the Holy Spirit to speak His words to each other. As I listen to my brothers and sisters speaking Jesus’ words to me, I am listening to Jesus. Whose words are they, after all? My brothers’ and sisters’? Or Jesus’? The words are Jesus’ words. So even when I don’t read His words, I hear them, and my relationship with Jesus continues.

 

I hope this is encouraging to anyone else who sometimes struggles to read from God’s word. Be encouraged. Jesus has many ways of speaking to us: through our memory of past times listening to Him, through the Holy Spirit bringing Jesus’ words to mind, through brothers and sisters taking the time to remind us of Jesus’ words. That’s why I send my devotional thoughts out – along with the Scriptures themselves. I want to serve you, my brothers and sisters, by bringing our Brother’s (Heb. 2:11-12) words to you. We all struggle to be consistent in personally reading the Bible. But let’s be grateful that we can continue to have a relationship with Jesus by depending on what He’s already taught us, by hearing the Holy Spirit’s reminders and teachings, and by taking the time to speak Jesus’ words to each other.

 

Acts 1:9-11

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

 

What a goodbye! Right after telling His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit and, with Him, power to be Jesus’ witnesses throughout the world, Jesus was taken up into heaven and a cloud hid Him from the disciples.

 

Luke tells us that the disciples were gazing up into the sky as Jesus was going, but this seems to be after Jesus had already been hidden by a cloud. Maybe the disciples were hoping for another glimpse? Goodbyes are hard. Although Jesus had gone, the disciples were lingering. Although Jesus had gone, the disciples were trying to extend their time with Him by staying there and looking for signs of Him as He left.

 

At least, this seems to be the picture Luke paints. Because while the disciples were gazing up into the sky, two men dressed in white stood beside them. And the first question they asked was, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” But they didn’t ask this question out of curiosity about what had happened. They knew that Jesus had ascended into heaven. So this question was a gentle way of saying, “Men of Galilee, there’s no point lingering here any longer. Finish your goodbye. Stop trying to extend your time with Jesus superficially. Go back to living without Him physically here.”

 

In addition, these men said, “This same Jesus will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” What a promise! Jesus will return! For the disciples, this probably tied back into their earlier question (v. 6): “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Because when Jesus comes back, He will restore the kingdom. But Jesus’ answer had been that they were not to know the dates set by the Father for the kingdom’s restoration. Instead, He had promised the Holy Spirit and power to be His witnesses all over the world. So when the angels reminded the disciples that Jesus was coming again, they were also reminding the disciples that Jesus had told them what to do in the meantime. Rather than watching the skies for signs of Jesus, the disciples were to go back and receive His promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Then they needed to live as Jesus’ witnesses. How long? Until Jesus returned. When would that be? The disciples would not know, so they must simply keep telling the world about Jesus. And then, one day, He would return.

 

Father, I am so excited that Jesus is coming back! Please let it be soon. At the same time, though, help me when I think about His return not to spend my time trying to figure out when it will be. Instead, help me when I think about His return to remember the work He assigned to His disciples – and therefore to me – in the meantime. Help me to remember to tell people about Jesus as the Holy Spirit gives me power. May I bring the power of the gospel to everyone I know! And as I do, may many more people look forward eagerly to the day when Jesus returns through the clouds to restore the kingdom.

 

Acts 1:6-9

So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

 

With Jesus’ life, works, teachings, death and resurrection in the rearview mirror, and with the anticipated promise coming to fruition, the natural question for the disciples – and for us – is, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Can you think of any reason why Jesus is not already ruling on the earth? He could return at any moment! He could have begun to rule back then, too. The only reason Jesus has not yet begun to rule yet is that His Father has set a time for the kingdom’s restoration, and that time has not yet come. So we, with the disciples, should look forward with eager anticipation to Jesus’ return and eternal reign.

 

But it was not for the disciples – then or now – to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. Instead, Jesus encouraged His disciples to look again to what they would receive soon. They would receive the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit, they would receive some of the power of the Kingdom. And because they had received the Holy Spirit and kingdom power, they would be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Why? Because the Holy Spirit came to testify about Jesus (John 15:26), and the power we have been given through the Holy Spirit is the power of the gospel – the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

 

Father, thank You for bringing us into Your kingdom. While we look forward to Jesus’ return and the restoration of the entire world, we are grateful that You have already given Your Holy Spirit to us. You have already given us the power of the gospel. Thank You for maintaining Your relationship with us, and help me and all of us who know You to depend every day on the Holy Spirit and the gospel, and by their direction to tell our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and everyone we can that Jesus Christ has died on the cross and has risen from the dead so that everyone who believes in Him will be saved! By Your Holy Spirit and your gospel, hold us faithful to our mission in expanding Your kingdom!

 

Acts 1:1-5

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

 

In these first five verses, Luke sets the stage for the book of Acts. And in these first five verses, Luke makes it abundantly clear that what we will see in Acts flows from ongoing ministry of the risen Jesus Christ. He does this by summing up the gospel he has already written (by the way, these five verses should give us a few clues about what Luke wanted us to notice as we read his gospel). So here is Luke’s summary of the gospel of Luke:

 

1. The gospel was about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven (after He gave instructions through the Holy Spirit to His chosen apostles). – The gospel of Luke tells us about Jesus’ deeds and teachings. It gives an account of His earthly life, beginning even before His birth (Luke 1:1-2:5) and continuing through His life, beyond His death and resurrection, to the day when Jesus rose into heaven (Luke 24:51). It includes His instructions to His chosen disciples, His apostles. But all these things are merely the beginning of Jesus’ story. So as we read Acts, we should expect to keep seeing Jesus at work.
2. The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus suffered, but we should also come away recognizing that Jesus rose from the dead (Luke 24:6-7). He is alive! He appeared to His disciples over a period of forty days, and several of these appearances are recorded in the gospel (Luke 24:13-32; 33-35; 36-43). Jesus gave many convincing proofs that He was alive – to men who had watched Him die and had seen Him buried. After His resurrection, Jesus spoke to His disciples about the kingdom of God (Luke 24:44-48). And He left His apostles with some final instructions: They were to stay in Jerusalem waiting for the Father’s promised gift, the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). The way Luke describes this gift in Acts is as a baptism, contrasting with John’s baptism. John’s baptism was with water, but the baptism that will mark Jesus’ followers is baptism in the Holy Spirit.

 

Father, thank You for this reminder of the gospel in the first five verses of Acts. Thank You for sending Jesus to do Your works and teach Your words. Thank You that Jesus suffered, and that after He suffered and died He rose again. Thank You that He did not do this secretly, but appeared to His disciples for forty days and convinced them that He had truly risen. Thank You that He spent those forty days teaching them and clarifying to them the truths of the kingdom of God – truths centered in the gospel. And thank You that when Jesus left, He reminded the disciples to wait and receive their promised gift – the Holy Spirit. Thank You that Jesus’ followers are baptized not merely in water, but in the Holy Spirit. Thank You that we who follow You now receive the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and teacher, our reminder that You are fulfilling Your promises to us.

 

John 21:15-25

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 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 all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep. "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me!" Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" Peter therefore seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" This saying therefore went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"

 

This is the disciple who bears witness of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his witness is true.

 

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written.

 

Three times. Three humiliating times, Jesus asked Peter whether Peter loved Him.

 

But three times. Three gracious times, Jesus entrusted Peter with His sheep.

 

Peter had learned. He could not fool Jesus. Jesus knew what was in his heart and his mind. Jesus had predicted Peter’s three denials before Peter would ever have believed they were possible. So each time that Jesus asked about Peter’s love, Peter answered by saying, “You know…” The third time, Peter said, “You know all things.” Because Peter had learned that Jesus does know all things, even the most hidden and shameful recesses of our hearts. Peter had been humbled.

 

But Jesus entrusted Peter with his sheep. Three times. Peter had learned that Jesus really was Lord, that Jesus was really God. For Peter, it was now Jesus or bust. Literally. There was no other value in life. There was no other hope. There was no one else to please. If Jesus wasn’t valuable, if Jesus didn’t give hope, if Jesus was not pleased, then there was no point in living. No one else compared to Jesus. No one else compares to Jesus. And with Peter loving Jesus this way, Jesus entrusted Peter with His sheep. Jesus must be everything to those who tend His sheep.

 

Jesus reinforced this by telling Peter about the costs he must be willing to face. He predicted the kind of death Peter would die. But he also reissued Peter’s call. “Follow Me,” Jesus said. The claim is clear. Jesus says He is worth the cost. And Peter knew it.

 

But even Peter struggled with a call like this. So he asked about another disciple who was following them – the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?” So some began to say that Jesus predicted that this disciple would not die. But that wasn’t the point. The point was that Peter’s call had nothing to do with whether other disciples faced an easier life or not; no matter how much harder it was for Peter to follow Jesus than for other disciples, the call was still to follow Jesus. Jesus said to Peter, “You follow Me.”

 

“You follow Me.” These are Jesus’ last words in the gospel of John. “You follow Me.” Whether your life is relatively easy, or whether it leads to death. “You follow Me.” Whether God keeps you in your homeland, or sends you to live among strangers and foreigners. “You follow Me.” Whether the people you live with are easy to love or not. “You follow Me.” Whether you love your job or hate it. “You follow Me.” Whether you are rich or poor. “You follow Me.” No matter how much it costs, it is worth it. Jesus says, “You follow Me.”

 

These things were recorded by “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He’s the witness of all the teachings and works of Jesus that have been written down in this gospel. He insists that he is telling the truth. He writes that Jesus did many other things, as well, things that could fill the whole world with books. But this disciple has written enough for us to respond to Jesus’ call: “You follow Me.”

 

Lord Jesus, I will follow You. I will follow You even though it is a humbling and painful experience. I am constantly reminded how weak and limited I am as I find it impossible to fulfill all my obligations. I am constantly reminded how sinful I am as I lash out at my family and friends when they disappoint me, even though I disappoint them just as much. I judge everyone who falls short of my standards, but I can’t even attain my own standards. And Yours are so much higher! But You are so worthy! You are good. You meet all our needs. You always speak the truth. You always love. You willingly chose to die on the cross, even when Your closest friends betrayed and denied You. You chose to die for us. How can I follow You? But I will follow You. Grant me the grace to keep my eyes on You. Help me to remember how valuable You are, and even though it pains me to see my own inadequacies and sins as I follow You, help me to do just that. Help me to follow You.

 

John 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

 

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

 

He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No," they answered.

 

He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

 

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

 

Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

 

Seven of the disciples were together by the Sea of Tiberias and decided to fish together, but caught nothing. They saw a man on the shore who asked them whether they had caught anything to eat and told him no (rather than friends, he actually calls them “children”). At that point, they didn’t know it was Jesus.

 

But he told them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. Their nets caught so many fish that the disciples couldn’t haul them back into the boat. This gave John (probably John – “the disciple whom Jesus loved”) the clue he needed, and he told Peter that it was Jesus. So Peter put his clothes on and swam to shore while the others came behind in the boat.

 

Jesus had something for them to eat – fish over a fire, and bread. He told them to bring some of their fish, too (they had caught 153 large fish, but their nets hadn’t broken – amazingly). So Jesus invited them to breakfast. The disciples knew it was Jesus, so they didn’t dare to ask who He was. This story concludes with the words, “This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”

 

This story is almost too simple for the amazing things that happen. It feels matter-of-fact, but it has some amazing and strange. A huge catch of. An untorn net, despite the huge catch. But most of all, a man on the shore who addresses these seven disciples familiarly, points them to their catch of fish, and has breakfast waiting for them. And the text says it was Jesus, showing himself to his disciples for the third time.

 

The disciples didn’t see Jesus only once. Even Thomas saw Jesus at least twice, because he was here for this. As odd as it would be for them all to have the same hallucination or imagination at the same time, it would be even more odd for it to happen repeatedly. They must have actually seen Jesus several times. And we are encouraged to believe. Jesus actually rose from the dead!

 

Father, people sometimes get tired of hearing that Jesus rose from the dead. I sometimes hear it and think, “Yeah, I get it. I’ve heard that before.” But it is not just some bare, meaningless fact. John is careful to tell us again and again that the disciples saw the risen Jesus because we must believe this. If we are to believe in Jesus, if we are to trust Him and receive a relationship of peace from Him, we have to know that He lives! He lives! Thank You that the disciples saw him so many times to confirm for me that I have a real offer of a relationship with a living God. Thank You that Jesus is still at work in the world, still able to do miracles, still able to meet our needs – even simple needs like breakfast. You are so good!

 

John 20:24-31

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

 

And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, "Peace be with you." Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

 

Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

John believed that Jesus had risen from the dead when he saw the empty linens. Mary believed when she saw Jesus and heard Him call her name. The other disciples believed when Jesus came and stood among them. But Thomas was not there, and he refused to believe their testimony without seeing Jesus for himself. He said, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” He emphatically refused to accept their testimony.

 

Eight days later, Jesus showed up in the midst of the disciples while the doors were shut, just like before. This time, Thomas was there.

 

The first thing Jesus said was, again, “Peace be with you.” It is very important to realize that Jesus offers peace. He is seeking to save people. This is the day of salvation. Jesus died so that there could be peace between us and God.

 

And then Jesus spoke to Thomas. He took Thomas’ statements of unbelief and whipped them back into Thomas’ face: “Reach out here with your finger and see My hands, and reach out your hand here and put it on my side.” The very things Thomas had said he needed, Jesus gave him. So there was definitely grace here. Jesus was definitely offering peace and a relationship with Thomas. But there was still some rebuking taking place here; Jesus was scolding Thomas even as He offered peace. “And be not unbelieving, but believing.”

 

To be fair, all the others who believed had already seen Jesus in person. They had seen where the nails had touched Jesus’ hands and where the spear had been thrust into His side. And after seeing Jesus, they believed. Thomas was asking for no more than they had been given. But this story is in here for us and for all people who will not have the opportunity to see Jesus in person until His return. The point is that there comes a time when we must believe the witnesses whether we have seen Jesus for ourselves or not. This is why the story continues as it does.

 

Thomas recognizes immediately that it is Jesus, and he believes. “My Lord and my God!” he cries out. Jesus had heard Thomas’ doubts and had responded to them, and Thomas was more than willing to humbly submit to Jesus.

 

But Jesus had something to say: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe.”

 

This is not to say that Thomas was not blessed by his faith. After all, Thomas now knew that his Lord and Savior was alive and well, and Thomas had a relationship of peace with God the Father through Jesus Christ. But Jesus smiles on those who believe in Him without seeing. He smiles on those who hear the truth and do not reject it. He is happy with those who trust in Him simply because they have heard that He is trustworthy, who accept a relationship with Him simply because they have heard He offers peace.

 

John goes on to tell us that he could have written much more about Jesus’ signs than he wrote. But the point of John’s gospel was not to write everything, but to write enough. John wrote enough that people who do not insist on having every last shred of evidence delivered into their hands to be personally critiqued – as Thomas did – that people who can believe without seeing will believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. John wrote enough that people can trust Jesus, can accept His offer of peace, and can have life in His name.

 

Father, thank You for giving us enough through the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection to believe in Jesus and know You. Forgive me for how often I inwardly cry out, as Thomas did, for more. More proof, more evidence, more certainty. My desire for more reflects how much I don’t trust You. It shows how little I believe Jesus’ promises. Father, rather than more evidence, help me to hear, understand, and believe all the piles of evidence You have given us in the Scriptures – Your words. Thank You for smiling on those of us who do not have the opportunity to see and yet believe. Help us to believe despite our fears and doubts. You are good.

 

John 20:19-23

John 20:19-23

 

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."

 

So John believed. Peter may have believed. Mary Magdalene believed for sure. All of them had seen things that declared that Jesus had risen from the dead.

 

That evening, Jesus came and stood in the midst of the rest of the disciples. Of course, He did this when the doors were shut – John doesn’t tell us how. He just did. Jesus had already told Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples that Jesus would be ascending to the Father, so we know that Jesus is special. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but Lazarus didn’t rise up into heaven. Jesus would be rising into heaven to be with the Father – an indication that Jesus is God.

 

But here’s another indication. He comes in among the disciples after they have shut the doors. Yes, Jesus has risen from the dead, but not merely to live the normal earthly life we know. Jesus has risen from the dead to live the heavenly life He now offers to us. He is God!

 

What did Jesus say to His disciples? “Peace be with you.” How appropriate in so many ways. First, of course, He offers peace for the moment to calm them down after He has suddenly appeared in their midst. But also, peace sums up the very reason Jesus went to the cross and died. He bought peace for us all with His death on the cross. And so He offers that peace with Him – and therefore with God – to His disciples the first time He sees them all.

 

And He showed them His hands and side. He showed them His wounds, now healed. He showed them that He really was their beloved Teacher and friend, that He had really risen from the dead in a real body, that He was not just some ghost. So His disciples rejoiced. Yet again, on that first day there are many more eyewitnesses to verify that Jesus actually did rise from the dead. Many more disciples now believe because they have seen the Lord in person.

 

Jesus again spoke to his disciples. He again said to them, “Peace be with you.” This is such a blessing, and it’s so easy to take for granted. We actually have peace with God through Jesus Christ. He freely offers it to us because He died for us to reconcile us to God – even though we were sinners. We don’t usually think of ourselves as God’s enemies. But if Jesus hadn’t come and died, we would still be God’s enemies. Some of us still are God’s enemies. But Jesus offers peace. Specifically, there is peace for His followers.

 

It is important to note that it is after Jesus spoke to them again about peace that He followed up with the words and actions we have a harder time understanding. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” In other words, it is important that all these things are given to Jesus’ disciples, to Jesus’ followers, to those who are at peace with God. Not to others.

 

It is Jesus’ followers who receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (which actually takes place after Jesus’ resurrection – see Acts 2). It is only among those who are at peace with Jesus that there is forgiveness of sins. If a Hindu were to tell you that your sins were forgiven, he would be wrong, because he wouldn’t know to base your forgiveness in Jesus’ death. It’s the same with a Muslim. Or a Buddhist. Or even among those who call themselves Christians but tell you that your sins are forgiven when you do enough good works to cancel the sins out. But Jesus’ followers can be entrusted with forgiving sins, not because the forgiveness ultimately comes from them, but because they have a relationship with God Himself. They have received the Holy Spirit because Jesus has given them the Holy Spirit – Jesus, the one who died so that people’s sins can be forgiven. So as Jesus’ disciples, we who have peace with God are qualified to tell others that their sins are forgiven in Jesus Christ – and only in Him. This is how we see the apostles speaking about forgiveness as they talk to others (Acts 2:38; 5:31-32; 8:22; 10:43; 13:38; 26:17-18; 2 Cor. 2:10-11; Eph. 1:7-8; 4:32; Col. 1:13-14; 2:13-14; 3:13; James 5:15; 1 John 1:9; 2:12 – You can see it in all of these, but look especially at the bold references). They tell people who trust in Jesus that their sins are forgiven, and they tell those who do not trust in Jesus that their sins can be forgiven in Jesus’ name (implicitly telling them their sins are not forgiven outside of Jesus’ name).

 

Father, thank You that we have so many eyewitnesses to tell us that Jesus rose from the dead. Thank You that we have peace with You because of Jesus. Thank You that we also have the Holy Spirit. Thank You that we can proclaim forgiveness to people because of Jesus Christ. Thank You that we ourselves have received forgiveness.

 

John 20:10-18

John 20:10-18

 

So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." When she had said this, she turned around, and beheld Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, `I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.

 

John believed Jesus had risen because he saw something. He saw that the linens were empty, though Jesus should have been in them.

 

But Mary Magdalene did not yet believe. After Peter and John left, she stayed behind at the tomb, weeping.

 

And then she saw something. She looked into the tomb and saw to angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been, and they asked her why she was weeping.

 

This sight wasn’t enough. Mary, rather than asking herself how these two men had managed to get past her into the tomb and immediately realizing that they were angels, stayed focused on her questions, on her sorrow, on her loss. She answered the angels, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid Him.”

 

Who are they? Why would they take Jesus’ body? But Mary was convinced that someone must have taken Jesus’ body! After all, it wasn’t where it should be! So she was dismayed.

 

And then Mary saw something else. John tells us that she saw Jesus Himself, but didn’t know it. This sight wasn’t enough for her to believe yet. Jesus asked her why she was weeping and whom she was seeking.

 

But Mary thought Jesus was the gardener. She thought He might know something about the location of Jesus’ body. She only wanted to know one thing – Where was Jesus’ body? She wanted to recover it, to care for it. She didn’t believe Jesus had risen from the dead.

 

And then He said her name. The gardener? No! Jesus! Finally, Mary saw enough to believe the incredible, and she cried out in recognition, “Teacher!”

 

And Jesus told her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Some people think that when Mary recognized Jesus, she must have fallen to His feet and clasped them with her hands; others don’t. If she was clasping His feet, then Jesus was probably telling her that she didn’t need to hold on to Him because He wasn’t going to vanish into thin air; He would ascend to the Father later. If she wasn’t clasping His feet, then Jesus may have been telling her to stop clinging to Him as a respected and loved earthly teacher, for He would do more for her as the risen Lord at the right hand of the Father.

 

Either way, Jesus wanted her to go tell His “brothers” – His disciples – that Jesus was ascending to the Father.

 

She believed. And she came to the disciples. And she told them that she had seen Jesus. And she told them what He had said.

 

So now John has believed that Jesus rose from the dead because he saw Jesus’ empty linens. And Mary Magdalene has believed because she saw Jesus Himself. The weight of eyewitness testimony is growing heavier.  Jesus rose from the dead!

 

Father, thank You that Jesus rose from the dead. Thank You that Jesus is more than Teacher, that He is more than earthly, that He is Your Son! Thank You that He not only rose to a longer earthly existence, but to return to heaven with You – to heaven, from where He blesses us forever! Thank You for the blessings that come through Him – forgiveness, freedom from sins, reconciliation with You, friendship with You, adoption as Your children. Thank You.