ACTS 16:16-34
THE BACKGROUND
In last week’s first lesson, we learned about Paul going to Macedonia, and baptizing the household of Lydia. Today’s passage picks up right where we left off.
THE DETAIL
- It looks like Paul and Silas are continuing to go down to the river where they met Lydia. They do this “for many days”. On their way, they regularly pass a female slave, who is a fortune teller. (Fortune tellers are forbidden by Jewish law.) She makes a lot of money for her owners. She, or rather the spirit inside her, recognizes Paul’s group for what they truly are—“slaves of the Most High God”. She shouts this out every time they pass. (vv. 16-18a)
- Finally, Paul has had enough. He exorcizes the spirit out of the woman. Now that this spirit is gone, the woman no longer has the power to foretell the future. She has lost her value to her owners, and they are angry. They drag them before the authorities. (vv. 18b-19)
- They twist their story to upset the magistrate. Others chime in. Perhaps they were her customers, and were also angry at what had happened. Paul and Silas are flogged, and thrown in jail—in the innermost cell, with their legs in stocks. (vv. 20-24)
- Paul and Silas are singing hymns and praying. An earthquake occurs at midnight, bursting the prison doors open, and unlocking the stocks. The jailer awakes, and supposes that everybody probably escaped while he was sleeping. (They did not have lights back then, and everything was dark and dank.) Knowing that he failed his duty, he is about to take his own life. Paul shouts out to stop him. Lights are called for, and everybody is there! (vv. 25-29)
- That’s all it took for the jailer. He was ready to follow Jesus. Maybe the hymns and prayers were good witness, as well as Paul and Silas’ honesty. After all, they saved his life. (vv. 30-31)
- It gets even more strange. The jailer takes them to his home, where he bathes them, and tends to their wounds. His entire household is baptized! Paul and Silas are fed. There is much rejoicing over their new faith. (vv. 32-34)
THE TAKEAWAY
This is not the end of the story. It continues through to the end of the chapter, verse 40. But this is the end of the passage for us, which is OK, because it is a pretty long one already.
What I take from this story is the true conviction of Paul and Silas to their missionary work, and how the Holy Spirit works to win the hearts of some very unlikely people. It is true that Paul and Silas suffer for their conviction. But it is also true that this didn’t stop them from their mission. Roman prisons were like caves, and Paul and Silas were in the very back of this cave, in stocks, in the pitch black darkness. What were they doing? Praying and singing hymns! This would not be the last time that they would suffer for their convictions.
How lucky we are that we do not normally get confronted with this sort of injustice and violence because of our faith. Yet, all too often, we pay a price for our convictions. Let’s be like Paul and Silas, singing hymns in the darkest of situations. God’s love and care is ever at hand.
REVELATION 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
THE BACKGROUND
To us, the book of Revelation is a weirdly written book. But John was not a weirdo. The vision set down in Revelation by John was written in a very familiar style of writing, which we call apocalyptic literature. There are other examples of this in our bible, notably in Daniel and Ezekiel. Many other examples of apocalyptic literature were also written. They are just not found in our bible. In John’s time, people of faith were very accustomed to this style of writing, and they knew how to interpret it. These days, there is much confusion, with people interpreting it one way and others another way. But to the people of John’s day, the message was clear—In spite of what is going on around us, God is in control. God will prevail. Keep the faith. God’s got this!
Today’s passage is the final verses of this vision. These are the concluding sentences.
THE DETAIL
- Jesus is speaking, assuring us that he is coming soon. He reminds us that he is the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end. He was there at the beginning of creation, and he is here at the end. (vv. 12-13)
- He tells us that we are blessed, we who have washed our robes. This is a reference to 7:11-14, which we read two weeks ago. Our white robes are washed in his blood (not literally, but figuratively, of course). Since we are baptized believers, we have the right to see and eat from the tree of life we heard about last week. Most importantly, we are free to enter the gates of the new Jerusalem. (v. 14)
- The heavenly band pleads for us to “come”. Come home to Jesus and take the water of life. It is a gift! (vv. 16-17)
- In conclusion, Jesus promises to come soon, to which we all say AMEN! (v. 20)
- The book ends in a benediction. (v. 21)
THE TAKEAWAY
Occasionally, I find it troubling for Jesus to say that he is coming “soon”. 2,000 years have passed since he said this! For one thing, if he said “Keep the faith, I’m coming back in 2,000 years”, I’m not sure many would have kept the faith! But more importantly, I remind myself that it is much more likely that I will be going to Jesus before he comes back to earth. The end result is the same—I see Jesus!
What do I take away from the reading of this book overall? That my orders are to be steadfast in the faith, regardless of what might be happening in my world. I have seen the Big Picture. In the end, God wins, and the faithful live happily ever after.
JOHN 17:20-26
THE BACKGROUND
Jesus has been eating his last meal with his disciples in the upper room. He has been giving them some last minute teachings and instructions. Today’s passage is his concluding prayer. After this, he goes out to the garden where he is arrested.
THE DETAIL
- Jesus is praying to his Father. He makes it clear that he is not only praying for the disciples present in the room, but for all of us believers as well. This prayer is for all of us, not just his inner circle. (v. 20)
- He is praying this so that we “may all be one”. This is the main theme of his prayer. It does not mean that Jesus wants us all to think alike. We will take a closer look, as Jesus continues his prayer. (v. 21a.)
- Jesus asks his Father for us to be in a close a relationship with them, as tightly-knit as they are with each other. He wants us to believe and trust that he was sent by the Father. (v. 21b)
- Verse 22 begins with the word “glory”. The Father has given Jesus glory, which he has given to us “so that we may be one”. Please refer to the footnote below regarding the word glory. A recent commentary I’ve read states that within the context of Jesus’ prayer, this glory he’s talking about is “the essence of God”. What is this essence? It is clear in Jesus’ prayer that the essence of God is love. (vv. 22-23)
- Now, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. His desire is that we may be with him, so that we can see and feel this love-bond that exists between God Father and Son. This is the love they have for us. They want us to feel this love. (v. 24)
- These last verses summarize Jesus’ mission. The world did not really know God, or at least God’s essence. Jesus came to make that known. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us, and to show us how to live our lives as God’s loving people. (vv. 25-26)
THE TAKEAWAY
In this final prayer before his ordeal, Jesus prays to his Father that we may all be united in the same love that he and his Father have for one another. Jesus’ wish is for us to be one in love.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
How are we doing at being one in love? Is our love so obvious that people can recognize our Christianity, simply based upon the outpouring of love we demonstrate for others? I think we have a long way to go. How do we begin?
GLORY
This word is used so often by us believers that I think it has lost its meaning. So, when Jesus prays to his Father for him to give us some glory, I find myself asking what is this stuff??? Merriam-Webster defines glory in this way:
1a: praise, honor, or distinction extended by common consent : RENOWN
b: worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving//giving glory to God
2a: something that secures praise or renown//the glory of a brilliant career
b: a distinguished quality or asset//The glory of the city is its Gothic cathedral.
3a: a state of great gratification or exaltation//When she's acting she's in her glory.
b: a height of prosperity or achievement//ancient Rome in its glory
4a(1): great beauty and splendor : MAGNIFICENCE//… the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome.— E. A. Poe
(2): something marked by beauty or resplendence//a perfect glory of a day
b: the splendor and beatific happiness of heaven//broadly : ETERNITY
5: a ring or spot of light: such as
a: AUREOLE
b: a halo appearing around the shadow of an object
Look at all those different meanings. No wonder I’m confused. The commentary I’ve read recently states that within the context of Jesus’ prayer, the glory he’s talking about is definition 2b: “a distinguished quality or asset”, or the essence of God.