November 15 - Luke 24; John 20-21: Jesus Passes Leadership to Peter

Today’s Reading: Luke 24; John 20-21

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You've made it through the Gospels and have 23 books to go in the New Testament. We are also halfway through the New Testament! Way to read!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

Jesus tells Peter—after he denied knowing Jesus—to lead His Disciples.

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Two women, and later Peter and another Apostle, went to Jesus' Tomb, but found it empty. The two women later saw Jesus.
Jesus showed two men why He came, using Scripture. They told the Apostles what they saw.
Jesus joined and ate with them. They would go into the world with God's Power.
Thomas wanted visual proof of Jesus' Resurrection.
John wrote to encourage belief.
Eating with the disciples, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him unconditionally. He was tasked with leading the Disciples.
Jesus was carried into Heaven. The Apostles spent their time praising God!

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jesus is risen!

(Repeat from yesterday's comment)
It is yesterday's and today's readings that provide the foundational belief of Christianity: the resurrection of the body and its reconnection to the spirit. Christianity does not hinge on a cross. It hinges on Jesus coming back to life! Jesus' Crucifixion meant we could all have our relationships set right with God. Jesus' Resurrection means we will all one day be alongside Him. Praise God! Death will not have the last say!

The Old Testament pointed to Jesus coming to die to set everything right.

Unfortunately, we do not know what Old Testament books Jesus used to show that He needed to die. We do know, however, that Jesus complained that the Pharisees read the Bible thinking it would save them but instead missed the point—Jesus! Yet Jesus' own Disciples did not understand why He came! They were depressed because they thought He would save them from the Romans. Instead, He saved them from the guilt of their mistakes and to remove the onerous burden of the Law.
In the same vein, the New Testament, especially John's Gospel, was written about Jesus. John explicitly mentions that he wrote so that we would believe in Jesus. I hope you read the New Testament for the same reason.

Jesus sent the Apostles to change the religious discourse from sacrifice and religion to forgiveness.

God did not like all of Israel's religion because they wanted all of the blessings with none of the responsibility. With the Apostles, God opened His Chosen People to the world and taught the direct forgiveness of sins through Jesus' Sacrifice. What an awesome message to give to the world! Jesus forgives!

Jesus did not abandon Peter.

Peter denied Jesus three times. Still, Jesus wanted him to shepherd His Disciples. We should take heart—God will never abandon us when we are willing to obey Him.

Do you feel God has abandoned you? Stop! He hasn't!

November 14 - Matthew 28; Mark 16: Jesus is Risen from the Dead!

Today’s Reading: Matthew 28; Mark 16

The Message

English Standard Version

Congratulations! You've made it through two of the four Gospels and have 25 books to go in the New Testament. Keep going!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

The Jews' rebellion did not end God's Plan! He is risen!

Summary in 100 Words or Less

Two women, both named Mary, went to visit Jesus' tomb. Suddenly they felt an earthquake and saw an angel sitting inside the now-empty tomb. "Don't fear, Jesus has risen!" the angel said, "Go and tell the Disciples."
Jesus met them on the road and asked that they tell the Disciples to meet Him in Galilee.
The guards were bribed to lie and say the Apostles stole Jesus' Body.
Jesus came to the Apostles and told them, "I have all authority. Go, make Disciples, baptize them, and teach them what I taught you. I will be with you forever."

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

Jesus is risen!

It is today's and tomorrow's readings that provide the foundational belief of Christianity: the resurrection of the body and its reconnection to the spirit. Christianity does not hinge on a cross. It hinges on Jesus coming back to life! Jesus' Crucifixion meant we could all have our relationships set right with God. Jesus' Resurrection means we will all one day be alongside Him. Praise God! Death will not have the last say!

The Jews wanted everyone to believe Jesus' Body was stolen.

There are a few alternative theories about the Resurrection. What I want to point out here is that the Jews did not want the guards to say that Jesus stayed alive and walked out of the tomb. They wanted the guards to say His Body was stolen by the Apostles. One major theory over the last few centuries goes against that narrative and is believed even though there is no credible evidence in that direction.

Jesus wanted the Disciples to go, make more disciples, and teach them what Jesus taught—in that order.

Allow me to get a little technical—especially since this is one of my favorite texts in scripture. Notice that baptism wasn't the goal. The goal was to make disciples. The rest, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to do everything Jesus taught the Apostles, happened to disciples. A disciple who is baptized wants to know how to set all things right. A baptized person wants to continue in their religious practice and may care little for setting things right.
One of the major issues churches have today is that they go out and baptize people and then try to make them disciples. That's backwards! It is similar to Israel when they played "religious games" instead of promoting mercy and justice. I fear we do the same when we focus on baptism. Make disciples, not baptized people. Teach baptized disciples to set things right.

He is Risen!