Easter Week 7

Psalm: Psalm 1
Acts: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Gospel: John 17:6-19
Epistle: 1 John 5:9-13

Our theme this week juxtaposes two groups of people, or two “ways” as Psalm 1 calls them.  On the one hand, there are those who follow the way of the righteous, who are blessed and known by the Lord.  In contrast, those who follow the way of the wicked will perish.  Many of the Psalms and Proverbs, in fact, juxtapose these two way; the way of God leads to life and the way of the wicked leads to death.  This is not unique to these two books; our reading in 1 John does the same.  It says, “He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” (5:12)

This is seen in both the chapter in Acts and the Gospel of John.  Acts chapter 1 records the selection of Matthias as the newest Apostle to replace Judas.  Peter and the “brethren” gather together and draw lots to determine the will of God. Acts record many interesting elements of early Christianity which we don’t often think about or are different from our churches today.  For example, we don’t usually draw lots to determine God’s will.  However, they did pray before this that God would guide the lots.  Also, we often focus on the 12 disciples of Jesus, yet here, and in some places of the Gospel, it is clear that many people were loyal and faithful to Jesus, not least of which were the many women who followed Jesus.

John also refers to Judas, calling him the son of perdition.  Like Acts, John writes that Judas betrayed Jesus to fulfill the Scriptures.

In addition to this theme, our 2 readings in John revolve around the idea that Jesus is and was intimately connected to the Father.  We cannot understand Jesus apart from the Father, and John makes it clear that we also cannot know Jesus apart from his Spirit.  The Triune God is Three in One.  It was interesting that three times Jesus refers to “your name,” which the Father gave to him.  The name of Jesus was given by the Father.  But more profoundly, a name connotes identity and character.  We know the Father through Jesus.  Jesus reveals the name/identity of the Father.  We do ourselves a theological disservice if we fail to see this as we read the Gospels.  Divorcing the Father from the Son or the Son from the Spirit is the beginning of heresy.  In fact, one of the earliest heresies was to deny the unity and connection of the Father and the Son.  Marcion claimed that Jesus was something new and different than the God of the Old Testament.  He actually threw the Old Testament out and claimed Jesus was a god of love while the God of the Old Testament was a lesser and wrathful God.

In reading through these verses today, especially the New Testament, I was struck by the theological prowess the writers show.  Often we think the “ancients” were somehow not as sophisticated or knowledgeable as we are today. Yet, John especially shows that he is capable and willing to think deeply about difficult subjects.  I was reading around these verses for context and was surprised at how deep the thoughts were. I’m still confused and trying to think through all that I read.  And that is the beauty of the Bible.  You can read it a thousand times and still learn and hear something new.  The Holy Spirit is always able to shine new light on familiar words.  Thanks be to God for that!

And thanks be to God for his Spirit in our lives.  I pray blessings on you and myself this week.