Easter Week 4

Psalm: Psalm 23 
Acts: Acts 4:5-12 
Gospel: John 10:11-18 
Epistle: 1 John 3:16-24

This week we continue where we left off last week, exploring the early days of the Christian movement. The way the narrative of the book of Acts reads, the events in Acts 4 happen quite soon after the event of Pentecost, which was about 50 days after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. So we are talking about a short period of time when all of these events are happening. We went over this a lot last week concerning both the bravery of Peter and the other disciples, and also in terms of understanding the religious authorities'  and crowd's reaction. Jesus' name no doubt still had great cache; to his admirers, sorrow and fear because they did not yet understand the resurrection, and to his detractors, anger and fear that the name of Jesus was still being proclaimed. Peter kind of ratchets up the language this week in words before the Sanhedrin especially in his ending remarks:

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (vs. 12)

 Peter leaves no one in doubt about who he thinks Jesus is. To say that there is salvation from no one else but Jesus and that only by his name must we be saved is to say that Jesus is God. Full stop. Jesus is God!

In the Old Testament, people are told to call upon the name of the Lord. In Genesis 4, after the birth of Adam and Eve's third son, Seth, "men began to call upon the name of the Lord." Seth acts as a restart in the creation narrative after Cain kills Abel and is banished. But it is at this point that the Lord begins to interact with humanity in a new way different then what he had originally done in the Garden. Throughout the Prophets and the Psalms, Israel is told that salvation comes from the name of the Lord. Joel 2:32 is one example, "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered..." (see also Psalm 106:8, 116:4, Jer. 33:16) The name of the Lord is powerful in the Old Testament and in the New Testament at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

To summarize the two aspects I am working with here--Peter is saying that Jesus is God and by mentioning his "name," Peter places himself in a long line of people who appeal to the name of God and even God's desire to protect and honor his name.

Our other two New Testament readings explore the idea that Jesus laid down his life for us. In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes it clear that he willing lays down his life for his friend. Jesus has full knowledge and even foreknowledge of what is to come. It kind of reminds me of how we have different levels of murder in our legal system, ranging from involuntary manslaughter to first degree murder. The worst type, first degree murder, is that which is premeditated. In like manner, any sacrifice that is premeditated has more meaning and power. That is especially true when that sacrifice literally involves laying down one's life to the point of death.

In 1 John, which is generally thought to have been written by the same John as the Gospel, John invites us not only to explore and appreciate the love Jesus displayed for us, but to follow his example.  He writes, "We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (vs. 16) John, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is asking that we also have the same self-sacrificing, premeditated type of love. Sometimes love takes a little bit of planning and intentionality as much as it sometimes takes spontaneity. Either way, as Jesus' example shows, John is talking about a radical all-encompassing type of love for others.

The example laid out before us is challenging and powerful. Not many are called to actually lay down their life for others. But the message remains the same: how can we sacrifice, serve and love others as Christ first loved us? This week as we think about this, may we find ways to be both spontaneous and intentional in sacrificial love for others. Through the presence of God's Spirit, may we be faithful in the places God has set us.

Grace and Peace.