February 22, 2015
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. We read in Acts about the disciples coming together to break bread on the first day of the week. This passage here refers to the night in which Jesus was betrayed. But we are here on the first day of the week, which is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. He went through death for us, He rose again so He could live in us, but that is not where it ends: He ascended. He has risen from the grave and been glorified. One day we will be there, too.
Hymn 367 - When He cometh, when He cometh
Prayer
We have been talking about the “I am” verses. Interestingly, they are all found in the gospel of John.
John 14:1-5
In chapters 14-17 of John, Jesus was talking with His disciples in an upper room. He started off by saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” What was troubling them? He was talking of leaving them. They had all been expecting Him to set up His kingdom. There is going to be a day when Jesus will be a King in a Kingdom, and Jerusalem will be the centre of the world, but it was not then.
He was also is talking of His Father’s house in heaven. Mr. Darby translates “mansions” as “abodes.” It’s like He is telling them that His Father has a room for each of them. He told them, “I’m going away, but you know the way that I go.” Thomas asked Him, “If we don’t know where you’re going, how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and life.”
John 14:6-9
Philip wanted Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus told him, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus was demonstrating that we could know the Father.
This whole passage has four points. First, we have a Person: Jesus Christ. Second, something needs to be prepared. Third, it is a place that needs to be prepared. Fourth, there is a promise. He has told them there are going to be abodes in heaven. I think they are all ready, but He still says He is going to prepare a place. I think He is saying that He must unlock the rooms. Before He is able to go back to heaven, Jesus had to go to the cross. And that is troubling their hearts. He is going to leave them. They were looking for the kingdom. But the kingdom was a long way off. While talking to them He made a promise. He promised to come back.
Thomas has asked how they would know the way He was going. Jesus tells him, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” This reminds me of something I heard once:
Without the way there is no going.
Without the truth there is no knowing.
Without the life there is now growing.
This wasn’t only that for the disciples, but for all who love their Redeemer. He is the only way to that wonderful place, and the only one who is truth. We are on a journey and we must have the truth. We know all that He says is perfectly true. He has said, “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” He is the road that takes us there. But He gives more then just the way. We can know Him as three things: the way, the truth, and the life. And we have the precious promise that we can know the Father. We can be in relation with Him, His household, and His family.
Acts 24:10-27
Paul was accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, and a ringleader of the Nazarenes. Paul declared that this wasn’t true, and couldn’t be proven. He told Felix what was really true: that he worshipped the God of his fathers the way their leaders called heresy. He also said that he believed the Old Testament.
Paul believed (see v.15) that two separate resurrections were coming; just as Jesus taught in John 5:25-29. Revelation 20:11-13 is a sobering passage that also talks about it. Both body and soul will be together on that day, and those not found in the book of life will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.
Paul told Felix four things:
Besides this, Paul stated that the Jews hadn’t found him causing disturbance in the temple; and if the people who had found him in the temple had anything against him, they should have come down to Caesarea. Those that were present could tell of nothing he had done wrong, except perhaps causing the uproar among the council factions by declaring he believed in the resurrection.
Felix said that they would wait for Lysias—the chief captain who had rescued Paul—to come to Caesarea, so that he could know everything about the matter. They should have just read the letter that he sent with Paul! That told his opinions on the matter. Instead, Tertulus blamed Lysias for violently taking Paul from the Jews.
Meanwhile, Felix gave Paul some liberty, and allowed his friends to minister to him. He commanded a centurion to keep Paul, which might have been for his protection.
Several days later, Felix and his wife Drusilla called for Paul, and asked to hear about the faith in Christ. Felix was possibly looking for something for his soul. As Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, though, Felix trembled. Well he might, after what we read in Revelation. He sent Paul away, saying that they would continue talking later. Was he really exercised in his soul about salvation? We don’t know, but what we do know is that he was hoping to get paid to release Paul.
Then Felix got replaced by a man named Festus. To show the Jews a pleasure, he left Paul bound, even though he didn’t really have a case against him. He had given Paul liberty, but God was really the One watching over Paul.
Hymn 342 – Jesus came from heaven
Prayer