Why Christians must go on living in the world
Commentary
Each of the lessons for this, the last Sunday in Easter, have something to say about putting trust in God, believing that God will act on our behalf, and learning to listen to the promises of God.
Beginning with the last chapter of the Book of Revelation and concluding with the last words Jesus says before his arrest we are given a significant insight into the complexities of the Christian life.
The account from the Book of the Revelation reminds us in differing ways of the truth of the Gospel of John chapter 14:18-19, "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live." It means that for each of us there is now grace, power, and enough strength for all possibilities.
We discover in the account from Acts that Christ's presence and power is available even in the darkest dungeon. Doors to freedom are found when the freedom of the gospel message is proclaimed. Not to speak of the Christ is to find the chains of indifference and hate wrapped around life. The message of the Christ is a radical message because it causes the very earth to tremble and it causes human beings to re-define their lives.
Finally the gospel lesson pulls together the themes of trust and believing and learning to listen to God.
Jesus has concluded what many consider to be the most powerful prayer in the Bible. In these six verses Jesus brings us to a point where we see beyond ourselves and into the realm of future hope and possibilities. It is so like our Lord to pray for those he loved even in the face of his own imminent arrest.
The Christians in the churches addressed by John in the Revelation had become despondent and afraid to face the future. They wondered why live in a world as a Christian if being a Christian meant pain. Why not just recant and blend in with the rest of society?
The message that Paul and Silas preached could have been watered down to meet the demands of the oppressive rulers who threatened their lives. But Paul knew the promises of God and the activity of the Holy Spirit. He knew that the message would not fail him.
Jesus knew that his followers, whether in the persecuted churches that John wrote to, or in the dungeons of Philippi would need the unity that can only be found in him. Because Jesus loved us so much, he asked the Father to love us as much as him. The wonder of it all is that the request has been granted.
OUTLINE I
The immediacy of the future
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
A. vv. 12-14. Both a warning and a reward are promised in these verses. That Jesus is coming soon, warns the church to be prepared. Implicit in this warning is that those who wait will be judged for how they have lived their lives. Jesus promises to come, and the church promises to be ready to greet him. The NRSV of the Bible uses the word "work" in v. 12. It would not be out of place to insert the word, "deed," in its place. The word deed translates the seriousness of John's message much better. What each person has done with her or his life will be treated seriously by the Christ.
Verse 14 is considered one of the seven beatitudes of the Book of Revelation. John writes that those who have taken seriously the coming of the Christ will have the right of entry into the city of God. Many early Greek manuscripts have rendered this verse to read, "Blessed are those who do his commandments." Either way, the stress is on the importance of putting trust in the Lamb first in life. It is this trust in the Lamb that opens the doors to the city of God.
B. vv. 16-17, 20. Finally, Jesus speaks in the first person. Jesus guarantees by speaking himself that John has written what was truthful and blessed. Jesus refers to himself as the "Morning Star." This implies that Jesus' influence is like a candle lit in a dark cave; that his presence possesses the freshness of a new day; and that his presence is the harbinger of an eternal day. Verse 17 issues a call to "Come." It is an invitation to accept all that is offered. Finally, your thirst can be quenched.
All of this is summarized in verse 20. Keep in mind all of the pain and confusion the early church was in and then you will truly appreciate the promise, "... Surely I am coming soon."
OUTLINE II
Release and freedom
Acts 16:16-34
A. vv. 16-19. This story of a slave girl who was being used for profit reminds us that the manner of exploitation changes, but the evil it does goes on. She was, in the thought of the people of her time, "pregnant" with a god. In today's language she would most certainly be called "insane," or "possessed." The cruel truth was that she was being exploited for profit by the unethical money mongers of her time. The focal point of these first few verses is that the evangelists of the gospel brought her release from her bondage, by giving her freedom in Christ.
B. vv. 19-20. Paul and Silas are imprisoned for trying to overthrow the government. The preaching of the gospel is found to be "unpatriotic," how modern! It is interesting to note that the economic advantage of the powerful is the reason why they are seen as a threat. There is a timeless quality to these verses that reach out to Christians today.
C. vv. 22-26. In the midst of the persecution and the imprisonment, Paul and Silas get back to basics. They sing hymns and pray together. The Lord's answer to their hymns and prayers is an earthquake that releases them and in the process offers even the jailer true freedom in Christ.
D. vv. 27-34. Paul would not change his message and water down the Word of God. Philippi needed to be disturbed by Christ's message. It is fair to point out that this same radical message of new life needs to be heard again today. The fact is that Paul's prescription is still a good one, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ."
OUTLINE III
Why Christians must go on living in the world
John 17:20-26
These verses are the last words Jesus speaks before he is betrayed and arrested. These verses conclude Jesus' prayer for himself, his disciples and the world. In this, the last section of chapter 17 we see a confident Christ, praying that those who believe in him will have the same confidence to face the future that he has faced the present, and will face the future with. Jesus knew that unity would be the glue that would hold them all together. In our world of denominational superiority this unity that Jesus prays about is badly needed. Verse 21 ... "that they may all be one," summarizes Jesus' wish for creation. He knows how tough it will be and in verse 26 the eschatological vision of the church is lifted up. Jesus will, through the action of his Holy Spirit, encourage the church, love the church and bring the church to unity. And with these words and thoughts on his lips and in his mind he leads his disciples from the upper room to the place of his arrest. •
John Clarke is pastor of South Britain Congregational Church (UCC), South Britain, Connecticut.
Beginning with the last chapter of the Book of Revelation and concluding with the last words Jesus says before his arrest we are given a significant insight into the complexities of the Christian life.
The account from the Book of the Revelation reminds us in differing ways of the truth of the Gospel of John chapter 14:18-19, "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live." It means that for each of us there is now grace, power, and enough strength for all possibilities.
We discover in the account from Acts that Christ's presence and power is available even in the darkest dungeon. Doors to freedom are found when the freedom of the gospel message is proclaimed. Not to speak of the Christ is to find the chains of indifference and hate wrapped around life. The message of the Christ is a radical message because it causes the very earth to tremble and it causes human beings to re-define their lives.
Finally the gospel lesson pulls together the themes of trust and believing and learning to listen to God.
Jesus has concluded what many consider to be the most powerful prayer in the Bible. In these six verses Jesus brings us to a point where we see beyond ourselves and into the realm of future hope and possibilities. It is so like our Lord to pray for those he loved even in the face of his own imminent arrest.
The Christians in the churches addressed by John in the Revelation had become despondent and afraid to face the future. They wondered why live in a world as a Christian if being a Christian meant pain. Why not just recant and blend in with the rest of society?
The message that Paul and Silas preached could have been watered down to meet the demands of the oppressive rulers who threatened their lives. But Paul knew the promises of God and the activity of the Holy Spirit. He knew that the message would not fail him.
Jesus knew that his followers, whether in the persecuted churches that John wrote to, or in the dungeons of Philippi would need the unity that can only be found in him. Because Jesus loved us so much, he asked the Father to love us as much as him. The wonder of it all is that the request has been granted.
OUTLINE I
The immediacy of the future
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
A. vv. 12-14. Both a warning and a reward are promised in these verses. That Jesus is coming soon, warns the church to be prepared. Implicit in this warning is that those who wait will be judged for how they have lived their lives. Jesus promises to come, and the church promises to be ready to greet him. The NRSV of the Bible uses the word "work" in v. 12. It would not be out of place to insert the word, "deed," in its place. The word deed translates the seriousness of John's message much better. What each person has done with her or his life will be treated seriously by the Christ.
Verse 14 is considered one of the seven beatitudes of the Book of Revelation. John writes that those who have taken seriously the coming of the Christ will have the right of entry into the city of God. Many early Greek manuscripts have rendered this verse to read, "Blessed are those who do his commandments." Either way, the stress is on the importance of putting trust in the Lamb first in life. It is this trust in the Lamb that opens the doors to the city of God.
B. vv. 16-17, 20. Finally, Jesus speaks in the first person. Jesus guarantees by speaking himself that John has written what was truthful and blessed. Jesus refers to himself as the "Morning Star." This implies that Jesus' influence is like a candle lit in a dark cave; that his presence possesses the freshness of a new day; and that his presence is the harbinger of an eternal day. Verse 17 issues a call to "Come." It is an invitation to accept all that is offered. Finally, your thirst can be quenched.
All of this is summarized in verse 20. Keep in mind all of the pain and confusion the early church was in and then you will truly appreciate the promise, "... Surely I am coming soon."
OUTLINE II
Release and freedom
Acts 16:16-34
A. vv. 16-19. This story of a slave girl who was being used for profit reminds us that the manner of exploitation changes, but the evil it does goes on. She was, in the thought of the people of her time, "pregnant" with a god. In today's language she would most certainly be called "insane," or "possessed." The cruel truth was that she was being exploited for profit by the unethical money mongers of her time. The focal point of these first few verses is that the evangelists of the gospel brought her release from her bondage, by giving her freedom in Christ.
B. vv. 19-20. Paul and Silas are imprisoned for trying to overthrow the government. The preaching of the gospel is found to be "unpatriotic," how modern! It is interesting to note that the economic advantage of the powerful is the reason why they are seen as a threat. There is a timeless quality to these verses that reach out to Christians today.
C. vv. 22-26. In the midst of the persecution and the imprisonment, Paul and Silas get back to basics. They sing hymns and pray together. The Lord's answer to their hymns and prayers is an earthquake that releases them and in the process offers even the jailer true freedom in Christ.
D. vv. 27-34. Paul would not change his message and water down the Word of God. Philippi needed to be disturbed by Christ's message. It is fair to point out that this same radical message of new life needs to be heard again today. The fact is that Paul's prescription is still a good one, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ."
OUTLINE III
Why Christians must go on living in the world
John 17:20-26
These verses are the last words Jesus speaks before he is betrayed and arrested. These verses conclude Jesus' prayer for himself, his disciples and the world. In this, the last section of chapter 17 we see a confident Christ, praying that those who believe in him will have the same confidence to face the future that he has faced the present, and will face the future with. Jesus knew that unity would be the glue that would hold them all together. In our world of denominational superiority this unity that Jesus prays about is badly needed. Verse 21 ... "that they may all be one," summarizes Jesus' wish for creation. He knows how tough it will be and in verse 26 the eschatological vision of the church is lifted up. Jesus will, through the action of his Holy Spirit, encourage the church, love the church and bring the church to unity. And with these words and thoughts on his lips and in his mind he leads his disciples from the upper room to the place of his arrest. •
John Clarke is pastor of South Britain Congregational Church (UCC), South Britain, Connecticut.
