Readings for the week of 11/29-12/5/2009
Matthew           Mark           Luke           John

John alone records the final discourse of Jesus with his chosen disciples. Each word Jesus speaks reflects the burden which he feels n leaving these men to finish the work which he has begun. Jesus encourages them in their faith and promises that in his name they will perform great works. Again he calls them to mutual love in order to withstand the inevitable persecution which awaits them. Explaining the necessity of his going away, Jesus promises that they will not be left wholly on their own. Jesus reassures them that the Holy Spirit will be with them and will guide them in their mission.

After reminding them that joy will come from the sorrow they are about to bear, Jesus offers up a prayer in which he asks first for glorification of God, then prays for the 11 disciples, and finally for all his disciples, that they might love one another and thereby a continuing witness to the world.

What follows is the betrayal of Jesus, his trial, crucifixion, death and resurrection…events with which we are all familiar. As the Gospel accounts come to a close with Jesus’ ascension, the focus of Scripture turns to the work of the apostles and others in their efforts to spread the good news about Jesus throughout the world, and to the beginning of the church, which is comprised of Christ’s faithful disciples. The historical record of the church in the first 30 years of its history, commonly known as the Acts of the Apostles, is evidently written by Luke. Luke’s writing records many of the acts of some of the apostles and others, but more importantly Luke records the work of the Holy Spirit in the church of the first century.

He begins his historical record with the account of a special demonstration of God’s power in the ministry of the apostles. The occasion is the Feast of Pentecost, which is celebrated by the Jews each year 50 days after Passover. Also known as the Feast of Weeks, the feast was originally given in celebration of the first fruits of the harvest. Here in the midst of a throng of Pentecost celebrants, the Holy Spirit descends in power upon the small band of Galilean men whom Jesus has chosen to be his spokesmen. Amazingly, they are heard speaking an all the native languages represented in Jerusalem, declaring the wonders of God. When Peter strongly indicts his audience for having played a part in crucifying their Messiah, thousands immediately repent and are baptized. This occasion heralds not only the special power of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the apostles, but also the formal beginning of Christ’s spiritual body, the church.

Source: The Daily Bible in Chronological Order, 365 Daily Readings, NIV, Harvest Publishers, 1985.