A New Chapter: The Genesis of the Church

After drawing to a close our study of the Gospel accounts of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ (my apologies for not blogging more frequently), it seems appropriate to continue with a study of Acts.

The announcement of the New Testament gains no faith unless it has the prophetical testimonies of the Old Testament by which it is lifted from the earth and flies. Victorinus (c. 280 A.D.)

The establishment of the Church is not a sudden or unexpected act, but really begins with the calling of the twelve (see Matthew 4:18-22,9:9,10;10:2-4, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:13-1). Throughout the earthly Ministry of Christ, the teaching of the twelve and His other committed followers represents at least as significant a part of Christ's purpose as the establishment of His credentials as the Messiah to the world at large. In fact, without the establishment of those who would carry on in His absence and in His name, even the sacrifice of the Cross would lose it's significance: with no believers, there is no belief.

Keeping in mind that Luke's Gospel and the Book of the Acts of the Apostles constitute two parts of the same book, Luke's record of the events following the Resurrection focus on Jesus' continued education of His followers. He is, to borrow a phrase, giving the "the rest of the story."

The Sunday of the Resurrection begins for
the women who came to the tomb (Mary Magdalene, Mary, the Mother of James the Younger, and Salome, as recorded by Mark) with a gently chiding lesson* taught by the angels at the tomb:

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." (Luke 24:5-7)

Even in the midst of miraculous events, time is taken to cement the significance of those events in the understanding of Christ's followers.

Christ's approach is the same. On the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32) that same day, the first appearance recorded by Luke of the risen Lord is deliberately shrouded until after the teaching is finished. It seems Jesus was making certain that the content of His lesson was not lost on Cleopas and his companion by His shocking appearance. Likewise, Luke makes certain that the time Jesus spent teaching His followers is recorded (Luke 24:44-49) in anticipation of a time when the Church would be teaching others.

It was of vital importance that He "opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures" as it was to the nation of Israel that the Gospel was first presented. To our own detriment we have lost much of that urgent need to connect the life and person of Christ to the Old Testament, but for the early church it meant survival. The Jewish mind was (and still is among the faithful) so steeped in the Old Testament revelation of God, that any attempt to talk about Jesus outside of the Scriptural context would be meaningless. It appears that this task was so fundamental and common to the early church that twice (24:27 & 24:45) Luke doesn't even mention the detailed content of the teaching, but is intent on establishing the origins of that teaching.

As will become evident in our reading of Acts, this fundamental understanding of all that is written in "the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms" (24:44) becomes the cornerstone of the church's teaching and preaching of the Gospel.


*I can't help but notice the similarity of the wry sense of humor displayed by the angels to that of Jesus. Perhaps they had been hanging out with Him a lot...

Readings for the Week

Acts 1-3

It's All About the Cross

"Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men." (Luke 9:44)

Jesus prepares Himself and His followers for the days ahead by not only telling about the events that are coming with warnings such as this, but by alluding to the meaning of the work of the cross.

In a dispute about greatness in God's Kingdom (9:46-48), Jesus concludes with an echo of His own sacrifice: "He who is least among you all will be great." Likewise, countering James' & John's desire to punish those who do not understand Jesus mission and therefore reject Him, Jesus exclaims: "The Son of Man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them."

The Old Testament allusions of Luke 9:57-62 are impossible to miss. All three would-be followers of Christ are reminded that the Kingdom of God is not bought cheaply. Even the words of the third man, "first let me go and bid them farewell who are at my house (v. 62)," are almost verbatim the words spoken by Elisha who was called to follow Elijah while plowing in a field. Jesus never missed the opportunity to connect the familiar stories and teachings of the Bible to His hearers, who doubtlessly knew that Elisha did not turn back to his plowing when he decided to become Elijah's servant and a prophet of the Most High. He instead killed the oxen he was plowing with and offered them as a sacrificial feast to signify his parting from his old life. He even used the yoke and other plowing equipment to feed the fire, making it clear he had no intention to return.

For Jesus, the cost of following God's will is looming larger as He approaches Jerusalem and He admonishes those who would shrink away from the narrow path. Jesus, the forerunner of our own suffering for the Kingdom of God, reminds us to remember what it takes to follow Him. All other considerations are secondary, including family obligations and comfort.

For us, the future is not as clear as a journey ending at Jerusalem. Though our ultimate Journey is to the New Jerusalem, we, like Christ have to endure what He has set before us in this life. Let us pray we have the will to humbly accept the grace of God that is our only hope of becoming fit for the Kingdom of God.

Readings for the Week of 3/12

Luke Chapters 11-13

Take Up Your Cross...

"And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again." Mark 9:1

These words mark the turning point in the direction of Christ's message and literally in His footsteps. The Gospels make a point of the physical direction Jesus turns toward as He sets about completing the work He must do. For Matthew, Christ's journey to the Northernmost edge of Israel, Tyre & Sidon (Mt. 15:21ff), represents the apogee of a trajectory that inevitably heads for Jerusalem and the cross. Luke, even more pointed, says, "Jesus steadfastly set His face toward Jerusalem (9:51)."

Jesus began preparing His disciples (and Himself, no doubt) for the coming days, days which would include great triumph and great despair. The road to Jerusalem from Mount Tabor, where God Himself visited and blessed His Son, included conflicts with leaders, Samaritans and Jews. It saw the feeding of thousands from the blessing hands of Christ; miraculous healing of demon-tormented children; a resurrection of the untimely dead. It included rejection and attempted stoning. Adoration of welcoming throngs, betrayal in the dark of night.

Thus are we called to toward Good Friday, and toward our own cross. Each year we approach Easter, but first we must pass through Lent. Each day of our lives, whether in the Lenten season or not, we awake to again take up our cross and follow Him.We are asked to imitate Christ, who knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem, yet still set His face toward that
path. I must take up the cross of repentance, of self-denial, though I know the road will be difficult, though I know life will be complicated, filled with ups and downs, I must choose this path.

Our Lenten study will follow the path Christ took, inviting us to enter in to that journey and join His suffering. I encourage you to look prayerfully into these Scriptures and consider the cross you bear in obedience to your Master.

Readings for this week

Our study is turning to the life of Christ as He "steadfastly set His face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) as we set our faces toward Easter via the road of Lent. Our reading is Luke 9:51-62. I am suggesting reading the passage daily in contemplative prayer as our Lenten exercise.