1. family and parenting
2. children

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Celebration Series
Life-Changing Events
from the New Testament
Editorial Staff
Richard M. Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Editor
P. D. Buford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Associate Editor
Editor in Chief
United Pentecostal Church International
Robin Johnston
Writers
C. A. Brewer
Jeff Brickle
Daniel J. Koren
John Martin
Curriculum Committee
James E. Boatman
Donald Bryan
P. D. Buford
Daniel L. Butler
Steve L. Cannon
Richard M. Davis
Jack C. Garrison
G. W. Hassebrock
Robin Johnston
Jeremy Painter
Jason Ramsey
Charles A. Rutter
Janice Sjostrand
Rick L. Wyser
There was a sudden
infusion of the
Spirit, as if a heavenly transformer
had been activated
and the current had
begun flowing from
circuit to circuit.
“And they were all
filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to
speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
—Lesson 10, page 68
© 2013
United Pentecostal Church International
8855 Dunn Road
Hazelwood, MO 63042-2299
All rights reserved.
Adult Teacher’s Manual
Winter
2013-2014
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Table of Contents
Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
December
week of
December 1
December 8
December 15
December 22
December 29
Birth of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Baptism of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Temptation of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ministry and Miracles of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Arrest, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Christ . 31
January
week of
January 5
January 12
January 19
January 26
Calling of the Disciples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Empowering the Disciples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Preparing the Disciples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Commissioning of the Disciples . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
February
week of
February 2
February 9
February 16
February 23
Delivery of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Direction of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Discipline of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Development of the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All
rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by
International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Adult Teacher’s Manual
Editor: Richard M. Davis • Cover Design: Dennis Fiorini • Design: Karen Myers
Manufactured in USA, December 2013, 192411.
www.wordaflame.org
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Editorial
Life-Changing Events
from the New Testament
by Richard M. Davis
T
This quarter of lessons is certain to be
packed with pure elements of inspiration
and motivation. What could possibly inspire and motivate us as believers in
Jesus Christ more than a study of His
birth, ministry, sacrifice for our sins, and
calling us to the church and ministry?
This quarter is packed with these “lifechanging” components.
Dr. James Allan Francis wrote the
celebrated “One Solitary Life,” which he
included in a sermon titled “Arise, Sir
Knight.” He delivered that sermon in
1926, and later he published it in his
book The Real Jesus and Other Sermons. His succinct words perhaps best
encapsulate the consummate effect the
life, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ
had on all humankind. Just a few of Francis’s words from that work include the
following:
He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than
two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
It is true some think Jesus Christ
never did any of the things that usually
would associate a person with greatness. However, Christ’s greatness emanated as much from who He was as
from what He did. Because He was
God manifested in the flesh, He did
great things that forever impacted the
course of humanity. His one brief life in
human form changed everything for the
future of all people. Still, it was His divine identity that both enabled Him to
do great things and demonstrated He
was greatness incarnate.
Because Jesus Christ was the essence
of greatness, He brought about a completely life-changing course for the world.
Consequently, the New Testament is a lifechanging communication of events that
will change our lives positively. In the
New Testament we learn of and observe
the life of Christ. We observe the miraculous ministry of Jesus. We witness the
death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus,
which purchased our redemption. We
learn of the means by which humankind
can receive salvation: through repentance
of sins, water baptism in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
receiving the Holy Ghost as evidenced by
speaking with other tongues. These are
life-changing events!
Jesus Christ both established and empowered His church in the Book of Acts,
which includes our calling as His disciples. All the life-changing impact experienced by the Twelve is available to us as
we follow in the steps of Jesus Christ and
His apostles, and as we continue to make
disciples for Him throughout the world.
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Preserving Apostolic Doctrine
for Future Generations
Word Aflame Publications
If you love the apostolic doctrine, consider your part to
preserve it for future generations by giving now or in your
estate plans to the Word Aflame Endowment. Leaving a
legacy of apostolic doctrine can be accomplished through
a cash gift, gift of stock, estate gift in your will or living
trust, or beneficiary gift of all or part of a life insurance
policy. For more information, contact:
United Pentecostal Foundation
8855 Dunn Road
Hazelwood, MO 63042
314-837-7304 ext. 309
[email protected]
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
Birth of Christ
1
week of
12.01.13
Lesson Text
Luke 2:4-18
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of
David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with
child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him
in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in
the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us
now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is
come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph,
and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the
saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which
were told them by the shepherds.
Focus Thought
God’s plan of
redemption was
not an afterthought
but a premeditated
act driven by His
love for humanity.
Focus Verse
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said unto her, The
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power
of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee
shall be called the Son of God.
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Culture Connection
Crisis Pregnancy
by Daniel J. Koren
D
Down a dark alley, below a crowded parking garage, behind a big blue dumpster, a young woman gives birth to
a healthy baby boy. This unplanned pregnancy came on her as a surprise, but her new husband stuck by her
through it all—even though it was not his child. Things could have been better for them since he was a construction worker with a few years of seniority, but money and status did not matter for them when they had to go out
of town and could not find a place to rent anywhere. In spite of these awkward beginnings and the gossip they
had to ignore, the newlyweds were determined to make this work—even though he was older than she.
Two millennia removed from the birth of Jesus now, we often think of the story in romantic loftiness. Somehow we get caught up in the idyllic thought of shepherds, angels, and wise men, forgetting what things must have
been like for Mary and Joseph. How humiliating to have your baby in a barn—the equivalent of a modern alleyway. How stressful was it for Joseph to put his morality in question by marrying Mary?
If God coming to Earth was less than tidy, we should not be stressed by life’s imperfections. God works in
awkward settings. He reveals His glory far from center stage. He does not depend on human institutions or
cultural expectations. How can your out-of-the-box experiences bring glory to God in the highest?
I. THE ANTICIPATION
II. THE ANNUNCIATION
A. To Zachariah
B. To Mary
C. To Joseph
D. To the Church Today
III. THE ADVENT
A. Announced by Angels
B. Worshiped by Shepherds
C. Confirmed by the Faithful
D. Honored by the Magi
IV. THE ASYLUM AND BEYOND
V. THE ANSWER
A. Christ’s Birth in Us
B. Christ’s Purpose in Us
Contemplating the Topic
The Builder of the universe first laid out a
blueprint. In this divine design, He demonstrated self-expression. He mastered a plan for
His own identity—to manifest Himself as a
man in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This
man—an image of Himself—would not be
alone; He designed and created all humankind
in His own image.
Before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem,
God sent many voices to speak to Earth’s inhabitants (Hebrews 1:1). However, now He
has “spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things, by whom also he
made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2).
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Searching the Scriptures
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 quotes John 1:1 and a portion of
John 1:14.
The Christmas story in John 1:1 begins not
at Bethlehem but in the very beginning of the
world. “In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was
God.” By His Word God framed all things. God
spoke and by His power created all things. Millennia later, this Word became flesh and lived
among us (John 1:14) through the birth of the
Son of God.
Early in Earth’s history, another voice came
to the Garden speaking a different word.
While God chose to reveal Himself in humanity, the devil revealed himself in a serpent.
Where the Word promised life and commanded Adam and Eve to avoid the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil, the serpent’s
word gave false hope and trapped humanity in
death. The true Word spoke Creation; the false
word spoke destruction.
Humanity does not naturally cling to the
word from above. God spoke His will to Adam.
However, this man and his wife soon listened
to that which is from beneath: a serpent. This
creature spoke the words of the devil: doubt
and lies. Eve filled her mouth with the enemy’s
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words and ate the fruit of his empty promises.
Adam joined her. Instead of seeing the Lord’s
glory, they saw their own shame.
Almighty God ruled on the situation, pronouncing curses and handing down an eviction
notice. In the midst of this dark moment, He
revealed His mercy by also giving a promise:
“And I will put enmity between thee
and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy
head, and thou shalt bruise his heel”
(Genesis 3:15).
This guarantee of a victorious Redeemer
cast hope into the heart of Eve.
I. THE ANTICIPATION
For many people, Christmas often involves
eager eyes full of expectancy: hushed voices,
gifts from faraway places, a day unlike the
other days of the year. Christmas Day brings
wonder and excitement to many today. It is
interesting that the event we celebrate on
Christmas also brought so much wonder and
excitement many years ago. Although Christmas pageants and hung stockings cannot
recreate a clear picture of what that holy day
was like, we do still retain a sense of the
anticipation brought about by the birth of
the Savior.
The birth of Christ brought expectancy and
hope not only to Mary and Joseph, but also to
all mankind. Shepherds came in hope of a
brighter future. The wise men came with a
sense of anticipation too; they knew this King
would be more than just another politician.
Foretold by prophets. Jesus’ coming
should not have surprised humanity, for God
had announced this special birth many times.
God spoke His Word down through history
through many prophets. One of these men was
Isaiah who told of a young woman giving birth
to a special child:
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give
you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his
name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
This word from God promised the Word,
through whom God would make His final
statement to humanity (Hebrews 1:2). This
Man was the physical expression of God’s
glory, character, and power (Hebrews 1:3).
This Man, Word, and Son was God manifested
in flesh.
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“But unto the Son he saith, Thy
throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre
of thy kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8).
This Savior was not just to come and give
Earth a heartwarming story about a baby. He
would come to die and fulfill God’s redemptive plan (John 1:1; I Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8).
Reliability of the prophets. Through many
prophecies, God informed the world of details
about Jesus and His birth. Not only would He
be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23;
Luke 1:27), but He would be born in the town
associated with Rachel and Ruth and their
promised line: Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19; Ruth
1:19; 2:4; I Samuel 17:12; Psalm 132:6-7;
Micah 5:2-3; Matthew 2:5-6; Luke 2:4, 15).
Some critics argue that the Old Testament
prophecies were dishonestly edited or even
fabricated after Jesus came. However, history
shows that the Hebrew Bible was complete
450 years before Christ came. One outstanding proof of this is a Greek translation of the
Old Testament known as the Septuagint,
which was completed by the year 250 BC. This
translation of the Hebrews’ Scriptures confirms that the prophecies were intact long before Jesus was born.
Jesus’ birth fulfilled over thirty prophecies.
The written Word says the Living Word would
come through Abraham (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:16, 29), the line of Isaac (Genesis
18:18; 26:4), his son Jacob (Genesis 27:29),
his son Judah (Genesis 49:8-10; Psalm 60:7),
his descendant Jesse (Ruth 4:17; Isaiah
11:10), his son David (Isaiah 33:15; Jeremiah
23:5-6), and through the line of the kings of
Judah (Psalm 72:1). The promises given to
Abram’s promised Seed confirm and empower
the promise/curse of Genesis 3:15 about the
Seed of the woman. God told us ahead of time
about the star (Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 60:13), the shepherds (Isaiah 60:7, Micah 5:5), the
wise men with gifts (Psalm 72:10-11, 15; Isaiah 60:3, 6, 9; Micah 5:5; Matthew 2:11), the
slaughter of young boys (Jeremiah 31:15;
Matthew 2:16-18), the escape to Egypt (Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15), and
much more.
Although the prophet Moses told of the
coming of the Messiah through the chosen
line, his life also foreshadowed Christ’s own
coming.
• He was a unique child at his birth (Exodus
2:2; Luke 1:30-31).
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• He was hidden to save his life (Exodus
2:3; Matthew 2:13).
• He narrowly escaped death from the evil
king (Exodus 1:22; 2:4; Matthew 2:16-18).
• He was surrounded by heroic women (Exodus 2:4, 7-9; Luke 1:38-42).
• He had to stay in Egypt for a time (Exodus
2:10-11; Matthew 2:13-14).
Other parallels between these two monumental lives include bringing a new covenant,
the law of Moses versus the grace of Jesus
Christ. Both undertook forty-day fasts and
worked miracles. Moses appeared on a mountain talking with Jesus and Elijah. God let the
apostles know that the prophets were only the
opening act, for He removed them and presented the Son of God on center stage. While
many parallels and interesting connections
exist between Christ and others in history, He
alone is our Savior.
II. THE ANNUNCIATION
Every king needs a crier. Certainly the heavenly King needed a herald—a few, in fact. God
sent messengers to announce the birth of a
new King and a coming kingdom. The message came from above, loud and midnight
clear. However, human ears play tricks on
their hosts. Rather than accept and interpret
what they heard correctly, many of those first
listeners, like many today, missed the message. They heard but did not listen or did not
comprehend all the criers had to say about this
new arrival.
A. To Zachariah
God sent a heavenly messenger to announce
the birth of the earthly messenger, John. His
father, Zachariah, stood in shock at seeing this
herald from Heaven and did not receive God’s
Word with faith. Like many today, he wanted
to see proof before he would believe.
The angel, obviously not impressed with
this stubborn mortal, said, “I am Gabriel, that
stand in the presence of God; and am sent to
speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad
tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and
not able to speak, until the day that these
things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in
their season” (Luke 1:19-20).
With time, Zachariah would see. However,
his moment of belief came from his encounter
with the angel, not just from the physical proof
of a baby boy who was born. Not able to
speak, this servant of the Lord made it known
that God had already given the baby a name:
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John. When he stood on God’s command, he
received God’s promises.
B. To Mary
Gabriel announced the King’s birth to the
soon-to-be mother.
“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast
found favour with God. And, behold,
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his
name JESUS. He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the Highest:
and the Lord God shall give unto him
the throne of his father David: and he
shall reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there shall
be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).
Distracted by adulthood looming large on
her horizon, it must have come as a shock to
Mary to have the angel tell her of a detour she
would take—in fact, a whole new destination
than what she might have intended for her life.
Not only would this unplanned pregnancy alter
her immediate objectives, the long-distance
travels may have been more than she bargained for as well.
Still, young Mary did not let her agenda or
preconceived ideas stop her from embracing
God’s. Possibly at the moment she believed
she conceived as she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to
thy word” (Luke 1:38). Every child of God
should be quick to accept the will of God even
without understanding all the details. We will
understand it better, by and by.
C. To Joseph
What could be worse than being a young
Judean woman expecting a baby out of wedlock? Perhaps it was being a Judean man engaged to a young woman expecting a baby out
of wedlock. While Mary questioned how this
could happen, Joseph must have wondered
why. Or perhaps he wondered, Why me?
This man did not get to hear the announcement upfront. He found out from God after he
found out about the pregnancy, probably from
his fiancé. Troubled but tired, Joseph heard
from a messenger in his dream. The angel told
him the mission of the Boy—to save people
from sin. Now it was no longer a matter of personal convenience but a matter of necessity.
Earth could not go on without hope of a
brighter future.
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D. To the Church Today
Someone announced Jesus Christ to us. All
who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ had
someone announce Him to them at some point
in their life. We should be thankful for that
person.
As products of those who have announced
Christ to us, we must in turn announce Him to
others. Mary, Joseph, and Zachariah would
not have known the message of hope if a messenger had not told them. We have the solemn
responsibility of announcing Jesus Christ to
the world. We get to be “angels” to those who
do not know.
God’s message took Zachariah, Joseph, and
Mary all by surprise. It was not as if they were
looking for a heavenly messenger. None of
them were expecting such an interruption at
that point in their lives. Perhaps this shows us
a glimpse of how God works. He does not always come to us when we find it most convenient. Many times what He challenges us to
is not what we were expecting. Believers let
God shape their lives rather than being like
those who want their lives to shape their God.
III. THE ADVENT
Sometimes when a child opens a gift, she is
disappointed. Her expectancy caused her to
imagine impossible gifts hidden behind all the
paper and bows. Fortunately, with Jesus Christ
the expectancy cannot come near the fulfillment. The gift brought by Christ exceeds by
far all we could ever ask or even imagine.
Those who first participated in the birth of
Christ probably brought misguided expectations to the event. Some thought He would
bring political power, others military success,
and at least one, a nice child who never would
cause His mother to worry. He would fulfill
more than the angels promised, but the fulfillment would be far different from the expectations of humans.
A. Announced by Angels
An angel appeared over a hillside to cry out
a new announcement. This time it was not a
message that the Savior was coming but that
He had come—Jesus is born! The angel told
the shepherds the good news and told them to
look for a baby wrapped in strips of cloth,
lying in a hay trough.
Suddenly an angel army filled the sky. This
army was not ready to battle but to sing.
Heaven’s choir commenced this surprise baby
shower on a humble family that was on a
government-mandated journey. These herald
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angels gave glory to God and announced a
new kind of peace to humans on the planet.
This peace on Earth was not like that brought
by government agreements. It was a new kind
of lifestyle for people because a new kind of
Man would now walk among them.
B. Worshiped by Shepherds
Inspired by the heavenly concert, the shepherds left their flocks and ran to Bethlehem.
Being the little town it was, they quickly located Mary and Joseph. There was the Baby,
looking much like any other baby. In light of
how they had learned about this birth, the
shepherds knew it was nothing ordinary.
Leaving the amazing young family, the shepherds could not keep their mouths shut. They
had to tell people what they saw and heard.
Listeners stood in awe at the story that
seemed too wonderful to believe.
Because the Child’s mother did not know
what to think of all these things, she just held
each memory close to her heart.
C. Confirmed by the Faithful
The shepherds came with awe and wonder.
The wise men came with expensive gifts suitable for a king. But two people gave Him
more. Simeon and Anna gave Him their lives.
The old man Simeon rejoiced to see God’s
plan of salvation and hold Christ in his own
arms. He saw this Baby as more than just a
Jewish Savior, but as a hope for all, including
Gentiles. Perhaps Jesus’ parents were shocked
at this prophetic statement. While they were
still reckoning with the idea of their son being
the Messiah, they now met a new concept of
salvation that would reach out to all humanity.
If that shock were not enough, Mary was
warned of how this young Man’s life would
pierce her soul.
Immediately after, Anna arrived, also worshiping God over this Child. She began to proclaim to everyone who would listen that this
Boy was the hope of Israel. The church needs
elderly people today who are dedicated to
Him—people who serve God with fasting and
prayers night and day. Too many have bought
into our consumer society that keeps people
mesmerized with busyness and entertainment.
How much more we see of God when people
devote themselves to Him and not their own
interests.
D. Honored by the Magi
According to Colin J. Humphreys, in 5 BC a
comet appeared on the horizon for seventy
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days. This comet with a tail made a pointer
arrow directly toward Bethlehem and steadily
moved south until it disappeared into the sun.
If these travelers from the east had taken the
average sixty days to travel, they would have
arrived just in time to see it over Bethlehem
before it disappeared (Colin J. Humphreys,
“The star of Bethlehem, a comet in 5 BC and
the date of Christ’s birth,” May 1 1992, Tyndale Bulletin, EBSCO ATLA religion databases, accessed December 24, 2011). What a
wonder it must have been to see the night sky
as they watched that beautiful star shine on.
These men from the East may have been
wise men after the order of Daniel who taught
them to look for the coming of the Lord
(Daniel 2:13). They may have made quite a
scene when they showed up in Jerusalem.
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 states, “These men from the East
who did not have the promises or the covenants
of the people of Israel came to worship Jesus not
only as the king of a nation but as the hope of
the world.”
These men who did not have the promises
or the covenants of the people of Israel came
to worship the king of that nation. However,
they honored him not just as king of a nation
but as the hope of the world. We also must
take note that many outside the church are
searching for the Savior. We do not have a monopoly on Him.
IV. THE ASYLUM AND BEYOND
Sometimes life’s mountaintop experiences
precede the deepest valleys. After receiving so
much attention from so many, Joseph and
Mary had to flee for their lives with a dependent little child clinging to them. What God created for worship and celebration in Christ
Jesus, the enemy wanted to destroy.
King Herod wanted to destroy any competition to his self-rule. The enemy does not want
God’s plan on the throne of planet Earth. Ruling by fear and death, Herod destroyed innocent lives. Even in his rebellion against God’s
Word, this selfish king fulfilled the prophecy
written in Jeremiah.
Not willing to let His plan—His own Son—
die at the hands of evildoers, God warned
Joseph and got them out of town. As so many
had done before, God’s people ran to Egypt
for a place of safety until the destroyer passed
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by. God has a safe place—the secret place in
the shadow of the Almighty—where He will
hide His own until all is well.
Once Herod died, an angel appeared with
new instructions. Obeying the word of the Lord,
Joseph took his family back home. Being able to
settle down must have seemed like a wonderful
prospect for Mary after so much rushing about
with a little one in tow.
On his way home, however, Joseph learned
that Herod’s son was ruling now in Judea. In
a dream, the Lord told him to move to
Nazareth. There in a carpenter’s home, Jesus
grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God
and humanity.
V. THE ANSWER
Jesus came for so much more than just another themed holiday season. In all our hustle and scurrying to celebrate the birth of
Jesus, He often gets set aside. However,
every question finds its answer in this Babe
from Bethlehem.
More than being an intellectual answer to
life’s dilemmas, Jesus answers the cry of our
hearts. The plan from the beginning was for
God to make a people unto Himself, and He
would be among them yet still be their God. In
this divine design, the Lord included in every
soul the longing and searching for the source
and author of their life.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 says, “Only when we find Jesus do
we find the answer and the resolution to that disturbing struggle for meaning, hope, and joy in
this life.”
We cannot find meaning and purpose in this
life without Him. Only when we find Jesus do
we find the answer and the resolution to that
disturbing struggle for meaning, hope, and joy
in this life.
A. Christ’s Birth in Us
One Bible truth tells us that Jesus was born
of a woman (Galatians 4:4). However, that is
not the end of the story. Later, that same
woman had to be born of Him. She along with
Jesus’ formerly unbelieving brothers and sisters worshiped and waited in Jerusalem until
the Spirit fell upon them.
Like that family, we also need to be born
from above. This is not just a moment of realization and a verbal confession of faith, but a
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true transformation effected by the Spirit of
Christ within. True life begins when Christ is
born in us (Galatians 4:19). Just as Mary
could not just make a child happen in her
womb, so we cannot just make Christ appear
in us by hard effort. We accept Him by faith
and through new birth.
We believe more than just the story of Jesus.
We believe the power of that story. We do not
just believe He came to take away our past
sins, but to save us from our sins. We own our
sins and admit our sinful inclination; however,
by faith in His finished work, we expect to
overcome those temptations and walk in newness of life. Our hope and expectancy is not in
our own willpower.
Too many people come to faith in Christ but
then seek to live right by their own willpower.
That is no different from what sinners do. Sin,
however, is more powerful than a person’s
willpower (Romans 7:18-20). That is why the
birth of Jesus was not the end of the story. By
His death, we can die with Him in repentance
and water baptism in His name (Romans 6:35) so that by His resurrection power we can
live victoriously by His Spirit dwelling in us
(Romans 8:11).
The new birth takes us through the water
and the Spirit as we put on His victorious nature. We become children of God instead of
children of the devil when we take on His
name in baptism by faith and receive His
Spirit, speaking in other tongues (John 3:3-8;
Acts 2:4, 38-39). This birth experience means
more than just knowing and celebrating the
birth story of Christ.
B. Christ’s Purpose in Us
Mary accepted God’s Word with her mouth:
“Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke
1:38). We have to accept by faith that we are
new creatures in Christ (Colossians 3:10). If a
person can believe what the devil says he is,
then surely that person can believe what God
says he is. Instead of speaking negative impossibilities into reality, we should speak what
God has promised. We should declare ourselves children of God, dead indeed to sin but
alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11).
The amazing mystery of faith is how God
could come in a baby and walk among us. The
amazing mystery of experience is how Christ
could dwell in us by faith (Colossians 1:27).
Eve was cursed because she rejected God’s
word and chose to believe the serpent’s saying. God blessed Mary, however, as she accepted His word. Mary spoke humility and
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conceived that which was from above. Pride is
death. Eve only sought what would feed her
ego. She conceived death. We may boast of
what we want to do for God or how good we
are, but such things destroy. We do not live a
self-powered, self-authored life. Out of inability
and impossibility come the greatest things.
Many expected the Messiah to come in nobility
and power. Mary sang of how God loved the
lowly and ignored the haughty (Luke 1:46-55).
Mary ran to Elisabeth, another who filled
her mouth with the things of God. Elisabeth
said, “Blessed is she that believed” (Luke
1:45). Our closest friends determine our future. Do we keep company with those who
make devil-speak? A believer should surround
himself with those who speak the positive
Word of God.
Internalizing the Message
None of the Christmas story was thrown together as hastily as we scramble to put on pageants or get the greeting cards in the mail.
This was deliberate. God planned long ago to
save the world through a suffering servant.
Before He ever formed the Earth, He had
planned out the birth, death, and resurrection
of Jesus Christ (Revelation 13:8; 17:8; Ephesians 1:4; Titus 1:2; I Peter 1:19-20).
We, too, should be deliberate in our living
for God. We should plan our lives around His
master plan. Serving God should not be an afterthought, but it should stay central to all we
do regarding career, location, and family life.
We should raise our children with redemption
in view. They should expect to be involved in
planting new churches, helping works in other
countries, and winning souls. Nothing could
be a greater honor than to join the Master plan
of the ages, leading other souls into the eternal kingdom.
REFLECTIONS
• Do members of your family experience
anticipation at Christmas time? Discuss
how the Jewish people must have anticipated the arrival of Messiah.
• Why was Zechariah struck mute? Discuss.
• Discuss the tensions that surely must have
developed in Mary and Joseph’s relationship due to her conception.
• What are some similarities between the life
of Moses and that of Jesus Christ? Discuss.
• Discuss our responsibility to be heralds of
truth for our Savior.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
2
week of
Baptism of Christ
12.08.13
Lesson Text
Matthew 3:11, 13-17
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he
that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost, and with fire:
.....
Focus Thought
Jesus was neither
baptized for His
own sins nor was
He responsible for
our sins; He perfectly identified
with our fallen estate and provided
a perfect example
for our salvation.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to
be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized
of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so
now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then
he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway
out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.
John 1:26-33
26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but
there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me,
whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and
saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world.
30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which
is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest
to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending
from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with
water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the
Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he
which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
Focus Verse
Matthew 3:15
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to
be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all
righteousness. Then he suffered him.
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Culture Connection
Bury the Carcass
by Daniel J. Koren
I
“I want to be baptized,” my Bible-study student said. We had already cast a demon out of him. Now he was ready
to enter covenant with Christ, but he did not want to wait until Sunday. In a few minutes we had targeted a
nearby creek and took him there promptly.
The blue sky and wispy clouds kept the sun from being too intense yet allowed the water enough warmth to
be refreshing. Wading out a few feet, he dropped to his knees and prayed. After praying with him for a moment,
I glanced down and saw something in the reflection off the surface.
I got his attention and had him look up. Above us, a few vultures circled around and around. “They hunt for
dead things,” I reminded him. In the lesson we had already talked about not leaving a repented “carcass” out to
rot but burying it. “You are dead to your old man. We are going to bury your old man now in baptism so you can
walk in a new life.”
He plunged under the cool, flowing water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of his sins. Coming
back up, we coached him to worship the Lord, which he did with gusto. Curious, I glanced up to see the buzzards,
but they were gone. They were nowhere in sight. “See?” I told him. “The scent of death is gone. Your old man is
buried with Christ!”
I. REASON FOR JOHN’S MINISTRY
A. Initiate a Revival in Israel
B. Identify the Messiah
C. Inaugurate the Ministry of the Messiah
II. REASON FOR THE SPIRIT’S DESCENT
LIKE A DOVE AND FOR THE VOICE
III. REASON FOR THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
A. Identify with Old Testament Anointing
B. Identify with the Human Race
C. Identify with the Message of John
Contemplating the Topic
The waters of the Jordan gurgled carelessly
around the bend. A gentle breeze fluffed up the
tree leaves and a flock of sparrows flitted
across the grassy plain like a tarp let loose in
the wind. A loud preacher shattered the tranquility: “Turn from your wicked ways! Change
your thinking to follow God’s thoughts. Develop a lifestyle that proves your change of
heart! Prepare for the coming of the Lord!”
Crowds of people responded to such
preaching, proving that then, as now, people
want to please God. Following the scary-looking preacher into the muddy Jordan, they
came up from the watery grave committed to
a new lifestyle. While John continued preaching and teaching in this manner, a new member joined his congregation.
Walking through the crowd at the end of a
baptismal service, the Man approached John.
Perhaps it seemed out of place and poorly
timed; however, John looked at the Man and
knew this was no mistake. “Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world,”
he called out to his converts (John 1:29).
Jesus waded into the water, facing John.
“I am unworthy,” John stammered, “to even
be Your servant and take off Your shoes.”
“Baptize Me,” Jesus said.
“No, I need You to baptize me!” John
declared. “Why would You come to me for
baptism?”
“Allow it to be this way now so we can fulfill
all righteousness.” (See Matthew 3:11-15;
John 1:26-31.)
John consented at that statement and
plunged the Savior into the dark, swirling
river. When Jesus came up from the water,
He stood praying, still dripping wet. Suddenly the atmosphere ripped open above
Him, and He could see beyond time and
space. Like a dove, the Spirit came upon Him
in power. A voice from Heaven spoke, “This
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased” (Matthew 3:17).
Searching the Scriptures
Examining the life of Christ is a rewarding
pursuit. We will never reach the depth of understanding this Man around whom the world
turns. We do not search out the Word of God
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in order to understand it all. We do so to “fulfill all righteousness.” Knowing about Jesus is
not an end in itself. We must know Him personally, intimately, and practically.
Jesus did not have to be baptized. For that
matter, He did not have to die on a cross. Jesus
did not even have to be born. However, He
was; He entered the world to save us. The life
of Christ was an example and a sermon lived
out for our instruction and salvation.
More than just a feature of history, Jesus
Christ is the climax of all human eras, bridging
the awful gap between humankind and God.
The Holy Spirit had come down upon thousands of people, but in this one Man of flesh
He would manifest Himself as the Son of God.
Jesus became our means to escape the rule of
sin and flee into the freedom of righteousness.
Before individuals understand their need of
Jesus, however, they need someone like John
to awaken them to their wickedness. Humans
are content to live with their sin problem, and
preaching is necessary to cause them to see
their need of a Savior.
I. REASON FOR JOHN’S MINISTRY
If a person had the beginnings of a deadly
disease, would that individual want to return
to the doctor who rudely said, “If you do not
change your eating habits, you are going to
die young”? Or would that person prefer a
practitioner who said, “Don’t get yourself
down about it; we all have flaws, and I still
think you are a quality person”? Although
emotionally it might be easier to hear the second opinion, practically everyone would want
to know what to change while there was still
hope of survival. John the Baptist was like the
harsh, but practical, doctor the people needed.
A rough preacher living in the desert wearing rough burlap, it seemed as if John broke
all the modern rules of church planting. He
was not in a prime location. He did not have a
popular image. Still, the world came out to
him and he changed the landscape of Jewish
history. In his own way, he created brand
recognition and somehow developed a group
of followers.
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 depicts John the Baptist and makes
a statement about his ministry.
In John’s ministry, passionate preaching
and a distinct call to honor ruled the day in a
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world of compromise and hypocrisy. Today,
our generation needs a person to stand strong
as well. John was not hateful, but neither was
he wishy-washy. He did not make people feel
better about the sin disease; he helped them
find a cure.
A. Initiate a Revival in Israel
A prophet of old long before had announced
the coming of this man in the desert.
“The voice of him that crieth in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
LORD, make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. Every valley
shall be exalted, and every mountain
and hill shall be made low: and the
crooked shall be made straight, and
the rough places plain: And the glory
of the LORD shall be revealed, and all
flesh shall see it together: for the
mouth of the LORD hath spoken it”
(Isaiah 40:3-5).
John was not effective because of his personality but because God had called him. God
called John to prepare the way of the Lord.
No one prepares for God in his life unless he
first repents, so John came preaching repentance. It is the only way for individuals to receive God.
Repentance is brutal, uncouth, and unfashionable; however, to repent of our sins is necessary if we are to receive Jesus Christ. We
prepare our hearts to receive the Lord by
changing our direction, turning from sin to
God. A gospel without repentance is a pep talk
without a purpose.
B. Identify the Messiah
On the highway to Hell, John was the big
green sign saying, “Exit here!” He pointed
souls to the correct destination: the righteousness of God in Christ. He began his ministry while still in the womb, kicking his
mother to let her know the Messiah had just
walked in the door (Luke 1:41, 44). Just as
abrupt as an adult, he made sure no one
missed the importance of the moment when
the Servant of the Lord appeared.
C. Inaugurate the Ministry
of the Messiah
John not only introduced Jesus to the
world, but he was also the prophet who inaugurated the new King. The message John
preached is the same one we obey today to
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come to Jesus: repent. He clarified how to repent, too, by giving back what was stolen, to
stop demanding more money, and to give to
those in need. He also spoke against spiritual
pride (Matthew 3:8-9).
John preached hellfire and brimstone and
warned that this was the work of the Master, as
well, against all who would reject Him. He illustrated his sermon with images of a tree
being cut down and thrown into the fire and
of grain husks burned with scorching heat
(Matthew 3:10-12). After letting people know
the plan and the seriousness of the coming
One, John baptized Him.
II. REASON FOR THE SPIRIT’S DESCENT
LIKE A DOVE AND FOR THE VOICE
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 pictures a dove and quotes a portion of Mark 1:11.
When Jesus came up out of the water, the
Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. Further, a voice spoke from Heaven saying,
“Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased” (Mark 1:11). These amazing signs
from Heaven demonstrated to John and
to all those present that this Man was no ordinary individual; this One indeed was the
Son of God.
First, this moment was meaningful to John.
Matthew 3:17 records the voice as announcing to the wilderness preacher, “This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This
voice confirmed Jesus’ identity.
However, the Voice was not the only sign
that identified the Messiah. John also saw the
Spirit descend upon Jesus like a dove.
“And John bare record, saying, I
saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and it abode
upon him. And I knew him not: but he
that sent me to baptize with water, the
same said unto me, Upon whom thou
shalt see the Spirit descending, and
remaining on him, the same is he
which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
And I saw, and bare record that this
is the Son of God” (John 1:32-34).
The Spirit descending like a dove served as
a second confirmation to the baptizer that
Jesus was the Promised One.
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The Voice from above was not only for John
to hear, however. Luke records the story a little differently, which reveals the heavenly
voice also was meaningful to Jesus. Luke 3:22
indicates the Voice said, “Thou art my beloved
Son; in thee I am well pleased.” Jesus grew in
understanding from a child until He came to
full realization of who He was. In His humanity the Lord accepted some limitations, though
as God He could have laid aside every limitation at any moment. The Voice from above
served to confirm His heavenly identity.
Prophetic Scriptures came to fulfillment in the
life of Christ. The Spirit and the Voice gave a
public declaration of His identity as the hope
of all mankind.
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul
delighteth; I have put my spirit upon
him: he shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor
lift up, nor cause his voice to be
heard in the street. A bruised reed
shall he not break, and the smoking
flax shall he not quench: he shall
bring forth judgment unto truth. He
shall not fail nor be discouraged, till
he have set judgment in the earth:
and the isles shall wait for his law.
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched
them out; he that spread forth the
earth, and that which cometh out of
it; he that giveth breath unto the
people upon it, and spirit to them
that walk therein: I the LORD have
called thee in righteousness, and
will hold thine hand, and will keep
thee, and give thee for a covenant of
the people, for a light of the Gentiles”
(Isaiah 42:1-6).
III. REASON FOR THE BAPTISM
OF JESUS
A. Identify with Old Testament
Anointing
Like a novel with increasing suspense,
God’s story slowly unfolded in intensity
through humankind’s history. Everything He
did and everything humanity did slowly built
up to the moment of His revealing of Christ as
the Son of God. How privileged we are to be in
the moment of God’s revealing His plan from
eternity past. He has made known to us the
knowledge of His will, gathering all things in
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Heaven and Earth to Himself in Christ (Ephesians 1:9-10; Colossians 1:26-27).
Throughout the Old Testament, we see foreshadowing and glimpses of what would come
next in the story. The Tabernacle, the water that
flowed from a rock, and the manna that fell
from the sky were not meaningless stories.
Rather, they all fulfilled important roles in guiding humankind toward God’s intended relationship with believers. The sacrificial lambs, the
bitter herbs, and unleavened bread all pointed
to the focus of the universe: Jesus Christ.
1. Prophet. At Jesus’ baptism, He left us an
example we should follow into our own baptism with Him (I Peter 2:21-22). He did it as
the sinless Savior; we enter baptism as sinners
seeking remission of sins. In part, the concept
of baptism carried forward from the foreshadowing of the old covenant. Under Moses’
law, a man of God had to be washed and
cleansed in preparation for spiritual service
(Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 8:6). John would have
been such a man if he had carried on his father’s work as priest. Instead of being washed
and conforming to the tradition in the Temple,
however, John began baptizing others, preparing the way for when all could be priests unto
God regardless of ancestry.
The purpose of water baptism had nothing
to do with removing bacteria or grime, but it
served to mark a change and a fresh start. The
concept of cleansing from impurities was
probably much of the idea behind the baptisms that rabbis began practicing even before
the time of John. The Qumran community,
which likely influenced John (or possibly was
influenced by him), practiced baptism by immersion for those committed to a holy life.
John’s baptism was far different from those
baptisms practiced by other Jewish leaders in
that he preached baptism for the remission of
sins—something unheard of in Judaism. Only
a slain animal served as atonement for sins. Of
course, the fulfillment of sins being washed
away came only through John’s baptism because it looked forward to the Lamb of God.
No Jewish rabbi would have preached baptism
as being effective like a sacrifice for sins.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 shows a person being baptized
and makes a statement about baptism.
In Jesus, water baptism for the remission of
sins is effective. It is not the water itself, how-
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ever, that cleanses a person from his sins.
Water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
washes away sins through the sacrifice of the
slain Lamb of God on the cross. Baptism applies the cleansing agent by faith. Jesus Himself made it clear that water and washing, in
and of themselves, have no power (Mark 7:115). (See also I Peter 3:21.)
2. Priest. When initiating a priest, the high
priest would pour specially prepared olive oil
over his head (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 8:12).
For Jesus to become our high priest, He
needed more than just earthly olive oil. He
needed more than symbolism. At His baptism,
Jesus received the anointing of the Holy Spirit,
symbolized when He descended like a dove
coming down from on high (Matthew 3:16).
This pure saturation of the Spirit without
measure empowered Him for His years of ministry. Today, we do not depend on oil for
power, but we depend on the Spirit of God.
Now we have a high priest taken from
among us who feels for us yet is without
sin (Hebrews 4:15-16). Taken from among
the lowest, He has been exalted to the highest place in the entire universe. We rise to
share His victory when we are filled with the
Holy Ghost.
3. King. Jesus is more than just a prophet
who spoke for God or a priest who spoke to
God. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
In Israel, a king’s coronation included anointing with oil. This would mark him as God’s
chosen one to lead the country. David’s anointing occurred in a quiet, out-of-the-way place,
and it was done in secret. Jesus’ anointing occurred front and center in Israel. Although no
one at the time recognized the importance of
that moment of Jesus’ anointing, one day
every knee will bow and confess Jesus Christ
as Lord and King over all other rulers.
B. Identify with the Human Race
Jesus is not amazing just because of the
dramatic moments of His life. What makes
Him more amazing to us not-so-easily-wowed
humans is His reckless love. He emptied Himself of all His glory that He could join us in
death (Philippians 2:8). Not only did He take
on death, but He died the death of the guilty
and took the blame for the sins of many (Isaiah 53:12). To thank Him for such generosity,
the people He died for overlooked Him or
plainly rejected Him (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11).
More than just becoming common, He became sin for us though He had never sinned
(II Corinthians 5:21).
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If Jesus would identify with us in our sins,
why would He not identify with us also in the
baptism intended for spiritually washing away
those sins? He no more needed baptism than
He needed to go to the cross. He did both out
of love for us and to be one with us. By joining
us in our guiltiness, we can join Him in His
righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21).
C. Identify with the Message of John
Writings from the Qumran community state
values in keeping with the mission of both
John and Jesus. This group of people set
themselves apart from the rest of society to
develop in holiness and piety. The Qumran
community hoped to shine the light of holiness in the darkness of their day. They not only
hoped to turn society away from its path of destruction, they hoped for an anointed one to
arise from among them (John Robinson, “The
Baptism of John and the Qumran Community,”
Harvard Theological Review, July 1, 1957).
Perhaps when John’s parents died while he
was still young, he went to dwell in this austere group of Qumran. Although he always
continued a life of asceticism through fasting
and isolation in the desert, God later called
him to interact with society and to turn many
toward righteousness. John may have hoped
to be the one whom God would anoint. Just as
every young woman in Israel may have hoped
to give birth to the Messiah, so every young
man possibly hoped to become that Anointed
One. However, the Lord informed the wilderness prophet that he was not the chosen One,
but that he would prepare the way for Him.
Jesus came and submitted Himself to come
through the ministry of John, fulfilling not
only prophecy and John’s hopes, but also the
heartbeat of the Qumran community and other
similar groups.
Internalizing the Message
John did not preach water baptism; he
preached God’s plan. He made it clear that
water alone could not cleanse the people but
that they would have to be baptized with fire—
the fire of the Holy Ghost. He came only to
prepare the way for the One who would bring
the baptism from above. Baptism in water is
the physical, earthly reflection of the spiritual
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baptism that comes with the Holy Spirit from
above. We must be born of water and of the
Spirit (John 3:5).
In addition to Jesus’ water baptism by John,
He was anointed by the Spirit, which descended upon Him like a dove. While we often
think of water baptism as distinct from the
Spirit baptism, the two really are one baptism.
(See John 3:3, 5; Acts 2:38, 41; Ephesians
4:5.) To identify with Jesus we do not just go
down into the water with Him. We come up
and receive the Holy Spirit, which is evidenced
initially by speaking with other tongues. The
Spirit baptism also may precede water baptism (Acts 10:46-48).
Water baptism is not how we earn salvation,
but how we identify with Christ. By repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus
Christ, we join Christ in His death and burial.
By receiving His Spirit, we join Him in resurrection life. (See Acts 2:22-24; Romans 6:3-5;
I Corinthians 15:1-4.) We take on all the blessings and sufferings of Christ, both the joys and
the rejections. We identify with His authority
and enjoy acceptance as children of God. Day
by day we draw on His experience in this life
to overcome our old ways.
Jesus entered the water to fulfill all righteousness; we enter the water of baptism for
the remission of sins and to be made complete
with His righteousness. However, baptism
should not end our quest for growing in His
character. If a person is hungry, he seeks
something to fill the emptiness of his stomach.
If one hungers and thirsts for righteousness,
however, he will continue to seek Christ and
grow in Him. The life in Christ involves a continual feast on His righteousness as we grow
up in Him and learn His nature.
REFLECTIONS
• What two passages were quoted by the
voice from the sky and why are these
meaningful for understanding the person
and mission of Christ?
• In what ways does water baptism identify
us as being a child of God? Discuss.
• How is water baptism in the name of
Jesus Christ different from the baptism of
John? Discuss.
• Discuss how water baptism begins a life
of daily seeking Christ and growing in
one’s relationship with Him.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
3
week of
12.15.13
Temptation
of Christ
Lesson Text
Focus Thought
Jesus as a man
was subject in
all things to His
heavenly Father.
His submission
gave no room for
the temptation
of the enemy.
Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to
be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he
was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the
Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth
him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest
at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not
tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world,
and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou
wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him
only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and
ministered unto him.
Focus Verses
Mark 1:12-13
And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the
wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness
forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the
wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
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Culture Connection
Dealing with Temptation
by Richard M. Davis
E
Everyone has to deal with temptation. Our temptations may be different from the temptations some other individuals face, but they are not unique to us; all temptations are common among fellow humans. Yet, Jesus Christ
made provision that we could deal with them all.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will
not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13).
In his article titled “Dealing with Temptation,” Andrew Wommack stated: “Everyone faces temptation. But
the truth is, very few people deal with it effectively. That shouldn’t be the case, and it doesn’t have to be the case
for believers. There are some very simple and effective ways of dealing with temptation that you should know,
and if you’ll put them into practice, I guarantee, you’ll come out the winner.
“It has been said, ‘Fail to plan and you’re planning to fail.’ That statement could not be truer when it’s
applied to temptation. . . . So, first and most important, you must be prepared” (http://www.awmi.net/home,
accessed January 29, 2013).
Many individuals have observed that temptation comes through three fundamental avenues: lust of the
flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. (See Genesis 3; I John 2:15-16.) By recognizing how the tempter will
approach and entice us, and understanding our victory is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we can be overcomers. However, we must prepare in advance of temptation so we will be empowered to fend off the fiery darts
of the enemy!
I. THE DETAILS OF THE TEMPTATION
A. Driven to the Wilderness
B. Confronted and Defended Himself
Three Times
II. THE REASONS FOR THE TEMPTATION
A. To Be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest
B. To Defeat Sin in the Flesh
III. THE RESULTS OF THE TEMPTATION
A. Satan Left Jesus for a Season
B. Jesus Is Our Perfect Example
Contemplating the Topic
We celebrate events such as Jesus’ birth,
baptism, triumphal entry, anointing, Last Supper, death, and resurrection. However, where
in Christian practice do we applaud the misery of His forty days in the wilderness? This
does not seem like something to celebrate, yet
it beckons our attention as an essential part of
being like Christ: enduring suffering and conquering temptation.
Perhaps the two are the same. Suffering
always involves some type of temptation.
Temptation is a type of suffering. Human
flesh loves to be tempted yet hates discomfort. The Spirit, on the other hand, sails
through suffering—thrives on it—but avoids
temptation. The art of being Christ-like
in this life is finding that perfect balance
between what the Spirit craves and the
flesh needs.
Even in the church, though we talk a lot
about sacrifice, we tend to turn to fundraisers rather than give from our own wealth.
We want to talk about benevolence as a program rather than a character quality. Perhaps
what bothers us so much about Jesus’
wilderness experience is that we see our own
need to fast, endure suffering, and overcome
temptation.
We hate the thought of pain and misery. We
want to accept all that is frilly and soft about
Christianity, but we loathe the thought of suffering and sacrifice. This is not wrong; it is
human. However, God calls us to live above
mere human desires; He calls us to be spiritual, to be like Him. He calls us to let our lives
express His nature.
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Searching the Scriptures
I. THE DETAILS OF THE TEMPTATION
Jesus’ fasting and temptation resonates on
the same plane with other important events in
His life. This experience integrates Him with
all of humanity by reversing the fall of Adam
and painting a picture of future redemption.
Adam started life in a beautiful garden with
food and comfort. Jesus began His ministry in
a wilderness area, lacking any sustenance or
luxury. Adam lived among peaceful creatures
whom he named one by one. Jesus spent the
days among hostile, wild animals. The devil
tempted humanity with food, both in the garden and in the wilderness. The first humans fell
into his trap. Jesus Christ, however, did not.
A. Driven to the Wilderness
When Adam and Eve sinned, God drove
them out of the garden into a world cursed by
sin. When Jesus came up from the waters of
the Jordan, the Spirit drove Him into the
wilderness. Both the first Adam and the Last
Adam were driven into the wilds because of
sin—one because of guilt, but the other One
because He was guiltless for the redemption
of humankind.
Godly choices sometimes may throw an
individual into suffering. When bringing Israel out of bondage in Egypt, God led the nation into the wilderness. There they saw
great miracles and horrendous devastation.
There they battled the traps of the enemy
and failed most of the time. Christ, however,
went into the wilderness and returned completely victorious.
B. Confronted and Defended Himself
Three Times
Jesus went into a real wilderness, suffered
real hunger, and faced a real devil. While many
people have tried to draw an unsavory image
of the evil one, we must realize the devil sometimes may come in a suit coat with a Bible in
his hand.
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 depicts the devil and talks about
temptation.
Temptation does not usually appear as a
red-horned character smelling of sulfur.
Rather than try to get the young person to
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drink poison, he disguises it as something fun
and cool many people may appear to be doing.
Rather than come at us with a dreadful disease, he puts temptation into an attractive and
enticing package that appeals to us. Rather
than shove satanic doctrine down our throat,
the devil leads us to encounter nice people
who are so friendly yet whose teachings are
from Hell.
The devil Jesus faced was real—not a toothless old lion, but a very real one. As with
Christ, the enemy likes to show up at our
weakest moments, looking like the answer to
our prayers. To the young father he might
show up as a job promotion, stealing him away
from his family for days and weeks at a time.
To the minister, he might show up as a friendly
and enticing woman who would never mean
any harm.
Physical lust. When the devil enticed Christ
to turn stones into bread, he drew on the
human tension between the flesh’s needs and
the Spirit’s desires. In this case, Christ’s inner
man longed to heed the call of the Spirit to
fast. His outer man, however, longed to eat.
Both desires are good, natural, and need fulfillment.
The devil knows how to tempt individuals to
turn from natural desires toward immoral acts.
Hunger can give way to gluttony. Love can
turn into lust. Comfort can turn to luxury and
opulence.
Some things Satan tempts us to do are not
a matter of right and wrong but a matter of
submission to the right authority. There was
no law against turning stones into bread. That
the devil suggested it, however, was reason
enough not to do it. He is not the true authority for humans. Just because there is no specific Scripture verse that names tobacco or
casinos as sinful is no reason to try either one.
The principle behind each reveals the nature
of the thing. Further, we know who is enticing
us to try these things, and we can see the end
results are not of God.
The temptation of Jesus involved more than
defeating a fleshly craving; Jesus was not
going to use supernatural power for personal
gratification. Eve was not so hungry for the
fruit as she was for the self-gratification she
would experience by eating it. She fell for the
enemy’s enticement because it would benefit
her directly. The devil wants us to think only of
ourselves, not others.
The devil wants us to think only of the moment, not of later consequences. While Moses
was on the mountain, the people indulged
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their appetites until they were gorged. As one
sin gives way to another, their hunger lust became sexual lust as they turned to commit
adultery and incest with one another. Through
Balaam, the devil again lured Israel into sexual
sin with godless people.
At the end of his life, Moses reminded the
nation of Israel that God had led them
through the wilderness for forty years to test
them and know what was in their hearts
(Deuteronomy 8:2). Jesus quoted from this
passage during His forty days of testing in
the wilderness. He overcame the lust of the
flesh, saying, “Man shall not live by bread
alone” (Matthew 4:4) just as the Israelites
could not live but by the manna from Heaven.
(See Deuteronomy 8:3.)
By using this passage, Jesus did not just defeat an argument as one would do in a court of
law. Instead, He illustrated an awareness of
what He was going through. He was not a victim, but a student in the school of suffering.
And He intended to pass the test, proving what
was within Him.
Spiritual temptation. The devil likes to
tempt us with spiritual pride. After Jesus used
Scripture, the devil misused a verse of Scripture speaking of Christ’s glorification and protection. Although this passage did apply to the
Lord, Jesus knew it would be wrong to use supernatural power for self-gratification or personal promotion.
Eve bit into the devil’s lie that she would be
exalted by following his advice. Jesus knew
the Word well enough to know when someone
twisted it for self-interest. Nadab and Abihu
in the wilderness tried to present their own
fire before the Lord. Korah and his cohorts
tried to use God’s authority for their own advancement. God dealt severely with all those
who succumbed to temptation for personal
gratification.
Knowing man is to be tested by God, not
God by man, Jesus again quoted Scripture:
“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”
(Matthew 4:7). (See Deuteronomy 6:16.) We
should not challenge God. When He has given
us a promise, we can claim it. However, we
should not boast things about God and then
try to make Him prove it. Elijah had heard
from the Lord when he built an altar against
the prophets of Baal. However, some individuals look foolish and dishonor God by claiming that which God has not promised and then
expecting Him to prove Himself.
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Transparency 2
Transparency 2 tells what Jesus did when Satan
tempted Him.
Pride of life. The enemy enticed Jesus to
consider having all the kingdoms of the world
without having to go to the cross. It is too easy
for humanity to crave a shortcut than to accept the path the Lord provides. Many sins are
moral shortcuts: sex before marriage, get-richquick schemes, and lying on résumés. How
many have bowed to Satan’s subtle substitute
paths already?
Jesus overcame one of the most plaguing
sins in the church today: pride. Proud people
have a hard time fighting the devil because
they are already so much like him. Covetousness leads a person to desire things, but often
the desire for things is for the sake of appearances. Human pride drives us to look better
than someone else or at least be acceptable to
others because of money, accomplishments,
influence, or some other transient concern.
Jesus did not live for appearances. He did
take care how He did things so as not to make
anyone stumble. However, public acceptance
was not His focus. Divine acceptance was His
priority. Eve’s lust for pride lured her to eat the
forbidden fruit, believing she would be like God.
Israel lusted after the gods of the sinful nations
so they would be more “accepted.”
In the church, pride may tempt some to
boast of the numbers of people who attend
their church, how many souls they have won,
or the measure of their perceived holiness
standards. God blesses us with buildings, land,
and people, but we should never let blessings
inflate our hearts with human pride. If God has
given us skills or money, we hold them loosely
and use them for His glory. When we become
grasping or seek self-glory, we will lose.
II. THE REASONS FOR THE TEMPTATION
An engineer had supervised the building of a train trestle across a large canyon. Many had complained and
questioned if it would really hold the weight of a loaded
freight train. Once the crew finished the project, the engineer called for a train with cars loaded double of what
they should carry and had it driven to the middle of the
bridge. After it sat there overnight, a man asked him,
“Are you trying to break that bridge?”
The engineer answered, “No, I just wanted to prove
that it won’t.”
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Jesus’ time in the wilderness did not break
Him because He had what it takes to overcome temptation: complete submission to the
divine will. As a man, He totally surrendered
Himself to the Father’s desires. He proved
that humanity does not have to give in to
temptation. We must become one with the Father also.
A. To Be a Merciful and Faithful
High Priest
Our Savior suffered as we do. He understands what it means to be tempted. God took
on human nature to conquer temptation. By
becoming our High Priest, He could offer a
sacrifice that could take away our sins (Hebrews 2:17). Further, since He has personal
experience in the human condition, He is able
to help us when we are tested (Hebrews 2:18).
Would we want to learn mountain climbing
from a man with metal rods holding up his back
and a brace on his leg? We probably would prefer to learn from someone who had climbed
mountains and never fallen. We learn righteousness from One who never fell. We are not
following a recovering addict. He overcame
every temptation, having successfully faced
everything we may face in life (Hebrews 4:15).
B. To Defeat Sin in the Flesh
Moses was like a blind guide leading the
blind. While preaching righteousness, he
sinned. He could not save the people. But God
did what the Law could not do. He became one
of us, yet without sin. By His sinless body—
never having yielded to temptation—He
brought sin to a dead end in Christ’s sacrificial death (Romans 8:3).
Since sin is now dead to those who are in
Christ Jesus, we do not just run to Him for forgiveness but also for strength to overcome the
evil one. His victory is not just for those who
have messed up but also to give us strength
not to mess up.
III. THE RESULTS OF THE TEMPTATION
Jesus set a great example in His victory in
the wilderness. There, with wild animals
prowling around, out of His comfort zone,
with no one watching, He overcame temptation. He taught us that the best way to conquer the enemy is to have a strong defense. By
standing strong, we “do not give the devil a
foothold” (Ephesians 4:27, NIV).
It takes a different power to resist than to
fight. Resistance takes endurance where fighting takes brute strength. If you do not want to
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fight the lust for liquor, do not drive near the
bar. If you do not want to fight the lust for
pornography, stay off the Internet or make
sure safeguards are in place to protect you.
A. Satan Left Jesus for a Season
When the devil launches an attack against a
person, he may only be able to test the person
for a short season. Bouts of discouragement,
fears, and lust may only last briefly. We must
determine to stand strong until the temptation
is past. After testing Christ for a time, Satan
left Him.
The devil left to wait for another opportunity to attack Jesus (Luke 4:13). Believers will
go through seasons of different temptations.
The devil will always come back later to try another avenue to get at us, but we may always
resist him.
No temptation lasts for long. The devil
comes only for a short time. The child of God
does not need to learn numerous incantations
or “spiritual warfare” techniques. We must
simply learn perseverance and endurance. If
we can walk with the Lord in patience, we can
overcome the enemy.
When we walk the valley of testing, we may
encourage ourselves, knowing that the devil is
not a long-term player. He has only come for
a short time, trying to stir up as much trouble
as he can. Is forty days the extent of the
enemy’s endurance? Perhaps. We risk extending it, however, when we give him a foothold
to continue his attack.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 states that victory comes by using
the Word.
Victory comes through using the Word.
The Christian faith is not technique-oriented.
We do not have to outsmart the devil but just
resist him and rely on God’s Word. Just as our
patience comes from the Spirit, so do our
words. Your knowledge of the Word will give
you the edge you need to fight the devil. The
more we know the Word, the stronger we are.
We should study what the Scriptures say relative to areas of our weaknesses and temptations. We should memorize them and quote
them to situations of temptation. If one struggles with lust, then he should memorize verses
on morality and purity. If a person struggles
with wasteful spending, he should seek out
verses on the wise use of money.
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B. Jesus Is Our Perfect Example
The concept of fasting for many days seems
foreign to many believers today. Many Christians never hear the Spirit calling them to pray
and fast, but it is still a biblical prescription
for gaining strength for victory.
Jesus was not afraid of weakness for
He knew it was the source of strength
(II Corinthians 12:9). We will only experience
the authority of God when we stoop as low as
He did. Joyfully enduring suffering will shape
us. Fasting does not exempt us from temptation and other forms of suffering; it prepares
us for them.
Israel rejected God in the wilderness and
followed the lust of their flesh, the pride of life,
and the lust of the eyes (I John 2:15-17). In
stark contrast, Jesus defeated the enemy and
came out of the wilderness victorious. He set
the example for us against the foil of Israel’s
mistakes.
Angels ministered to Jesus and He left the
wilderness in the power of the Spirit. The
Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. He
came back empowered and ready to work
(Luke 4:14). God calls many people to His
work. Unfortunately, too many reject the opportunity/obstacle set before them. They want
to hang out with the crowd at the Jordan
rather than endure a wilderness experience of
growing into God’s image.
God may allow us to encounter all kinds of
situations and temptations, but how we
choose to respond to them will define us. If
we fail the test, we get to go back to the
school of hard knocks. If we pass the test, He
moves us on with more power to face new
challenges in Him.
We can expect to experience the same
victory by using Christ’s example in temptation. We need a celestial reworking of our
thinking to realize the beauty of suffering. To
be faithful in suffering will strengthen us in the
power of the Spirit. We do not need more understanding of suffering; rather, we have to
recognize that being constant and faithful in
the face of suffering and temptation is the path
to complete victory.
Rather than begging God for a miraculous
way to escape suffering, we should ask Him to
strengthen us to resist the enemy. First we
should make sure our heart is aligned with the
Lord. Then we need to stand our ground
Page 23
(James 4:7). The devil will flee as we resist
him, worship God, and quote God’s Word. We
do not dwell on the temptation; we deflect it
with God’s Word. We can defeat the enemy
only through the strength Christ gives us.
Internalizing the Message
Believers should run from temptations to
the Lord’s throne of mercy (Hebrews 4:16).
He understands our temptation and will give
us grace to conquer it. We should pray, fast,
and humble ourselves before the Lord. Only
through the strength Christ gives us may we
overcome enticement. We should realize that
He allows tests to shape us and draw us to
Himself.
Once we emerge victorious from our wilderness experience, we can minister to others.
Jesus spent most of His ministry among people, not alone in the wilderness. However,
Jesus did not refuse to face His temptation experience in the wilderness. He suffered temptation, resisted temptation, and exercised
victory over it.
The Chinese built the Wall of China large enough
that no one could climb it, tunnel under it, or break
through it. However, the country was still invaded
after the wall was built—the enemy came through
the gates after bribing the guards. While they were
experts at engineering, they had not built up personal morals among their citizens and soldiers. You
are not safe just because you have standards of holiness and a list of things you will not do. You have to
let God reshape your heart to be truly holy.
REFLECTIONS
• If we always had sunshine would we appreciate it? Discuss.
• Discuss why disciplined suffering is an important path to a believer’s true joy.
• Should followers of Christ fast regularly?
Why or why not? Discuss.
• Discuss the effect of prayer in redefining
ordinary, miserable experiences of life.
• How does applying God’s Word reshape
one’s situation in a wilderness experience
of temptation? Discuss.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
4
week of
12.22.13
Ministry and
Miracles of Christ
Lesson Text
Focus Thought
The magnitude of
Jesus’ ministry
was illustrated by
the power of His
teaching and the
extensive nature of
His miracles.
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among
the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought
unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases
and torments, and those which were possessed with devils,
and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy;
and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from
Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from
Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
Matthew 5:1-12
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain:
and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness'
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute
you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for
my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward
in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you.
Focus Verse
Matthew 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages,
teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the
gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
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Culture Connection
Jesus Christ, the Same
by Gary D. Erickson
J
Jesus was a healer of physical diseases during His earthly ministry. Although divine healing has many mysteries,
Jesus continues to heal today. I know this personally.
After graduating from high school, I enrolled as a student at Texas Bible College in Houston, Texas. I secured
a job as a custodian at a local elementary school and settled in as a full-time student. As we neared the Christmas
holiday, I developed a throat infection and my condition deteriorated quickly. I was so ill I was barely able to
drive home for the Christmas break. When I arrived, I could hardly walk due to enormous pain in my knees. After
passing out at the breakfast table the next morning, I was taken to the doctor and diagnosed with rheumatic
fever. I spent the Christmas holidays in the hospital. The doctor determined that I had inflamed joints and a heart
murmur due to a bad case of strep throat. The streptococci were ravaging my body. The murmur was causing a
disruption in the blood flow.
My home church went on a special fast for my healing and God answered. I completely recovered from the
sickness in a few weeks. Over the years since this sickness, I have had many heart checkups. After getting examinations, I always enjoy asking the doctors, “How does my heart sound?” The answer is always, “Just fine!” This
was a divine healing! I give glory to God for a miracle.
Even though everyone doesn’t get healed, we should never doubt God’s healing power. We may be only
moments away from a personal miracle. Keep believing.
I. LESSONS FOR LIFE
A. Sermon on the Mount
B. Parables
C. Good Shepherd
D. Vine and the Branches
E. Second Coming Prophecy
II. MIRACULOUS MINISTRY
A. Demonstrated Power over Death
B. Demonstrated Power over Demons
C. Demonstrated Power over Nature and Need
D. Demonstrated Power over Sickness and
Disease
III. MINISTRY AND MIRACLES CONTINUE
Contemplating the Topic
Jesus Christ was the Word made flesh (John
1:14). He obviously used words to teach His
disciples, and He backed up His speech with
miracles. Jesus showed us His authority over
death, disease, demons, and nature. When
Jesus spoke, His words had special meaning
because He proved He could provide for His
followers. Peter noted this care on the Day of
Pentecost, the birthday of the church. Peter
stated, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words;
Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God
among you by miracles and wonders and
signs, which God did by him in the midst of
you, as ye yourselves also know” (Acts 2:22).
The evidence of Jesus’ miraculous ministry
was a strong appeal that resulted in many conversions.
Searching the Scriptures
I. LESSONS FOR LIFE
A. Sermon on the Mount
1. Be Happy Attitudes. Jesus is known for
teaching the Beatitudes. While the Gospels
record one instance of this sermon, it is probable Jesus taught these concepts continually
during His ministry on earth. We can read of
Jesus’ sermon with these attitudes in Matthew
5:1-7:29.
The term blessed should be understood as
happy or contented. Nine times Jesus used
this term in the beginning of this sermon.
These beatitudes are not meant to be multiple
choice elements; rather, they are the sum total
of a preferred believer’s attitude.
These attitudes serve as a personal measurement of our spiritual walk with God. Happiness or blessedness according to Christ
does not happen according to our wishes but
according to God’s will. Through testimonies
of faithful believers in present and past ages,
we can realize the absolute truth of these
Beatitudes.
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Transparency 1
Transparency 1 makes a statement about Jesus’
teachings.
2. Rules for the Righteous. While the Beatitudes are general in nature, Jesus became
more direct in the rest of His sermon. He
spoke on guidelines for money, attitude toward
others, and the elimination of worry. He encouraged prayer in this Sermon on the Mount,
for this is the most valuable tool for a relationship with God and for self-examination.
Many call the pattern of prayer outlined in the
Sermon on the Mount the Lord’s Prayer. If this
were a consistent prayer we actually recited
verbatim, we would imitate a playback device.
Rather, many Christians recognize this prayer
to be a pattern for personal prayer. Jesus
stated, “After this manner therefore pray ye:”
“Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.” (Praise)
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
(Submission)
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
(Prayer Requests)
“And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.” (Repentance,
Forgiveness, and Thankfulness)
“And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:” (Self-examination)
“For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”
(Praise) (Matthew 6:9-13).
Reflecting on these six areas for our personal prayer helps us develop a balanced approach to prayer and guides us to seek God’s
purpose for our life.
The Sermon on the Mount challenges us to
change our focus from things in the world to
heavenly priorities. Indeed, before embracing
things nonbelievers feel are important to their
welfare, a Christian should examine them in
the light of the Scriptures and eternal values.
Jesus concluded His message, “And every one
that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth
them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand”
(Matthew 7:26). Jesus’ sermon was unlike any
other. Jesus impacted the world both by His
miracles and by His teaching.
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“And it came to pass, when Jesus
had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at his doctrine: for
he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew
7:28-29).
Life events constantly
change, but the truth
of God’s Word is
unchanging.
B. Parables
Jesus spoke often in parables, which gave
maximum impact to His teaching. Parables
contained elements familiar to the average
person, which enabled Jesus to communicate
spiritual truths that transform life.
Jesus’ parables are dynamic. Life events
constantly change, but the truth of God’s Word
is unchanging; and it continually offers a fresh
perspective for contemporary situations. The
content of His parables included elements related to farming, fishing, shepherding, weddings, and business practices. These areas
were familiar to His hearers then and people
today still understand them.
C. Good Shepherd
Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd. This comparison would suggest compassion and protection to those who follow
Him. Sheep were considered to be valuable
commodities, and therefore a good shepherd
would use whatever means necessary to protect his sheep. Jesus stated, “The hireling
fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth
not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd,
and know my sheep, and am known of mine”
(John 10:13-14).
D. Vine and the Branches
Jesus spoke of Himself as being the Vine
and His followers as being branches.
Branches grow naturally from the main stem,
or vine. Fruit grown on the branches require
nutrients that must travel from the vine.
Jesus stated, “If ye abide in me, and my
words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will,
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and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my
Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so
shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:7-8).
Jesus desires a continual bearing of fruit.
This passage reveals that our prayers are
blessed if we fully submit to His will.
E. Second Coming Prophecy
According to Wilmington’s Guide to the
Bible, Jesus is noted to have given at least
forty-five predictions. Some of these predictions related to His trial, execution, and
resurrection. Through these fulfilled predictions, the church can have faith in Jesus’
prophecies of His second coming.
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 quotes a portion of John 16:33.
God provided warnings that believers could
be prepared in the midst of stressful times.
Jesus stated, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome
the world” (John 16:33).
The Gospels record over eighty times that
Jesus used the term “Son of man.” Jews knew
the direct messianic reference to this term from
Daniel’s writing. “I saw in the night visions,
and, behold, one like the Son of man came with
the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient
of days, and they brought him near before him.
And there was given him dominion, and glory,
and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and
languages, should serve him: his dominion is
an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
While Jesus was on trial He said, “Ye shall
see the Son of man sitting on the right hand
of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven”
(Mark 14:62). This is the reason “the high
priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need
we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the
blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death” (Mark
14:63-64).
II. MIRACULOUS MINISTRY
A. Demonstrated Power over Death
The Scriptures record that Jesus demonstrated power over death. Each time there
were many who confirmed the actual death
and witnessed the resurrection.
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Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue whose
twelve-year-old daughter was sick. Shortly
after Jairus appealed to Jesus for help, a messenger came saying, “Thy daughter is dead;
trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard
it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe
only, and she shall be made whole” (Luke
8:49-50). When Jesus arrived, critics laughed
at Him when He said, “She is not dead, but
sleepeth” (Luke 8:52). Jesus “put them all out,
and took her by the hand, and called, saying,
Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she
arose straightway: and he commanded to give
her meat” (Luke 8:54-55).
Another occurrence of Jesus’ raising someone from the dead was the raising of Lazarus.
A message came to Jesus that Lazarus was
sick. However, instead of immediately going
to his assistance, Jesus and His disciples
waited. Lazarus died and was buried. This
provided a setting for the miraculous, for
most had no hope that Lazarus would live
again. But with Jesus Christ all things are
possible!
“Then they took away the stone
from the place where the dead was
laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and
said, Father, I thank thee that thou
hast heard me. And I knew that thou
hearest me always: but because of the
people which stand by I said it, that
they may believe that thou hast sent
me. And when he thus had spoken, he
cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come forth” (John 11:41-43).
Lazarus rose from the dead and many people were amazed.
The greatest account of resurrection in the
Gospels was of Jesus Himself. After suffering
a cruel death on a cross, Jesus was buried and
the third day He rose again. The resurrected
Jesus was seen by hundreds for over forty
days. Jesus stated, “I am the resurrection, and
the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die”
(John 11:25-26).
B. Demonstrated Power over Demons
Jesus demonstrated His power over demons
at least seven times as recorded in the Gospels.
Fear over the devil’s power was broken as
people noticed Jesus’ authority. Not only did
Jesus have this power, but He also gave this
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power to His disciples. Jesus commissioned
seventy disciples to go among the cities to
minister. Afterward, “The seventy returned
again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are
subject unto us through thy name. And he said
unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you” (Luke 10:17-19).
C. Demonstrated Power
over Nature and Need
1. Protection of Disciples. Jesus showed
Himself powerful over the elements of nature
to His disciples. Mark recorded such a story.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us pass over
unto the other side. And when they had sent
away the multitude, they took him even as he
was in the ship. And there were also with him
other little ships” (Mark 4:35-36). Jesus fell
asleep in the lower portion of the boat and
soon afterward a storm arose. The trained
fishermen realized the disastrous potential
of sinking and they woke Jesus asking if
He cared about their situation. “He saith
unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little
faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds
and the sea; and there was a great calm”
(Matthew 8:26).
If the disciples would have had faith for a
short while, perhaps the storm would have
taken them to the other side more quickly.
Still, they were amazed at the great calm in response to Jesus’ command. Jesus did care
about the welfare of His followers; however,
His greatest desire was that they have faith.
Another occurrence of Jesus’ demonstrated
power over the sea was recorded when Jesus
came walking on the water in the midst of
stormy conditions (Matthew 14:22-33). At
first the disciples thought they were seeing a
spirit. However, once they realized it was
Jesus, “Peter answered him and said, Lord, if
it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the
water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was
come down out of the ship, he walked on the
water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the
wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning
to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And
immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand,
and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of
little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And
when they were come into the ship, the wind
ceased. Then they that were in the ship came
and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou
art the Son of God” (Matthew14:28-33).
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In our storms of life, the Lord is mindful and
ever ready to bring us peace and comfort.
2. Feeding the Hungry. Jesus was concerned for the physical welfare of those who
followed Him. He was impressed by those with
spiritual hunger yet He also understood their
physical needs. Twice it is recorded He fed
multitudes miraculously. The Scriptures record
that He fed five thousand men and soon after
fed four thousand men. With the addition of
women and children, Jesus conservatively provided well over twenty-five thousand meals.
And possibly there were other similar incidents
that were not recorded.
The first miraculous feeding took place
when Jesus commanded the multitude to sit
down on the grass as He “took the five loaves,
and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven,
he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to
his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and
they took up of the fragments that remained
twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten
were about five thousand men, beside women
and children” (Matthew 14:19-21).
The second miraculous feeding took place
as Jesus “took the seven loaves and the fishes,
and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to
his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and
they took up of the broken meat that was left
seven baskets full. And they that did eat were
four thousand men, beside women and children” (Matthew 15:36-38).
In both meals Jesus’ prayer consisted of
blessing and thanking God. Consequently,
fish and bread supernaturally multiplied.
These miracles provided a parallel to God’s
provision of sustenance to Israel in the
desert. (See Exodus 16:13-15.) God provided
quails and manna to them and fish and bread
to the disciples, and He also will provide for
believers today.
3. Tax Money. Some questioned Jesus’ relationship to Caesar. Critics thought they could
snare Him into opposing the Roman government or the pious Jews who resented payments
to Rome. They asked Him, “Is it lawful for us to
give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,
Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose
image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. And he said unto
them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things
which be God’s” (Luke 20:22-25). We should
not see ourselves as exempt from the duties of
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citizenship. Jesus did not justify evading taxes
on the basis of Rome’s corrupt behavior.
Another time an individual asked Peter,
“Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith,
Yes. And when he was come into the house,
Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest
thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the
earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of
strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the
children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should
offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an
hook, and take up the fish that first cometh
up; and when thou hast opened his mouth,
thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and
give unto them for me and thee” (Matthew
17:24-27). We should not worry about our financial condition, for God will assist us with
regard to meeting our needs and also in paying our obligations to society.
4. Cursing the Fig Tree. Jesus rebuked a
tree for not producing fruit. Although He was
teaching a spiritual lesson, the disciples were
astonished to discover the tree dead the following day. “And Peter calling to remembrance
saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree
which thou cursedst is withered away. And
Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith
in God. . . . Therefore I say unto you, What
things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe
that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”
(Mark 11:21-22, 24).
Through faith in God we can overcome negative barriers in our lives. We should have faith
in God and exercise our faith through the
words we speak.
D. Demonstrated Power over Sickness
and Disease
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 states, “Jesus demonstrated His
power over sickness and disease as He ministered
to hurting individuals everywhere He went.”
Jesus demonstrated His power over sickness and disease as He ministered to hurting
individuals everywhere He went. People cried
out their needs and in spite of the crowd
reached out and touched Him.
The Gospels record numerous miracles that
occurred in Jesus’ ministry, each occurring
through one of three avenues. Most commonly,
individuals had faith in Jesus and called out to
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Him for help. A second avenue through which
miracles of healing came involved family members or friends who sought Jesus on behalf of
the one in need. Third, Jesus sometimes addressed the need of a person first, calling that
individual to a place of faith and healing.
Through faith in God we
can overcome negative
barriers in our lives.
There are many examples of people who
demonstrated faith when they came to Jesus
for healing—a woman with an issue of blood,
Bartimaus who was blind, and ten lepers.
These examples and many others remind us of
the letter to the Hebrews: “But without faith it
is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is
a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”
(Hebrews 11:6).
Another path through which healing took
place involved friends and family members of
the one who was sick. For example, a group
of men “brought to him a man sick of the
palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their
faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of
good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee”
(Matthew 9:2). Jesus is moved both by the
faith of the one needing a miracle and also by
caring friends who bring the need to Him.
Other examples include a centurion who asked
help for a servant and a woman from Canaan
who asked for the healing of her daughter.
Finally, Jesus demonstrated care for others
by approaching them Himself.
“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a
man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying,
Master, who did sin, this man, or his
parents, that he was born blind? . . .
He spat on the ground, and made
clay of the spittle, and he anointed
the eyes of the blind man with the
clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in
the pool of Siloam, . . . He went his
way therefore, and washed, and
came seeing” (John 9:1-2, 6-7).
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III. MINISTRY AND MIRACLES
CONTINUE
John concluded his gospel by saying, “There
are also many other things which Jesus did,
the which, if they should be written every one,
I suppose that even the world itself could not
contain the books that should be written”
(John 21:25). This statement is not only true
for the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, but
also for the early church. The Book of Acts
records innumerable continuing signs and
wonders by the power of Jesus Christ, which
operated through His church.
One may be astonished to read of the many
miracles performed by Jesus Christ, but we
also should remember His promise to those
who follow Him: “Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do; because I go unto my Father”
(John 14:12). The Book of Acts shows numerous miracles the apostles and followers of
Christ performed.
“Jesus Christ the same
yesterday, and to
day, and for ever”
(Hebrews 13:8).
Some have observed that Luke did not write
an official ending to the Book of Acts, implying that the acts of the Holy Spirit are to continue to be realized in the church today. Some
branches of Christianity tend to ignore the
possibility of the miraculous occurring today;
however, many can attest to the continuing
miraculous work of the Spirit in the church.
Today’s church can continue to see God’s
mighty power demonstrated through His supernatural power.
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Internalizing the Message
Jesus’ main ministry was to redeem mankind
from sin, thereby making salvation possible to
those who are converted. Jesus demonstrated
His lordship over every area of life. He showed
authority over disease, demons, and death. He
was able to control all elements of both the natural and the supernatural.
Jesus’ ministry showed a complete concern
over one’s mind, body, and soul. His miracles
showed He was an enabler of vision, hearing,
speech, and mobility. A person who encountered Jesus was never the same again. Jesus’
assistance to others was performed out of
compassion. He never performed a miracle
out of selfish gain.
If we are impressed by His miraculous
works, then surely we should trust in His
Word. Every day we face distractions that
would lead us away from God’s teaching. It is
therefore essential that we discipline ourselves
to focus on God’s Word. From the Bible we
understand that God’s people are destined
with purpose. We should not fear the tasks before us, for Jesus is not limited by our weakness. Jesus Christ is the “same yesterday, and
to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Jesus desires us to have confidence His
teaching is meaningful today. Miracles are still
happening. Lives are still being changed!
Jesus tells us, “I am he that liveth, and was
dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”
(Revelation 1:18).
REFLECTIONS
• Discuss how living according to Jesus’
teachings could affect our decisions.
• After examining His ministry in the
Gospels, in what areas of our lives can we
trust Jesus today? Discuss.
• Do miracles today assure that people will
follow Christ? Discuss.
• What assurance do we have that miracles
and healings continue in this present
time? Discuss.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
Arrest, Crucifixion, and
Resurrection of Christ
5
week of
12.29.13
Lesson Text
Luke 22:48
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of
man with a kiss?
Mark 15:24-27
24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written
over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his
right hand, and the other on his left.
Matthew 28:1-6
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the
first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of
the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back
the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white
as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as
dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear
not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the
place where the Lord lay.
Focus Thought
The high price of
our redemption
was paid by the
sinless sacrifice of
the Son of God. Our
hope of eternal life
is anchored in His
resurrection from
the dead.
Focus Verses
I Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I
also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; and that he was
buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
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Culture Connection
The Imperative Center
by Gary D. Erickson
O
Our sun is at the center of our solar system. All the planets not only revolve around it but depend upon its energy,
magnetic pull, light, and heat. Without the sun the earth would be a wandering orb drifting listlessly through
space—without light, life, course, or a seasonal pattern. The sun is imperative for balance and consistency in our
part of the universe.
Just as the sun is central to our physical existence, the arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is
central to our faith. People of the Old Testament looked forward to the Messiah’s coming, and we look back to it
as the epoch of all epochs. It is the fulcrum of redemption—the greatest story ever told. Jesus is the central event
of history. Our Gregorian calendar marks the importance of Jesus’ redemptive work. Even the atheist has to
acknowledge the historical tool of AD and BC. Jesus’ redemptive work dichotomized time!
Paul stated the importance of Jesus Christ and His salvific work with these words: “For if the dead rise not,
then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also
which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished” (I Corinthians 15:16-18).
I. THE ARREST
II. THE CRUCIFIXION
A. The Mockery of Justice
B. The Mockery of Christ
C. The Crucifixion of Christ
III. THE RESURRECTION
A. The Third Day
B. The Forty Days
C. The Victorious Day
Contemplating the Topic
It is comforting for believers of every generation to study and rejoice in the victorious
stories of Jesus Christ’s ministry on earth. We
read of His healings of the lame, His ministry
to those who were destitute, and His raising of
the dead to life again. In all of these miracles
we thrill and receive inspiration and comfort
for our lives today.
On the other hand, it is much more difficult
for us to find comfort in the story of Christ’s
arrest in the garden, multiple illegal trials and
mocking, and ultimate crucifixion. We recognize He endured all these sufferings for our redemption, but reading of and contemplating
the pain He suffered is hurtful to us as people
who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Still, there is
cause for rejoicing even in His sufferings for
we know they purchased our salvation.
We also can rejoice in the resurrection of
Jesus Christ! Our Savior is not dead; He is no
longer in the tomb. Rather, He lives for all
32
eternity, and He ever intercedes for those who
place their faith and confidence in His plan for
their lives.
Searching the Scriptures
I. THE ARREST
Jesus informed His disciples of His approaching ordeal and death near the end of
His earthly life. The disciples should have
been fortified with encouragement that their
teacher would rise from the dead. They witnessed Jesus healing the sick and raising the
dead. Yet they seemed unable to grasp Jesus’
dying and being raised after death. They resisted this specific teaching of Jesus even at
what is known as the Last Supper.
Jesus ate a Passover meal and gave instructions to His disciples. They sang together and noticed Judas Iscariot leaving the
group early. It is interesting that Christ did
not explicitly reveal to them that He would be
arrested that very night. Jesus could have
specifically told them of the events that
would unfold that night and over the days to
follow, but He did not do so. Clearly, Jesus
Christ desires His followers to exhibit their
faith in Him regardless of circumstances that
may come to them.
After their meal the disciples followed Jesus
to the Mount of Olives into the Garden of
Gethsemane, which means “oil press.” At this
location one could see the silhouette of the
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city of Jerusalem. Jesus instructed everyone
to pray and then He asked John, Peter, and
James to accompany Him as He went a little
farther and began to pray. Jesus apparently
recognized the encouragement of others who
join us in prayer; however, His followers chose
to sleep instead of pray.
As Jesus prayed intensely, an angel appeared and strengthened Him. He continued
to pray with great intensity until His sweat became as great drops of blood. (See Luke
22:43-45.) Physicians have observed the possibility of this rare condition, and it even has a
medical name: hematidrosis, which is “the
excretion of blood or blood pigment in the
sweat. Also called hemidrosis” (The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary). This is
a condition that can present during times of
enormous stress and pain, especially when
one is facing death.
A major consequence of the disciples failing to pray was the great fear they suffered
over the next several days. This fear began
with the approaching torches of the multitude
that took Jesus into custody. They observed a
mass of people including Temple soldiers,
chief priests, Temple captains, Pharisees, elders, servants, and Judas. (See Luke 22:50-52;
John 18:3.)
When the mob demanded Jesus of Nazareth,
Christ replied, “I am he.” The opposing group
fell backward to the ground as if forced back
by the very power of His words. The mob
quickly regained their posture and Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss, giving a positive identification of Him. In Jewish culture this was
not an uncommon greeting among men who
were friends.
Judas’s betrayal provided secrecy and efficiency in apprehending Christ. The Jewish
leaders knew Jesus was considered the Messiah by many. They feared Jesus’ followers
would revolt if He were taken in public. When
Peter realized they would apprehend Jesus,
he lunged at Malchus with a sword. Peter
missed Malchus’ head, yet succeeded in cutting off his ear. Surprisingly to some, Jesus
healed Malchus. (See Luke 22:50-51.) Not
only did Malchus, the servant of the high
priest, receive a miracle, but the quick action
of Jesus assured that Peter would not be tried
for a criminal act.
Jesus responded to the crowd, “When I was
daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth
no hands against me: but this is your hour, and
the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). The
Jewish Temple soldiers bound Jesus with
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either ropes or chains and led Him away. The
disciples, embarrassed and fearful, ran from
the soldiers as they took Him away into the
city gates of Jerusalem to the house of Annas,
the former Jewish high priest.
II. THE CRUCIFIXION
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 lists six trials or examinations
Jesus endured.
A. The Mockery of Justice
1. At the Home of Annas (John 18:12-23).
Before Jesus’ crucifixion He went through a
series of six trials or examinations. Three were
hearings before Jewish leaders where Jesus
was mocked, and three trials were conducted
by Roman officials.
The first trial or examination was held in the
home of Annas. Having served as high priest
for a number of years, Annas was a leader who
probably knew of the events surrounding a figure such as Jesus. Like the other religious
leaders, Annas knew of Jesus’ reported healings and miracles.
To encourage the Sanhedrin council to vote
against Jesus, He first had to be taken before
the high priests. Annas was the most prestigious Jewish leader. It is believed he was officially retired; however, he was still respected
by the people.
At this trial the disciples John and Peter
emerged after initially running at the arrest of
Jesus in Gethsemane. John entered into the
judgment room of Annas’s home first, and
later he brought in Peter, who had waited outside. During his time of waiting outside, Peter
denied Jesus the first time when accused of
being one of Christ’s followers. He continued
to warm himself by the fire until John invited
him into the inner proceedings.
Annas questioned Jesus of His doctrine and
Jesus replied that He had no hidden doctrine;
He had openly taught before all, even the Jewish rulers. In anger an officer hit Jesus because of His answer.
2. At the Palace of Caiaphas (Matthew
26:57, 59-68; Mark 14:53, 55-65; Luke
22:54, 63-65; John 18:24). Because Jesus
spoke of His open doctrine before Annas, false
witnesses were secured to speak against
Jesus. However, they gave conflicting statements and Jesus did not respond, angering Caiaphas further. (See Mark 14:59.)
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Caiaphas was the high priest and had limited oversight of the Jewish nation, and he
probably desired for Jesus’ trial to be quick
and efficient. It was no secret Caiaphas
wanted Jesus dead; however, he clearly was
fearful of a rebellion against the Roman Empire, thereby causing the Romans to deal
harshly with the Jews. He stated, “One man
should die for the people, and that the whole
nation perish not” (John 11:49-50).
Present inside the palace were a number of
religious leaders and officers. In the process
of this trial Peter denied Jesus two more times,
and then he heard the rooster crow. Remembering the prophecy of Jesus concerning his
denial of the Lord, he ran from the scene,
weeping bitterly.
“Art thou the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye
shall see the Son of man sitting on the
right hand of power, and coming in the
clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-62).
Outraged, Caiaphas rent his outer clothes.
Despite the fact this was an illegal proceeding
conducted in the night, one could reasonably
presume Caiaphas was dressed in his priestly
garments due to the seriousness of the official
occasion. Consequently, we could conclude
Caiaphas wore at least portions of the required priestly robe during the course of conducting this examination. Later in the day he
would be seen by multitudes sacrificing the
annual lamb for the atonement of the nation.
On this day, however, he, along with Annas, his
father-in-law, would make history as the high
priest who condemned Jesus to death. Still,
none of them would recognize they were fulfilling prophecy of John the Baptist when he
declared Jesus Christ to be the Lamb of God
who would take away the sins of the world.
In full dress a high priest wore eight garments. Specifically, Leviticus 21:10 forbade a
high priest to rend, or tear his clothes. However, those who witnessed Caiaphas’s action
evidently overlooked it due to what they perceived as Jesus’ act of blasphemy.
3. Before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1;
Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71). Accused of
blasphemy, they conveyed Jesus to an emergency meeting of the Sanhedrin as dawn was
breaking. This was the third brief examination of Christ through the night and early
morning hours. The Sanhedrin asked Him if
He was the Christ.
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“If I tell you, ye will not believe:
And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter
shall the Son of man sit on the right
hand of the power of God. Then said
they all, Art thou then the Son of God?
And he said unto them, Ye say that I
am” (Luke 22:67-70).
On the basis of Jesus’ answer, the majority
of the rulers decided to send Jesus to Pilate to
be executed.
4. At the Hall of Pilate (Matthew 27:2, 1114; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5). Pilate was
the legal appointee of Rome to Jerusalem.
When the priests approached him with accusations against Jesus, he sensed manipulation.
He had no evidence of Jesus being aggressive
toward Rome; however, it was necessary for
him to examine their claims of Jesus implying
He was a self-appointed king.
“And Pilate asked him, saying, Art
thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
Then said Pilate to the chief priests
and to the people, I find no fault in
this man” (Luke 23:3-4).
Realizing Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate remembered that Herod was present in
Jerusalem and that he presided over that region. He saw it as opportunity to rid himself of
the inconvenience of dealing with Jesus and
the uprising of the Jewish religious hierarchy.
Consequently, He sent Jesus to what would be
His fifth examination of the day.
5. At the Jerusalem Home of Herod (Luke
23:6-12). Herod was glad to see Jesus because he had heard many fantastic reports of
miracles. He knew John the Baptist promoted
Jesus. Herod asked Jesus many questions,
“but he answered him nothing. And the chief
priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set
him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed
him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to
Pilate” (Luke 23:9-11). Herod also recognized
the manipulation of the chief priests and
scribes. He had no interest in being used by
Caiaphas to conduct the “dirty work” of the religious leaders. After mocking Jesus, He sent
Jesus back to Pilate. Herod obviously did not
believe Jesus was the Messiah. Through mocking Jesus and putting a robe on Him, he surely
outraged the high priest and Jewish leaders
who wanted a speedy execution.
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6. Return to the Hall of Pilate (Matthew
27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25;
John 18:39-19:1, 4-16). With Jesus standing
before him for the second time, Pilate faced a
difficult decision. What would he do with this
One called the Christ? It is a question we all
face at some point in life. He eventually asked
the people essentially the same question: “What
will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye
call the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:12).
Considering all possible angles in avoiding
Jesus’ death, Pilate remembered the tradition
of releasing one prisoner at the time of the
Jewish Passover festival. Thinking it would
provide him with an escape from this unseemly situation, he told the Jewish leaders, “I
will therefore chastise him, and release him.
(For of necessity he must release one unto
them at the feast.)” (Luke 23:16-17). However,
rather than accepting Jesus for release, they
called for the release of Barabbas, a violent
and murderous criminal. Their action must
have shocked Pilate. (See Mark 15:11.)
Pilate then asked them what they would
have him to do with Jesus. “And they cried out
again, Crucify him” (Mark 15:13).
Jesus was presented to them as a bloodied
and beaten man, fulfilling certain messianic
prophecies. Isaiah prophesied that many
would be astonished at the Messiah, and that
“his visage was so marred more than any man,
and his form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14). Isaiah also predicted, “There is no
beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it
were our faces from him; he was despised, and
we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:2-3).
B. The Mockery of Christ
During the illegal trials, the leaders mocked
Jesus for His claims of being the Son of God.
He was falsely accused by witnesses, but their
stories conflicted and lacked veracity. In His
trials, critics could not dispute His genealogy
fulfillment, miracles, or outstanding teaching
and knowledge of Scripture. He was taunted
for claims that would have revealed Him to be
the Messiah.
Why would so many people mock Him?
Clearly, there was much confusion and lack
of understanding the nature, role, and characteristics of their anticipated Messiah. Perhaps this is the same reason many reject
Jesus Christ today; they fail to recognize
Jesus’ mission and intentions for their lives
as individuals.
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Before Christ was officially destined for capital punishment, He was beaten repeatedly—
often while blindfolded—spat upon, and
pierced with a mock crown of thorns on His
forehead. He was whipped by Roman soldiers
until significantly bloodied and weakened
physically. While Jewish custom was to stop
beating after thirty-nine stripes, the Romans
had no such custom. Pilate’s intention was to
revealed a wounded, bloodied man to the mass
of people whom he expected to release, instead of Barabbas. Surely there would be compassion on such a pure-hearted man and they
would instead choose to punish a violent murderer, but Pilate greatly misjudged their animus for Jesus.
The Romans had negative biases against
Jews for many reasons including their arrogance. When Jesus was sent before the soldiers for scourging and crucifixion, they knew
He was a Jew and probably vented their anger
and hatred for Jews against Him.
C. The Crucifixion of Christ
1. Six hours. The executors forced Jesus to
carry His own cross through the city streets
of Jerusalem. In agony from the beating He
had sustained, Jesus was humiliated and vilified by the hundreds of onlookers. Because of
Jesus’ failed strength, the procession to Golgotha took longer than the Romans expected.
After Jesus had collapsed beneath the weight
of His burden, they forced Simon of Cyrene to
bear His cross and quicken the procession.
At the site of crucifixion, the soldiers parted
four of Jesus’ garments and gambled for the
inner seamless garment. Jesus’ hands and feet
were nailed to the cross. As the cross was
lifted upward, it was positioned into the earth.
The sudden jarring downward pulled Jesus’
ligaments even further. The pain was intense
as ligaments, muscles, and bones tore and
pulled against each other.
For six hours Jesus slowly died. Breathing
would have been difficult; however, we have
seven recorded sayings of Jesus in His tortured condition.
• To the crowd: “Father forgive them; for
they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
• To the repentant thief: “Verily, I say unto
thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise”
(Luke 23:43).
• To Mary and John: “Woman, behold thy
son! . . . Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27).
• A prayer to God: “My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46;
Mark 15:34).
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• To Himself: “I thirst” (John 19:28).
• To all of humanity: “It is finished” (John
19:30).
• A prayer to God: “Father, into thy hands I
commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Jesus showed through His agony His concerns for mercy to His mockers, for salvation
of the repentant thief, and for the care of His
anguished mother. Jesus prayed for His emotional turmoil, yet He remained in ultimate
submission to the Almighty. Jesus declared to
all that His work for mankind’s redemption
was finished. It is ironic that the first recorded
words in Jesus’ young life were to His family:
“Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49, NKJV). His business was finished in redeeming humanity from
sin. Soon His resurrection would be further
proof of the completion of the atonement He
had provided.
2. People. Various groups of people were
present at the Crucifixion. Multitudes of people passed by on their way to and from
Jerusalem—Roman soldiers, religious leaders,
followers, family, and the two thieves who
were crucified alongside Him. Each group was
affected differently. Many mocked, while followers were overwhelmed with grief. The soldiers were possibly more stressed than they
had experienced in other executions due to the
special circumstances surrounding it. Perhaps
the religious leaders did not remain the entire
six hours, for the Passover meal was to be prepared and eaten this day. It is suggested by
some that the very hour Jesus died was the
hour the high priest made the sacrifice of a
pure lamb for the Jews.
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 says, “Truly, Jesus Christ was the
Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of all
mankind.”
Truly, Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God
sacrificed for the sins of all humankind.
III. THE RESURRECTION
A. The Third Day
The women desired to fulfill the ritual custom of applying spices and ointment to the
deceased body of Jesus. The ointment they
would use probably was costly. It is interesting the women approached the tomb by
themselves while the Twelve minus Judas
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coped with their disappointment behind
closed doors.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 quotes Matthew 28:6 and a portion of Matthew 28:7.
The women were concerned about how they
would get the stone door moved, but they discovered Jesus’ tomb open, guarded not by
Roman soldiers but by angels. Overwhelmed
by emotion, they were told Jesus indeed had
risen from the dead, and they should spread
the good news to all the disciples.
At first the news of Jesus’ resurrection was
unbelievable to the disciples. However, the
men desired to see for themselves. Peter and
John were the first to reach the tomb and discover it to be empty.
The resurrection day
began with great
sadness among Jesus’
followers; however, their
gloom was destined to
turn into gladness.
B. The Forty Days
The resurrection day began with great sadness among Jesus’ followers; however, their
gloom was destined to turn into gladness.
After the women discovered the empty tomb
and the message of Jesus’ resurrection, their
hearts and the hearts of all believers began to
turn toward hope and joy for their futures.
Over the next forty days Jesus appeared numerous times to His followers. He instructed
His disciples to travel to Galilee and He would
meet them there. For several days He ministered in Galilee before traveling back with His
disciples on the road to Jerusalem.
At Galilee, Jesus’ instructions to Peter and
John were given during a breakfast of fish
cooked over an open fire. Sometime afterward, Jesus commissioned His disciples as
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recorded in Matthew 28. (See also Mark 16;
Luke 24; Acts 1.)
Paul recorded that Jesus’ resurrection was
observed by many people including over five
hundred followers at one time. Paul’s claim of
meeting Christ in a heavenly vision was further witness of the Lord’s resurrection power.
(See I Corinthians 15:5-8.)
The beginning of the Book of Acts records
the ascension of Jesus Christ in bodily form.
This event was complemented by angels who
told the disciples that Jesus Christ would return to the earth one day in like manner.
C. The Victorious Day
In summary, Jesus’ sacrifice for humanity
made a doorway for salvation possible. We
have hope for eternal life because Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave.
“But if the Spirit of him that raised
up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
he that raised up Christ from the
dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in
you” (Romans 8:11).
Internalizing the Message
Compared to details in other events of the
Bible, the fact of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection are given in extensive details. At the
very least, modern scholars have valued the
gospel accounts for their historical detail. The
question that remains for all individuals, how-
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ever, does not involve the multitude of details
concerning Christ’s death. Rather, the question is whether they are willing to embrace
Jesus’ sacrificial death for their sins.
The signs of Jesus’ identity as the Son of
God were many; however, many people chose
to ignore those signs. We also must consider
whether we are willing to accept those evidences of His deity.
Further, as we look at our modern culture,
we need to consider whether we are willing
to observe and accept the signs in our world
of the approaching end times. Many failed to
recognize and embrace the signs of Christ’s
first coming as Messiah; are we willing today
to prepare ourselves to accept the signs of
the nearing of His second coming?
REFLECTIONS
• Jesus did not reveal to the disciples the
specific details of His approaching arrest,
trials, and crucifixion. How would we
react to future trials if we knew exactly
what we would face? Discuss.
• Whose sins were responsible for Jesus’
death? Discuss.
• Many Jews did not receive Jesus as their
Messiah because He did not fit the anticipated profile of the One they expected.
Are people today guilty of not receiving
Christ for similar reasons? Discuss.
• Jesus’ first coming fulfilled prophecy, but
many ignored the signs of His identity. Are
we possibly guilty of ignoring the signs of
Jesus’ second coming? Discuss.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
6
week of
01.05.14
Calling
of the Disciples
Lesson Text
Focus Thought
Jesus called twelve
men to be the
founding pillars of
the New Testament
church.
Matthew 4:18-22
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two
brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you
fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren,
James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship
with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he
called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and
followed him.
Mark 3:14-19
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him,
and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out
devils:
16 And Simon he surnamed Peter;
17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of
James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The
sons of thunder:
18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,
and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they
went into an house.
Focus Verse
Matthew 4:19
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will
make you fishers of men.
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Culture Connection
The Only Way to Be a Christian
by Gary D. Erickson
M
Most religions of the world have spiritual leaders and holy men who are revered and acclaimed. But no religion
puts as much value on the founder and leader of that religion as does Christianity. Jesus Christ is God! He is not
only to be followed but to be worshiped! Adherence to Christianity is not just adopting a philosophy, but it is
relating intimately to a person—Jesus Christ. Developing a relationship with Jesus, communicating with Jesus,
obeying Jesus, and fellowshiping with Jesus are all key elements of the Christian faith.
Jesus displayed these principles when He chose twelve men to be His disciples. They were not committee
members or members of an exclusive club; they were disciples. They lived with Jesus on a daily basis. They were
a perpetual audience to His teaching and compassionate acts of kindness. Their lives were put on hold as they
traveled with Jesus and subjected themselves to His constant monitoring and evaluation. He answered their
questions, showed them how to live their lives in a new way, and proclaimed the kingdom of God.
As Apostolic Pentecostal believers, we are to commit ourselves to discipleship. This requires not just a
commitment to a church, doctrine, or philosophy of life, but a committed relationship with Jesus. This is more
important than a supernatural experience. It is more important than a favorite doctrine. Discipleship is the only
way to be a Christian!
I. THE CALL
A. The Appeal
B. The Command
C. The Promise
D. The Passion
II. THE CHOICE
A. The Preparation
B. The People
C. The Purpose
III. THE CHALLENGE
A. The Mission
B. The Message
Contemplating the Topic
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 states, “Christ still seeks individuals willing to follow Him and focus on His
kingdom.”
Just like He did with His first disciples
nearly two thousand years ago, the Lord continues today to call people into service for the
kingdom of God. As He reached down into the
everyday lives of twelve rather ordinary men
from ancient Israel and summoned them to
follow Him unconditionally, His calling still
seeks out those who are willing to lay down
their worldly pursuits and ambitions and focus
on Kingdom matters.
By examining the biblical accounts of the
calling of the original twelve apostles, we can
better understand the nature of God’s calling
in our own lives. As we shall see, the Lord is
searching for those who are open to whatever
assignments He desires for them to carry out.
He expects nothing less than full surrender to
His plans and purposes. In the words of David
Garland, responding to God’s calling “requires
a total reordering of priorities in life and unreserved commitment to Jesus” (Reading
Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel). While heeding
His call demands sacrifice and may seem at
times like a path filled with risk and uncertainty, the good news is that those who choose
to follow the Lord ultimately will be fulfilled,
fruitful, and secure in Him!
We begin our study by looking at the period of time following the baptism of Jesus,
which signaled the conclusion of John the
Baptist’s ministry. John captured the essence
of a sold-out form of discipleship intent on
denying self and glorying the Lord when he
proclaimed, “He must increase, but I must
decrease” (John 3:30). From this point in the
gospel narrative, Jesus’ followers laid down
their personal agendas and began to follow
the Christ.
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Searching the Scriptures
I. THE CALL
To ensure that we come to grips with the urgency and all-encompassing character of the
disciples’ calling, we must consider these
gospel accounts in some detail. Given the allure of today’s world with its constant appeal
to compromise the Lord’s values and to tone
down our commitment to His mission, it is imperative that we comprehend the true nature
of Jesus’ calling of His first disciples.
In this portion of the lesson, we will focus
on Jesus’ brief but life-changing encounter
with two sets of brothers whom He found plying their fishing trade at the Sea of Galilee.
This episode is surely representative of similar
callings to serve Jesus. From such meager, inauspicious beginnings, these fishermen would
join others summoned by the Master’s call,
and together they would turn “the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
A. The Appeal
The terse account of the Galilean fishermen’s calling is narrated in Matthew 4:18-22
and Mark 3:14-19, with additional information
provided by Luke 5:1-10. The account shares
many fascinating features with certain Old
Testament calling narratives, including the
calling of Elisha by Elijah in I Kings 19:19-21.
The brevity of the story highlighted the remarkable intensity and pointed nature of the
calling and response. The two sets of brothers
were business partners (Luke 5:7, 10). The
first crew (Simon and Andrew) Jesus came
across was in the act of fishing by “casting a
net into the sea” (Matthew 4:18), and the second was getting ready to fish by “mending
their nets” (Matthew 4:21).
Jesus’ radical appeal left no need for clarification or room for negotiation: “Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew
4:19). Normally, potential candidates seeking
an apprenticeship under a rabbi would shop
around and choose their preferred teacher
under whom they would study. However, as
W. D. Davies and Dale C. Allison note in their
book Matthew: A Shorter Commentary,
“The initiative lies with the master. He is
choosing them, not they him.”
Jesus’ imperative to those men that day was
not to enroll in a particular rabbinical school
or to study a certain brand of Jewish philosophy, but to follow Him. He was not interested
in lukewarm commitments or in entertaining
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objections or excuses, as some would-be followers would later discover (Matthew 8:1822). Unlike the Elisha-calling episode (I Kings
19:20-21), the urgency of Kingdom work apparently did not permit even the expected
farewells or finishing up of important family
matters (Matthew 8:21-22).
1. Related to Them by Identifying Them
by Name. Jesus’ call was personal. He did not
set up a recruiting table at an important road
junction in Galilee and wait for candidates to
come and sign up. His followers were not volunteering to join a military unit. They were not
issued a standard uniform, weapon, and ID
number. Rather, Jesus sought out particular individuals for a special task and knew them all
by name. In one case, Jesus even gave a disciple a new and fitting nickname (John 1:42).
2. Related to Them by Identifying with
Their Business. Raised not far from the Sea
of Galilee, Jesus likely would have been acquainted with some of the ways of ancient
fishing. At least once Jesus evidently engaged in fishing Himself (John 21:9). Jesus
chose to meet with the fishing partners in
their environment—on their turf. He met
them where they were by showing up at their
place of employment.
B. The Command
Jesus’ command was direct and simple:
“Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). There were no
orientations, consultations, or seminars they
were expected to attend. There were no instruction manuals, briefings, or boot camps to
help prepare them for the rigors of the road.
Instead, they would receive on-the-job training! Their straightforward task was simply to
follow Jesus wherever He went.
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 shows a quote by Francis Moloney.
1. The Submission. One of the keys to properly responding to Jesus’ calling was submission. To follow Jesus required complete and
total obedience. If we are to heed Jesus’ call, it
will take no less than our full surrender to His
will and direction. As Francis Moloney has observed, “There is no place for a conditioned response. It will cost no less than everything”
(The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary).
2. The Separation. Jesus was an itinerant
preacher who had purposely left home to
begin His ministry and at times had no certain
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place even to “lay his head” (Matthew 8:20).
His followers would be expected to do no less.
Although the disciples’ ties with family and vocation were naturally strong, such bonds of
loyalty could not stand in the way of their commitment to His cause.
One potential follower who requested that
he first be permitted to “bid [his family back
home] farewell” was told by Jesus, “No man,
having put his hand to the plough, and looking
back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke
9:61-62). This is a clear reference to the Old
Testament prophet Elisha, who asked Elijah if
he could return from plowing in the field to
“kiss my father and my mother, and then I will
follow thee” (I Kings 19:20). Service to the
kingdom under the New Covenant, however,
could not wait!
As Grant Osborne fittingly points out in his
Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on
Matthew, the Lord calls us to “radical discipleship,” for “Jesus has absolute priority over
occupation and family.” While God does not
expect all Christians to abandon their homes,
family, jobs, and responsibilities as the apostles did to follow Him, we must be willing if
need be to sever relationships and affairs in
this world that would hinder us from fully following His lead. God also expects us to use
godly wisdom, reason, and principles in all
our decisions.
Peter confessed that the disciples had “left
all, and have followed thee.” According to
Jesus, what had they forsaken in the process?
“House, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
sake, and the gospel’s” (Mark 10:28-29). Now
that’s radical discipleship!
C. The Promise
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James,
and John at the Sea of Galilee, there was no
discussion of salary, vacation time, or retirement plans. He did, however, present them
with an amazing promise: If they followed
Him, He would “make [them] fishers of men”
(Matthew 4:19). They were clearly being
asked to make a radical commitment. In turn,
Jesus would radically transform their present
occupation into one that held eternal spiritual
consequences!
1. I Will Make You. The first part of Jesus’
promise (“I will make you . . .”) made it clear
that He alone would empower the disciples to
undertake this new vocation. A student could
not major in “The Science of Fishing for Men”
at the local rabbinic school. It was not a sub-
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ject that could be taught in a traditional way.
Rather, through their close association with
the Lord and the leading of the Spirit, Jesus’
followers would be enabled to effectively carry
out this ministry.
2. Fishers of Men. In a unique twist on their
former occupation, the graduates of Jesus’
“degree program” would no longer fish for
fish, but now they would fish for men! As
David Garland remarks in his Reading
Matthew: A Literary and Theological Commentary on the First Gospel, Jesus “does not
call [His disciples] to be His apprentices in the
intellectual probing of Torah or to rehearse
venerable religious traditions. He calls fishermen to a new kind of fishing: they are ‘to fish
for people.’” In their former jobs, these men
fished for a necessary staple of life—food. In
the process, the fish lost their lives to provide
sustenance to people. As fishers of men, however, they would now skillfully catch and rescue people who were facing eternal judgment
for their sins. As Osborne notes in his commentary on Matthew, “Fishing kills, while
Jesus’ new fishing brings life!”
D. The Passion
Given the gravity of the decision they faced
that day, the four fishermen did not flinch. It
was a choice they arrived at not in a cold, calculating way (though they had certainly considered the cost; see Luke 14:28-33), but from
deep within their hearts. With passion they eagerly left life-as-it-had-been in favor of pursuing the Messiah who now beckoned them.
1. Straightway. According to Matthew’s
account, Simon and Andrew wasted no time,
for they “straightway left their nets, and
followed him” (4:20). Likewise, James and
John “immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (4:22). The terms
“straightway” and “immediately” (translated
from the same Greek word eutheos in both
verses 20 and 22) emphasize the immediacy
of the disciples’ response. There was no hesitancy or vacillating!
2. They Left Fishing, Family, Friends.
The radical decision those men made that day
to forsake all reflected no small matter. Their
lives would forever be altered. R. T. France, in
his Tyndale commentary on Matthew, highlights the extreme detour they had chosen to
embark upon: “It would bring a complete disruption of their normal way of life.” Craig
Keener underscores the potentially shameful
consequences one could face when relinquishing established social relationships and
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standing within that culture: “Such abandonment could easily bring them dishonor in the
community” (The IVP Bible Background
Commentary: New Testament).
Jesus, on the other hand, taught that rearranging one’s priorities and unencumbering
oneself from any spiritually unhealthy relationships were absolutely essential in order to
fully serve Him: “If any man come to me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and
his own life also, he cannot be my disciple”
(Luke 14:26). Stated more succinctly, if a person has failed to leave behind “all that he
hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
While this degree of dedication may seem unattainable, we thankfully can look to the inspiring role model of Jesus Himself, “who for
the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down
at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2), as well as the “great . . . cloud of
witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) who have faithfully preceded us.
II. THE CHOICE
We have so far examined the account of the
four Galilean fishermen, which represents the
general pattern of the call to discipleship and
its proper response. Mark 3:13-19 (and the
parallel passages of Matthew 10:1-4 and Luke
6:12-16) narrates Jesus’ selection, commissioning, and mission of the disciples, who
served as the founding pillars of the New Testament church.
A. The Preparation
Jesus did not carry out His selection of individuals to form His group of close disciples
randomly or casually. In fact, Luke 6:12
records that prior to identifying His core disciples, “he went out into a mountain to pray,
and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Jesus sought divine guidance before making
the critical decision to choose His band of
twelve. As the primary catalysts to carry the
gospel message to the world, these men—
whose names would ultimately be etched into
the foundations of the wall of the New
Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14)—held a vital responsibility and consequently had to be
picked wisely.
B. The People
1. The Number. Significantly, Jesus chose
twelve individuals to serve as the leaders or
frontrunners in fulfilling His mission. The
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gospel texts do not explain why He picked
twelve, but the number may have been meant
to correlate in a symbolic way with the twelve
tribes of Israel. As Larry Hurtado explains,
“the choice of twelve . . . is intended to portray Jesus as the founder of a reconstituted Israel; thus, Jesus and the Twelve are
distinguished as more than simply another
rabbi and his followers” (Mark, New International Biblical Commentary).
2. The Names of the Selected. Not surprisingly, in Mark’s account the chief spokesman,
Peter, headed the list followed by his brother
Andrew and the sons of Zebedee, James and
John (Mark 3:16-18). After enumerating seven
more names (Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite; Mark 3:18),
Judas Iscariot, “which also betrayed him,” concludes the list (Mark 3:19).
Incidentally, some minor discrepancies, including a few of the names and their order,
exist between the various lists of the twelve in
the different gospel accounts. Given that people in the ancient world were sometimes
known by more than one name, however,
these variations can easily be explained by instances where a particular individual was identified by more than one name. Thus, for
example, “Lebbaeus, whose surname was
Thaddaeus” (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18) is
probably the same person as “Judas the
brother of James” (Luke 6:16; see also Acts
1:13; John 14:22).
C. The Purpose
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 indicates that the purpose of discipleship is to be with Christ and to be ambassadors for Christ.
1. Be with Christ. The Twelve were appointed with specific objectives in mind. The
first objective was stated in Mark 3:14: “And
he ordained twelve, that they should be with
him.” As the New Bible Commentary: 21st
Century Edition aptly remarks, “Before they
would be ready to preach the good news they
had to spend time with Jesus and learn to pattern their lives on Him. If we do not follow
their example, our preaching will be like loudspeakers blaring meaningless propaganda.”
Moloney adds that “all disciples will succeed
or fail insofar as they are or are not ‘with
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Jesus’” (The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary). In short, the disciples had to first be
with Him in order to later proclaim Him.
2. Be Ambassadors for Christ. The second
stated objective is that the Twelve were to
serve as Christ’s commissioned ambassadors:
“And he ordained twelve . . . that he might send
them forth to preach, and to have power to
heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils” (Mark
3:14-15). The selection of these men reflected
the beginning of the solution to Jesus’ statement of the dilemma, expressed directly before He commissioned the twelve (Matthew
10:1-5), that there were not sufficient evangelistic workers in proportion to size of the
harvest. “Then saith he unto his disciples, The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers
are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his
harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38).
The role of ambassador included three chief
elements: (1) to preach, as well as demonstrate authority, (2) to heal, and (3) to cast out
devils (Mark 3:14-15). These three functions
are evident throughout the Gospels and Acts
as the disciples carried out their ministry. “And
they went out, and preached that men should
repent. And they cast out many devils, and
anointed with oil many that were sick, and
healed them” (Mark 6:12-13). The proclaiming of the Lord’s Word was confirmed through
miraculous supporting signs (Mark 16:20).
Jesus, however, warned the seventy not to
misplace their joy in their newly discovered
spiritual power, but to rejoice in their eschatological salvation. The ultimate goal was to
redeem people from sin so they could live with
Jesus forever, not to triumphantly relish their
ability to cast out demons.
“And the seventy returned again
with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy
name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from
heaven. Behold, I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the
enemy: and nothing shall by any
means hurt you. Notwithstanding in
this rejoice not, that the spirits are
subject unto you; but rather rejoice,
because your names are written in
heaven” (Luke 10:17-20).
This cautionary statement should serve as a
reminder that the supernatural workings of
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the Spirit are bestowed for the purposes of edification and the Lord’s glorification, not for
self-aggrandizement.
III. THE CHALLENGE
In the concluding verses of Matthew (28:1620), Jesus and His eleven disciples (Judas was
now dead according to Matthew 27:5 and Acts
1:18) returned to Galilee to a mountain, where
He gave them parting instructions. This
episode, often known as the Great Commission, constitutes an important calling today for
us to make disciples.
A. The Mission
The story of Jesus’ ministry as told in the
Gospels did not complete His mission. It was
necessary that Jesus’ influence reach beyond
the land of Israel and the Jewish people. He
came “to seek and to save that which was lost”
(Luke 19:10), and the lost included the Gentiles, who also needed God. As R. T. France
observes, “Jesus’ universal lordship now demands a universal mission. The restriction of
the disciples’ mission to Israel alone in
[Matthew]10:5-6 can now be lifted, for the
kingdom of the Son of man as described in
Daniel 7:14 requires disciples of all nations”
(Matthew, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries; emphasis is France’s).
Jesus continued to work through His Spiritempowered disciples long after He had ascended to Heaven: “Until the day in which he
was taken up, after that he through the Holy
Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen” (Acts 1:2). His disciples would carry the good news of the gospel
not only to Judaea and Samaria, but to the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire—“unto the
uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
As Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible
correctly points out, “The final scene of the
Gospel [of Matthew] brings Jesus’ life to a climax and initiates a new way of life for His disciples.” This “new way of life” was not
intended solely for the first-century disciples,
but it is for us to follow today. As we climb the
mountain with Jesus and the eleven, we are
summoned to participate in the ongoing work
of His kingdom: “The climax and crown of
Matthew’s Gospel is profoundly apt in that it
invites the reader to enter the story” (Davies
and Allison’s Matthew: A Shorter Commentary). While certainly a challenging undertaking, we can trust in the Lord’s providential
guidance, strength, and presence, for “all
power is given unto me in heaven and in
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earth” (Matthew 28:18) and “lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world”
(Matthew 28:20).
B. The Message
Jesus’ message was quite simple: “Go . . .
teach all nations, baptizing them” (Matthew
28:19). The word “teach” can also be translated, “make disciples” (NIV). The nations
were to be taught “to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew
28:20). In addition, they were to be baptized,
an experience that “makes a sudden appearance at the end of the Gospel [of Matthew] as
the initiation rite for the followers of Jesus”
(Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible). The
practice of baptism was not optional, as Osborne rightly maintains: “Baptism is Christ’s
mandate for the church in the new covenant
community. Some Christian movements believe baptism is not for today . . . The apostles
would have been aghast at any such suggestion” (Matthew, Exegetical Commentary on
the New Testament).
Thankfully, the Apostolic church today, like
the first followers of Jesus, shares in this exciting commission to make and baptize disciples throughout the entire world!
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”
(Acts 2:38).
Internalizing the Message
As we reflect on the four fishermen who encountered Jesus, the selection of the twelve
disciples, and Jesus’ mandate to go into all the
world—the call, the choice, and the challenge—our hearts should stir deeply within us.
It is perhaps too easy to dismiss these accounts as merely stories from the past that are
not applicable today. After all, the original
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disciples have long since passed from the
scene. But their story is really our story, their
Lord is our Lord, and His commission to them
remains our commission today.
It may also be too easy to avoid our personal calling—to leave it to someone else—
for we may think we are just too busy or not
qualified, or whatever our excuse might be.
But like the original disciples who were quite
ordinary people, the Lord is reaching out to
ordinary people in our day to make disciples
of family members, friends, co-workers,
neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers, for
“the Lord is . . . not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).
Let us be sensitive to the Lord’s voice
(I Samuel 3:3-10), for “however much we are
prepared in advance, there comes a time for
each of us when the call of Jesus comes to us
personally, and we must make a decision
whether to follow him or not” (The New Bible
Commentary: 21st Century Edition). His
urgent decree to “go” (Matthew 28:19) lies
strong upon His people. Today, let us heed
Jesus’ calling and follow Him!
REFLECTIONS
• What makes the calling of the fishermen
at the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22;
Mark 1:16-20) so astounding? What were
they leaving behind? Why did they leave
these things so quickly? Why is it often so
difficult for us to forsake things that hinder us when the Lord calls our name? Discuss.
• The twelve disciples came from a variety
of backgrounds. They were all, however,
rather ordinary, undistinguished men,
some of whom are rarely mentioned in the
Gospels. What can this tell us about how
the Lord might want to use each of us?
• Is the Great Commission still a command
to the church today? Discuss.
• Why is it imperative that we “be with him”
before we are sent forth to preach, heal,
and cast out devils (Mark 3:14-15)?
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
Empowering
the Disciples
7
week of
01.12.14
Lesson Text
Matthew 10:1-8
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he
gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out,
and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first,
Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James
the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of
the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is
at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out
devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Focus Thought
The special
mission Jesus sent
the apostles on was
a limited version
of what was to
become the Great
Commission to go
into all the world.
Focus Verse
Matthew 10:1
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease.
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Page 46
Culture Connection
Power Failure
by C. A. Brewer
O
Our modern way of living can come to a screeching halt when there is a power failure. This was amply illustrated
when “Superstorm Sandy” roared through the islands of the Caribbean and on to the northeastern United States
in late October 2012. Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record. In addition to the loss of at least 253
people and billions of dollars in property damage, there were widespread electrical outages. In Jamaica alone
70 percent of the residents were without electricity. The Telegraph succinctly stated, “New York is plunged into
darkness.” In total, some 8,100,000 homes were left without electricity in seventeen states.
We have to ask ourselves if much of the religious world of our day is not suffering a time of power failure.
The source of power for the apostolic believer lies beyond his own capability or his own human resources.
Christ’s disciples were incapable of spreading the gospel without the dynamic presence of the Holy Ghost. “Tarry,”
Jesus had told them, “until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
How could the 120 disciples of the upper room have turned their world upside down if there had been a
power failure? If they had not remained connected to the real source of strength, what would have been the
outcome?
There is no power failure in Christ. He remains the same. Our dependence on Him determines our success as
witnesses in a darkening world.
I. THE PLAN
A. Partners
B. People
C. Possessions and Place
II. THE POWER
A. Gave Them Power
B. Power over Disease, Satan, Death
III. THE PREACHING
A. The Manner
B. The Message
C. The Response
Contemplating the Topic
The miracles of Jesus Christ were compelling testimonies and signs of divine authority. They were the indisputable proofs that
He was Israel’s long awaited Messiah. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, was honest enough to admit, “No man
can do these miracles that thou doest, except
God be with him” (John 3:2). And yet many of
the Jewish leaders were incensed by the fact
that Jesus claimed the same authority as God
Himself—authority to bypass their man-made
laws, authority over the Sabbath, and authority to forgive sin.
When the Jews at Jerusalem picked up
stones to stone Him, Jesus declared, “If I do
not the works of my Father, believe me not. But
if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the
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works: that ye may know, and believe, that the
Father is in me, and I in him” (John 10:37-38).
There is simply no power like that of Jesus
Christ, and there is no one else who can so
empower others. Christ knew His vision
needed to become the vision of His disciples.
His deep burden for the sick and suffering
must become their burden. Now, in Galilee, He
determined to endue the twelve with a measure of His authority as He sent them out upon
their mission. They would certainly need to be
empowered. There were just too many forces
against them, too many unclean spirits that
would oppose them. There would be terrible
cases of sickness and disease. Many would
look for opportunities to mock the message as
well as the messengers.
Unclean spirits? Yes, those vile, impure
demons had always had to leave when Jesus
spoke the word (Matthew 8:16). They had met
with the highest “Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords” (I Timothy 6:15). They had
met Jesus, and they had always been forced to
succumb. No wonder they cried out pathetically in Christ’s presence and trembled at the
thought of judgment.
A healing ministry? There were no incurable
diseases when Jesus was on the scene. There
was no blind eye that could not be healed, no
deaf ear that could not be unstopped. There
was no paralytic beyond the opportunity to
again move freely.
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The disciples had seen the lame walk, the
lepers healed, the dead raised to life. The
Twelve must have been affected by the Lord’s
great compassion. No one in Israel was to be
excluded. Regardless of their condition, everyone was a candidate for help and for healing.
The Twelve were mandated “to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease”
(Matthew 10:1).
Searching the Scriptures
I. THE PLAN
The plan was amazingly simple. There
seems to have been no daily agenda and no
detailed program for the disciples to follow.
Peter, James, and the others were simply to
have confidence in what Jesus Christ had
commanded.
A. Partners
1. Sent Out in Pairs. Christ sent His disciples out two by two (Mark 6:7). (Matthew
10:2-4 lists the twelve apostles by two’s, so
possibly these were the pairs who were
matched together.) Working with a partner
was a practical plan, a plan that, once the
church was established, would be adopted by
Paul and Barnabas (Acts 11:30), Barnabas and
Mark (Acts 15:39), and Paul and Silas (Acts
15:40). As they labored together, with the
power of God on their lives, and with faith in
their hearts, the apostles must certainly have
been a dynamic force.
Strength is added to strength, even multiplied, when God’s people work together. “And
five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight”
(Leviticus 26:8). When Peter and John went up
“together” to pray, the lame man at the Temple
gate was healed. When Paul and Barnabas
came to Iconium, “they went both together into
the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, . . . a
great multitude both of the Jews and also of
the Greeks believed” (Acts 14:1).
Something wonderful happens when we
work in harmony with one or more believers.
We can expect as partners to be mutually
blessed.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I
in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
2. Safety of Partners. Up until this point
the disciples had always been near the Master
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and His ministry. They had been involved in
what has been called a “walking seminary.”
But now Jesus was preparing them for a wider
ministry, a ministry that would eventually
reach around the world. They were being sent
out on their own into a dangerous situation.
“Behold,” Jesus said, “I send you forth as
sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew
10:16). The apostles could expect to be severely rejected by some and openly threatened
by others. Christ instructed the Twelve not to
fear those who could kill only the body but not
the soul.
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 quotes a portion of Ecclesiastes 4:12.
In such trying circumstances it was wise to
have a companion. Each partner would need
the comfort and encouragement of the other.
Solomon, hundreds of years before, had declared, “Two are better than one . . . And if one
prevail against him, two shall withstand him;
and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”
(Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12).
B. People
1. No Gentiles Initially. The heart of Jesus
Christ beat with a fervent love for the nation of
Israel. How well He knew that the Jews were
God’s chosen people, the children of the
covenant promise! Among all the nations of
the world, none has been as cherished by the
Almighty as this one nation. “For the LORD
hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for
his peculiar treasure” (Psalm 135:4). And, although He would be crucified in that city,
Christ after His resurrection would command
His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins “in his name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).
The gospel had to be offered to the Jew before it could be offered to the Gentile. This
was the method of both Christ and the apostles. Fiercely opposed by the diehard Jews at
Antioch, “Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and
said, It was necessary that the word of God
should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). Paul wrote to the
Roman believers, “For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of
God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the
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Greek” (Romans 1:16). (See also Romans
2:10; Acts 3:25-26.)
2. No Samaritans Initially. The life and
teachings of Jesus Christ countered Jewish
prejudice against Samaritans, the mixed race
who lived in the Palestinian uplands. The Lord
ministered to a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s
well. He related the moving story of a compassionate Samaritan who rescued a dying
man. Then, too, He healed a Samaritan, one of
ten lepers, on His way to Jerusalem.
The gospel eventually would reach these people who were so hated by the Jews. The Kingdom message was too wonderful to be limited
to Judea and Galilee. It had to be extended to
every continent and every nation. After His resurrection Jesus told His apostles, “Ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost
part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
But as yet it was not the time. He commanded His disciples in this particular mission
not to enter any city of the Samaritans.
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 depicts a farmer sowing grain and
reaping the harvest.
As in the natural, so it is in the spiritual;
there is a time to sow and a time to reap. No
one knew this better than the Lord of the harvest. Jesus knew there would be a harvest in
Samaria. Good seed had been sown in the
heart of the woman at the well, “and many of
the Samaritans of that city believed on him for
the saying of the woman, which testified, He
told me all that ever I did” (John 4:39). On this
very occasion Jesus said to His disciples, “Say
not ye, There are yet four months, and then
cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift
up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they
are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).
3. Only the Lost Sheep of Israel Initially.
Like so many lost sheep, the people of Israel
had wandered away from their God. Jesus had
seen them on the hillsides, in the fields, and in
the streets. They were bowed down with burdens that none should be forced to bear. They
were drinking from waters that were both
stagnant and stale.
The Lord longed to bring Israel into His
sheepfold. Though they had lost their way, He
still claimed them as His own. He was the
door; through Him they could find shelter and
rest. He was the Good Shepherd; near Him
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they could find protection and peace. Prophetically Isaiah had said, “All we like sheep have
gone astray; we have turned every one to his
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
As under-shepherds, the disciples were to
go only to these lost sheep of Israel. The Gentiles had not yet been “made nigh by the blood
of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). And, at this time,
there still remained “the middle wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14). But soon a new and
glorious day would dawn, a new dispensation
would begin—a day in which both Jew and
Gentile could be reconciled to God.
C. Possessions and Place
1. Travel Lightly. Everything about this
venture seemed to suggest a sense of austerity.
Clearly Christ did not want the apostles to depend upon their own resources, but on what
was provided by those to whom they ministered and upon the providence of God. They
were to carry neither gold nor silver nor even
brass in their purses (literally the girdles or
belts where money was usually kept). It was
all meant to be a faith-inspiring experience for
the apostles, something that would leave a
lasting impression on their minds.
If the Almighty takes
note of every sparrow
that falls, surely the
apostles could expect He
would take care of them.
Further, the Twelve were not to have a
scrip, the knapsack travelers used to carry
supplies. Generally a Jew would be seen wearing an inner garment as well as an outer garment, but Jesus commanded these men not to
have two coats as they traveled. Mark stated
they “should take nothing for their journey”
except a staff and the sandals on their feet
(Mark 6:8-9).
Later the Lord would ask His disciples,
“When I sent you without purse, and scrip,
and shoes, lacked ye any thing?” (Luke 22:35).
Significantly the disciples answered, “Nothing”
(Luke 22:35).
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2. Live by Faith. Jesus wanted the Twelve
to realize from this early experience that God
could supply every need, whether it was for a
place to lodge, food to eat, or clothing to wear.
The One they served was more than sufficient
and would abundantly provide. God would
keep a constant eye on these men who were
being sent out to preach His message. If the
Almighty takes note of every sparrow that falls
to the ground, and Christ assured the apostles
that He did, then surely they could expect He
would take care of them. They were, in the
words of Jesus, “of more value than many
sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). The very hairs of
their head were numbered.
Following Christ’s instructions there was little for the apostles to hold on to but God Himself. There may have been no bread in their
hands and no money in their pockets, but
there was faith in their hearts, which was most
important.
3. Stay in One Place. As they entered a city
or a village, Jesus instructed the Twelve they
were to find “who in it is worthy” (Matthew
10:11), that is, who was known for their principled character and for their generous hospitality. After all, these disciples had received the
highest possible calling. They were ambassadors of Christ’s heavenly kingdom. They could
bring wonderful benefits to any house in
which they stayed. They were to pronounce a
blessing on the home they entered. When the
disciples entered a home they were to stay
there until they left to go to some other city or
village.
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II. THE POWER
A. Gave Them Power
What could the twelve disciples do on their
own? Four of them—Simon Peter, Andrew,
James, and John—were just common fishermen. Another disciple, Matthew, had been one
of the hated tax collectors. None of the other
seven, whom Jesus had chosen, appeared to
have had a distinguished background.
What could the Twelve do on their own?
They could do nothing in their own power or
ability. In John 15:5 Jesus explained He was
the true vine and believers were the branches
that depended on Him, “for without me,” He
affirmed, “ye can do nothing.”
These men needed the empowerment that
only Jesus could give. And without question,
what He gave was sufficient for the task
ahead. What He gave was abundant. His
power transformed their thinking as to what
they could do, and they were invigorated. They
were revived and changed.
This was a remarkable outpouring of power
on the followers of Christ. For the present
their ministry would be restricted to others of
their own nation, but this was clearly a foretaste of what was to come afterwards. Following His resurrection, Christ would give them
the commission to go into all the world and
preach the gospel to all people. He would empower the disciples to do this through the marvelous Holy Ghost baptism. (See Luke 24:49;
Acts 1:8.)
B. Power over Disease, Satan, Death
“And in the same house remain,
eating and drinking such things as
they give: for the labourer is worthy
of his hire. Go not from house to
house” (Luke 10:7).
This was a matter of common courtesy.
There might be numerous invitations from
people who, in their minds, had only the best
of intentions, but the apostles had to avoid injuring feelings. The good news of the Kingdom
was not to be compromised for the sake of
comfort or convenience. Not everything Jesus
instructed with regard to this particular mission applies today, but one principle remains
the same: the gospel message must have priority over all else. It is imperative that our conduct and our attitudes do not offend those
whom we wish to reach. Paul wrote, “I am
made all things to all men, that I might by all
means save some” (I Corinthians 9:22).
“And they cast out many devils, and
anointed with oil many that were
sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:13).
The apostles were to minister neither for
gold nor for glory. “Freely ye have received,”
Jesus counseled them, “freely give” (Matthew
10:8). The power of the Almighty plainly
rested upon them to deliver others from pain
and suffering, from sickness and death.
We may not fully realize it, but preaching
the gospel with authority shakes the kingdom of Satan to its foundation. It expels dark
forces and breaks shackles. It sets individuals free. When the seventy returned to Jesus
saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject
unto us through thy name,” He told them, “I
beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven”
(Luke 10:17-18).
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III. THE PREACHING
A. The Manner
There is cause to wonder at the Twelve
whom Jesus Christ sent out. They certainly
lacked the natural sources of support that
many use today in efforts to evangelize. There
were no tour buses or passenger vans for the
disciples; they traveled by foot. In that day
there were no billboards or TV and radio advertising. There were no handbills, no mass
choirs, no trained singers. There were no pianos, organs, or electric guitars, and no sound
systems.
The disciples simply depended on God.
They knew the message they were to preach.
They had seen the transformation that had
taken place when Christ had spoken to the
people. Their own hearts had been changed,
and they had witnessed the tears of joy of
many who had been healed or who had been
given new hope. The news of what was happening under their ministry was spread from
mouth to mouth. As the disciples preached in
the market places, in the busy lanes, and wherever they encountered hungry hearts, God
worked through them with signs following.
B. The Message
Luke 8:1 reveals that Jesus “went throughout every city and village, preaching and
shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of
God: and the twelve were with him.” This was
in Galilee, and it was before He sent out the
disciples on their own. The Lord was preparing the ground and showing the Twelve how
to sow the good seed of the gospel.
The gospel was indeed good seed. It was a
message of deliverance from sin and an assurance the kingdom of God was at hand. At
this very time the Lord explained to His disciples some seed would fall on wayside ground,
some on rocky soil, and some among thorns,
but some seed also would fall on good ground
(Luke 8:5-8). Although there certainly would
be discouraging moments, the disciples could
expect an abundant harvest if they were faithful and diligent in their efforts. Some seed
would actually bring forth a hundredfold.
C. The Response
1. Sin of Rejection. Some people might feel
Christ’s directions regarding those who refused to listen to the disciples were harsh, but
a rejection of the gospel is really a rejection of
the Lord.
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A pastor struggled over a circumstance in which he
knew a number in his congregation had openly disregarded his teaching regarding Christian standards.
The minister was deeply disappointed and deeply
hurt. He felt rebuffed by the very ones to whom he
had ministered. Then the Lord spoke powerfully to
his heart from I Samuel 8:7: “They have not rejected
thee, but they have rejected me.”
How serious is it to reject God’s Word?
Christ told the twelve that if a household or a
city refused to receive them, they were to
“shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them” (Mark 6:11).
2. Severity of Rejection. The greater the
knowledge we have of God’s ways the heavier
the responsibility we bear. Jesus emphasized
this principle as He spoke to Peter: “And that
servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his
will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he
that knew not, and did commit things worthy
of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For
unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall
be much required: and to whom men have
committed much, of him they will ask the
more” (Luke 12:47-48).
English revivalist Leonard Ravenhill wrote
a book titled Sodom Had No Bible. We also
may note that neither did that city have an adequate witness before its destruction: Lot and
his wife simply blended into the landscape.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 pictures a chameleon and states,
“Don’t allow yourself to blend into the world.”
The citizens of Galilee, however, would have
no excuse for rejecting the message of the disciples; they had seen too much of God’s power
and heard too much of His grace to escape responsibility. If a household or a city rejected
the gospel, there would be terrible consequences. “Verily,” Jesus warned, “I say unto
you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment,
than for that city” (Matthew 10:15).
3. Rejoicing in the Response. There is joy
in Heaven over one sinner who repents, but it
is a shared joy. It spills over into the hearts and
into the homes of God’s people who have discovered His goodness. The disciples, having
seen a phenomenal response, an outstanding
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revival, were elated. They were anxious to
share their victories with the Master.
“And the apostles, when they were
returned, told him all that they had
done” (Luke 9:10).
The gospel still has the
power to transform lives
and give people hope in
a troubled age.
Internalizing the Message
The disciples became aware they were involved in the most dynamic mission imaginable. Henrietta Mears wrote in What the Bible
Is All About that they “were given a work to do
which would make winning battles and founding empires seem of small consequence.” As
they went out into Galilee, they saw demons
cast out and bodies healed. Lives were
touched by their teaching and preaching. As
they ministered, the disciples must have been
deeply moved by the desperate needs of the
Jewish people and the troubles of their nation.
We who are Apostolic believers in this, the
twenty-first century, also need to read the
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signs around us. The signs of pain and suffering are everywhere. The very earth seems to
be convulsing, trembling in anticipation of
what soon is to take place. Violent and unexpected storms, horrific earthquakes in different places, and devastating floods are almost
the order of the day. Economic uncertainties
continue to bewilder national governments,
and authority is openly challenged in homes,
in classrooms, and in the streets. Pornography
is rampant, corrupting the moral values of
young people and adults alike. Drug cartels
thrive in a business that enslaves masses of
people. Terrorists continue with their merciless plan to maim and to kill innocent victims.
This is a day to be bold for the Lord Jesus.
We have been given apostolic power through
the infilling of the Holy Ghost. We have been
challenged to be witnesses, not just to Israel,
but to the whole world. The gospel still has the
power to transform lives and give people hope
in a troubled age. Perhaps we need to take
time to reevaluate our priorities. Perhaps we
also need to look at the whitened fields; they
are ready for harvest.
REFLECTIONS
• Why were the apostles sent out two by
two? Discuss.
• At this time the message was to be
preached only to the Jewish nation, not to
the Gentiles or Samaritans. Discuss possible reasons for this.
• Discuss the other instructions the twelve
received.
• Discuss the serious nature of rejecting the
message of Jesus Christ.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
8
week of
01.19.14
Preparing
the Disciples
Lesson Text
Matthew 6:7-8
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen
do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father
knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Focus Thought
Jesus prepared
His disciples by
teaching and
modeling the
principles of the
kingdom of God.
Matthew 16:13-16
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he
asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son
of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist:
some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God.
Matthew 18:1-4
1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the
midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Focus Verse
Luke 24:32
And they said one to another, Did not our heart
burn within us, while he talked with us by the
way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
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Culture Connection
What Must It Have Been Like?
by C. A. Brewer
I
I have sat under some outstanding teachers, men and women of God with the ability to communicate wonderful
biblical principles. Not only did they know their subjects, but with appropriate illustrations and references these
instructors were able to make their lessons come alive.
But what must it have been like to have sat under the teachings of Jesus Christ? What must Peter, James, and
John have experienced as they journeyed shoulder to shoulder with the Master? What was it like to stand in the
midst of the massive crowds and hear Him expound magnificent truths regarding a heavenly kingdom? They
heard Him tell of the extravagant love of almighty God for sinful and broken humanity. They listened as He
answered His critics with irrefutable words. No one had ever spoken like Jesus of Nazareth. No one had ever
offered such a glorious hope.
What must it have been like? It probably was much like what we experience today when, through the Holy
Ghost, the Lord pours wisdom and understanding into our hearts. John wrote, “But the anointing which ye have
received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you” (I John 2:27). No, we do not see Jesus
physically, but we can be powerfully instructed by His Spirit. When Christ’s Spirit takes control of our lives, we are
guided “into all truth” (John 16:13).
I. LESSONS ON PRAYER
A. Vain Repetition
B. Unclean Hearts
C. Importunity and Persistence
D. Model Prayer
II. LESSONS ON HUMILITY
A. A Little Child
B. Forgiveness
C. Foot Washing
D. Last First and First Last
III. LESSONS ON SELF-SACRIFICE
A. Efficacy of John the Baptist
B. Riches and True Riches
C. Benefits of Sacrifice
IV. LESSONS ON DIVINITY
A. Who Do Men Say That I Am?
B. Who Do You Say That I Am?
C. I Am
Contemplating the Topic
Early in His ministry Jesus sought out men
to whom He could teach the principles of the
kingdom of God. He needed to teach these disciples much and drastically change many of
their previous ways of thinking. Someone has
said, “The mirrors must be finely polished that
are designed to reflect the image of Christ.”
These disciples needed to forget their preconceived ideas about personal advancement and
prestige. Further, they needed to hear the message of the Kingdom taught with power and
authority and see hope and strength given to
the hopeless and weak.
Part of the preparation for the disciples involved severe trials, such as storms at sea and
growing opposition from the Pharisees. Their
faith was challenged when a multitude of followers left the Master after He had spoken on
the bread from Heaven. Their minds struggled
to understand what He meant by His coming
death and by His future departure.
Part of their preparation involved acting by
faith on Christ’s spoken word, as when He
commanded the twelve to feed five thousand
with five barley loaves and two small fish.
Those who were fishermen among them had
seen the great catch of fish after letting down
their net in response to His command. Peter
learned that when he trusted Christ’s directive,
he could get tax money out of the mouth of a
fish and he could walk on water.
While Jesus did minister to the multitudes,
He used much of His time to carefully instruct
the Twelve. After their return from the
Galilean mission, Jesus spent approximately
six months in a special effort to train them.
These were to be crucial days, for the Lord
knew He would entrust these men with the
gospel message. This little company would be
responsible to carry on the work of proclaiming the kingdom of God after He left them. In
fact, the Master was placing the keys to eternal life within their hands. (See Matthew
16:19; 18:18.)
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Searching the Scriptures
I. LESSONS ON PRAYER
Prayer permeated everything Jesus said and
did. The apostles themselves came to realize
that their Master’s ministry was dependent on
His communion with His heavenly Father. No
wonder one of them requested, “Lord, teach
us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
A. Vain Repetition
The lifestyle of Christ was dynamic proof
the apostles needed to pray; His instructions,
as recorded in the Gospels, became their lesson on how they should pray. Jesus stressed
the fact that the Twelve were not to follow the
example of the Pharisees who hypocritically
prayed to be seen of men. The common practice of these religionists was to stand in prominent places such as in the synagogue or on
street corners where they were certain they
would be noticed. By doing this the Pharisees
were making a public display of their piety, but
Christ condemned their insincerity. “Verily,”
the Lord told His disciples, “they have their reward” (Matthew 6:5).
True prayer reveres God and pleases Him. It
was never meant to be a boring monologue of
one repeated phrase following another. “Use
not vain repetitions, as the heathen do,” Jesus
admonished His disciples (Matthew 6:7). Even
today there are many who follow meaningless
formulas when they pray. There is no pouring
out of their heart in contrition before the
Lord—no genuine repentance, adoration, or
praise. And sadly, as a result of their vain practices, they receive no Heaven-sent responses,
forgiveness, or changed lives.
B. Unclean Hearts
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 quotes Psalm 51:10.
“Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me”
(Psalm 51:10).
David’s attitude toward transgression
stood out in stark contrast to the attitude of
the scribes and the Pharisees of Christ’s day.
The multitude and the disciples heard Jesus
openly denounce these self-righteous enemies of the Lord. They were like whited
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sepulchers that appeared to be beautiful on
the outside but were “full of dead men’s
bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matthew
23:27). They made a great show of cleansing the outside of the cup and the plate, but
at the same time they were consumed with
greed and selfish interests.
Jesus “knew what was in man” (John 2:25).
How well He knew that individuals would need
to ask forgiveness over and over. Prayer has
been called “the holy of holies,” a place where
we are invited to meet with a righteous God.
But we can really pray and enjoy fellowship
with the Lord only when we are willing to confess and forsake our sins. The disciples were
learning. They were learning prayer was not
just a matter of outward performance; indeed,
it involved an inward devotion toward a heavenly Father.
C. Importunity and Persistence
A man occasionally came to a church altar
to pray at the end of Sunday night services. He
showed little emotion, and he made little effort to worship. After just a few minutes he
would start shaking his head, as if God had
somehow let him down, and he would walk
back to his seat in a defeated condition.
This was a far cry from the efforts that
were made by some when they brought their
needs to Jesus Christ. These individuals were
noted in the Gospels precisely because of
their determination and faith. There was the
case of the woman with an issue of blood.
Though she was ceremonially unclean, and
though she would have been greatly weakened by her affliction, she had faith that if she
could push her way through the crowd and
touch Christ’s garment, she would be healed.
There was blind Bartimaeus, begging on the
side of the road. Though he was told to be
quiet regarding his great handicap, he nevertheless received his sight when he continued
to cry out to Jesus.
To emphasize the need for persistence and
earnestness in prayer, the Lord presented an
illustration to His disciples. He suggested that
if a householder required bread to feed an unexpected guest, he might go to his neighbor
even if it was midnight. Even if the neighbor
had locked his door and he and his household
were in bed, the man outside might still persist. And though the fellow within might not
respond on the basis of friendship, “because
of his importunity” (the endless knocking on
the door) “he will rise and give him as many as
he needeth” (Luke 11:8).
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When we earnestly seek what we actually
need and what is within God’s will for our
lives, prayer is eminently effective.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall
be opened unto you” (Luke 11:9).
D. Model Prayer
It was common among the Jews to follow
certain prescribed forms of prayer. Jesus must
have felt it necessary to give instructions to
His followers as to how they should petition
God. The prayer He taught them as recorded
in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 has similar content but is not identical in wording, indicating that it does not have to be spoken
word for word. Rather, what often has been
called “the Lord’s Prayer” is really a pattern or
model. Jesus stated, “After this manner therefore pray ye” (Matthew 6:9).
As much as anything the model prayer reveals the awesomeness of our God and our
dependence on Him. He is sovereign over all.
He can supply our daily food, and He does.
When our attitude is right and we forgive others who have wronged us, He forgives our
sins. Our heavenly Father can keep us from
temptation and even deliver us from the pitfalls into which we have stumbled. All power,
all glory, all majesty, all praise belong to this
One to whom we pray.
II. LESSONS ON HUMILITY
A. A Little Child
“Who,” the disciples asked, “is the greatest
in the kingdom of heaven?” (Matthew 18:1).
And Jesus brought a little child into their
midst to illustrate the answer He would give
them. They probably hoped to hear Jesus
name one of themselves; instead the Lord
used the incident as an opportunity to teach
self-abasement.
Patiently, Jesus asserted that the disciples
needed to have a change of attitude—“be converted”—if they were to enter into the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3).
“Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is
greatest in the kingdom of heaven”
(Matthew 18:4).
Generally a little child is tenderhearted,
trusting, and submissive. These twelve men
were lacking some of these same qualities, and
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certainly they were missing the mark. They
themselves were acting like children who were
spoiled and who were quarreling over a favorite toy.
B. Forgiveness
Unforgiveness is a deadly spiritual disease
that is both contagious and progressive. It
eats away at our thoughts like a spreading
cancer. It is incurable as long as we ignore the
symptoms—a critical attitude, evil speaking,
and hatred. And what is the cause of this terrible malady? What is the reason people
choose to live with the pain of unforgiveness,
sometimes for years and sometimes until their
health fails because of bitterness? It is because of pride; they selfishly refuse to forgive
someone who has intentionally or unintentionally injured them.
As humans we tend to limit the amount of
forgiveness we extend to others. We can be so
insensitive, so much like Peter who questioned
the Lord, “How oft shall my brother sin
against me, and I forgive him? till seven
times?” (Matthew 18:21). Until seven times,
Peter? No. Jesus said, “Until seventy times
seven” (Matthew 18:22). Our forgiveness cannot be limited by a number. It cannot be limited by time (Luke 17:4). As in the parable,
which Christ taught following His statement
to Peter, if we have been forgiven a colossal
debt—and as Kingdom subjects we have
been—then we must be willing to forgive
every minor debt. We must display the same
gracious attitude toward others as God has
shown and continues to show toward us.
C. Foot Washing
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 depicts Jesus washing the feet of
one of his disciples and states, “Jesus was dealing
as much with callused hearts as with callused feet.”
What a contrast! While the disciples bickered at the Last Supper about who should be
considered the greatest, Christ took up a towel
and began to wash their feet. Jesus was dealing
as much with callused hearts as with callused
feet. The actions of the Lord embarrassed
Simon Peter, perhaps the proudest of them all.
It smote him to the quick. “Thou shalt never
wash my feet” (John 13:8) was his quick response, but Jesus declared, “If I wash thee not,
thou hast no part with me” (John 13:8).
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Surely the lesson Christ was teaching His
followers went beyond the mere act of washing feet. Surely He was teaching them in practice what He already had taught them in
precept: “If any man desire to be first, the
same shall be last of all, and servant of all”
(Mark 9:35).
D. Last First and First Last
“But many that are first shall be
last; and the last shall be first”
(Matthew 19:30).
Matthew 19:30 is really a preface to the
Kingdom parable recorded in Matthew 20:116. In that parable a man went out and hired
people to work in his vineyard. He gathered
four different groups of workers at four different times in the day. With the first workers,
hired early in the morning, he made an agreement to pay a penny (a denarius) for a day’s
work, but to the rest the master of the vineyard simply gave a promise to do what was
right. At the end of the work day, starting with
the last group, he paid all the workers the
same. Highly displeased, those who had been
hired first complained they should have been
paid more. But the owner of the vineyard
stated to these same people that they should
not be jealous because he had shown his generosity toward others.
We can trust the Lord to do what is right.
There may be those who have been highly esteemed in this life who will be disappointed at
the little recognition they receive in the next.
At the same time there will be others, less wellknown, who will be highly honored in Heaven.
Our greatest reward will be to know that
when we see Christ, we have been redeemed
for all eternity, whether we have lived for God
for a few years or for many years. To hear
Christ’s “well done” will be a sufficient reward
in itself.
III. LESSONS ON SELF-SACRIFICE
A. Efficacy of John the Baptist
Jesus must have startled the multitudes as
He began to speak about John the Baptist.
“Among them that are born of women,” He declared, “there hath not risen a greater than
John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is
least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than
he” (Matthew 11:11). What an assessment this
was! John wore no elegant clothing and bore
no earthly titles. He claimed no honor other
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than that he was the voice of one crying in the
wilderness (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3). And yet
John’s preaching caused great multitudes to
repent and to be baptized. “Then went out to
him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized
of him in Jordan, confessing their sins”
(Matthew 3:5-6).
Truly John was spokesman for the Almighty.
Here indeed “was a man sent from God” (John
1:6). His primary purpose was to bear witness
to the Christ, the Light of the world. Jesus said
John was a prophet, but more than a prophet,
for while Isaiah and others in the Old Testament had spoken of the coming Messiah, John
lived to actually introduce Him to the people
of Israel.
Nothing can compare
to the love, the joy, the
hope, and the peace
Jesus Christ pours out
upon believers through
the baptism of the
Holy Ghost.
B. Riches and True Riches
The young man was desperately earnest. He
came running and fell on his knees before
Jesus. Although he was a rich ruler, the man
realized that something was still missing in his
life. “Good Master,” the petitioner asked, “what
good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal
life?” (Matthew 19:16). Obviously the young
man was willing to make a sacrifice, to offer
something of considerable value to the Lord.
But when Jesus asked him to sell everything
and give to the poor—that he might have
treasure in Heaven—the ruler was unwilling to
renounce his worldly possessions. And he
“went away sorrowful” (Mark 10:22).
There are inconceivable riches in Christ
and in Christ alone. Nothing can compare to
the love, the joy, the hope, and the peace He
pours out upon believers through the baptism
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of the Holy Ghost. Comparatively, it seems
like a small task to honor the Lord with our
money when we receive so much more than
what money can buy. “If therefore ye have not
been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit to your trust the true
riches?” (Luke 16:11).
C. Benefits of Sacrifice
The disciples had seen blind eyes opened
and deaf ears unstopped, but they were
equally amazed at the statements Jesus made
regarding the well-to-do. “Children,” He said,
“how hard is it for them that trust in riches to
enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:24).
The popular opinion of the day was that material possessions were a sign of Heaven’s
blessing, but as Christ presented it, riches
were far more often a hindrance than a help.
If wealth in this world was not the objective,
Peter questioned, what could the Twelve expect as a reward? “Behold, we have forsaken
all, and followed thee; what shall we have
therefore?” (Matthew 19:27).
Jesus promised a glorious future for these
who had made great sacrifices. In the new
world, when Christ would be enthroned, the
disciples would also sit upon twelve thrones
and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. There
was a hundredfold reward awaiting those
who had left loved ones for His name’s sake.
There was everlasting life in store for those
who had given up the pleasures of this world
for His cause.
IV. LESSONS ON DIVINITY
A. Who Do Men Say That I Am?
Jesus often used penetrating questions to
cause His disciples, and even His enemies,
to thoroughly consider what they believed.
Consistently, Christ dealt with the heart of
a matter.
As Jesus entered the region of Caesarea
Philippi with His disciples, He realized His
ministry on earth was quickly moving toward
a conclusion. It was time to examine the
Twelve as to their understanding of His identity. “Whom,” He asked them, “do men say that
I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13).
It was not that the Lord did not know what
the common people were saying; He was well
aware some were referring to Him as John the
Baptist, some as Isaiah, and some as one of
the other prophets. But Jesus was leading His
disciples to consider a far more significant
question.
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B. Who Do You Say That I Am?
Jesus had at first asked what the public
thought; now He turned His attention to the
disciples. “But whom say ye that I am?” He
questioned (Matthew 16:15).
Boldly, Peter asserted what he knew in his
heart to be true: “Thou art the Christ, the Son
of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). His statement was more than conjecture or even an
opinion. It was a God-given conviction. What
Peter expressed was based on the irrefutable
evidence of what he had seen and heard.
To say Jesus was the Christ meant He was
“the anointed of God.” Typically in the Old Testament kings and priests were anointed with
oil for service, but our Lord was anointed by
the Holy Spirit. At Aenon John the Baptist had
testified of Jesus, “God giveth not the Spirit by
measure unto him” (John 3:34).
In reference to the expression “Son of
God,” W. E. Vine wrote in his Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words,
“Absolute Godhead, not Godhead in a secondary sense, is intended in the title.” Jesus
bore the very nature of the Almighty; He was
of the same divine essence. Although others
might be perplexed, for Peter the matter was
firmly settled.
C. I Am
Strangely the truth of Jesus Christ’s divine
nature was hidden from the eyes of many
when He walked on the earth, even as it has
become a mystery to many today. The truth,
however, had been revealed to the prophets of
old. Speaking of the child who would become
the Messiah, Isaiah prophesied, “His name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). (See also Isaiah
7:14; Micah 5:2.)
Jesus Christ is the everlasting God. He is the
great I Am. As God, He met Moses at the burning bush and revealed Himself by the name “I
AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14), a phrase that
speaks of the unchangeableness of the
Almighty. What God has been, that He will
ever be (Malachi 3:6). As a man, Jesus Christ
had a beginning, but as to His deity He is eternal. How He enraged the Jews of His day when
He proclaimed, “Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58)!
There was no mistaking Christ’s meaning, and
the Jews took up stones to destroy Him.
Nor was it a coincidence that Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35); “I
am the light of the world” (John 8:12); “I am
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the door of the sheep” (John 10:7); “I am the
good shepherd” (John 10:11); “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25); “I am the
way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6); and “I
am the true vine” (John 15:1). The fourth
Gospel was written specifically to declare and
document the divine status of Jesus Christ
(John 20:31).
The authoritative words spoken by Jesus
Christ must have removed any curtain of
doubt from the minds of the disciples. He
claimed—and exercised—the power to forgive
sin; He stilled the storm on the Sea of Galilee
with a single command. He resurrected the
dead and prophesied that after three days of
death He would raise His own body.
The Scriptures go far beyond what countless numbers of people have been taught
about Jesus Christ. The written Word proclaims His ultimate sovereignty, His unlimited
power—that indeed He is God over all.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 pictures a stage curtain and states,
“When the final curtain is lifted, we shall see the
glorified Christ.”
Internalizing the Message
It took time for Jesus to prepare the twelve
disciples for the great work that lay before
them. These men would have to overcome
much, even of their own preconceived ideas.
Often, even as the Twelve watched the Lord
and heard His magnificent teachings, they revealed their own spiritual immaturity. They
marveled that Jesus would even talk to a
Samaritan woman, and they rebuked those
who brought children to be blessed by the
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Master. While they were impressed by the
structure of the Temple, Christ was impressed
by the destruction that was coming upon all of
Jerusalem.
It took time. How unperceptive the disciples
could be when it came to understanding the
message of the Kingdom! To two of His followers on the road to Emmaus Jesus said, “O
fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). It was
only after Christ had painstakingly explained
the Old Testament prophecies to them that the
two said one to another, “Did not our heart
burn within us, while he talked with us by the
way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).
It took time for the disciples to become effective in the kingdom of God, and it takes
time for you and me to fulfill God’s purpose in
our lives. As the Lord reveals truth to us
through His Word, as we learn of Him, we
begin to understand His ways. A close association with Christ is still critically important.
When their enemies saw the boldness of Peter
and John, “they took knowledge of them, that
they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
REFLECTIONS
• In what ways did Jesus prepare His disciples to carry on the work of the Kingdom?
Discuss.
• Discuss the teachings of Jesus Christ concerning prayer.
• How did Jesus answer the question, “Who
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Discuss.
• What rewards should be important to believers? Discuss.
• What did the common people and Peter
say about Jesus Christ’s identity? What
did He say of Himself? Discuss.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
Commissioning
of the Disciples
9
week of
01.26.14
Lesson Text
Luke 24:44-53
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things
must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses,
and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved
Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with
power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up
his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was
parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem
with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing
God. Amen.
Focus Thought
The disciples
passed their final
exam after the
Resurrection, and
Jesus commissioned them to a
worldwide mission
with one message
for everyone.
Focus Verse
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature.
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Culture Connection
Why Should We Care about the Great Commission?
by Richard M. Davis
I
I recently was looking at the website of CJL Engineering, a firm that provides consulting and engineering services
involving energy systems: mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection. Interestingly, among their services
I noticed a service they call “Commissioning Services.”
From the website I discovered this description of the service: “What is Commissioning Services and why
should I care about it? In a new building, commissioning services is a systematic quality assurance process to
verify that building systems are fully operational and perform interactively according to the design intent and
owners requirements. Retro-commissioning service is a process that identifies improvements in existing buildings to optimize systems performance. An economic analysis of conservation opportunities identifies capital
improvements required to lower operating and utility costs” (http://www.cjlengineering.com, accessed
December 29, 2012).
I was intrigued. If “commissioning services” is deemed valuable in the construction and engineering fields,
how much more valuable in the business of disseminating the gospel of Jesus Christ! Their question “Why should
I care about it?” urged me to think of the calling and commission given first to the Twelve, and ultimately to all
believers: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:19-20). Why should we care about the Great Commission?
We should care because it is our commission—our calling as believers in Jesus Christ to reach our world for Him.
As we consider the commissioning of the disciples, let us not forget their calling has become ours as well.
I. THE OPEN REVELATION
A. The Challenge of the Scriptures
B. The Opened Word
II. INTO ALL THE WORLD
A. Go Ye
B. Go into Every Nation
C. Make Disciples
D. Preach One Gospel
Ill. GOING IN POWER
A. Signs Shall Follow
B. Ye Shall Receive Power
Contemplating the Topic
For approximately three and one-half years,
Jesus preached, taught, healed, and cast out
demons. He spread His message of love, salvation, and forgiveness around the region of
ancient Palestine. But the scope of His message’s influence was not to be limited to that
area or to the ethnic people who were its primary inhabitants.
After His resurrection, Jesus intended for
His disciples, whom He had instructed and
trained, to carry on His ministry in “Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
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uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Since
“all have sinned” (Romans 5:12), the gospel
held universal implications, not merely to
Jews, but to non-Jews living throughout the
Greco-Roman world. As the prophets had foretold, the glorious gospel would extend its
reach to the Gentiles, who would seek its light
(Isaiah 11:10; 42:6-7; 49:6, 22-23; 60:3;
66:19; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Malachi 1:11). In
an interesting reversal, “whereas the Jews expected the nations to come from ‘outside’ to
Jerusalem as the center of the world, Jesus
tells His disciples that they will begin in
Jerusalem and then move out to the nations”
(Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament).
To fully understand the goal and purpose
of any great work of literature, it is crucial
to carefully consider its beginning and ending. In this lesson, we will examine the allimportant endings of the three Synoptic
Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), starting
with Luke, as well as a portion of the beginning of Acts, in order to arrive at a “4-D” perspective on Jesus’ mandate to the disciples,
which was to take His message to “all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
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The disciples had passed their final exam
after the Resurrection, and Jesus commissioned them to a worldwide mission with one
message for everyone. According to Langenscheidt’s Pocket Merriam-Webster English
Dictionary, a commission is the “authority to
act as agent for another.” The disciples were
to serve as Jesus’ agents as they traveled “into
all the world, and preach[ed] the gospel to
every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Searching the Scriptures
I. THE OPEN REVELATION
The ending of Luke’s Gospel features two
significant post-resurrection appearances by
Jesus to His disciples (Luke’s version of the
empty tomb, told in Luke 24:1-12, consists of
an appearance by two angels proclaiming
Jesus had risen rather than an appearance of
Jesus Himself). The first post-resurrection appearance in Luke, the Emmaus Road episode
(Luke 24:13-35), is significant in part because
it underscored the disciples’ lack of understanding of Christ’s foretold suffering, death,
burial, and resurrection, as well as the rootedness of these events in the Old Testament
Scriptures.
The events that occurred in Jesus’ life were
not merely random but were the direct result
of the fulfillment of God’s written Word, a favorite motif of Luke that he often brings out in
his writings (Luke 4:21; 21:22; Acts 1:16;
3:18; 13:29, 33). As Charles Talbert points
out, “The theme of the fulfillment of prophecy
plays a major role in the Lukan narrative”
(Reading Luke: A Literary and Theological
Commentary on the Third Gospel). Joel
Green adds, “From the standpoint of the
Lukan narrative, the key to making sense of
the death of Jesus lies in construing it within
the matrix of ‘the Scriptures’” (The Gospel of
Luke, The New International Commentary on
the New Testament).
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 quotes a portion of Luke 24:25-26.
In the Emmaus Road episode, two disciples
(one named, Cleopas) encountered an apparently unknown visitor who seemed surprisingly
ignorant of the recent happenings in Jerusalem
surrounding Jesus of Nazareth. They failed to
recognize that this mysterious visitor was in
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fact the risen Jesus Himself! Jesus castigated
the two disciples for their unbelief.
“O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered
these things, and to enter into his
glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).
They should have realized that the Jewish
Scriptures witnessed to the very events that
had just transpired.
The visitor went on to explain to the two
men that the entire Old Testament canon was
actually about Him.
“And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, he expounded unto them in
all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
Not until later, when He broke bread with
them (see also Luke 9:16-17 and 22:19), did
they recognize who He was. Astonished by this
revelation of the stranger’s identity, they confided to each other, “Did not our heart burn
within us, while he talked with us by the way,
and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
(Luke 24:32).
The events that occurred
in Jesus’ life were not
merely random but were
the direct result of the
fulfillment of God’s written Word.
It was necessary that Jesus open unto them
a comprehension of Scripture, for ironically
the Old Testament made sense of the things
that had occurred and the things that had occurred helped make sense of the Old Testament. As Green explains, “What has happened
with Jesus can be understood only in light of
the Scriptures, yet the Scriptures themselves
can be understood only in light of what has
happened to Jesus. These two are mutually informing” (Gospel of Luke). In other words,
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Scripture illuminated Jesus, and the things He
accomplished illuminated Scripture.
The second post-resurrection appearance
in Luke occurred in 24:36-53, where “Jesus
himself stood in the midst of” the eleven disciples, tried to calm and reassure them, and
ate in front of them (24:36-43); imparted final
commissioning instructions (24:44-49); and
then ascended into Heaven (24:50-53). We
will focus on the commissioning passage and
draw out some of the implications for our
ministries today.
A. The Challenge of the Scriptures
As with the Emmaus Road episode, in this
appearance the Lord again drew the disciples’
attention towards the astounding scriptural
fulfillment of His person and work. In a profound way, the entirety of scriptural witness
pointed to Jesus Himself.
“These are the words which I spake
unto you, while I was yet with you,
that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and
in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me” (Luke 24:44).
The disciples should not have been confused
or baffled by Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. If they had truly understood the collective message of Scripture, the seemingly
strange events of the recent past should have
made complete sense to them. As Craig Evans
notes, “The main point that Jesus makes in v.
44 is that there really is nothing new or unexpected in his resurrection on the third day”
(Luke, New International Biblical Commentary). The disciples could have calmly welcomed these events as the expected fulfillment
of Scripture. Instead, they were “much perplexed” (Luke 24:4), “afraid” (24:5), considering reports of His resurrection as unbelievable
“idle tales” (24:11), “wondering . . . at that
which was come to pass” (24:12), being “kept
from recognizing him” (24:16, NIV), “sad”
(24:17), “astonished” (24:22), “fools” (24:25),
“terrified and affrighted” (24:37), and “troubled” (24:38). Jesus had personally forewarned them on several occasions that these
things were going to happen (Luke 9:21-22;
17:25; 18:31-34; 22:15; 24:6-8).
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 states that God is faithful.
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That God is faithful should encourage us to
believe and embrace the Lord’s promises to
the church, as outlandish as they might seem
to the natural man. “God is not a man, that he
should lie” (Numbers 23:19). He has promised
to be with His followers “unto the end of the
world” (Matthew 28:20) and that many supernatural “signs shall follow them that believe”
(Mark 16:17-18). As we reach out to this
world, these are sure and comforting promises
in which we can trust completely.
B. The Opened Word
By “expound[ing] unto” the two disciples
along the Emmaus Road “in all the scriptures
the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27),
Jesus had “opened to [them] the scriptures”
(24:32). In the process of breaking bread,
“their eyes were opened” and they realized
Jesus was the One they were talking with
(24:31). Jesus had imparted spiritual insight,
enabling them both to recognize His identity
and understand His mission.
When Jesus later appeared to the eleven,
He also provided the illumination they
needed as He “opened . . . their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45). He began by explaining
the predicted nature of his death and resurrection: “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the
dead the third day” (24:46).
Jesus did not end His parting words at that
point, however, for His total mission had yet
to be accomplished by those who “are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48). The disciples who had witnessed His resurrection
were now to proclaim that resurrection. They
were to preach “repentance and remission of
sins . . . in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (24:47).
Those who believed the proclaimed gospel
message—the death, burial, and resurrection
of Christ (I Corinthians 15:1-4)—were to respond by repenting or turning from sin (Luke
13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 26:20) and by
having their sins remitted, which occurred at
baptism in the saving name of Jesus (Acts
2:38, 41; 8:12; 10:43, 47-48). They were to
declare the message “beginning at Jerusalem,”
with an ultimate trajectory toward “all nations”
(Luke 24:47).
Finally, Jesus made a startling statement:
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father
upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem,
until ye be endued with power from on high”
(Luke 24:49). His final instructions were to
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remain in Jerusalem for an empowering experience in which they would be “endued with
power” from above. This experience is variously referred to in Luke’s second volume as
being “filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:4;
9:17); the Spirit or gift of the Holy Ghost was
“poured out” (2:17-18; 10:45); “baptized with
the Holy Ghost” (1:5; 11:16); the Holy Ghost
came or fell upon (1:8; 10:44; 11:15; 19:6);
received (the gift of) the Holy Ghost (2:38;
8:15, 17, 19; 10:47; 19:2); or “the Holy Ghost
was given” (8:18; 15:8).
Just like Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and the ensuing mission to the Gentiles,
the outpouring of the Holy Ghost had been
predicted by the Old Testament prophets, entailing “the promise of the Father” (Luke
24:49; Acts 1:4; 2:33). The prophet Joel had
foretold this amazing experience: “And it shall
come to pass afterward, that I will pour out
my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17).
Even the gift of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost came as no surprise, but involved an
event prophesied many years before.
The Spirit-filled
Apostolic church today
is part of God’s longstanding, ongoing plan
to reach and save
the world!
That all of these events and experiences
were foretold by the Scriptures and fulfilled in
part by Jesus and the early church should
bring us strength, encouragement, and a
strong sense of mission. The Spirit-filled Apostolic church today is part of God’s longstanding, ongoing plan to reach and save the world!
Just as Jesus made “his appeal to the Old Testament to define his mission” (Craig Keener,
The IVP Bible Background Commentary:
New Testament), we find our purpose in
Scripture as we seek to carry out our presentday mission. By sharing the gospel and making disciples, we actually participate in
fulfilling ancient prophecy.
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Like the first disciples, we desperately need
the Lord to open our understanding of Scripture (Luke 24:45), thus helping us to fully
comprehend His objectives for us. It is only
through illumination of His Word that we can
truly understand our purpose and role in
God’s plan to reach the world.
II. INTO ALL THE WORLD
Matthew’s ending is complementary to
Luke’s, offering a different perspective and
emphasis with which to view Jesus’ parting
moments as He commissioned His disciples.
Unlike Luke, Matthew’s conclusion did not
record the story of Jesus’ ascension or speak
of the coming of the Spirit. Matthew did
record, however, Jesus’ assurance that He
would be with His disciples “alway, even unto
the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
In Matthew’s account, Jesus gathered the
eleven in Galilee on “a mountain where Jesus
had appointed them” (Matthew 28:16). As the
New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition remarks, “Here the Christian mission has
its proper starting-point, in a meeting with the
risen Jesus, now enthroned as king of all.”
Mountains played an important role in Old
Testament revelation (Exodus 19:16-20); and
in his account, Matthew featured mountains as
likewise serving important functions in bringing out Jesus’ authority and elevated status
(Matthew 4:8; 5:1-2; 8:1; 14:23; 15:29; 17:19; 24:3; 28:16).
Significantly, while Matthew’s Gospel often
pointed out how the events of Jesus’ life were
predicted by the Old Testament (for example,
Matthew 1:22-23; 2:4-6, 15), the ending of
Matthew did not explicitly focus on Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture or His opening up of the
disciples’ understanding as Luke’s did. Rather,
the terse and condensed account that concludes Matthew highlighted Jesus’ royal authority as Messianic King in mandating the
mission of the gospel to His followers, some
of whom “worshipped him: but some doubted”
(Matthew 28:17).
Jesus Christ possessed all power in Heaven
and in Earth, so He commissioned the disciples to go “and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:1920). As R. T. France has aptly noted, “these
verses . . . bring the whole Gospel to a dynamic conclusion, which is in fact more a
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beginning than an end.” Here “the ‘defeat’ of
Golgotha is transformed into the triumph of
Galilee” (Matthew, Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries).
A. Go Ye
The first part of Jesus’ command in commissioning the disciples was to “go ye”
(Matthew 28:19). They were not to remain in
Israel, hoping the nations would come to
them. Rather, “‘go’ is the operative act, as now
God’s people are no longer to stay in
Jerusalem and be a kind of ‘show ’n’ tell’ for
the nations but they are actively to go and take
the message to the nations” (Grant Osborne,
Matthew, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary
on the New Testament). “When the queen of
Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove
him with hard questions. And she came to
Jerusalem” (I Kings 10:1-2). Unlike the case
of the queen of Sheba coming to Solomon, believers are to carry the glory of the Lord outward to the nations!
B. Go into Every Nation
Earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus limited
the scope of His and His disciples’ original
mission to ethnic Jews when he commanded
them to “go not into the way of the Gentiles,
and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye
not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). Jesus later
explained, “I am not sent but unto the lost
sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24).
Ironically, however, immediately afterward
Jesus healed a Canaanite woman’s daughter
and called attention to this mother’s great
faith (Matthew 15:28). While Matthew is
clearly a Jewish-oriented gospel, it does show
a strong interest in Gentiles, and its climatic
ending broadened the focus to encompass “all
nations” (Matthew 28:19).
C. Make Disciples
The disciples were to “make disciples”
(Matthew 28:19, NIV). In effect, they were to
multiply dramatically by making more disciples like themselves from among the nations.
Discipleship involves a lifelong pattern of dedication to following Jesus and His commands.
The disciples were to actively teach people
how to live for God. As Robert Mounce notes,
“A disciple is not simply one who has been
taught but one who continues to learn”
(Matthew, New International Biblical Commentary). Stated differently, “The disciples
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were to call not for a superficial response but
for total commitment to the new community
(symbolized in baptism), and to a life governed by everything I have commanded
you” (New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition; emphasis is original).
D. Preach One Gospel
There is no hint in Matthew’s ending that
while the disciples would be responsible to
“teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19), they
would be permitted to proclaim different messages to different nations. They were not to
declare one gospel to the Parthians, another
to the Medes, and another to the Elamites. Instead, they were to preach one gospel! They
were to teach all the nations to “observe all
things” Jesus had commanded (Matthew
28:20). They were to instruct all people to follow the same directives Jesus had taught His
first disciples.
III. GOING IN POWER
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 quotes a portion of Acts 1:8.
While the disciples were commissioned to
make disciples of all nations, their effectiveness in carrying out this mission would be
jeopardized if they lacked the actual authority
to implement it. With no power behind their
preaching, the disciples’ “words [would have]
fall[en] to the ground” (I Samuel 3:19) and
their ministry would have amounted to a dismal failure. Thankfully, Jesus abundantly
equipped and empowered the disciples to
preach the gospel!
Mark’s Gospel emphasized Jesus’ authority
as the Divine Wonderworker to heal and cast
out demons (Mark 1:42; 3:10-11; 5:29, 4142). He also promised to work the miraculous
through the ministry of His disciples (Mark
6:7, 13). In commissioning the disciples to “go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature” (Mark 16:15), Jesus assured
them “these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; They shall
take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover”
(Mark 16:17-18). The disciples were to preach
one message—“the gospel”—to “all the world”
(Mark 16:15), and they could assuredly count
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on the Lord’s presence to be working with
them and through them!
A. Signs Shall Follow
After briefly narrating Jesus’ glorious ascension (Mark 16:19), Mark recorded that
“they went forth, and preached every where,
the Lord working with them, and confirming
the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark
16:20). This statement provides a condensed
synopsis of the disciples’ post-ascension ministry, which is narrated with considerable detail in the Book of Acts. Significantly, as the
disciples preached everywhere, Jesus was undergirding their ministry and “confirming the
word with signs following.”
What an assurance! Those who faithfully
serve in advancing Jesus’ worldwide mission
can be confident He will be with them, backing their preaching with supernatural signs. As
Francis Moloney notes, “Despite his physical
absence they are acting with his authority. . . .
Jesus may be absent, but his fragile disciples
are empowered by signs that are evidence of
the authority of the risen Lord, enabling them
to perform successfully what they have been
commanded to do” (The Gospel of Mark: A
Commentary).
Those who faithfully
serve in advancing
Jesus’ worldwide
mission can be confident
He will be with them.
It is important to note, however, the accompanying signs were not limited merely to the
apostles, but they would in fact “follow them
that believe” (Mark 16:17). We can rest assured these signs will continue to follow the
Lord’s people today as they carry out His
great commission!
What were these signs? Some, such as
“they cast out devils” (Mark 16:17), were
performed by Jesus. Others, like “they shall
speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17), were
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not performed during Jesus’ ministry but
were reserved for the church age. Jesus also
mentioned “tak[ing] up serpents,” surviving
the ingestion of a poisonous substance, and
healing through the laying on of hands (Mark
16:18). Importantly, “every one of these evidential ‘signs,’ except possibly the drinking
of lethal draughts, is recorded in the history
of the early church in Acts” (R. Alan Cole,
Mark, revised edition, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries).
B. Ye Shall Receive Power
The beginning of Acts dovetails nicely with
the ending of the Gospel of Luke, filling in
some details omitted from Luke. This includes
a conversation Jesus had with His disciples
prior to His ascension (Acts 1:9-11). In
response to a question as to whether He would
presently “restore again the kingdom to Israel”
(Acts 1:6), Jesus noted that timetable was beyond their purview. “Jesus roundly states that
the matter of the time of God’s action is his
own affair, and it is not open to men to share
his knowledge. Since this is God’s secret,
there is no place for human speculation”
(I. Howard Marshall, Acts, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries).
What the disciples needed to know at their
present time was that they would be empowered by the Spirit to carry out their specific
commission to reach the world.
“But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Therefore, “although the time of Israel’s
restoration might be unknown, the end-time
mission given to Israel, to be Spirit-anointed
witnesses (Is 42:1, 4, 6; 43:10-12; 44:3, 8), is
being given now. The disciples are thus to
serve as the prophetic remnant within Israel”
(Keener, Bible Background Commentary).
The good news is that those who have had
“the Holy Ghost . . . come upon” them share in
this same Spirit-anointing and empowerment.
Today, we can boldly and unashamedly witness
of Jesus’ power in our lives and preach one incredible message of God’s deliverance that
will reach “unto the uttermost part of the
earth” (Acts 1:8).
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Internalizing the Message
As the church stands on the brink of the second coming of Christ, we face a formidable
challenge: to communicate the gospel to
“every creature” (Mark 16:15). For some of
us, that may mean responding to a call to literally “go” (Matthew 28:19) elsewhere, perhaps to relocate to other nations to reach
those people with the gospel. For others, we
may currently live in the location where God
wants us to be in order to influence particular
family members, friends, co-workers, or
neighbors. Whatever our specific calling, God
has ordained and commissioned the presentday church to carry on the mandate to make
disciples of all nations.
Part of our challenge is to return again and
again to Scripture, seeking the Lord to open
our understanding of its precious promises,
for it is Scripture that validates our mission.
Reaching the world with the gospel was never
our original idea, but it has been part of God’s
eternal plan. We must pick up the mantle of
the early church and continue to be witnesses
for Christ Jesus (Acts 1:8) throughout the various regions of our planet.
Thankfully, we can be confident and trust
He will be with us “even unto the end of the
world” (Matthew 28:20). Have you received
power to be a witness? Have you personally
responded to Christ’s call to reach those that
you can with the gospel? Are you doing your
part to “go”? Let’s not wait, for time is running short!
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REFLECTIONS
• Why is it so critical that we take the time
to explore the roots of our mission in the
Old and New Testament Scriptures? How
does understanding the scriptural basis
for our calling empower and edify us to
better serve Him? Discuss.
• Why must we look to Jesus to open our
understanding of Scripture (Luke 24:32,
45)? Why is it necessary that He illuminate and impart insight into His Word?
Why does “our heart burn within us” when
Jesus talks to us and clarifies Scripture for
us? Discuss.
• What exactly does it mean to “go ye”
(Mark 16:15)? Does “going” only equate
to being a “foreign” missionary? Without
denigrating their critical and muchappreciated role, how can all of us serve
as missionaries within our own communities? Discuss.
• What does it mean to “make disciples”
(Matthew 28:19, NIV)? Why is a conversion to Acts 2:38 salvation really only the
beginning of a new life of discipleship?
• What is the difference between believers
following signs and signs following believers? Have you personally witnessed
any of the signs Jesus spoke of in Mark
16:16-18? Is this list of signs comprehensive? Are there additional miracles described in Acts that are not listed in Mark
16:16-18? Discuss.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
Delivery
of the Church
10
week of
02.02.14
Lesson Text
Acts 2:1-4, 14-16, 37-40
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were
all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they
were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
.....
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice,
and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell
at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my
words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but
the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
.....
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and
to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God
shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort,
saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Focus Thought
At Pentecost the
Spirit of God gave
humanity the
personal gift of His
power in them,
and He gave the
world a powerful
church.
Focus Verse
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance.
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Culture Connection
A Time to Move Out and a Time to Move On
by C. A. Brewer
W
When I was a young man, God touched my heart with a verse of Scripture that became very personal to me: “No
man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better” (Luke 5:39). It was
months later that I came face to face with the Pentecostal message. Then I thought back to the verse God had
given me in that time of early morning devotions. I reasoned that if this new Pentecostal way was correct (and so
different from the tradition I was used to), then perhaps I might not fully understand or accept it at first. And so
step by step the Lord patiently led me into a deeper spiritual relationship with Himself.
There are times when the Lord wants us to move out from where we have been. The disciples were amazed
as Jesus Christ was taken up into a cloud out of their sight. While standing on Mount Olivet, they might have felt
that this was the high water mark of all that they had seen or heard. But it was not intended that they remain
where they were. Two angels challenged them: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” (Acts
1:11). God had something even greater in store for them in Jerusalem, something so transforming it would cause
them to fearlessly preach the gospel in all their world.
I. POWERFUL BIRTH
A. The Day of Pentecost
B. The Promise
C. The Performance
II. POWERFUL PREACHING
A. Peter’s Boldness
B. Peter’s Proclamation
C. Peter’s Witness
D. Peter’s Answer
III. POWERFUL RESULTS
A. Man’s Tragic Plight
B. Peter’s Bold Words of Faith
C. Peter’s Long Reach
D. God’s Instant Action
E. Apostles’ Continued Activity
Contemplating the Topic
What a transformation! It took place nearly
two thousand years ago in the ancient city of
Jerusalem, but its great effect is still reverberating around the world today. About 120 followers of the resurrected Christ had gathered
in a nondescript, upper room when suddenly
there was a manifestation of divine power.
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 states, “On the Day of Pentecost
there was a sudden infusion of the Spirit as if a
heavenly transformer had been activated.”
68
There was a sudden infusion of the Spirit,
as if a heavenly transformer had been activated and the current had begun flowing from
circuit to circuit. “And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”
(Acts 2:4).
One can only imagine the sense of awe each
believer in the upper room must have felt as
they received the Holy Ghost. It must have
been overwhelming—indescribable. They apparently rejoiced “with joy unspeakable and
full of glory” (I Peter 1:8). They reacted to the
outpouring of the Holy Ghost with such excitement and enthusiasm that a multitude of
people gathered just to know what was happening. The onlookers were confounded because they heard the worshipers speaking in
their individual languages and dialects. It was
truly amazing. The Christians were obviously
Galileans, and yet they were speaking languages understood by those who were travelers both from the east and from the west. No,
these believers were not in a drunken condition as some of the critics thought. They were
under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Here was an unprecedented move of God.
Here was the prophesied birth of the church.
It was the Almighty pouring out His Spirit to
begin a new dispensation, a dispensation of
grace. In an extraordinary manner God was
personally coming to dwell in His people. In
the past the Lord had visited Israel in the
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Tabernacle and in the Temple, but now He had
come to permanently dwell in the hearts of believers. The change in the disciples was dramatic. From being fearful and hiding behind
closed doors in the city, they became bold and
went out everywhere proclaiming that Jesus
Christ was risen from the dead.
Searching the Scriptures
I. POWERFUL BIRTH
A. The Day of Pentecost
How carefully God must have chosen the
day in which He would deliver the church to
the world! This would be no ordinary day. It
was a day that would fulfill the prophetic
truths and symbolic patterns of the past.
The feast days of the Old Testament were
typical pictures of God’s plan to redeem
mankind. They often were tied to the harvests
of Israel, and they foreshadowed tremendous
events, beginning with the death of Jesus
Christ on the cross.
The Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of
Weeks (as it was sometimes called), was to be
celebrated fifty days after the Passover. The
Passover itself was to remind the nation of Israel of how they had been delivered from
Egyptian bondage, and the lamb that was slain
for each household spoke in type of the Lamb
slain for the sins of the world. Pentecost, the
Greek word for “fiftieth,” took place at the beginning of wheat harvest. On that day two
loaves made from fine flour and of equal
weight were waved before the Lord. The two
loaves apparently typified Jews and Gentiles
united by God within one church. Before Pentecost there was a “middle wall of partition”
that divided the one from the other (Ephesians
2:14). But now both Jew and Gentile could be
reconciled because of Christ’s sacrifice. “For
through him we both have access by one Spirit
unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).
The Jewish people have traditionally related
the Day of Pentecost (shavuot in Hebrew) to
one of the most significant events in all their
history. Rabbinic scholars believe that on the
fiftieth day after Israel was delivered from
Egypt, Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Israel, thereafter, was
established as a covenant people, and they
were called to be “a kingdom of priests, and
an holy nation” unto God (Exodus 19:6).
Thus, while the Law was given on Sinai, the
Spirit was given in the upper room that men
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might be capable of keeping it. A new and better covenant began with God writing “not in
tables of stone,” but more personally and more
powerfully by the Spirit “in fleshy tables of the
heart” (II Corinthians 3:3).
B. The Promise
We can count on God. What He says He will
do, that He will do. We may not be able to depend on the weather or on the stock market;
we may not always be able to depend on the
promises of politicians or the claims of salesmen; but we can depend on the Almighty. His
Word will come to pass regardless of how unlikely it may appear to us. Whether it has been
a barren womb or a barren church, God can
do what seems to be impossible. “And the
LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the
LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For
Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in
his old age” (Genesis 21:1-2).
God’s Word will come to
pass regardless of how
unlikely it may appear
to us. God can do what
seems to be impossible.
What was it that Jesus had said just before
He left His disciples and was carried up into
Heaven? It was something of significance,
something that would transform His followers
into dynamic evangelists who would shake
their world. He commissioned them to be witnesses, and then He said, “And, behold, I send
the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued
with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).
The promise of the Father was the outpouring of His Spirit upon humankind. Yes, Jesus
Christ was leaving His disciples, but not without a tremendous hope. That which was promised by the heavenly Father would take place
exactly as Jesus had said, and exactly where
He had said. Further, when the Holy Ghost
would come there would be an infusion of
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power, and the disciples would be enabled to
do the work of God. There was no other way
in which they could be effective. And so they
waited in the upper room for ten days.
C. The Performance
God always keeps His appointments, and
He keeps them on time. On the Day of Pentecost, a holy day, the Almighty filled men and
women with His Spirit that they, like Him,
might be holy. No wonder the disciples reacted
with unrestrained joy. They had not only entered the kingdom of God, but the Kingdom
had entered them. Jesus had indicated to the
Pharisees that the reign of the Messiah would
not come with the pomp and the display they
had expected. “Neither shall they say, Lo here!
or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is
within you” (Luke 17:21).
God always keeps His
appointments, and He
keeps them on time.
The disciples of the Lord had been longing
after God as they waited in the upper room.
And when the Spirit descended, it came as a
mighty deluge. Acts 2:4 says, “They were all
filled with the Holy Ghost.” The same Lord,
who had miraculously filled nets with fish until
boats nearly sank, filled the disciples to overflowing. Fear and frustration were washed
away; discord and discouragement were
cleansed from the hearts of the 120 believers.
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 pictures a well and quotes Isaiah 12:3.
It was phenomenal. What Joel had prophesied some eight hundred years before the
birth of Christ was fulfilled at Pentecost. Isaiah, another prophet, had proclaimed, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). John the
Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord Jesus, had
declared, “I indeed have baptized you with
water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost” (Mark 1:8).
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II. POWERFUL PREACHING
A. Peter’s Boldness
It was more than enthusiasm and religious
fervor that moved Peter to preach on that momentous day. It was the power of the Holy
Ghost moving on Peter that caused him to
stand with the eleven other disciples and
preach the first message of the newly founded
church. The crowd that had gathered out of
curious interest needed an explanation. Some
of the onlookers were questioning what the
strange things happening in the upper room
really meant. Others were sarcastically stating
that the believers were drunk on strong drink.
Without question, someone needed to be a
spokesman for the church.
Peter had been a leader among the disciples,
but beyond that, Jesus had entrusted him with
the keys of the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew
16:19). The door to salvation was ready to be
opened to the Jews and the proselytes who
were gathered in Jerusalem. Sensing divine
authority, Peter boldly stepped forward at this
opportune time. Others were also empowered
to set individuals free through the preaching
of the gospel (Matthew 18:18), but Peter
would be the first to usher Jews, Samaritans,
and Gentiles into God’s kingdom (Acts 8:1417; 10:5, 44-45).
B. Peter’s Proclamation
Peter’s words sounded out to the people
who were assembled like a trumpet call to a
sleeping army. “Ye men of Judaea, and all ye
that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto
you, and hearken to my words,” he began
(Acts 2:14). It was time for the crowd to
awaken to what was taking place. It was time
to become aware that ancient prophesies were
being fulfilled right before their eyes. Joel, he
proclaimed, had spoken of these last days
when God would pour out of His Spirit upon
all flesh. There would be outstanding signs,
“wonders in heaven above, and signs in the
earth beneath” (Acts 2:19). Dramatic things
that had been prophesied had begun to happen. But above all, the people needed to know
that it was a day of salvation for “whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord” (Acts 2:21).
Peter was not long in turning the people’s
attention to “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God” (Acts 2:22). They, in fact, were
well aware of the One of whom he spoke.
Jesus had openly displayed signs and wonders
in their midst. It was as if the apostle were examining his listeners on the witness stand and
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all the facts he presented pointed to their complicity in crime. Christ had been delivered up
by the deliberate purpose of God, but Peter
held the crowd responsible for His death. They
had gotten wicked men involved in the Lord’s
crucifixion on that awful hill called Golgotha.
C. Peter’s Witness
“This Jesus hath God raised up,
whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts
2:32).
A resurrected Christ made all the difference.
The news that Jesus Christ was alive had been
a glorious declaration of freedom from fear
and confusion. A resurrected Christ meant
there was wonderful hope instead of unmitigated grief. The truth of the Resurrection had
finally broken through upon the disciples like
a brilliant sunrise on a cloudless day after a
dark and stormy night. Speaking of Jesus, two
angels had told Mary Magdalene, Joanna,
Mary the mother of James, and the other
women, “He is not here, but is risen” (Luke
24:6). Peter and John had been at the empty
tomb and had seen the grave clothes, but then
the Lord had appeared to Peter by himself
(Luke 24:34; I Corinthians 15:5). There were
many other appearances of the Savior to His
followers, but this personal encounter with
Jesus changed Simon Peter forever.
For the most part, the crowd who heard
Peter’s testimony would have been familiar
with the Scriptures he used. There was no
denying that Peter was a convincing speaker.
The apostle spoke from conviction and with
authority. Jesus, he declared, was not only
risen from the dead; He was in the place of
highest exaltation “by the right hand of God”
(Acts 2:33), or as both Matthew 26:64 and
Mark 14:62 would affirm, “on the right hand
of power.”
Peter held the feet of the crowd to the fire.
This very Jesus, whom they had crucified, was
the One whom the Almighty had glorified. Indeed, God had made Him “both Lord and
Christ” (Acts 2:36).
D. Peter’s Answer
Conviction settled on the hearts of the
crowd like a death sentence on the head of a
criminal. Peter’s words had been plain, powerful, and penetrating. The people now saw
themselves as the perpetrators of their Messiah’s death, guilty of a heinous crime and
worthy of divine judgment.
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Pierced with grief, the crowd asked the
question that every sinner needs to ask of
God’s servants, “Men and brethren, what shall
we do?” (Acts 2:37). Religious pride was
gone. Distain for the disciples vanished. There
was only the deep inner cry of convicted
souls, struggling to find an answer to their
guilt and remorse.
If ever there was a day of mercy, it was on
that Day of Pentecost. In ancient times a person was stoned to death for gathering sticks
on the Sabbath, and these people had rejected the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew
12:8). Under the law of Moses a murderer
was to be slain by the avenger of blood, and
these people had gone so far as to crucify the
giver of the Law.
Peter offered the only solution to the problem of sin in that day and the only solution for
us. “Repent,” the apostle said, “and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
The door of salvation had been opened. Individuals could be born again of water and
Spirit. Emboldened, Peter continued to testify
and exhort, and there followed a great response from those who had gathered together.
“They that gladly received his word
were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about
three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).
III. POWERFUL RESULTS
God controls the circumstances that take
place in the lives of apostolic believers. Further, He orchestrates events—even the difficult things that happen—so His name will be
glorified and that people may know Him. Because the lame man at the gate called Beautiful had been in his condition for a long time, it
is possible Jesus had passed him by on occasions. If so, the situation allowed two of
Christ’s disciples at a later date to be involved
in an outstanding miracle.
A. Man’s Tragic Plight
The Bible often describes the plight of the
really destitute, those who were poor and powerless. There was the widow who had nothing
more than a handful of meal and a little oil in
a cruse when she met Elijah. Again there was
a widow who told Elisha that her two sons
were about to be taken by a creditor. There
were four leprous men at the gate of Samaria
who faced death during a time of terrible
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famine. There was the impotent man at the
pool of Bethesda. And then there was the lame
man at the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The man at the gate was “lame from his
mother’s womb” (Acts 3:2). How ironic this all
seems! Here, outside the gate called Beautiful
(reportedly a gate of Corinthian brass about
thirty-one feet by sixty-two feet that was more
elegant than the other gates) a man was laid
who was so poor he had been reduced to begging for alms. He was deformed, and he was
destitute. Every day the dismal routine of others carrying him to the gate took place. Every
day, in his crippled condition, he watched as
others passed by into the Temple to pray. And
perhaps, in his desperate need and in his own
way, he also prayed.
B. Peter’s Bold Words of Faith
Acts 3:1 says, “Now Peter and John went up
together into the temple at the hour of prayer,
being the ninth hour,” which would have been
at 3:00 PM. Just as they were going into the
Temple, the lame man saw the two apostles
and asked for alms as usual. There seems to
have been no recognition that Peter and John
were followers of Christ, nothing to make the
invalid think these two men were any different
than the many others who passed by.
But there was something different, vastly
different, about these men, for they were filled
with the Holy Ghost. They were filled with the
love and compassion of their Master, the One
who had ministered hour after hour to the
blind, the deaf, the diseased, and the lame.
Jesus had been touched by the infirmities of
common, everyday people. There was no one
so ill, so downtrodden, so despised that He
would ignore them. There was no one so ostracized by race or by reputation that He
would not help them.
Peter, freshly emboldened by the Holy
Ghost received at Pentecost, fastened his eyes
on the lame man, and said, “Look on us” (Acts
3:4). With bold faith he offered something
more to the beggar than money could buy.
“Silver and gold have I none,” Peter proclaimed, “but such as I have give I thee: In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and
walk” (Acts 3:6).
C. Peter’s Long Reach
Peter knew he had the power of the risen
Christ within, and he acted decisively. Apparently, it would have made no difference to him
that the impotent man had been lame all his
lifetime. Boldly, “He took him by the right
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hand, and lifted him up” (Acts 3:7). Peter was
elevating the man to new heights, to new
hope, and to new life. There was authority in
the apostle’s words, and with his actions his
touch connected the lame man to the healing
power of Jesus Christ.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 states, “Believers must be connected to God, the source of power.”
In many cases it may be inadequate only to
speak words of faith; often we need to extend
our hand to the sick and suffering. Obviously,
believers must be connected to God, the
source of power; but through the infilling of
the Holy Ghost, we become conduits of that
power. The disciples were commanded to lay
hands on the sick in the name of Jesus (Mark
16:18), and elders in the early church were instructed to anoint the sick with oil (James
5:14). Acts 5:12 says, “By the hands of the
apostles were many signs and wonders
wrought among the people.”
What a change when
God heals those broken
in body and in spirit!
D. God’s Instant Action
Speaking of the lame man, Luke (who was
a physician) wrote in Acts 3:7, “Immediately
his feet and ankle bones received strength.”
No longer would it be necessary for this man
to beg for alms or have others carry him
around. The healing was instantaneous, and it
was complete. The man was overjoyed.
“And he leaping up stood, and
walked, and entered with them into
the temple, walking, and leaping,
and praising God” (Acts 3:8).
E. Apostles’ Continued Activity
The good news of the gospel could not be
confined to a city like Jerusalem, to a region
like Judea, or even a continent like Asia. Prior
to the outpouring of the Spirit, the Lord told
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His disciples, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me
both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth” (Acts 1:8). And so the magnificent grace
and power of God continued to draw people to
the truth. A multitude from nearby cities came
to Jerusalem, “bringing sick folks, and them
which were vexed with unclean spirits: and
they were healed every one” (Acts 5:16).
The message Peter
preached on the Day
of Pentecost is still the
message we must preach
and live today.
Persecution, far from quenching the revival
fires that were breaking out far and wide, simply spread the flames. Christians “that were
scattered abroad went every where preaching
the word” (Acts 8:4). Many in Samaria heard
the gospel and responded to it. Gentiles received the Holy Ghost and were baptized. The
message was carried to the major cities of the
northern Mediterranean, to Asia Minor, and
even to Rome.
Internalizing the Message
On the Day of Pentecost the church had a
dynamic and auspicious beginning with the
outpouring of the Holy Ghost, but it was only
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a beginning. In an unfolding drama, carefully
recorded by Luke, we can read in the Book of
Acts of the tremendous growth of the fledgling
church. It became a mighty and swollen river
of unprecedented blessing, overflowing all the
banks of religious tradition and of racial prejudice. Acts tells of imprisonment and martyrdom, of miracles and divine intervention, of
riots and revival, of horrible dishonesty, and
of tremendous conversions.
The church lives on. Even in our day,
though often it is demeaned and persecuted,
the church lives on. The message Peter
preached on the Day of Pentecost is still the
message we must preach and live today. Repentance is as necessary today as ever. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins is still very much a part of
the salvation plan. The Holy Ghost baptism
with the evidence of speaking in tongues is
still essential and available to every believer.
We must not be like those who have a form
of godliness, but deny “the power thereof”
(II Timothy 3:5). We must “earnestly contend
for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints” (Jude 3).
REFLECTIONS
• Discuss the dynamic events that took
place on the Day of Pentecost.
• What were some of the prophecies that
had spoken of the Pentecostal outpouring? Discuss.
• What was Peter’s message to those who
had gathered to see what had taken place
in the upper room? Discuss.
• What vital question did the crowd ask
Peter, and what was his answer? Discuss.
• Discuss what happened to the man
who was “lame from his mother’s womb”
(Acts 3:2).
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Page 74
Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
11
week of
02.09.14
Direction
of the Church
Lesson Text
Focus Thought
Human needs and
problems are a
part of church life,
but godly and
qualified leaders
work together for
the edification and
progress of the
church.
Acts 6:1-7
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was
multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against
the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the
daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto
them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the
word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of
honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we
may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the
ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they
chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,
and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had
prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company
of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Focus Verse
Acts 6:3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you
seven men of honest report, full of the Holy
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business.
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Culture Connection
Godly Leadership and Organization in the Church
by Richard M. Davis
G
Godly leaders who can bring order, structure, and organization to Christian institutions are vital today. They were
essential to the progress of the growing, fledgling New Testament church in the Book of Acts, and they are just as
important in their continuing role within the body of Christ.
According to Russell Consulting, Inc., “Leadership, as defined by most dictionaries, means ‘to go before, or
with, to show the way; to induce.’ Every organization needs a leader (and preferably several leaders) to ‘show
the way’ to others as the organization strives to define and achieve its goals. . . . Identifying, developing, and sustaining leadership in your organization must be one of your strategic objectives. Without leaders at every level of
your organization, your organization may well under-perform. It may miss strategic opportunities, stifle innovation, underutilize your employees, and fall short of its goals” (http://www.russellconsultinginc.com, accessed December 29, 2012).
Leadership is also vital to spiritual endeavors. As the church grew in its infancy, its needs grew, and as needs
multiplied, the necessity of qualified, godly leaders increased. Somebody needed to organize and manage the
efforts of the early church to minister to the needs that arose.
Really, it is no different today in the church. The church continues to grow and must adapt to the demands of
changing times: culturally, educationally, socially, and in every other way. These changes and adaptations call for
leaders who have “understanding of the times” (I Chronicles 12:32) and are capable of structuring and organizing the ministry efforts of the church. Further, while talents and abilities in leaders are vital and a great blessing
to the church, more important is the character of those leaders. We need godly leaders whose sterling character is
unimpeachable as they endeavor to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ.
I. CHURCH GROWTH
A. Great Increase
B. Great Demands
C. Great Shortages
II. CHURCH GRIEVANCES
A. Personal Claims
B. Personal Complaints
C. Personnel Confusion
III. CHURCH SOLUTIONS
A. Stringent Requirements
B. Reliable and Qualified Men
C. Satisfactory Solutions
Contemplating the Topic
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 states, “The church needs qualified and godly leaders to guide its direction.”
It should come as no surprise that the first
Christians struggled with problems. After all,
the early church was comprised of people—
real people—who encountered opposition and
faced difficult challenges as they sought to advance God’s kingdom. While we may be
tempted to place the apostles on a pedestal,
we should recognize that in many ways they
were no different than we are today. Rather
than discouraging us, this should encourage
us, for we serve and are empowered by the
same Lord as the first-century church.
In our lesson for today, we will explore a fascinating episode (Acts 6:1-7) in which the
church successfully wrestled with a serious
issue from within its ranks. Up to this point,
most of its challenges were external in nature
as they confronted increasingly hostile treatment from Jewish authorities. But in this passage, they met and quickly resolved what
might be considered an even more dire threat:
internal discord.
Jesus pointed out a principle that is relevant
here. “If a house be divided against itself, that
house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). Sometimes
we can become our own worst enemies.
While human needs and problems are an
unavoidable part of church life, fortunately,
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godly and qualified leaders can work together
for the edification and progress of the church.
The trouble faced by the early church in Acts
6 could easily have left it divided and discouraged. As we shall see, however, through
cooperation, prayer, and the guidance of the
Holy Ghost, the church worked through a
thorny dispute; and as a result, its unity was
strengthened, its constituency grew substantially, and it moved forward in its calling to
reach the world.
Searching the Scriptures
By closely examining the Book of Acts, we
can learn how to better deal with problems
that inevitably crop up in contemporary
church life. Just like the early church, the
church today passes through phases in which
it is tested and challenged to grow and mature.
We must continually pray that our Apostolic
leadership be endowed with supernatural wisdom and guidance in managing and directing
the affairs of the church through these difficult—yet rewarding—seasons of change.
I. CHURCH GROWTH
A. Great Increase
The period leading up to Acts 6 witnessed
the church’s considerable expansion both in
terms of numbers of converts and its extended
reach within the immediate environs of
Jerusalem. Like the people of Israel in Egypt,
we might say the disciples “were fruitful, and
increased abundantly, and multiplied, and
waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was
filled with them” (Exodus 1:7).
Luke charted the church’s monumental
growth by incorporating within his account
summary statements attesting to its resounding successes (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14-16,
42). Despite fierce opposition by those antagonistic to its claims about Jesus of Nazareth
(Acts 4:1-3, 17-18, 21; 5:17-18, 33), the
young movement was clearly growing in size
and influence, attracting more and more Jews
to its message of salvation.
The beginning of our passage is marked by
a startling notice of a problem that arose during one such period in the church’s development and growth: “And in those days, when the
number of the disciples was multiplied, there
arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the
Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1).
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James Dunn fittingly describes how this problem disrupted the momentum enjoyed by the
church up until this point: “The idyll of a rapidly growing body of believers, their divinely
approved status attested and their integrity
protected by a perceptible aura of holiness,
their preaching in Temple and household undaunted, and opposition from the Temple authorities in disarray, is interrupted by the
jarring note of domestic strife” (Beginning
from Jerusalem).
B. Great Demands
From its beginnings, the church considered
it a priority to meet the special needs of the
less fortunate among its ranks and implemented measures to help support these individuals. The church evidently was comprised
of many poor and needy members. Jerusalem
itself, the birthplace of Christianity, would
later be hard hit by a famine, and Paul sought
to bring relief for the believers there by raising
an offering among the congregations he ministered to around the Mediterranean world
(Acts 11:28-30; Romans 15:25-26; I Corinthians 16:1-3).
The Old Testament prophets had castigated
ancient Israel for neglecting and mistreating
their poor (Isaiah 3:14-15; 32:7; 58:6-7; Jeremiah 2:34; Ezekiel 16:49; 22:29; Amos 2:6-7;
4:1; 5:11-12; 8:4-6), especially the widows,
orphans, and strangers (Deuteronomy 10:1718; Isaiah 1:17, 23; 10:1-2; Jeremiah 7:6-7;
22:3; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:9-10). The
Lord loves and cares for the destitute (Isaiah
25:4; 29:19; 41:17-18; Jeremiah 20:13), and
we should, therefore, approach those who are
truly in desperate straits with the same level
of concern and compassion.
The early church attempted to deal with the
perpetual reality of poverty (Mark 14:7) and
other dire needs in its midst by pooling together and creating a common fund that could
be regularly replenished and drawn from as
needed: “And all that believed were together,
and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all
men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45).
At first, this voluntary fund of donated financial resources, stocked by the proceeds of
those like Barnabas, who generously sold at
least a portion (if not all) of his real estate
holdings in order to contribute (Acts 4:36-37),
worked smoothly with a minimum of oversight: “Neither was there any among them that
lacked: for as many as were possessors of
lands or houses sold them, and brought the
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prices of the things that were sold, and laid
them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as
he had need” (Acts 4:34-35).
It was not long, however, before the burgeoning growth rate of the church outstripped
the ability of the common fund—at least in the
manner in which it had been managed up to
this time—to adequately meet the various
needs of the people. As David Williams observes, “Such were the demands on this service as the church continued to grow that it
ceased to be carried out as well as it might
have been” (Acts, New International Biblical
Commentary).
C. Great Shortages
The expansion of the church produced at
least one troublesome side effect: growing
pains. As an “organism,” the body of believers
was growing so fast that the management, upkeep, and equitable distribution of its financials assets to needy groups were being
heavily taxed. The increasing demands and
burdens were exceeding the present capacity
to fairly administer its resources. It was inevitable that someone in need would get left
out, and the crisis came to a head in Acts 6.
II. CHURCH GRIEVANCES
Not all grievances are legitimate or equally
critical, and it is up to Spirit-led church leadership to handle all claims for church assistance fairly and equitably based on total needs
and available resources. The incident in Acts
6:1-7 is especially instructive, for we are allowed to peer through a “time window” to witness firsthand how the early church faced a
brand new challenge. If not handled properly,
this internal controversy could have resulted
in a disastrous setback by threatening the
unity and stability the believers had experienced previously.
This was clearly a decisive crossroad in the
church’s life, for an unfavorable outcome
could paralyze and fracture the fledgling
movement destined to convey the gospel from
Jerusalem to regions beyond (Luke 24:47-49;
Acts 1:8). A wrong move now, and the good
news of Jesus Christ might not reach into “all
nations” (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15), but
get “stuck” in Jerusalem.
A. Personal Claims
Luke noted the presence of two groups,
both Jewish-Christian in orientation, within
the church at this stage in history: the Gre-
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cians and the Hebrews (Acts 6:1). While unified in their core doctrines and beliefs—“the
things that held them together were greater
far than their differences” (Williams, Acts)—
these two groups reflected minor cultural differences, spoke different languages, and
attended separate synagogue services that
catered to and read Old Testament Scripture
in their particular languages.
The Hebrews, who spoke a Semitic language
(Hebrew and/or Aramaic), were native-born to
the area and comprised the bulk of the disciples. The Grecians or Hellenists, however, primarily spoke Greek (the world language of the
day). Originally from the Diaspora (the lands
outside Israel), they had most likely traveled to
the Holy Land later in life to retire and die in
the ancestral city of Jerusalem. Often the husband passed away first, leaving his widow to
fend for herself in a predominantly patriarchal
culture. Craig Keener notes that a large number of Jews from abroad sought the honorable
status of passing away in the Holy Land: “Because it was considered virtuous to be buried
in the land of Israel, many foreign Jews would
come to spend their last days there, then die
and leave widows” (IVP Bible Background
Commentary: New Testament).
In the ancient world, widows were particularly vulnerable and defenseless members of
society. If their deceased husbands had not left
them sufficient means to survive and no other
relatives remained to help, they were entirely
at the mercy of the general populace and were
forced to procure sustenance from some compassionate source. Thankfully, “the Bible mandated caring for widows, who had no other
means of support if they had no family nearby”
(Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament).
B. Personal Complaints
With the church expanding rapidly and no
one effectively overseeing the organization of
the common fund, the Grecian widows, who
comprised the smaller, minority group, had
been overlooked (“neglected in the daily ministration,” Acts 6:1) and were receiving an insufficient share of the distribution of goods.
This negligence was unintentional, but real
nonetheless. After some time of enduring this
problem, they lodged a valid grievance that
was brought to the attention of the apostles.
C. Personnel Confusion
In response to the Grecian widows’ complaint, the apostles initiated a general meeting
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to discuss the matter (“called the multitude of
the disciples unto them,” Acts 6:2). They had
quickly recognized the problem could be resolved by carrying out a strategic restructuring of human resources. Since the cause that
had led to the issue in the first place was quite
simple—the requisite personnel had not been
in place to ensure the smooth operation of the
common fund—the solution was likewise quite
simple: appoint qualified leaders to run it.
Hypothetically, the apostles could have tried
various alternative solutions, all of which
would have had disastrous consequences:
1. Refocus their objectives and efforts by
taking on the task of running the fund themselves. By diverting their time and energy,
however, the apostles would no doubt have become distracted from their central calling.
2. Disregard or ignore the widows’ request,
which would likely have caused the problem
to worsen and deteriorate further.
3. Reprimand, condemn, or even excommunicate the widows for complaining about the
problem. Such an approach, however, certainly would not have upheld Paul’s definition
of love in I Corinthians 13.
4. Encourage the Grecians to start a new
faction or sect, thereby increasing disunity
and division.
III. CHURCH SOLUTIONS
Fortunately, the apostles wisely chose a plan
that increased harmony within the church.
The plan respected the needs and perspectives
of all those involved in the dispute. The solution did not sidetrack the church’s mission but
propelled it into further revival.
A. Stringent Requirements
Given the gravity of the problem, unspiritual, untrustworthy, or unproven leaders
would be incapable of carrying out the important task of overseeing the common fund.
Rather, the seven individuals they appointed
over this administration had to demonstrate a
proven reputation of faithful service (“men of
honest report”).
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 lists three qualities church leaders
must have according to Acts 6:3.
Since they would be dealing with money,
they definitely needed to be “honest.” Because
this was a spiritual matter, they had to be “full
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of the Holy Ghost.” And because this position
required good judgment, they had to be “full of
. . . wisdom” (Acts 6:3).
We should not permit our modern stereotypes to cloud our estimation of the managerial-level responsibilities required to superintend the allocation of this common fund
in the first century. Further, we should avoid
inappropriately contrasting the roles of apostle
with those chosen to administrate such functions as though the former held celebrity status
while the latter was merely low-level laborers
carrying out a mundane, trivial chore, thus implying that “one task is inferior to the other”
(The Nelson Study Bible). Instead, both duties were part and parcel of the church’s
smooth and fruitful operation and thus equally
honorable and vital.
We will make it successfully through problems
only when we make
them matters worthy
of prayer.
B. Reliable and Qualified Men
The apostle’s solution to appoint seven reliable and qualified men was met with a favorable response by those attending the meeting:
“And the saying pleased the whole multitude.”
The assembly then proceeded to carefully select seven men who fit the requirements: “and
they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of
the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus,
and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and
Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch” (Acts 6:5).
Fittingly, all seven men bore (in some cases,
uncommon) Greek names, suggesting they
originated from the Grecian, rather than Hebraic, group of believers. Coming from the
Grecians would have rendered them more
sympathetic to the Grecian widows’ plight
and was a positive and reassuring gesture on
the part of the assembly that chose them. The
qualifications of Stephen, who headed the list,
were likely representative of the rest: “a man
full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” The last
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individual, Nicolas, was described as “a proselyte of Antioch,” indicating he had been a
Gentile convert to Judaism before becoming a
Christian. Significantly, the city of Antioch in
Syria played a major role as a base of operations in the spreading of the gospel to the
Gentiles (Acts 11:19-22, 26-27; 13:1; 14:2628; 15:35) and is believed by many scholars
to be the city from which Luke, the author of
Acts, came.
After the assembly selected the seven men,
“they set [them] before the apostles” (Acts
6:6). The apostles then prayed. Such an important matter as this had to be clothed in
prayer. We will make it successfully through
problems only when we make them matters
worthy of prayer: “Casting all your care upon
him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7).
“Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And
the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Finally, the apostles “laid their hands on
them” (Acts 6:6), which served in this context
to “confer on these men the responsibility of
carrying out the ministry” (The Nelson Study
Bible). David Williams explains that the laying on of hands signified “the rite by which
church members were designated for specific
tasks.” This rite granted “apostolic authorization for what they would do: they would act,
with regard to the fund, as the apostles’ representatives” (Acts). As F. F. Bruce indicates,
“it was the community as a whole that selected
these seven men and presented them to the
apostles for their approbation; it was the apostles who installed them in office” (The Book of
the Acts, revised edition, New International
Commentary on the New Testament).
C. Satisfactory Solutions
With the appointment of the seven men
completed, several noteworthy results followed:
1. Widows’ needs were met. Since the
common fund was now being properly managed, the formerly neglected Grecian widows
were receiving sufficient support to meet
their needs.
2. Apostles released from the burden. At
the time this matter originally came to a head,
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the Twelve had expressed their concern that
they not become too entangled in administering the common fund, a responsibility that
could potentially divert them from their main
purpose: “It is not reason that we should leave
the word of God, and serve tables” (Acts 6:2).
Rather, they were firmly committed to the
central charges essential to apostolic ministry
and calling: “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word” (Acts 6:4).
As F. F. Bruce observes, “Leading the
church’s prayer and preaching the gospel publically took up all the apostles’ time, so that
they had none to spare for ‘serving tables’ and
making sure that the daily allocation from the
common fund was distributed fairly” (The Acts
of the Apostles: Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary). The Nelson Study
Bible adds, “Though the apostles were sensitive enough to recognize the problem, they
were also careful to recognize the priorities
that are placed on church leaders by God.”
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 says, “Efficient leaders in the
church freed the apostles to lead by focusing on
prayer, study of the Word, exposition of the Word,
preaching of the Word.”
With the issue of the widows resolved, the
apostles could continue to spearhead the
movement by focusing on prayer and the
study, exposition, and preaching of Scripture.
Now that they had been released from the
worry of managing the common fund, they
could freely propagate the Word untethered by
needless distractions. That they were able to
continue disseminating the Word is clearly in
evidence by Luke’s summary statement near
the end of the episode: “And the word of God
increased” (Acts 6:7).
This situation in Acts 6:1-7 recalls the Old
Testament incident in which Jethro, Moses’
father-in-law, observed that Moses’ modus
operandi in judging his people alone “from
morning unto even” (Exodus 18:14) was “not
good” (Exodus 18:17). If Moses continued to
function as a one-man show in serving his
people, the overwhelming stress and daily
pressure would surely cause both him and his
“clients” eventually to burn out.
“Thou wilt surely wear away, both
thou, and this people that is with thee:
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for this thing is too heavy for thee;
thou art not able to perform it thyself
alone” (Exodus 18:18).
Moses clearly was not operating at his optimum level of productivity. Jethro proceeded
to wisely counsel his son-in-law to select qualified individuals (“able men, such as fear God,
men of truth, hating covetousness,” Exodus
18:21) and delegate to them authority over
various divisions within the tribes of Israel.
They would judge “every small matter,”
whereas Moses would handle “every great
matter” (Exodus 18:22). Under this practical
arrangement, both parties would be spared a
great deal of grief as they experienced God’s
peace: “so shall it be easier for thyself, and
they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou
shalt do this thing, and God command thee so,
then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this
people shall also go to their place in peace”
(Exodus 18:22-23). Significantly, Moses would
be able maintain, rather than abandon, his
chief functions in (1) serving as go-between
or mediator between God and the people, and
(2) teaching the people the Law.
In the stressful and
complex time in which
we live, it is critical that
we routinely and carefully examine our
responsibilities and
workloads and evaluate
their effectiveness in
light of our calling,
mission, and objectives.
We can learn a great deal from these examples and benefit from applying them judiciously to our personal lives and church
structures. In the stressful and complex time
in which we live, it is critical that we routinely
and carefully examine our responsibilities and
workloads and evaluate their effectiveness in
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light of our calling, mission, and objectives.
Gone are the days when the pastor did “everything” at the church; it is much more efficient
and productive to embrace a supportive team
ministry in which each member of the body
functions in unison (I Corinthians 12).
3. Church grew. A further result of the appointment of the seven administrators was that
the church continued to increase numerically:
“the number of the disciples multiplied in
Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).
Ironically, a large number of priests, a group
from which many of the church’s greatest enemies had come (Acts 4:1-3), now sided with
the Christians. Perhaps some of the very same
individuals who had opposed and persecuted
the church now joined it when they observed
how the church had wisely and compassionately resolved the issue of the neglected widows. (See John 13:35.) When we resolve
problems God’s way, He blesses with growth
and makes even our enemies become our
friends (Proverbs 16:7).
At least two of these seven administrators
emerged as important leaders and evangelists
within the early church. Ben Witherington
refers to these two as “bridge figures leading
to the next stage of mission and witness” (The
Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical
Commentary). Stephen, who was “full of faith
and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people” (Acts 6:8). His speech
against the temple establishment and his ensuing martyrdom served as the catalyst for the
church’s subsequent persecution and expansion beyond Jerusalem and made a lasting impression on a witnessing bystander, Saul of
Tarsus, who would greatly impact early Christian evangelism (Acts 7:1-8:4; 9:1-31).
Philip (not to be confused with a member of
the Twelve with the same name: Matthew
10:3; John 1:43-48; 6:5-7; 12:21-22; 14:8-9)
also did exploits for the Lord and actively participated in the church’s enlargement beyond
Jerusalem. Philip spearheaded the revival in
Samaria, where he preached, performed a
number of miracles, and caused many to be
baptized (Acts 8:5-8; 12-13). He also converted the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39)
and preached in many cities on his way to the
seaport of Caesarea (Acts 8:40).
Not a bad record for two so-called “tablewaiters”! Positioning ourselves in the midst of
God’s will does not deprive or leave us out of
the main action but puts us center in the middle of it.
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Positioning ourselves in
the midst of God’s will
does not deprive or
leave us out of the main
action but puts us center
in the middle of it.
Internalizing the Message
The people of Israel celebrated their miraculous exodus from Egypt with songs of worship and praise (Exodus 15:1-21). But in the
desert they quickly encountered problems
about which they murmured much: nothing to
drink (Exodus 15:22-24; 17:1-2) and nothing
to eat (Exodus 16:1-3). Not in their wildest
dreams could they have imagined God would
supply their need for water with water from a
toxic pond (Exodus 15:25) and from a rock
(Exodus 17:6). A strange substance called
manna mysteriously appeared on the ground
(Exodus 16:13-26), and quail rained on the
encampment (Numbers 11:31-32) to supply
their need for food. When all was said and
done, God was glorified through His miraculous provisions.
Problems are rarely fun or pleasant to deal
with. No wonder we avoid them as much as
possible. We want them fixed and gone without delay. While problems are inevitable, how
we handle them makes all the difference.
We have two choices: (1) We can despise
problems as archenemies—irritating obstacles designed to impede our progress—and
Page 81
give little thought to any lasting positive effects they might have on us. (2) We can consider problems to be friends—opportunities
for God to be glorified and for us to learn and
grow: “We glory in tribulations also: knowing
that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
and hope maketh not ashamed; because the
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”
(Romans 5:3-5).
The practical, Spirit-led solution to the
church’s challenges in Acts 6 reminds us that
problems, when responded to and handled in
a godly fashion, can actually be incredible
sources of blessings. Can we trust the Lord
today with our problems? Can we release our
challenges and frustrations and place them in
God’s hands? To do so is the surest pathway to
progressive victories within the church.
REFLECTIONS
• What are some problems that various Old
Testament characters encountered? Were
their solutions always wise? Discuss.
• If the apostles had not dealt immediately
and effectively with the widows’ complaint in Acts 6, what might have happened? What typically occurs when we
choose to postpone dealing with serious
issues? Discuss the dangers of procrastination, especially when related to spiritual
problems.
• Why is it so easy to view the apostles as
superheroes, exempt from the dilemmas
we face? Why is it so encouraging and liberating to realize they were real human
beings who faced struggles like we do?
Discuss.
• Why is it critical to show our support for
leadership when they are attempting to
settle church crises? Why is it important
not to let our differences of opinion contribute to disunity? Discuss.
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Page 82
Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
12
week of
02.16.14
Discipline
of the Church
Lesson Text
Focus Thought
When false
doctrines arise
in the church,
godly leaders
come together
to seek solutions
through wise
counsel.
Acts 15:22-29
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole
church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed
Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The
apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the
brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and
Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out
from us have troubled you with words, subverting your
souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to
whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also
tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay
upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from
blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from
which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Focus Verse
Acts 15:28
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,
to lay upon you no greater burden than these
necessary things.
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Culture Connection
A Gospel You Can Trust
by C. A. Brewer
I
I value the truth these days more than ever. When a salesman is trying to sell me a car, I want to know all the
facts, with no new costs suddenly appearing on the sales contract. One of the qualities I admire in my local
mechanic is that he has dealt with me in a straightforward and honest manner. I want full disclosure. Tell me,
doctor, the way it really is.
We live in a day of price gouging, financial scams, credit-card fraud, and identity theft. In “U.S. Distrust in
Media Hits New High,” Lymari Morales wrote, “Americans’ distrust in the media hit a new high this year, with
60% saying they have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly” (Gallup
Politics, September 21, 2012, www.gallup.com). Trust in federal politicians, business executives, police officers,
and medical practitioners has fallen across a large range of countries.
When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I want to hear the full, unadulterated truth. Let all error be
exposed; let half-truths be laid aside. Paul the apostle knew a little leaven of false doctrine would contaminate
the whole. In his day alarming things were being taught that would prove infectious, and today there still are
dangerous doctrines that need to be shunned.
I. THE FUROR
A. False Doctrine
B. Furious Debate
C. Formal Discussion
II. THE FORUM
A. Peter Argued for Liberty
B. Paul and Barnabas Related Experiences
C. James Defended the Testimony
of the Old Testament
D. James Appealed for Liberty
III. THE CONCLUSION
A. Leaders Were Chosen
B. Spirit-led Men Sought Truth and Conclusion
C. Council Drafted First Church Letter
D. Letter Sent with Christian Love
Contemplating the Topic
It was an exciting time for the church and
yet a challenging time. With every move of
God—and God was moving mightily—there
seemed to be a corresponding resistance from
individuals. While many people were coming
into the church, there were forces that would
gladly have extinguished the revival fires. And
yet revival could not be dampened. The apostles rose above the storms of protest and persecution. They proclaimed the unadulterated
gospel with tremendous courage and deep
conviction.
One reason the early church survived and
even excelled was the disciplined behavior of
its members. These people were motivated by
love. There was a high reverence for the Word
of God and a genuine respect for apostolic
leadership. When false doctrine appeared,
there was confidence the problem could be
dealt with in a proper manner.
The winds of false doctrine may blow ever
so gently at first. New Christians, in particular, may not notice they are being maneuvered,
basic truths of the gospel are being undermined, or something else has taken the place
of a fundamental faith in Jesus Christ. Too frequently warnings of experienced leaders—
those who have stood against the storms—go
unheeded. God-given authority may be subtly
questioned, even openly challenged.
Transparency 1
Transparency 1 pictures a boat capsizing and
states, “Gentle breezes of false doctrine can suddenly become terrible tempests threatening to
destroy.”
Those breezes that at first seem mild and
harmless can suddenly become terrible tempests threatening to destroy both individual
believers and entire congregations.
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From the early days of the church, there has
always been a threat from those who have
taught false doctrine. Over and over in the
New Testament, writers strove to protect believers from those who would have perverted
the gospel message. Paul wrote to the Ephesian converts that they should “be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie
in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Peter
strongly warned against false teachers “who
will subtly and stealthily introduce heretical
doctrines (destructive heresies), even denying
and disowning the Master Who bought them,
bringing upon themselves swift destruction”
(II Peter 2:1, The Amplified Bible).
From the early days
of the church, there has
always been a threat
from those who have
taught false doctrine.
Searching the Scriptures
I. THE FUROR
What is it about false doctrine that often
makes it difficult to detect? Also, why is false
doctrine such a danger to our souls? Obviously, Satan uses false doctrine to deceive
those who are most susceptible. Generally
there is enough truth mixed with error to
make the whole seem palatable. Often there is
a misinterpretation and even a twisting of the
Scriptures. Often half-truths are spread by
those who promise much but really deliver
nothing. Jude spoke of these people as
“clouds” that are “without water, carried about
of winds” (Jude 12).
A. False Doctrine
“And certain men which came
down from Judaea taught the brethern, and said, Except ye be circum-
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cised after the manner of Moses, ye
cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).
What was all the furor about? What, some
might have asked, was all the excitement
about? After all, these men who had arrived
at Antioch would certainly have professed to
be followers of Jesus Christ and to have faith
in the Scriptures. They may have represented
the opinion of a good number of others back
in Judea: that Jesus was the Christ but that
the law of Moses also must be kept by every
believer.
To certain individuals this may not have
seemed like a major issue. But if this teaching
were accepted by the church at Antioch, it
would have a devastating effect upon the Gentile believers. More importantly, it would compromise the gospel message.
There had been a great move of God in Antioch (Acts 11:24). And Barnabas, with the
help of Saul (Paul), had spent an entire year
teaching many people the doctrines of Christ.
But now these Judaizers had arrived. They
were promoting a new gospel of faith in Christ
plus works of the Law. They were saying that
unless the Gentiles observed circumcision,
and thus begin to submit themselves to all the
ordinances of the Law, they could not truly be
Christians. This false doctrine was threatening
to cause serious dissention and division within
the church.
B. Furious Debate
For Paul and Barnabas the matter at hand
was crucial, for it involved the salvation of
souls. They spoke out forcefully against what
they knew to be false teaching. Circumcision
had been the sign of a covenant relationship
between God and His people, the Jews, but
now there was a new covenant established.
And a new sign of this covenant was introduced through water baptism. (See Colossians 2:11-12.) There was no power in the
ancient observances to cleanse the heart and
no power in them to overcome sin. Indeed,
Paul felt so strongly about the matter that he
soon wrote to the Galatians, “If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing”
(Galatians 5:2).
Paul related the works of the Law to the
flesh with all its weaknesses; on the other
hand he spoke of the remarkable power of
the Holy Ghost working in believers (Romans
8:3-5; Galatians 3:5). For the apostle it was
the difference between bondage and freedom, between servanthood and sonship
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(Galatians 4:1-7). Paul could not understand
how believers would even consider going
back to the rites and ceremonies of the Law
(Galatians 4:9).
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in
the Spirit, are ye now made perfect
by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).
C. Formal Discussion
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 shows a lighthouse and says, “Paul
and Barnabas were a light to the Gentiles.”
Paul and Barnabas have to be admired for
their stand for the truth. They were willing to
be personally criticized, even ostracized,
rather than have the heavy yoke of Jewish legalism placed upon the shoulders of the Gentiles. In addition, Paul understood that to insist
that new Christians had to become Jewish
proselytes was to subvert the gospel. It
negated the sufficiency of the Cross.
For the sake of the gospel Paul and Barnabas were determined to see the battle
through. When it was decided they and certain
others should go up to Jerusalem to discuss
the matter with the apostles and elders, they
began their journey through Phenice (Phoenicia) and Samaria. As they journeyed, the apostles confidently declared “the conversion of
the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto
all the brethern” (Acts 15:3).
Evidently Paul and Barnabas were warmly
welcomed by the apostles and elders when
they arrived at Jerusalem. But the atmosphere
soon changed when the issue regarding the
Gentile Christians was raised. “There rose up
certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, that it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the
law of Moses” (Acts 15:5). It was time for the
church to take decisive action. To deal with
the thorny matter, a special meeting was
called, with the apostles and elders attending.
Once the issue had been hotly debated, Peter
stood up to address his fellow believers.
II. THE FORUM
A. Peter Argued for Liberty
Have you ever had preconceived ideas of
what God would do, only to discover He would
go well beyond anything you had imagined?
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That is exactly what had happened to Peter.
The tenth chapter of Acts tells of how Peter
had gone to the home of Cornelius, a Gentile,
and how the centurion and his household had
received the gospel. What a shock for a Jew
like Peter who took pride in his adherence to
the Law (Acts 10:14)!
This experience at Caesarea left an indelible
impression upon Peter. There he had witnessed
Gentiles receiving the Holy Ghost even as he
preached. He could not deny what he had seen
and heard. And when he had been seriously
questioned by the Jews at Jerusalem shortly afterward, Peter had responded, “What was I,
that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:17).
Peter had witnessed
Gentiles receiving the
Holy Ghost even as he
preached.
Now once again Peter stood before the believers at Jerusalem. If God had chosen to give
the Holy Ghost to the Gentiles, he argued,
“Why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the
neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10).
It was clear Peter had fully accepted the Gentile believers, calling them “disciples.” Surely if
the Almighty made no difference between the
Jewish brethren and their Gentile counterparts, then no one was qualified to question
the work the Lord was doing.
B. Paul and Barnabas
Related Experiences
Paul and Barnabas had recently completed
their first missionary journey, and as they
stood before the apostles and elders, they enthusiastically related all the Lord had accomplished. They declared “what miracles and
wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles
by them” (Acts 15:12). Yes, there had been severe opposition—at Lystra Paul had been
stoned and left for dead—but there had been
a thrilling response among the Gentiles. There
had been revival at Iconium, at Lystra, and
evidently at Derbe. New churches had been
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established, and elders had been ordained in
each church.
C. James Defended the Testimony
of the Old Testament
1. God’s promise to the Gentiles. Perhaps
some of the believing Jews in the council felt
that Peter, Paul, and Barnabas were disregarding the authority of the Old Testament. But at
this point James, who was a half-brother of the
Lord and who had become a leader at
Jerusalem, spoke out and referred to the
prophets, particularly to the prophet Amos.
“After this I will return, and will
build again the tabernacle of David,
which is fallen down; and I will build
again the ruins thereof, and I will set
it up: that the residue of men might
seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,
saith the Lord, who doeth all these
things” (Acts 15:16-17).
There had been a time of desolation for
the nation of Israel, but James was saying
there would be a time of rebuilding. And with
the restoration of David’s throne, other nations would turn to the Almighty and trust in
His name. James had received no vision such
as Peter had seen; he had experienced no
miracles such as Paul and Barnabas had experienced; but he was convinced from the
Scriptures that Jews and Gentiles were to be
part of God’s covenant people. (See Acts
9:15; 13:47.)
2. God’s wisdom. Apparently what Paul and
Barnabas were sharing with the Jerusalem
council was eye-opening for some and somewhat alarming for others. (We all tend to view
change through the prism of our cultural
background.) While Christ was on earth, there
were those who questioned why the Lord’s disciples, unlike those of John and of the Pharisees, were not fasting often. Jesus explained
that the time would come when His disciples
would fast. He knew it was difficult for those
steeped in Judaism to readily accept the revolutionary ways of the gospel message. “No
man,” He said, “also having drunk old wine
straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old
is better” (Luke 5:39).
But God, in His wisdom, was now using
these church leaders to open the understanding of the Jerusalem council. The speakers
had referred to their own experiences and also
to the Scriptures. The Lord was doing some-
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thing new and wonderful. Ancient prophecies
were now being fulfilled. Lives given over to
idolatry and to debauchery were now being
transformed. Surely the God of the Jews was
extending His mercy to the Gentiles. Jesus, in
fact, was becoming their Lord and their God.
D. James Appealed for Liberty
There seems to have been no sense of overruling authority when James spoke, but without question his counsel carried a great deal of
weight. Having made his case, he stated,
“Therefore it is my opinion that we should not
put obstacles in the way of and annoy and disturb those of the Gentiles who turn to God”
(Acts 15:19, The Amplified Bible).
The reasoning of James was clear and
straight to the point. Why bind up those who
had a newfound freedom in Jesus Christ? Why
trouble the Gentiles with Jewish rites and ceremonies?
James suggested the council at Jerusalem
write to the Gentile believers encouraging
them to avoid certain practices. Each of these
practices would have been offensive to their
Jewish brethren and would have brought
disharmony within the church. The Gentiles
were to abstain from the pollutions of idols,
that is, of things offered to idols. They were
to keep themselves from fornication and
from strangled animals, and they were not to
eat blood.
III. THE CONCLUSION
A. Leaders Were Chosen
The church had come to a critical point,
and a final decision was made to follow the
suggestions of James. The apostles, elders,
and the whole church at Jerusalem agreed
that Paul and Barnabas were to go back to Antioch and inform the church there of the
council’s conclusion. But these two would not
be sent alone. Because there had already been
serious dissension at Antioch regarding the
matter of circumcision, Judas (surnamed
Barsabas) and Silas were chosen to go confirm that the Gentiles would not be required
to adhere to the Law. These two companions
must have been a great encouragement to
Paul and Barnabas. Acts 15:32 states that
Judas and Silas were “prophets also themselves,” probably meaning they were used in
expounding the purposes of God. What fine
men Judas and Silas must have been!
After a time, Judas, returned to the apostles
in Jerusalem, but Silas stayed on to work with
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Gentile believers. This proved to be a tremendous benefit for Paul. Silas was probably of
Jewish birth and a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).
He would eventually travel with Paul on his
second missionary journey, endure imprisonment at Philippi, and be threatened by the riot
at Thessalonica.
The Holy Ghost guides
earnest believers
into truth and understanding.
B. Spirit-led Men Sought Truth
and Conclusion
The graciousness with which the leaders at
Jerusalem dealt with this situation is impressive. The respect they held for Paul and Barnabas certainly must have helped. But there
was also a genuine concern for the well-being
of the non-Jewish converts; and as demonstrated in Paul’s later epistles, they had a concern for the integrity of the gospel message.
When Christians really want to know God’s
will and are prepared to sacrifice for the cause
of others, God will help them come to the right
conclusion. The Holy Ghost guides earnest believers into truth and understanding. The early
church continuously sought God’s approval
and considered His leading to be absolutely
essential. (See Acts 13:2, 4.)
C. Council Drafted First Church Letter
James had encouraged the council to write
to the Gentile believers explaining the position
it had taken. We can only imagine the discussion that may have ensued regarding this letter. But it is clear the apostles and elders
wanted to assure the new believers they were
accepted and loved. Further, the council
wanted the Gentiles to know they did not concur with the Judaizers and that they fully supported what Paul and Barnabas had done.
This was a time when truth needed to be decisively reinforced, when discipline needed to
be applied while it still could be applied. It was
not the time to delay or to compromise the
gospel message.
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The letter began with a warm and personable salutation. “The apostles and elders and
brethren send greeting unto the brethren
which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria
and Cilicia” (Acts 15:23). Then the letter continued with a statement of censure for those
who had come out of Judea and had taught
disturbing things to the churches in these
areas. The Judaizers had been “subverting”
souls. In other words, they were confusing
the thinking of the Gentiles and ravaging
them, much like a house that is being dismantled. Further, the council wrote that these
troublemakers who had been teaching circumcision and the keeping of the Law were
those “to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24).
The letter informed the Gentile believers
that the assembly in Jerusalem was sending
Paul and Barnabas, “men that have hazarded
their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Acts 15:26). Judas and Silas also
would confirm what had taken place. “It
seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,”
the council wrote, “to lay upon you no greater
burden than these necessary things” (Acts
15:28). The Gentiles would simply be asked to
refrain from the things referred to by James.
D. Letter Sent with Christian Love
Genuine concern accomplished what mere
statements of doctrine or clever arguments
would never have accomplished. The letter became an affirmation of love and of care. Delivered by four faithful men of God, it had the
desired effect upon the multitude of believers
who were gathered at Antioch. When these
Christians—some three hundred miles north
of Jerusalem—read the letter, they rejoiced at
the encouragement it brought to them.
The message of salvation
is not just a message for
one particular racial or
ethnic group.
Many have stated, “People don’t care how
much you know until they know how much
you care.” How much do we care for those
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who are at a considerable distance from
us, not just in miles, but in culture and in social status? How much do we really love
their souls?
The message of salvation is not just a message for one particular racial or ethnic group.
It is not intended only for those who live in the
Americas or in Europe, or even for those with
some type of Christian background. This
gospel is meant to cross every human barrier
and to reach into every nation.
Internalizing the Message
The problems that had arisen in the early
church tested the mettle of the Jewish Christians. They could have taken an exclusive
stance. They could have confined all their efforts to their own race, but instead they
opened their hearts to the Gentiles. There
certainly must have been a strong influence
from those who clung tenaciously to the Law.
At a future time Paul would rebuke Peter for
refusing to eat with the non-Jewish believers
(Galatians 2:11-12), and he mentioned that
even Barnabas was affected by some of the
hypocritical behavior of certain Jews (Galatians 2:13).
As in those early days of the church, there
are some today who believe that an unflinching stand for truth is narrow-minded and bigoted. To these a little deviation from the truth
is unimportant. They would far rather avoid
conflict through compromise than face criticism and disfavor.
In the natural world, does it make any difference to a patient if one of his surgeon’s instruments is not properly sterilized? Would we
care if our druggist mislabeled just one of our
medications or mistakenly filled the wrong
prescription? Does it matter if a cruise ship
or a passenger plane gets off its course? (It
has been estimated that if a plane flying from
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New York to Los Angeles is off just one degree
it will miss its destination by more than fortysix miles.)
Perhaps Paul stood as firmly as he did for
truth because of the revelations he had received from the Lord and because of the terrible hardships he had endured for the sake of
the gospel. He was determined the converts
he had led to Jesus Christ not be misled.
Transparency 3
Transparency 3 quotes Galatians 5:9.
Paul wrote to the Galatians, “A little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). By
this he meant that the gospel must not be corrupted by the least amount of false doctrine.
Like the pervasive power of leaven in a batch
of bread dough, the Judaizing teachers had
worked to influence as many believers as possible. Courageously, Paul and Barnabas had
risen up against these people who held such
dangerous beliefs. The two had firmly stood
their ground, and as a result the Lord stood
with them.
False doctrine is never a small or insignificant issue. If it is not dealt with and corrected
in its early stages, it will do irreparable
damage.
REFLECTIONS
• What were the Judaizers teaching in Antioch? Discuss.
• How did Paul and Barnabas feel about circumcision? Discuss.
• Discuss why Paul and Barnabas went to
Jerusalem.
• What view was presented by Peter? By
James? Discuss.
• How was the situation resolved by the
Jerusalem council, and how did they follow through on their decision? Discuss.
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Life-Changing Events from the New Testament
Development
of the Church
13
week of
02.23.14
Lesson Text
Acts 13:1-5
1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain
prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was
called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had
been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost
said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands
on them, they sent them away.
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto
Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of
God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John
to their minister.
Focus Thought
God’s plan for His
church has always
been to change the
world with His
message by being
salt and light in a
tasteless and dark
society.
Focus Verse
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the
Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them.
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Culture Connection
Salad-Bowl Church
by Daniel J. Koren
A
An African-American greets you at the door with a Caucasian woman standing nearby to help mothers find the
childcare room and give other directions as needed. As service begins, a man of Asian ancestry shares a verse and
prays. Next, a young woman whose parents moved here from India leads the praise team and the congregation
in worship. The drummer is from Pakistan, the keyboardist from Jamaica, the senior pastor from Brooklyn.
Sociologists have determined the United States never was a “melting pot” for different ethnicities to
merge and lose their identities. While metro and suburban areas include more and more diverse people
groups, the church should be a place to celebrate these distinctions and identities as a tossed salad of complementary differences.
Standing at a bus stop in Tampa Bay, I got into conversation with an African-American pastor who was not
Pentecostal. Although he did not agree with our doctrine, he said, “What I like about Pentecostals is that they
were the first group to accept people of all races under one roof!” Yes. That is the way Pentecost has been from
the beginning—people from every tribe brought together by one Spirit.
The first missionary church was a multi-racial church. Antioch, not Jerusalem, is the model for a Pentecostal
congregation:
• Team leadership among persons from different cultures (Acts 13:1).
• A Spirit-led decision to send out a team of laborers (Acts 13:2).
• Preaching that targeted the understanding of each cultural group:
1. the religious (Acts 13:14-41),
2. the pagans (Acts 14:15-17), and
3. the philosophers (Acts 17:22-31).
The church has always been an institution for reaching out to all people everywhere regardless of ethnic,
cultural, or socio-economic origins.
I. SCATTERED BY PERSECUTION
A. Persecution in Jerusalem
B. Believers Scattered Abroad
C. Rest Came to All the Churches
II. SENT AND DIRECTED BY THE SPIRIT
A. Barnabas and Saul Sent
B. First Missionary Journey
C. Second Missionary Journey
D. Third Missionary Journey
E. Blessed by the Word
Ill. COMMANDED TO REACH OUR WORLD
Contemplating the Topic
Jesus told His workers to be salt and light;
they were to put a good flavor in the mouths of
those hungry for truth and to be a light to
those lost in darkness. In spite of this, the
Gospels reveal that the Lord’s apostles were
often less than exemplary prior to their empowerment by the Holy Ghost. Prior to their
full conversion experience, we sometimes
90
viewed in their lives treachery, cursing, and arguing. The Book of Acts, however, lights up the
scene as these and others begin to follow the
Lord as fully regenerated believers full of the
Holy Spirit. Not only do we observe them praying, but also fulfilling prophecy and preaching.
Into this transformed church came Paul, who
at first put the new believers on edge.
Paul, known as Saul when we first meet him
in Scripture, was the dream convert. He was a
larger-than-life prophet to whom not everyone
could measure up. While his life is not a model
for every individual, it is a great example to
Christian believers. Paul’s missionary journeys
take the reader down a fast-paced road of
heartaches, hardships, and wonderful victories. Yet, through the thorns of deceptive believers and fighting churches, one can see the
budding joys of soulwinning through his multiple efforts.
Although God had brought a lot of dramatic
moments and even the birth of the church to
Jerusalem, it begins to wane from the spotlight
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in the Book of Acts. Not only did the town harbor Jews who wanted to destroy Christianity,
but it also was home to some Christians who
wanted to push the law of Moses onto the Gentiles. By the end of Acts, much of the focus
began to shift away from Jerusalem toward Antioch and other points of great Gentile revivals.
Searching the Scriptures
Almost halfway through the drama of Acts,
the light shined on Antioch. This church consisted of many Hellenistic Jews and Gentile
converts. Paul developed as a minister within
this church of mixed ethnicities after Barnabas
invited him to join their efforts in this city. Just
as no one expected anything great to come
from Nazareth, few would have expected Antioch to launch the next world revival. However, this church hosted many who prayed and
fasted, seeking the Lord.
The Lord spoke to the leadership team of
this church to let Paul and Barnabas go and
do the work He was calling them to. This experience teaches the dual purpose of the
church: to support local believers and to
reach out to those who do not know truth.
Sometimes established churches today need
to recognize that they have no control over
the hand of God. The best way to be a part of
Jesus and the work of His church is to involve
ourselves in promoting the church beyond
our own borders.
I. SCATTERED BY PERSECUTION
Jewish vigilantes killed Stephen when he
accused them of resisting the work of the
Spirit and killing the Messiah. Saul, one such
defender of the ways of Moses, took action
against the believers, breathing out murder
against them. Soon, Herod put James to
death and then swooped up Peter and put him
under guard until execution as well. Peter’s
miraculous deliverance, however, gave him a
chance to get out of town. Around this time
many believers fled Jerusalem and headed to
other parts of the Roman Empire and some
even beyond.
A. Persecution in Jerusalem
A large group of believers seems to have
stayed behind in Jerusalem. Apparently, the
persecution of Jewish Christians targeted
mainly the Hellenized Jewish Christians. These
Hellenized or Grecian Jews had been born
somewhere other than the Holy Land. They
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had different customs and characteristics than
the native Jews at home. For whatever reason,
the first Christians to scatter the message after
the persecution included Philip and Barnabas,
both from this group.
Later persecutions pushed out more Christians from Jerusalem. It appears this second
wave of persecution drove the rest of the apostles out of town. After Herod killed the apostle
James, the brother of John, James the elder, a
brother of Jesus, became the leader of the
Jerusalem church. Under his leadership the
church continued to grow into the thousands
(Acts 21:20). This James may have had special respect from the other Jews in Jerusalem
since he was of the royal line of King David.
God works in mysterious
and unexpected ways to
reach the lost.
B. Believers Scattered Abroad
Suffering and persecution bring great presents in ugly wrappers. The persecution of the
Jewish Christians moved them out of their
comfort zones to take the hope of Christ to
other communities. Many churches sprang up
because of this awkward migration. God works
in mysterious and unexpected ways to reach
the lost, sometimes through our complications
and confusions. When UPCI General Superintenent David Bernard’s father was in the hospital as a result of a tragic automobile accident,
God used the family to lead a nurse to the Lord
whose whole family later found the truth. Had
the Bernards not faced a difficult situation,
would she ever have heard the gospel?
Children of God should not fuss and fume
about setbacks or uncomfortable situations.
Rather, we should take our circumstances to
the Lord and seek His guidance through them,
seeking how He might desire to use us for His
glory. May God’s grace give birth to new believers through every setback and trial we face!
A person who has gone through hardship
often is more sensitive to the needs of others.
Hurts and sorrows might be preparing us to
exhibit more compassion for others and motivate us to reach out to them. One should not
settle for a life of ease as it produces nothing
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but indulgence. A child of God should stay
spiritually spry and ready to mobilize in reaching the lost.
C. Rest Came to All the Churches
One of the new believers had significant
clout with the Hellenized Jews. Saul (Paul)
began preaching Jesus to the Jews after his
conversion. Hoping to reach other Hellenized
Jews like himself, he reached out to this group
in Jerusalem. Hearing that the Hellenists were
out to kill him, fellow believers helped him escape town.
After Paul left, the Jewish churches “had
peace” and were strengthened (Acts 9:31,
NKJV). This peace came not as a result of this
stressful personality leaving town, but as an indication of God’s continued favor on His people
who faced familial rejection. Many of the new
believers lost their jobs or businesses because
Jews would no longer do business with those
whom they believed to have rejected Moses.
II. SENT AND DIRECTED BY THE SPIRIT
The scheme to reach the thousands who had
never heard the gospel message was not
drummed up by a church department or motivational preacher. God put the thought and
plan for world evangelism into the heart of His
people. This was part of Jesus’ command to
His disciples shortly after His resurrection.
Sadly, they seemed only to begin to obey it as
persecution drove them from Jerusalem. In
fact, we do not see where the original Twelve
preached salvation outside of their comfort
zone except by obligation (Acts 8:14; 10:22)
or because of persecution. Why did it take
them so long to obey the command to evangelize the world?
How often the church becomes sluggish!
North American churches need constant awakening by prophetic preaching to keep them
awake to the upward call of God. Perhaps social stress and economic shock could be tools
of the Lord to awaken His body.
If the first missionaries were “being sent out
by the Holy Spirit,” so also our evangelism efforts today should come from the same impulse. Perhaps too many godly endeavors rise
and fall on the skills and programs of humanity instead of the steady conviction of deity.
Rather than bursts of guilt-ridden activity, we
need slow, steady plodders like the tortoise. By
becoming a church like the one in Antioch, the
body of Christ will be better served to reach
the lost. Consider the advantages created by
the culture of this mission-oriented church:
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Transparency 1
Transparency 1 lists six advantages of Antioch’s
culture.
• Multiple Ethnicities. The greatest revival
in our churches today is happening among
those with mixed cultures. A church with multiple cultures tends to be more likely to invest
in evangelizing people from multiple national,
racial, and ethnic origins. They resist the
temptation to focus solely on the needs and interests of their local assemblies.
• Diverse Leadership. Rather than a oneman show, Antioch existed as a non-competitive, non-threatening environment among
like-minded believers. Barnabas modeled this
inclusive spirit when he brought Saul to Antioch
and helped him flourish in ministry. Some in this
team were teachers, some were prophets, and
each one’s gifts balanced the whole.
• Spiritual Hunger. Rather than be satisfied and established with their walk with God,
these leaders were seeking the Lord’s voice
and readily obeyed Him. Too many people
today are listening to other voices. A church
that hears God is bound to reach out to others.
• Generous Giving. This body of believers
did not believe in spiritual elitism. When they
heard that Jerusalem was suffering financially,
they gave financially to help. They readily gave
generously to other members of God’s family.
• Leadership Development. When Saul
and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to give,
they saw John Mark as a prime person to develop in the ministry. Though his mother was
a great leader in the Jerusalem church, he
needed room to grow on his own, and Barnabas was willing to take him on as a student.
• United Hearts. The Spirit had room to
work in a body where the individual members
worked together as one. Unlike the disciples
on the eve of Christ’s death, these disciples
sought the best for the whole, not competition
for a position. How much do we limit the work
of the Spirit by strife and selfishness today?
A. Barnabas and Saul Sent
Too much modern ministry seems to be
about larger-than-life personalities. Some
evangelists may register their own names as
commercial trademarks like any other moneymaking business. Some individuals measure
successes in dollars or numbers of books sold
rather than by the actual salvation of souls and
physical healings. Selfish and inward focus
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leads such individuals to rely on personal, not
divine, power.
Saul, a driven man, became a humbled,
called man when the Lord knocked him down
on the Damascus road. During his three days
of life transformation, Saul heard the Lord call
him to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 26:18).
Later, in the Temple, He reconfirmed this call
(Acts 22:21). Saul, however, submitted himself to serve in the local church for almost a
decade and a half. Only when the Spirit called
him out, with Barnabas his mentor, did Saul
step out to pursue a wider ministry.
Perhaps too many people get a call of God
today and feel they should be immediately in
full-time ministry. They fail to realize the law
of the harvest requires time for fruit to ripen.
A call from God does not mean one is
equipped to serve in every position or capacity. David was anointed king long before he
was ready to lead. He had to wait on his day to
come and continued to honor the leadership
in his life. Saul of Tarsus did not land immediately on center stage. Rather, he found himself
unsuccessful and frustrated in Jerusalem.
However, years later we find him humbled and
useful, not ashamed to suffer for the cause of
Jesus Christ.
Barnabas and Saul did not go into ministry
because they had completed a course on
finding one’s life purpose. Rather than pursue some ideal title or occupation for themselves, they sought the Lord’s purpose. Too
much kingdom building today seems to emphasize the individual instead of the Invisible One. These men did not leave to find
personal fulfillment but to be poured out for
the Lord as servants devoted to a cause. How
many more churches would we plant and
souls would we reach if we devoted ourselves
completely to God and not to the search for
temporal success?
B. First Missionary Journey
Things started slowly for Saul and Barnabas
on their first evangelistic trip away from
home. On the island of Cyprus they did not
seem to accomplish anything dramatic. Often
when a person steps out to work for the Lord,
he encounters difficult times before finding
confirmation of God’s will. Faith involves seeing results, before our eyes can perceive
them. Sometimes having no results kills one’s
faith worse than bad results. Fortunately for
our sakes, we observe these men of God facing both. The backslidden Jew named Elymas
confronted them in Paphos and inadvertently
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led them to Sergius Paulus—their first Gentile convert.
A turn in mission came for Saul when he
began to go by his Roman name Paul and direct his focus toward the Gentile world. This
was not a dramatic name change like Jacob to
Israel or Abram to Abraham, but a functional
change from the Hebrew name Saul to his
other name. It had more to do with his change
in mission than anything else.
Paul and Barnabas continued north with the
kingdom cause first in their minds. In Antioch
of Pisidia, Paul told the simple story of a God
who loved the world enough to take away the
sins of the people. He told them of freedom
that could come only through Jesus Christ, not
through the servant Moses. Many of the Jews
balked at the concept of sharing salvation with
the Gentiles, but the non-Jews rejoiced to hear
they were invited into the Kingdom with no
prerequisites.
Leaving Antioch of Pisidia, the team moved
on to Iconium, where they stirred up such a revival that angry unbelivers almost killed them.
Fortunately, they escaped to Lycaonia. In Lystra,
a miracle healing turned them into seeming
gods in the people’s eyes. Paul preached there
differently than he did in the synagogues. Instead of proving Jesus from the Scriptures, he
proved the one true God from nature. We have
to know how to adapt the gospel presentation to
the culture of the listener, although the message
remains unchanged.
C. Second Missionary Journey
Jerusalem housed a spirit of legalism in
the Jewish Christians who believed the Gentile Christians should be circumcised and follow Moses’ law to be saved. Paul soundly
faced this disturbance and, backed by Peter,
got James and the elders to issue a resolution to let the Gentiles know they were not
bound by the Law.
Paul and Silas comprised the team for Paul’s
second missionary journey. They traveled, encouraging the established churches on their
trip. After picking up Timothy in southern
Galatia, Paul had him circumcised since the
young man would be able to reach Jews in the
synagogue later. Paul never asked this of a
Gentile, such as Titus, but Timothy had been
raised in a Jewish home and could be useful
in reaching those of the Hebrew faith.
In Troas, the Lord gave a dream or vision
of a man calling them to come help in Macedonia. In Philippi, Paul and his team did not
at first discover a man needing help, but they
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found a woman’s prayer group who received
their message. They cast a demon out of a
young psychic. It was not until the earthquake in the jail, however, that Paul found the
man of his vision—the jailer who desperately
needed their help to spare his life and save
his soul.
After a short mission to Thessalonica and
Berea, the preachers were again run out of
town. Paul’s plan of training young ministers
worked brilliantly in these situations that were
too unsafe for him to return, but his understudies could stay and establish churches.
Paul gave a brilliant appeal to the intellectuals in Athens, but because of their hard
hearts, only a few believed. Paul was a
preacher with a diverse approach. He could
speak to the Jews in words they understood,
to the pagans in language they could grasp,
and to the educated with expressions they
comprehended.
In Corinth, Paul completely redirected his
mission toward the Gentiles.
D. Third Missionary Journey
While Paul visited Jerusalem and Antioch,
Priscilla and Aquila led Apollos to the Lord.
When Paul returned to Ephesus, Apollos had
moved on to Corinth to help strengthen the
church there. However, this turned out to create an issue when the weak Corinthian believers tried to pit Apollos against Paul. The
apostle made sure there was no ill will between himself and the Jewish preacher, but it
did strain their relationship. For a person
working for the Lord, not all of the stresses
come from outside the church.
In Ephesus, Paul led twelve disciples of
John to embrace the apostolic message of salvation. Here again, he left the Jewish synagogue when they turned on him, and this time
he rented a secular hall where he taught for
two years. All the high drama of missionary
work came up in this town through sorcery,
demon possession, and a riot.
Paul left Ephesus and traveled through multiple cities, but he was greatly concerned
about the carnality in Corinth. Titus worked as
an agent between Paul and Corinth in reconciling the two. After letters passed back and
forth and the church finally came to terms
with the issues, Paul visited them before his
trip to Jerusalem to deliver the Gentiles’ offering for the poor.
Jerusalem had stresses of its own, both
from zealous Jews within the church and rioting Jews at the Temple. Soon Paul was locked
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up in Gentile hands and on his way to Rome
where he would do much work for the Lord
through his prison letters. Paul proved in
every situation to be devoted to the cause of
reaching the lost and ministering to believers
everywhere.
God’s Word never
returns ineffective
because it blesses both
the giver and the
receiver and accomplishes its purpose.
E. Blessed by the Word
Ministering the Word of God gives a double
blessing. Those who receive the Word with
faith are blessed. Those who share the Word
through preaching, teaching, and witnessing
also are blessed. God’s Word never returns ineffective because it blesses both the giver and
the receiver and accomplishes its purpose.
God looks for more people like Paul who will
share God’s Word until their whole neighborhood, city, region, and state knows the message of salvation (Acts 19:10).
Transparency 2
Transparency 2 states, “Home Bible studies are
still an effective method for discipling souls while
showing them the way of salvation.”
Consistent, systematic home Bible studies
are still an effective method for discipling
souls while showing them the way of salvation. Paul had to teach and discuss Jesus with
some individuals for months before they finally believed. He did not depend on instant
fixes to reach his world. He gave himself fully
and spent as much time as necessary to explain truth and answer questions. We should
do the same.
III. COMMANDED TO REACH
OUR WORLD
Rather than imitate effective people’s
styles and techniques, we should replicate the
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passion of people like Paul. God’s people
today have equal or greater opportunities
than the apostles. We have the same skills.
We have more tools and methods of communication. We cannot excuse ourselves for
doing less.
In Antioch, God called His team to Himself
first. Too many mission-minded people get
their eyes on the harvest field and overlook
the Owner. Before doing anything for God, we
need to develop a life with Him. Paul jumped
into ministry and got himself into trouble in
Jerusalem. After leaving there, Paul spent a
decade and a half preparing himself before the
Lord told him it was time to go.
Churches should network to involve young
people and not just entertain them. Paul came
into the church eager to serve. New converts’
joy should be directed into soulwinning energies while they are fresh and excited about
their faith. When people first join the church,
they are eager for action. They want to build a
winning team. They have no fear of the field;
they will knock doors, hang posters, volunteer
for a church block party, and even come early
for prayer. Older church attendees too easily
become inactive. They were busy when they
first experienced redemption, but time and familiarity sometimes leads them to want to sit
and watch the action. Perhaps by helping
focus the energies of new believers, the older
ones will themselves become inspired and join
the mission.
Internalizing the Message
Many people read of the life of Paul and are
overwhelmed. They begin asking, “What is
God’s will for my life?” They want to count for
something; they want to matter. Unfortunately,
this is not the right question. It portrays more
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of a sense of ownership on God and an expectation that He owes us answers and a wellplotted map for life. Instead of asking His will
for our lives, we should ask, “What is God’s
will?” We have to learn to see life through the
big lens, not the personalized, high-definition
mindset of pride. Too often we fail to ask God
what He desires as much as we ask Him to fulfill our desires.
Instead of thinking of the will of God as a
treasure map custom delivered from Heaven,
we should think of His desires as a fastmoving highway into which we merge. We
should join in with what He is doing and
wishes to do on this earth. Often God does
not show us His long-term will because it
would only engender fear and lack of understanding. Rather, He leads us to live our lives
for Him daily and adapt to living the full expression of His desires faithfully.
We observe these truths in the life of Paul.
Instead of looking for personal fulfillment and
a good life, he was seeking to lead others into
the kingdom of God. He was living out the desires of God through his life. As with Paul, a
person’s heart is most aligned with the Lord
when he desires to win the lost at any cost.
REFLECTIONS
• What motivates a person to leave everything he has ever known to risk his life
telling others about Jesus? Discuss.
• What holds people back from effectively
serving God? Discuss.
• Discuss why people sometimes get stuck
wanting to know God’s will but never
seem to find it.
• In what ways do we face dangers from
ministering the gospel today, and how are
these the same or different from what the
early church faced? Discuss.
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