Background Textual content: Matthew 4:19
Devotional Textual content: John 21:19
Over the past two weeks, pricey associates, we learn in regards to the resurrection of Jesus, the 40 days he spent educating his disciples in preparation for his or her ministry, and his ascension into heaven.
This week, we proceed with the formation of the believers group in Christ. In Luke 24:50-53, we discover these phrases that inform us what occurred at his ascension:
“Jesus led them out of town so far as Bethany, the place he raised his fingers and blessed them. He was then taken up into heaven. They worshiped him and went again into Jerusalem, crammed with nice pleasure, and spent all their time within the temple giving because of God.”
Additionally we discover in Acts 1:8, simply earlier than the ascension of Jesus, he spoke these phrases to his disciples about ready in Jerusalem to obtain the ability of the Holy Spirit. He stated, “You may be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After his ascension, the disciples selected Matthias to take the place of Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, in order that the variety of apostles remained at 12.
Acts 1:14 reiterates what we’ve got learn within the above passage from Luke 24, “All of them joined collectively always in prayer, together with the ladies and Mary, the mom of Jesus, and along with his brothers.”
Going onto Acts 1:15, we discover that Peter had grow to be a frontrunner of the group of believers. At the moment, they numbered about 120.
This must be no shock to us, as all through the gospels, Peter was at all times the one who rushed to imagine in Jesus. Didn’t he first name him the Messiah in Mark 8:29? Didn’t he, believing Jesus would permit him to stroll on water, ask to get out of the boat and go to Jesus in Matthew 14:27-31?
Peter was not an ideal man; none of us are excellent. But, Jesus knew the center of Peter. He knew the depth of Peter’s religion. Although Peter was proven as a reliable disciple, we discover his failings as nicely.
As we examine Peter by way of the gospels, it ought to assist us to know that Jesus forgives and doesn’t condemn. Let’s go now to the dialog between Jesus and Peter discovered on the finish of John’s gospel:
On this dialog, present in John 21:15-19, Jesus requested Peter 3 times, “Do you like me?” After Peter responded, “Sure, Lord. You already know that I really like you,” Jesus continued by saying to Peter, “Feed my lambs.”
The second time, Jesus requested Peter the identical query, and Peter replied to him in the identical method, Jesus added these phrases, “Deal with my sheep.”
After Jesus requested the identical query of Peter the third time, Peter answered with these phrases, “Lord, you already know all issues, you already know that I really like you,” after which Jesus stated to him, “Feed my sheep.”
After which in John 21:19, Jesus stated to Peter, “Comply with me!”
As we learn this trade between the 2, we’re reminded of three issues.
First, all 4 gospels share with us the 3 times Peter denied Jesus after Jesus was arrested: from Luke 22:54-57 and 59-62, Mark 14:69-70, Matthew 26:73-75, and John 18:15-27.
So, when the resurrected Jesus requested Peter his three questions of affection, Peter, who was ashamed of getting denied the Savior, answered as one really dedicated to Jesus and regardless of the Messiah deliberate for him. At the moment, Jesus was chatting with Peter about turning into a distinguished chief locally that might grow to be often called Christians.
Second, why did Jesus ask Peter to look after and feed the lambs and the sheep? These phrases refer again to John 10:11-18.
Right here, we examine what Jesus stated about himself, referring to himself because the Good Shepherd. In these verses he’s not solely referring to Jewish individuals who will comply with him, however to anybody who will come to imagine in him (see John 10:16).
To learn an excellent overview regarding good shepherds, learn the prophecy present in Ezekiel 34:1-31. This prophecy refers back to the distinction between good shepherds and dangerous. It additionally tells us the distinction between good sheep and dangerous. All the prophecy tells us of God’s judgment and his look after his flock.
Though towards the top of the Ezekiel chapter, the prophecy refers back to the Israelites because the Lord’s flock, we discover within the Gospel of John, chapter 10, that every one individuals who would imagine in him, together with non-Jews, would grow to be members of his flock.
We discover God’s covenant of peace along with his flock in Ezekiel 34:25-31 with scriptures that talk particularly to us about how the Good Shepherd blesses them, retains them protected, takes away their fears, sees that they eat nicely and that they’ve pastures in land that’s protected.
Thirdly, as we discover Jesus saying to Peter the phrases “Comply with me” in John 21:19, we’re taken again to Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17, when Jesus first met Peter and his brother Andrew whereas they have been fishing. He stated these phrases to them: “Comply with me, and I’ll make you fishers of males,” and so they left their nets and adopted him.
We discover within the first ebook of Acts that it’s Peter who organized the disciples to call a brand new twelfth apostle to take the place of Judas. They did so with prayers to God after which the casting of heaps. That’s when Matthias was named because the twelfth man to their group.
Although the group of believers was small at the moment, 50 days after Passover, the Jewish celebration of Pentecost could be held. It might quickly grow to be often called the Christian day of Pentecost, the day the group of believers would explode in quantity.
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