Wednesday 19 April 2023

Background

Today’s passage is a straight continuation from yesterday's, but has its own unique talking points. It speaks of the great deeds and life of Jesus Christ, his birth, death and resurrection. It tells of the disciples sharing their love of Jesus with the crowd who have hounded them for days; In fact, it is the first account of anyone standing up and declaring that Jesus is Lord.

One of the factors that I find stands out is the stark difference in Peter’s confidence from just after the crucifixion when he denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:61-62). After just 40 days with Jesus and time with the Holy Spirit, you can see the strength of Jesus’ disciples shining through. 

One aspect in this passage that challenged me when reading was the term 'Hades' (v. 27). I had never encountered it face-on in the Bible before and wasn’t sure of its meaning in this context, so I did some reading and talking to others to learn more. Hades is a Jewish term that describes the place of waiting between heaven and hell; similar to purgatory in the Roman Catholic Church. The Methodist Church links Hades and hell as being one and the same. This neatly illustrates how different denominations interpret the same text in different ways. But we are united in our belief that, because we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord, we are freed from hell’s grasp.

For me, this is one of the best things if not the best thing Jesus did for us all: he sacrificed himself to save us and reconnect us with God in heaven.

To Ponder:

• Do varying beliefs about parts of the Bible mean denominations cannot work together?
• Is there someone you can approach to have an open conversation and learn more about the Bible?
• Is there a part of the Bible you don’t understand?

Prayer

Proclaiming and hardworking God, we pray today for all the work of your whole Church. Despite our differing understandings of your magnificence, we have found ways to collectively complete your work here on earth. Amen.