It's Friday

It’s Friday, Jesus is praying, Peter’s asleep, and Judas is betraying. But Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, my Savior on trial is silent, the high priests of Israel are violent, my Jesus is a lamb before slaughter. But Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, Pilate is struggling, the council is conspiring, the crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the disciples are running … like sheep without a shepherd. Mary is crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the Romans beat my Jesus, they robe Him in scarlet, the crown Him with thorns. But they don’t know that Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, see Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping, His body is stumbling, and His spirit is burdened. But you see it’s only Friday. Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the world’s winning, people are sinning, and evil is grinning.

It’s Friday, the soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet to the cross. And they raise Him up next to criminals.

It’s Friday, but let me tell you something. Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the disciples are questioning. What has happened to their King? And the Pharisees are celebrating, that their scheming has been achieved. But they don’t know. It’s only Friday. Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, He’s hanging on the cross, feeling forsaken by His Father, left alone and dying. Can nobody save Him? Oh! It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields His spirit.

It’s Friday, hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. Satan is just laughing.

It’s Friday, Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place.

But it’s Friday. It’s only Friday.

Sunday is coming.

Exceeding and Eternal Weight of Glory

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Not only are we encouraged that our fatigue and weariness is bearable in light of the reward, we are encouraged to put ourselves out - to push ourselves for the sake of the Kingdom of God to the point of affliction and exhaustion in order to reap that eternal reward. Cast your eyes away from the sparkle and lure of this world to see the things that are eternal. There the true Christian finds his treasures and His glory.

The Gift of Pentecost.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles (2:1-7, 14, 38-41)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, ...
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words." ...
And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

Homily
Fifty days after Passover (when our Savior was crucified) was another important Jewish holiday when devout Jews would gather in Jerusalem. God chose this Pentecost to pour a new significance to this ancient holiday. He poured out the Holy Spirit onto the believers there in Jerusalem, sparking a spiritual uproar as pilgrims gathered to hear the good news of Jesus Christ from Peter and the other empowered apostles. The wait for the fulfillment of the promise made last week as He ascended was finished in spectacular fashion as the Spirit came upon them with signs and great power. Designed to draw a crowd and teach them that God's promise was to all nations. That includes us.

It has been over 40 days since Resurrection Sunday

The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew (28:16-20)
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

The Acts of the Apostles (1:1-3, 6-11)
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. ...
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Jesus, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Homily
Do you realize that just over 40 days have passed since Easter, April 12th? What have you been doing since then? Anything big happened? Any big trips? As you may know, this closes one chapter on Biblical history and we are on the cusp of starting another. Today is part of the interlude.
As we discussed last time, Jesus made specific appearances to select people. Matthew possibly relates the event that Paul spoke of where 500 were present, in Galilee where He had taught most often and far from the city where Jesus was crucified. Some had doubts, but all heard the commission. Make disciples. Spread the Word. He made other appearances in Galilee as recorded by John. But our Lord had prophecy to fulfill in Jerusalem. So the apostles followed His directions to return to Jerusalem.
Luke picks up the story there for the book of Acts. For forty days following His resurrection He taught and revealed Himself to the apostles. Infallible proof is how Luke describes it. They wondered what was next. Jesus replied that the earthly kingdom would have to wait, but that His people were to be about His work, making disciples. Then almost un-spectacularly He ascended into heaven away from them. Stunned and momentarily directionless, an angel puts the sight into context. "He is coming again, same place and in similar manner. Be ready."
So begins the wait. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to them. It shouldn't take long.

Places to Go, People to see,

The first letter from Paul to the Corinthians (15:3-8)
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. "

Homily
Allow me a few thoughts from this second-hand travelogue of our Lord. One, integral in Paul's case that the physical resurrection of Christ is foundational in the gospel of Christianity is not only that the Scriptures attest that it would happen, but also that there are many, many eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ, himself least among them.
But also notice to whom He appeared. Peter ("Cephas") is listed first. The one who publicly denied knowing Him was privileged to have been personally restored to fellowship with his Lord. Over five hundred believers saw Jesus Christ at one event otherwise unrecorded in Scripture. But one that seems especially special to me is that Jesus was seen by James. It is understood that this James was the half-brother of Jesus. James is shown in the gospels to have not trusted his Brother as Messiah or Lord. Yet in Acts, James is listed in chapter one as among the believers, and later as a pastor over the congregation in Jerusalem. The change that took place in James is hinted here in the letter to the Corinthians. The reconciliation between the two brothers as one who is Savior and the other who is sinner is touching. Is it a case of "blood is thicker than water" as we say back home in Gravette? No, but here are the steps of faith in James and the glorious grace and love of God personified in His Son overcoming the most stubborn sibling rivalry. James repenting of his pride and hatred against his Brother. Jesus personally affirming forgiveness and restoration to His sibling.

Two weeks later

Then Jesus came to them (the eleven disciples) and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Homily...
Being a disciple and making disciples. All nations and right here. Obey everything He commanded us. He is with us to the end. Because He said so.
Still thinking about that.

It's been one week.

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
And He said to them, "What things?"
So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

Homily
Oh, to have been on the road listening in on this conversation as Jesus explained the Old Testament prophecies concerning Himself and His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection! No doubt, much of the New Testament use of the Old Testament is a reflection of this conversation and others that took place between the resurrection and the ascension 40 days later. Significant is that the most important need for those discouraged followers of Jesus was not that they immediately recognize Him as He walked alongside of them. The most important need was that they understand what God has said in His Scriptures about the Man walking alongside of them. Only after hearing what God has said would they be ready to see God in their midst.

Prayer ...

Note
yes, I am aware that chronologically this should have been last week's reading and that last week's reading actually took place closer 8 days later. I was excited about last week's, and I did not realize at the time that I would keep going.