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Luke 24:13-43; Mark 16:12-13; John 20:19-23; Mark 16:14; John 20:24-21:25; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:44-49<\/strong><\/span> Matthew:<\/strong> The Great Commission at the end of Matthew chapter 28 in verses 18-20 is so important for us as followers of Jesus on Earth today: \u201cJesus came and told his disciples, \u201cI have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I like that we see the Trinity in this commission \u2013 the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 The NIV Study Bible commentary today says that Jesus\u2019 Great Commission has three steps:\u00a0 1.\u00a0 Go\u00a0 2.\u00a0 Baptize them.\u00a0 3.\u00a0 Teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded.\u00a0 I know the Great Commission encourages many to go on mission trips, which is wonderful and makes sense.\u00a0 However, I believe that often times the mission field many of us are called to \u201cgo\u201d into is in our own backyards.\u00a0 Our own towns.\u00a0 Our own cities.\u00a0 Maybe even our own homes.\u00a0 \u00a0Let us go where the Lord calls us to go \u2013 near or afar.\u00a0 Will you go? <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Johh:<\/strong> John 21 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible in so many ways!\u00a0 In some ways it is because of a beautiful modern day book written by the late Henri Nouwen titled \u201c<\/span>In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership<\/span>\u201c, which is based on this chapter and Jesus asking Peter 3 times if he loves him.\u00a0 Has anyone else read this book by Nouwen?\u00a0 If so, please post up reviews in the Comments section below.\u00a0 I know I make a lot of book recommendations on this blog over the course of a year, but if there is just 1 book you read based on my recommendations (other than the One Year Bible of course :), \u201cIn the Name of Jesus\u201d by Henri Nouwen would be the book.\u00a0 In this book Henri writes about the end of his life ministry where he is a spiritual director at a L\u2019Arche Daybreak community in Toronto, working amongst mentally handicapped.\u00a0 It is so incredible to read about how Henri learns from what the world would see as \u201cthe least of these\u201d and how Henri realizes in his Christian ministry throughout his life he\u2019s been fighting 3 temptations: <\/span><\/p>\n Okay, back to the Bible.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Below is an image of the risen Jesus from today\u2019s readings by the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias is the same Sea, just another name for it) by artist William Hole:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n One of my absolute favorite red letter quotes from Jesus in the Gospels arrives today in John 21.\u00a0 Verse 12: \u201c\u201dNow come and have some breakfast!\u201d Jesus said.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>There is something about the simplicity and beauty and every-day-ness of this command from Jesus to the 7 disciples that I just absolutely love!\u00a0 Can you image Jesus saying this to you?\u00a0 Can you imagine Jesus making breakfast for you on the beach?\u00a0 In the words of the famous Mercy Me song, \u201cI can only imagine\u2026\u201d\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Okay, now onto the big question probably for many of us from today\u2019s readings is why did Jesus ask Peter 3 times if he loved him?\u00a0 Many commentaries call these passages \u201cthe reinstatement of Peter\u201d \u2013 meaning that he was reinstated as the rock \/ confessor of the foundation of Jesus\u2019 church based on <\/span>Matthew 16:16<\/span>.\u00a0 And that he needed this reinstatement after denying knowing the Lord 3 times before his crucifixion (and the then rooster crowing, as we know\u2026).\u00a0 Interestingly, Tyndale\u2019s One Year Bible Companion has the following suggestions on the original Greek used when John wrote about this Q & A exchange between Jesus and Peter:\u00a0 \u201cTwo different Greek words are used for \u201clove.\u201d The first two times the word agapo<\/em>, which means devoted love, is used.\u00a0 When Peter refuses to use the same word, Jesus turns to the word phileo<\/em>, which indicates the love of friendship.\u00a0 Peter accepts this word and admits that he loves Jesus in this way.\u00a0 Peter was humbler now than earlier in his life, and was making no claim to superior love (see <\/span>John 13:36-37<\/span>).\u201d\u00a0 In verse 18 Jesus says to Peter: \u201cThe truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will direct you and take you where you don\u2019t want to go.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The early church understood this as a prophecy of crucifixion.\u00a0 Peter would be a martyr and tradition suggests that he was crucified upside down.\u00a0 Below is a beautiful stained glass image of this exchange between Peter and Jesus in today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Okay, I realize this has been a long post today\u2026 but the last thing I want to point out is that I love Jesus\u2019 response to Peter when Peter asks about what will happen to John and Jesus says this is verse 22: \u201cJesus replied, \u201cIf I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I think this is a great word from Jesus to both you and me today as well!\u00a0 How often do we worry about others and their relationship with the Lord?\u00a0 How often do we perhaps think that we are so saved, and \u201cthey\u201d are so not\u2026?\u00a0 Or how often do we wonder why someone seems like they are so blessed, and perhaps we think that we are not?\u00a0 Well, what does Jesus say to all of this to you and me today?\u00a0 I believe he would say the same words from verse 22:\u00a0 \u201cWhat is that to you? You follow me.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0Indeed, let us not worry so very much about others.\u00a0 But let us worry instead about ourselves simply following Jesus!\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s John readings titled \u201cWhat is this thing called Love?\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings in John about Thomas\u2019 doubts reminded me of the FFH song \u201cCome Undone.\u201d Here\u2019s a great live version of this song:<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
1. the temptation to be relevant.
2. the temptation to be spectacular.
3. the temptation to be powerful.
I could go on and on about this book, but the last thing I will say is that it is so beautiful how Henri ties his learnings in this book to Jesus and Peter\u2019s Q & A here in John 21. If you serve in any way, shape, or form in Christian ministry (or even if you don\u2019t :), please pick this book up.\u00a0 You will be blessed by it immensely!<\/span><\/p>\n