Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – Acts 2:1-13, 36-47 (day five) In the blink of an eye what was a group of one hundred twenty becomes a group of three thousand one hundred and twenty. Scriptures say they were “added.”  And what seems to be one of their first rhythms is to gather to learn and hear God’s Word. Not for the sake of gathering, but to listen to and study the scriptures. There was a hunger and desire to know and understand God’s Word. It was fervent. It was prominent. It was continual. What were the Apostles teaching?  The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms as well as the words of Jesus. What became quickly clear and true for those first believers still remains true for us today. Being filled with the Spirit and being filled with God’s Word go together.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:45-53 (day five)

What an amazing passage!  The disciples receive much needed clarity and are commissioned to take the gospel to the nations beginning with Jerusalem. I think I would have immediately run down the hill and started immediately sharing, teaching, and preaching. Yet, Jesus tells them to wait. Almost counter intuitive. READY! SET! WAIT!
Here’s the incredible thing- that’s exactly what they do. There is that must trust and submission in their hearts. So what we see is obedience from the disciples. They do exactly what Jesus tells them to do. Our trust and submission to the Lord, should always lead to obedience because His plan, His promises, and His timing are always perfect.

Re:Verse passage – John 16:5-16 (day five)

“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.”
Jesus senses that the hearts of His disciples are heavy and saddened. So, He carefully and wisely chooses His next words. Looking to strengthen and encourage them, He promises and discloses the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. That work- convicting, guiding, and glorifying is “to our advantage”.  That work also stretches and challenges us in our finiteness and humanness. The Lord’s economy is always seen and understood more clearly from an eternal perspective rather than a temporal one. It is the eternal things that matter most to the Lord. And they should to us as well. Our task and privilege is to think and remember His words (verse 4). So, daily if not more, we read, recite, and remind ourselves of the Scripture (His Words) that produces the eternal perspective of joy, wisdom, hope, strength, and courage.

Re:Verse passage – John 21:1-19 (day five)

What could have been an overwhelmingly impossible circumstance, becomes a moment of restoration and redirection. For Peter there was the potential for every morning for the rest of his life to be a reminder of failure and sin. Crowing roosters (which never left the region) were most likely a daily alarm of his past. Probably crowing on this morning as well. Jesus had a “charcoal fire” going on shore. Only other time those Greek words were used, were to describe the fire burning when Peter denies Jesus (John 18).

What Jesus teaches Peter (and us) is, that a failed believer isn’t a finished believer. When Jesus has our hearts (our love and desire for Him more than anything else we want or need), He then assigns mission and ministry. He will use our past to remind and direct us to the path (through confession and repentance) where we can live at peace with Him, in joyful obedience, and with the strength and courage of His daily presence.

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:36:-43; John 20:26-29 (day five)  

Thomas was missing (at Jesus’ appearance to the disciples). John points this out in 20:24. Do you wonder why?  Was the grief and sense of loss and defeat more than he could bear?  Perhaps. Was he scared and in hiding? Maybe, but my opinion is NO. Remember in John 11, Thomas was willing (leading the charge) to go back to Judea and die with Jesus. I think it was more of the former. Often times our reaction to grief, pain, trauma, or distress is to withdraw.  Be alone.  Circle the wagons, so to speak. In Thomas’ case it was counterproductive.

It can also be said that “Thomas missed out.” He missed seeing Jesus. Maybe a couple of possible applications:  1) When we are with other believers we often sense the strength and encouragement of Christ in and through them. DON’T MISS OUT.  2) When there are folks missing (maybe for the reasons listed previously), our joyful task is to reach out and bring/welcome them back into our groups and gatherings. We get to extend and express the love and strength of Christ (isn’t that cool).  (See Hebrews 10:24-25) Will you be in your place with your group, class, body?  Will you reach out and draw others back, to see and experience Christ at work through your group, class, or body?

Re:Verse passage – John 20:1-18 (day five) “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.”

As we read and study this first Resurrection Appearance this week, I came across this quote/insight from Dr. Bob Utley. “Remember the stone was removed to let the eyewitnesses into the tomb, not to let Jesus out. His new resurrection body did not have the physical limits of His earthly body (i.e., John 20:19,26).”

It caused me to think/remember many of the ways and times that God uses (has used in my life) to show me Who He is, How He is working, and What He has done. Has been a sweet week of worship and reflection. It is God who shows/reveals His Character, His Ways and Purposes,and His Words and Promises to us. Maybe today, we should all inventory and recount those times where God’s goodness and activity were revealed to us by His grace and power!!

Re:Verse passage – Luke 24:1-12 (day five)

Re:Verse passage – Luke 19:28-44 (day five) “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,”
What an amazing line in our Re:Verse passage. Jesus saw the city. In His heart and mind there must have been a thousand things flooding through. Fully aware that He was headed to die (Luke 18). Understanding that multiple prophesies were being fulfilled (colt, palm leaves, words and worship of the people), Jesus is moved by the sin and the suffering that embodies the city of Jerusalem. There is no hesitation or doubt that God is in control and that His plan and purpose will come to pass. Yet, there is space and grace in Jesus’ heart to not only see, but weep over the brokenness and destruction of these people. Lord give us Your eyes and Your heart as we walk and serve- that we might be tenderly moved and compassionate like our Savior and King!!