Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

No doubt, there are different ways of considering the ascension of Jesus.  After all, he had predicted that it would take place. He had also prayed about it as we can see from John 17 when he asked the Father that he would be given the glory he had in eternity, before the world was. We should remind ourselves as we think about it that Jesus had told the disciples that it was better for them that he would go away so that the Comforter could come to them. His ascension fulfilled several Old Testament predictions that prophesied of the glory that the Messiah would have. It may seem unusual to suggest, but it looks as if Luke’s focus is also on the disciples in these verses. Note the number of times the words ‘they’ and ‘them’ occur in the passage. Of course, at the same time we are to have our focus on what happened to Jesus at this significant stage in the path of exaltation, but Luke also seems to say, ‘Look what happened to the disciples.’ Is he saying to Theophilus and other later...

What is the book of Ruth about? What are the reasons why we should consider it? Here are five.  First, it is about people (several are introduced to us in the book, believers and unbelievers, from different races and of different ages).  Second, it is about problems that people can face (famine, ethnic differences, and the social practices that prevented initially the proposed wedding of Boaz and Ruth, practices connected to the laws God had given to his people).  Third, it is about divine providence , how God works in simultaneous situations to fulfil his own will, of bringing a happy conclusion out of a sequence of hindrances and major disappointments, even tragedies.  Fourth, it is about God’s provision for needy women (Naomi, Ruth), although their needs were very different.  Fifth, it is about God’s overall purpose (Elimelech had no idea that one of his sons would marry a Moabitess who would through another marriage become the ancestor of David the king w...

When we compare the four Gospel accounts it is clear that Luke compresses together in this passage some details that took place over the next forty days. After all, if we did not know otherwise, we would assume that the ascension took place that same evening whereas we know that it would be another forty days until it took occurred (Acts 1:3). A lot depends on how we interpret the word ‘then’ that occurs in verses 44 and 45. Does it mean that he said those words immediately or does it mean that he said them sequentially over a period of time? It looks to me as if it is sequential, presented here as a summary of his teaching given to his disciples during those days. John tells us that Jesus said something else when he met with the disciples on this occasion: ‘And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld’ (John 20:22-23). Obviously, Je...

This prayer was offered to God by Nehemiah, a patriot burdened about the ongoing recovery of his people, who led the government of Judah on two occasions. The first period lasted for twelve years, and it was followed by some time in Babylon. Then he came back to Jerusalem and governed for a second time. No one knows how long this second period lasted. All we have about it, after he corrected the problems listed in Chapter 13 of Nehemiah, is this verse. Several features of Nehemiah’s character are found in both periods, and it is useful for us to remind ourselves of them, because it is inevitable that a person’s character affects his prayer life. An obvious feature was his desire that God’s people should have security in a difficult world, surrounded by enemies, and he revealed his desire in his determination to build the wall during his first term, although he discovered in his second term that the wall had to be used properly by ensuring that its gates were closed on the Sabbath. Anot...

Jacob has had to leave the family home because of threats made against him by his annoyed brother Esau. He was leaving at his mother’s suggestion, who had proposed that he go to the home of his uncle Laban in Haran and find a wife there. On the journey he slept overnight near to a place called Luz, which was about fifty miles from Beersheba, and he still had four hundred and fifty miles to go. Archaeologists have discovered ruins of ancient temples at Luz, and that detail may or may not have relevance to what happened to Jacob that night. It could be the case that the living God chose to reveal himself to Jacob in a location where other religions may have seemed attractive and protective, or maybe frightening and threatening. Jacob was leaving the land to which the promises of God were linked, so perhaps he was apprehensive in more ways than one. Luz had a special place in the history of the family. Abraham had built an altar there when he was exploring the land that God had given him....

The return journey from Emmaus would have take much less time that getting to the village from Jerusalem. When they reached the location, the couple found the disciples there. There is something sad and solemn about the description for here they are for the first time called ‘the eleven’. One of the number had not only betrayed Jesus but had taken his own life. Despite having spent years with Jesus, Judas had never discovered the graciousness of Jesus. They are called ‘the eleven’ although Thomas was not with them on this occasion, as John tells us in his account. In this sermon, we can consider three questions: (1) what happened when Jesus met Peter? (2) What did Jesus say when he met the disciples? (3) What invitation did he give to the disciples when they met him? The compassion of Jesus for Peter The couple from Emmaus believed that they had great news for their friends in Jerusalem concerning the reality of the Saviour’s resurrection. But before they could explain what they had ex...

It was a very important day in the history of Jerusalem when the people held their dedication service regarding the wall that Nehemiah had rebuilt. Yet it would be appropriate to ask if there were any consequences of that meeting. Nehemiah informs us in the passage we are considering that there were both good and bad outcomes. The good outcomes occurred immediately, on the same day, but the bad ones took a while, even a few years, to show themselves. Yet there were connections between them because some of the bad outcomes appeared in the areas of life improved by the good outcomes. The Good Outcomes The first good outcome is detailed in 12:44-47. Supervisors of storerooms were appointed to look after the donations or tithes that the people of Judah gladly gave for the upkeep of the priests and Levites (the Levites did various tasks, such as being gatekeepers of the temple or singers in the temple as well as reading God’s Word to the people). Those contributions by the people were made ...