Good morning! Today in Acts 6-7, we see two symptoms of the explosive growth in Jerusalem of Christ-believers, along with the responses to them. First, the burden of providing food for thousands of new converts yields a new system of people authorized to lead such service. Second, successful preaching draws the negative attention of those who oppose this movement, leading to fatal conflict. Both these actions bear witness to the clarity and effectiveness of the early church in following Jesus’ example.

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Good morning! Today with Acts 3-5, we see the increasing power and reach of the Spirit’s energy in the first disciples. However, we also run into the sharpening resistance to prophetic preaching and healing which comes from the religious authorities. We start to see even here what will lead to schism between Christ-followers and Jews only a few decades later.

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Good morning! Today we begin reading the book entitled “Acts of the Apostles”. As you may remember, one way to think about Acts is as the “second half” to Luke. The same writer continues on from the story of Jesus to the stories of the early church. Acts describes the gradual expansion of the Christ-following tradition in concentric circles out, from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, “and to the ends of the earth” (1:8). These twenty-eight chapters largely follow the traveling ministries of Peter and Paul, but the activities of other female and male disciples also become clear. Today in Acts 1-2, we pick up in the immediate aftermath of the resurrection, with the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the first believers.

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Good morning! Today we move from death to life, crucifixion to resurrection. The death of Jesus does not “come undone”, yet the disciples discover that death is not the last word. Jesus reveals a new and resurrected life—with ongoing calls for discipleship—proceeding from the last place anyone expected it: the tomb itself.

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Good morning! Today in John’s gospel (chapters 18-19) we read the description of Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial. Though the order of events here largely concurs with that of other gospels, John makes some unique tweaks to these episodes to underscore theological points about what happened in the crucifixion.

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Good morning! Yesterday’s passage from John ended with “Rise, let us be on our way,” but Jesus here goes on for chapters more! In John 15-17, he gives something like his valedictory speech, final instructions before leaving earth. Or maybe, given the significance of this day in the United States, think of this as Jesus’ final campaign speech on Election Day. (Go vote today!) In these chapters, Jesus speaks directly to his disciples (and then to God) about abiding in God’s presence, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the benefits of sustained faithfulness.

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Good morning! Jesus prepares the disciples for his death in today’s passage (John 13-14). He gives them the symbol of foot-washing, the commandment to love, and the promise of the Holy Spirit once he is gone. When Jesus’s forthcoming crucifixion and burial are mentioned beginning in chapter 13, notice that John doesn’t make reference to death, but only to departure. This is but one of many characterizations of Jesus’ actions in these final chapters that show him utterly in control, never a victim of circumstances but always a master consenting to the turn of affairs because they serve his purposes.

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Good morning! Today in John 11-12 we have several stories of tenderness and pathos, even amid the growing gloom of institutional and imperial power aligning against Jesus. His clarity of purpose leaves little room to worry about the opposition scheming for his life. Instead, he seeks to fulfill the purpose for which he was sent: eternal life.

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