Joshua EdgrenShepherds of the Sheep (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #37) (KC)
INTRODUCTION
Since the beginning, the church has been led by qualified men called “elders.” This was the case in Ephesus and in all the churches (Tit. 1:5). These men are called to shepherd the flock of God by feeding it and guarding it by the entire Word of God.
The Text: “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons…” (Acts 20:17-38)
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
Paul called the Ephesian elders together for a final charge before he departed, reviewing the manner of his ministry, his intensity, diligence, and sacrifice, saying it was to be his last time (Acts 20:17-25, cf. 20:38). Therefore, Paul makes a point for the record that he has not held back any part of God’s Word from them and is therefore innocent of their blood before God, as a faithful watchman (Acts 20:26-27, cf. Ezek. 3, 33). He charges the elders to follow his example in guarding and feeding the flock of God, warning them specifically about wolves arising in their own midst (Acts 20:28-31). He commends them to God and His Word and his own example of ministry, prays with them all before parting (Acts 20:32-38).
ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD
Paul emphasizes in this final charge to the Ephesian elders his ministry of God’s Word: teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying of repentance and the gospel, preaching the kingdom of God, and the whole counsel of God, and therefore, the elders are to feed the flock, build up the saints, by the same Word of God’s grace.
This is what we mean by “All of Christ for All of Life.” We mean all of Scripture, applied all the time, everywhere. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This means that our goal must be to study and know the whole Bible. Many modern Christians are only taught snippets and a few stories. We are not prepared for all good works because we do not know all of Scripture. What does God’s Word say about immigration, sexuality, politics, finances, or friendship? We must not be selective in our Bible study. And elders are entrusted with making sure that we are not leaving anything out: Genesis to Revelation.
FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD
The whole Bible is our food, and elders are entrusted with making sure the flock is actually eating. The center of this is Lord’s Day worship, where the elders that labor in word and doctrine teach and preach the Word openly (1 Tim. 5:17). But all elders are entrusted with checking in “house to house.” We don’t just put the food out and hope for the best; elders are shepherds under the Chief Shepherd who care for the health of the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4).
This is how Christians are built up (Acts 20:32). If Christians have become weak and impotent, it is because we have a famine of God’s Word (Amos 8:11). This is why Scripture requires God’s people to follow “those who rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God… for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief” (Heb. 13:7, 17). There is an exhortation here in both directions: elders must speak the word, set good examples, and watch over souls, and members must heed that counsel, follow those examples, and make this job a joy and not a grief.
GUARD THE CHURCH OF GOD
Elders are also required by to guard God’s flock from wolves. This is one of the reasons why elders must be men. This is a frontline, combat and security position. Those who become elders have to imitate Paul’s willingness to “not count his life dear” (Acts 20:24). Sometimes this requires literal martyrdom, but it frequently includes public hatred and persecution (Mt. 5:11-12, 2 Tim. 3:12).
This task of guarding is never “off duty” and is intense because it includes the internal temptations of elders, their own households, plus the rest of the elder board and the congregation, while continuing to preach the gospel to those outside. Elders are held to a high standard of personal holiness and household faithfulness (1 Tim. 3, Tit. 1). Paul says this was intense for him personally (Acts 20:19), and he insists that this will be the same for the Ephesian elders, some of whom will be led astray and lead others astray (Acts 20:29-30). Therefore, elders must watch and pray constantly, and the flock must watch and pray.
Church scandals are some of the most damaging events for the faith of Christians, but there ought to be some comfort in hearing these words from 2,000 years ago. How many scandals have there been since then? And look at the church of Jesus Christ. We must be faithful, and sometimes the world will accuse us of scandal, when all we did was deal with sin like the Bible says (Mt. 18, 1 Cor. 5).
APPLICATIONS
Pray for faithful elders and pastors: We live in a great famine of the Word, but it is not for lack of access to the Word. Rather, we have churches filled with men who will not tell the whole truth, who pander and flatter, tickling the ears of their hearers, prizing their own lives and reputations over the glory of Christ and the care of His church (cf. Jn. 12:43). By doing this, they are hating and abusing the flock of God, refusing to feed and guard them.
Trust in Jesus Christ not men: God has determined to care for His people through fallible men (and this is true in all governments), and this really is for our good. He knows what He is doing. But we must not follow mindlessly: we submit in the Lord. We follow them as they follow Christ because He is the Good Shepherd: He purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28, Jn. 10:28). He died for His church so that “He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).
When John was given a glimpse of the future glory of the world, He saw the Church descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2), and all things made new (Rev. 21:5). And faithful elders are central to this project.
Close to the King (The Inescapable Story of Jesus #12b) (CCD)
INTRODUCTION
Trends come and go. This diet is the secret. This exercise routine of Mongolian herdsman will resolve all your health issues. This legislation will solve all societal ills. The list of such fixes is long. Man wants a law which, if rigorously obeyed, will solve every evil and will give coherence to everything. But Jesus gives us the sum and substance of true righteousness, and the coherence point for the universe.
THE TEXT
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. – Mar 12:28-44
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
The contention of the previous section produced fruit in an unexpected place. One scribe is left impressed by Jesus’ answers and so puts his own question to Jesus regarding what the most important commandment is (v28). Jesus draws from Deuteronomy for His answer, and asserts that the Shema is the greatest commandment (vv29-30), and then goes on to add a quote from Leviticus 19:18 as the next greatest (v31). No other commandment surpasses these two, in this order: love God fully, love your neighbor. The scribe is clearly in agreement with Jesus, and comments that obedience to these two commandments is more than all burnt sacrifices (vv32-33). Jesus sees true wisdom in this scribe, and assures him that he is not far from the kingdom of God (v34a); Mark then underscores for us that this is Jesus’ last Q&A session with the Scribes (v34b).
Jesus proceeds to teach publicly about the Christ for the first time. He asks about a scribal teaching that the Christ will be the son of David (v35). He gives His own exegetical case for this, and not so subtly accepts the earlier adulation of the crowds that He was indeed the lawful heir to David’s throne and the Divine Christ of God. To do this Jesus quotes Psalm 110. In that Psalm, David foresees God’s fulfillment of His promise to never leave his throne empty. Yahweh promises one of David’s offspring the throne as well as the eventual subjugation of all His enemies. Jesus points out that David calls this eventual descendent “my Lord.” Jesus then leaves the crowd with a question to wrestle with: if David calls the Messiah “Lord,” is He merely David’s Son or is He more? All of this left the commoners enthralled (vv36-37).
The hammer of Christ’s teaching falls once more. He gives a warning to the crowds: “Beware of lawyers (v38).” The reason to beware is that they love appearances of holiness and importance; but they are actually devourers of widows, even if they make impressive prayers. Jesus says that great damnation awaits men of this sort (vv38-40).
Fittingly, just at that moment a widow appears. As Jesus observes the worshippers putting money in the offering box, He sees a widow put in two mites. The Lord draws His disciples’ attention to this. He says that most certainly she gave more than anyone else because while others perhaps gave greater sums, it didn’t require sacrifice; meanwhile her gift meant sacrifice (vv41-44).
LOVE & SACRIFICE
Pay close attention to all that has taken place since Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. The crowds welcomed Him as the embodiment of David’s Kingdom. He went on to rearrange the temple furniture. Israel’s rulers bring three challenges to His authority, His purpose, and His doctrine. He escapes their snares. But He is not dodging the cross. Jesus is headed straight towards it. His sacrifice is His mission.
The Scribe’s question about the greatest commandment reveals everything. What is the whole point of this Temple? What did all the sacrifices mean? What was the substance of Israel’s laws? Did God really want rivers of blood? Did He really want cakes and incense? Jesus is bringing the Kingdom of God to earth, and this demands wholehearted loyalty to the King. The sacrifices of God, as David said, are a broken and contrite heart.
If you would dwell in God’s kingdom you must humble yourself before God’s Anointed. Jesus has said that His purpose is to lay down His life for sinners, and He invites any who would follow Him to imitate His humility and sacrifice. True love means sacrifice. It means giving one’s self for the good of the other. The greatest command is to give yourself entirely to God (Cf. Rom 12:1).
NOT MORALIZING
Often we want to take the easy lesson that is on the surface, and use Scripture merely to moralize. The two coins of the widow make an easy lesson on generosity. While that component is certainly present, it isn’t the primary point. It would be like thinking the main point of The Chronicles of Narnia was about not eating too much Turkish Delight.
Jesus warns about those who devour widow’s houses, meanwhile an impoverished widow appears and gives all she had. Again, our attention being drawn to this offering isn’t mere moralizing on generosity. Rather, Jesus has seen all He needed to see. The next chapter He pronounces judgment on this House that has become full of brigands; brigands who gladly line their pockets with the meager offerings of widows. Israel’s God was a defender of widows and orphans, and He expected His people to do likewise (Deu. 10:18; Ps. 68:5; Is. 1:17). All the distressed, and indebted, and discontented made their way to David’s hideout in the cave of Adullam (1 Sam. 22:2). The widow lavishes her offering on the house of the Lord, but soon the house will be torn down. This foreshadows what will soon happen to Jesus himself; another woman will lavish her perfume upon Him before His body is destroyed. Jesus is the true house of the Lord, and forlorn sinners all find refuge and welcome in Him.
UNDER HIS FOOTSTOOL
At the time of Christ, the hope of Israel was that God would raise up a messianic figure who would rid Israel of the Romans. God had done so in ages past. Egyptians. Canaanites. Philistines. Assyrians. Babylonians. The citation which Jesus brings up is full of such longing; longing to see evil subdued and driven out. God had promised David that his descendant would eradicate Israel’s enemies. “The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries (Psa 110:5-6).”
But Jesus leaves the Scribes and crowds with a bit of a puzzle, that if solved rightly, leaves no question. Jesus here asserts, publicly, that He is the promised Christ. But it goes further, He also insinuates that He is more than a mere descendant of David, He is the Lord God of David.
This claim actually ties in with the story of the widow’s offering which follows closely behind. The widow’s sacrifice was total. Jesus has said that following Him meant following Him to the cross. So, follow this closely, Jesus lays claim to being not only David’s Son, but being the Lord of David. So, how would Yahweh destroy Israel’s enemies? By giving Himself.
NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM
Judgement looms for those who reject the Messiah. But even in this judgment, the King of mercy shines bright. The Scribe discerns that to love God entirely and then to love one’s neighbor surpasses all the bloody sacrifices which were offered in that very temple in which this exchange took place.
The word of Jesus to this Scribe is a great comfort. If you come near the great King David’s greater Son, with all your love, you are near the kingdom of God. This is because the King has first come close to us, and given us Himself.
The Comfort of Christ (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #36) (KC)
INTRODUCTION
We live in a fallen world of turmoil, and we do not yet see everything under the feet of Christ, but we see Christ (Heb. 2:8-9). We do not yet see every nation discipled, every cancer cured, or death itself destroyed, but we see Jesus who has tasted death for every man, so that by Him, we may have a peace in this world that the world cannot give. We see in this text that this was a central part of Paul’s missionary work, and it continues to be a central part of the mission of the church.
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
As planned, Paul left Ephesus to go back to Macedonia and Greece, where he comforted the churches for some time before returning with seven assistants, sailing from Philippi to Troas right around Easter (Acts 20:1-6). On the following Sunday, the disciples gathered for worship, and the service went late into the night, and while Paul was preaching, a young man fell asleep and fell to his death out of the third story window of the house they were meeting in (Acts 20:7-9). When Paul came down, he embraced the young man, bringing him back to life, and the service finished with the Lord’s Supper, bringing great comfort to everyone (Acts 20:10-12). From there, Paul made his way back toward Ephesus, coming to Miletus, to take a ship to Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:13-16).
ENCOURAGEMENT & TEAMWORK
Following the uproar of Ephesus, Paul spends some time “comforting” the churches that have started (Acts 20:2). The root word for “comfort” is the same that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit, the “Comforter,” who was promised to lead the disciples into all truth (Jn. 14:26, 15:26). Closely related is the fact that Paul is accompanied by a number of companions and disciples, at least seven of which are probably official representatives of churches Paul had planted, perhaps even delegates, bringing an offering to Jerusalem (cf. Acts 24:17). And the result of the worship service in Troas and the healing of Eutychus was “not a little comfort” (Acts 20:12). The ministry of the church is a ministry of comfort and encouragement (Acts 9:31, Rom. 15:4, 2 Cor. 1:4).
LORD’S DAY WORSHIP
At the center of this comfort is worship on the Lord’s Day, “the first day sabbath” (Acts 20:7), which is worth underlining, since it has often been translated as only “first day of the week.” But the word is actually “sabbath.” The same goes for all of the resurrection accounts: Jesus rose on the “first day sabbath” (Mt. 28:1, Mk. 16:2, Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1). In the Old Testament, there were various “sabbath days” that landed on different days of the week (new moon, festival days, cf. Lev. 23:39). As Phil Kayser has pointed out, in the first creation, God intended Adam and Eve to enjoy the sabbath as their first full day in the world, but they sinned and the Old Covenant condition was symbolized by a seventh day sabbath (looking forward). But Jesus restored us to the Garden in the New Covenant by His resurrection and restored that original first day sabbath.
John calls Sunday “the Lord’s Day” in Revelation 1, which is the same construction for the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11). In the same way that we set apart ordinary bread to “remember” Christ’s work on our behalf, so too we set aside an ordinary day to “remember” Christ’s work on our behalf, and so a “sabbath rest” remains for the people of God (Heb. 4:9). And gathering for worship and resting from your ordinary labors is a crucial part of the “comfort” of the Holy Spirit. Slaves have no days off, but we are freemen in Christ.
SLEEP & RESURRECTION
At the center of this episode is the incident with the young man, Eutychus, whose name means “good luck,” and which might indicate that he was (or had been) a slave. It was a large upper room, full of torches (likely crowded), and Eutychus may have been sitting in the window for fresh air (Acts 20:8-9). The imagery was surely not lost on the first century audience: this would have reminded early Christians of Pentecost when the fire of the Spirit filled the upper room, and perhaps it would have also had echoes of Hannukah, and earlier still, the temple itself. They gathered to “break bread,” which was an early euphemism for the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), and after Eutychus fell and was raised by Paul’s embrace (much like Elisha, 2 Kgs. 4:34), they celebrated the Lord’s Supper, our resurrection feast (Acts 20:11).
All of this emphasizes that the Spirit of the same Christ who conquered death is with Paul and with the Church. It’s no accident that after the resurrection, even death itself is likened to a “sleep,” that believers will rise from (1 Cor. 15:20, 51, 1 Thess. 5:10). And we comfort one another with these sure promises (1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11).
APPLICATIONS
Whether we wake or sleep: The foundational comfort of a Christian is eternal security – eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Sinners deserve death, but Jesus took those wages by dying in our place and taking away our sin. The power of the devil was only in his ability to wield the fear of death for the punishment of sin (Heb. 2:14-15). But death is a defanged enemy because it is no longer our punishment. Jesus has the keys of death and hades (Rev. 1:18). Death is a river that all must pass through to get to the Celestial City. But it is a river crossing that Jesus personally oversees.
Worship is the engine: We often say that worship is the engine that drives everything we do. Fundamentally, this simply means that Jesus is Lord, and therefore, everything we do must submit to Him, bow before Him. But God has also made it clear that He wants us to gather as congregations to worship together. There is something particularly powerful and comforting when God’s people renew covenant together in word and sacrament on the first day sabbath, the Lord’s Day. This doesn’t turn everything into a church service, but rather it frees us to work and enjoy everything as a gift from our Risen King.
Many Infallible Proofs (Acts of the Apostles #2)
INTRODUCTION
The first verse of Acts contained the formal introduction to the book, but the following verses fill it out a bit more. These verses refer to the Lord’s resurrection appearances, and the proofs He gave His disciples that He was in fact alive. Second, He taught them about the kingdom, and told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had been given kingdom power. When that power had descended upon them, they would be ambassadors of that kingdom out to the ends of the earth. And then last, the angels promised that Christ would at some point return in the same way that He left, meaning that He would descend from the sky.
THE TEXT
“THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, 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; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
Luke begins volume two of his history by referring to volume one. The former book, also addressed to Theophilus, recorded all that Jesus started to do (v. 1), up to the point of His ascension (v. 2). Before He ascended, He delivered commandments to His chosen apostles (v. 2). Over the course of forty days, He appeared to them alive and provided many proofs of His resurrection, and taught them about the kingdom of God (v. 3). Gathering together with them, He required them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father came, which He had told them about (v. 4). John baptized with water, but in a very few days, they would be baptized by the Holy Spirit (v. 5). On one of their gatherings, they asked Him if this would be the moment when the kingdom was restored to Israel (v. 6). He replied that this was not for them to know, as the Father had it put under His authority (v. 7). But when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they would be imbued with power, and would be made witnesses of Christ—in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the far reaches of the earth (v. 8).
After saying this, while they were watching, He ascended into the sky and disappeared into a cloud (v. 9). They were staring as He went, and suddenly two men, clearly angels, clad in white, appeared next to them (v. 10). You men of Galilee, they said, why are you staring? He will return in exactly the same way that He left (v. 11).
OUR TABLE OF CONTENTS
The eighth verse provides us with a fine overview of the entire book of Acts. It almost serves as a table of contents. They would be witnesses in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4), Judea (Acts 2:14), Samaria (Acts 8:5), and the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 13:4ff). Imagine a rock thrown into a pond, and the place where the rock entered was Jerusalem. The concentric ripples going out from that place were Judea (the province where Jerusalem was), then Samaria, just to the north, and then out to the rest of the world. Infallible Proofs
What does it mean to prove something? The Lord appeared to His disciples and provided them with convincing proofs. To prove something means that what you have done is created a moral obligation to believe. A person might be stubborn, and continue to say nuh uh for a while, but if he is sinning by doing so, then this means that the thing was proven to him. The existence of proof is not dependent upon whether or not the person you are talking to is continuing to hold out. The issue is whether he is sinning by continuing to hold out.
What we are told here is that the resurrected Lord met with His disciples over the course of almost a month and a half, during which time He convinced them that He had risen from the dead bodily. The proofs therefore ruled out dreams, hallucinations, wish fulfillment, or anything else like that. He offered His wounds to Thomas (John 20:27). He asked if they had anything to eat in the fridge—ghosts don’t eat (Luke 24:42-43). He had angels add their testimony (Luke 24:23). He conducted Bible studies, showing how it had to go this way (Luke 24:27). And since that time, because the Holy Spirit was poured out in power, the resurrection of Jesus is not so much an historical fact to be proven as it is an historical proof of two other great doctrines—first, that Christ is in fact the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), and second, that He is going to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31).
REASONING ON FIRE
When the Holy Spirit is given, as we will see in the next chapter, He comes down upon the disciples in the form of fire. They were given convincing proofs in the first verses of Acts. But it is quite striking that these proofs were insufficient. You have the proofs, Jesus said, but you must still wait in Jerusalem. So their proofs just sat there waiting, like so much tinder and kindling. Wait, Jesus said. Your syllogisms will not be worth anything unless the Spirit sets them on fire first. Some Christians just want to stack and organize the wood, and also conduct conferences, seminars, and lectures about the wood. Other Christians just want the fire—and because it is just a massive Kleenex fire, their talks devolve into mere harangues. Why not both? The Scriptures are a vast forest, with wood enough and to spare. How long will this fire burn? We are stocked with enough wood to burn until the second promise of these verses comes to pass, and Jesus Christ returns. The first promise of the Father was the outpoured Spirit. The second promise of the Father is the return of the Son. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.
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