The Upper Room Daily Reflections: daily words of wisdom and faith of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Easter People in a Good Friday World" for Friday, 1 April 2016

The Upper Room Daily Reflections: daily words of wisdom and faith of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Easter People in a Good Friday World" for Friday, 1 April 2016
Today’s Reflection:


THE LIVING ONE continues to call you and me to be Easter people in a Good Friday world. As he did with Mary [Magdalene], Jesus calls us to go to the dark places of our world, which are marked by the signs of crucifixion. He calls us to where our neighbors and friends live in the darkness of despair and loneliness. He calls us into those communities where poverty, homelessness, and crime block out the sunlight. He calls us to descend into those dark pits where people feel cut off and abandoned by God.
In all these dark places, his challenge remains the same. We must listen to the stories of those who suffer. Wipe away the tears. Share with others our personal experience of the Easter message.
How do we pass on this Easter message? Certainly not by trying to force others to believe exactly the same way we do. Nor by attempting to “fix” those around us with our solutions and prescriptions for their lives.
Mary teaches us that the best way to be a witness is by sharing our personal story; by telling others how the living Christ has shone the light in our darkness; by explaining the difference that letting go and letting God has made in our lives; by testifying how our lives have been touched by resurrection love; and to always do this with gentleness, respect, and courtesy.[Trevor Hudson, Hope Beyond Your Tears]
From pages 95-96 of Hope Beyond Your Tears: Experiencing Christ’s Healing Love by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2012 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. An earlier edition of this work was originally published as Touched by Resurrection Love by Struik Inspirational Gifts, New Holland Publishing (South Africa). http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
How will you pass on the Easter message?
Today’s Scripture:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”[Revelation 1:8, NRSV]
This Week: pray for church leaders.Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center web site.
Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember: Sister Thea Bowman (March 30).Sister Thea Bowman

March 30
The granddaughter of slaves, Bertha Bowman (1937-1990) was born in rural Mississippi, raised Methodist, but baptized Catholic at age ten. When she was sixteen, Bertha entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration community and became the only African-American in the white order. Sister Thea Bowman said, "I bring my whole history, my traditions, my experience, my culture, my African-American song and dance and gesture and movement and teaching, and preaching and healing and responsibility as a gift to the Church."
Thea received Master's and doctorate degrees and taught in elementary schools through university classes. After sixteen years of teaching, a bishop asked Thea to serve as a consultant for intercultural awareness. She made over one hundred public appearances each year, encouraging appreciation for and cooperation between all racial/ethnic groups. She inspired countless African-Americans to share their gifts and leadership with a wide faith community. Some called her "Mother Teresa with soul."
In 1984 Sister Thea was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even as she battled the disease, Thea continued to speak with vitality and passion until she died on March 30, 1990.
Sister Thea Bowman is currently being considered for official sainthood.
If Sister Thea Bowman had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Prophet. Sister Thea Bowman is remembered on March 30.
Image is Thea Bowman pictured in 1985 photo. (CNS photo/Beatrice Njemanze, Mississippi Catholic)

Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 3 April 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Acts 5:27-32
Psalm 118:14-29
Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31
Scripture Text:

Acts 5:27 They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them, 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Look here! you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for this man’s death!”

29 Kefa and the other emissaries answered, “We must obey God, not men. 30 The God of our fathers[Acts 5:30 Exodus 3:15] raised up Yeshua, whereas you men killed him by having him hanged on a stake.[Acts 5:30 Deuteronomy 21:22–23] 31 God has exalted this man at his right hand[Acts 5:31 Psalm 110:1] as Ruler and Savior, in order to enable Isra’el to do t’shuvah and have her sins forgiven. 32 We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Psalm 118:14 Yah is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.

15 The sound of rejoicing and victory

is heard in the tents of the righteous:

“Adonai’s right hand struck powerfully!

16 Adonai’s right hand is raised in triumph!

Adonai’s right hand struck powerfully!”

17 I will not die; no, I will live

and proclaim the great deeds of Yah!

18 Yah disciplined me severely,

but did not hand me over to death.

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me;

I will enter them and thank Yah.

20 This is the gate of Adonai;

the righteous can enter it.

21 I am thanking you because you answered me;

you became my salvation.

22 The very rock that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone!

23 This has come from Adonai,

and in our eyes it is amazing.

24 This is the day Adonai has made,

a day for us to rejoice and be glad.

25 Please, Adonai! Save us!

Please, Adonai! Rescue us!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai.

We bless you from the house of Adonai.

27 Adonai is God, and he gives us light.

Join in the pilgrim festival with branches

all the way to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I thank you.

You are my God; I exalt you.

29 Give thanks to Adonai; for he is good,

for his grace continues forever.

Revelation 1:4 From: Yochanan

To: The seven Messianic communities in the province of Asia:

Grace and shalom to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 5 and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth’s kings.

To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, 6 who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, cohanim for God, his Father — to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever. Amen.

7 Look! He is coming with the clouds![Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13]

Every eye will see him,

including those who pierced him;

and all the tribes of the Land will mourn him.[Revelation 1:7 Zechariah 12:10–14]

Yes! Amen!

8 “I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’” says Adonai,

God of heaven’s armies,

the One who is, who was and who is coming.

John 20:19 In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together behind locked doors out of fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came, stood in the middle and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 20 Having greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim were overjoyed to see the Lord. 21 “Shalom aleikhem!” Yeshua repeated. “Just as the Father sent me, I myself am also sending you.” 22 Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! 23 If you forgive someone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.”

24 Now T’oma (the name means “twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. 25 When the other talmidim told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it.”

26 A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T’oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 27 Then he said to T’oma, “Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” 28 T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!”

30 In the presence of the talmidim Yeshua performed many other miracles which have not been recorded in this book. 31 But these which have been recorded are here so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have life because of who he is.

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:

Acts 5:27-32

Verse 28

[28] Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Did not we strictly command you, not to teach? — See the poor cunning of the enemies of the Gospel. They make laws and interdicts at their pleasure, which those who obey God cannot but break; and then take occasion thereby to censure and punish the innocent, as guilty.

Ye would bring the blood of this man upon us — An artful and invidious word. The apostles did not desire to accuse any man. They simply declared the naked truth.

Verse 29

[29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Then Peter — In the name of all the apostles, said - He does not now give them the titles of honour, which he did before, Acts 4:8; but enters directly upon the subject, and justifies what he had done. This is, as it were, a continuation of that discourse, but with an increase of severity.

Verse 30

[30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Hath raised up Jesus — Of the seed of David, according to the promises made to our fathers.

Verse 31

[31] Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Him hath God exalted — From the grave to heaven; to give repentance - Whereby Jesus is received as a Prince; and forgiveness of sins - Whereby he is received as a Saviour. Hence some infer, that repentance and faith are as mere gifts as remission of sins. Not so: for man co-operates in the former, but not in the latter. God alone forgives sins.

Verse 32

[32] And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

And also the Holy Ghost — A much greater witness.

Psalm 118:14-29

Verse 14

[14] The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Salvation — My Saviour.

Verse 15

[15] The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Doth valiantly — These are the words of that song of praise now mentioned.

Verse 16

[16] The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Exalted — Hath appeared evidently, and wrought powerfully and gloriously.

Verse 19

[19] Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:

Open — O ye porters, appointed by God for this work.

The gates — Of the Lord's tabernacle: where the rule of righteousness was kept and taught, and the sacrifices of righteousness were offered.

Verse 20

[20] This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.

The righteous — As David was a type of Christ and the temple of heaven, so this place hath a farther prospect than David, and relates to Christ's ascending into heaven, and opening the gates of that blessed temple, both for himself and for all believers.

Verse 22

[22] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

The builders — The commonwealth of Israel and the church of God are here and elsewhere compared to a building, wherein, as the people are the stones, so the princes and rulers are the builders. And as these master-builders rejected David, so their successors rejected Christ.

Head stone — The chief stone in the whole building, by which the several parts of the building are upheld and firmly united together. Thus David united all the tribes and families of Israel: and thus Christ united Jews and Gentiles together. And therefore this place is justly expounded of Christ, Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:32; Ephesians 2:20. And to him the words agree more properly than to David.

Verse 24

[24] This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Made — Or sanctified as a season never to be forgotten.

Verse 25

[25] Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

We — These seem to be the words of the Levites, to whom he spake verse 19.

Verse 26

[26] Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Blessed — We pray that God would bless his person and government.

Cometh — To the throne; or from his Father into the world: who is known by the name of him that cometh or was to come, and of whom this very word is used, Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 35:4.

Name — By commission from him.

We — We who are the Lord's ministers attending upon him in his house, and appointed to bless in his name, Numbers 6:23; Deuteronomy 10:8. So these are the words of the priests.

Verse 27

[27] God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

The Lord — Or, The mighty God, as this name of God signifies, and as he shewed himself to be by this, his wonderful work.

Who — Who hath scattered our dark clouds, and put us into a state of peace, and safety, and happiness.

The horns — These are supposed to he made for this very use, that the beasts should be bound and killed there. These three last verses are David's words.

Revelation 1:4-8

Verse 4

[4] John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

John — The dedication of this book is contained in the fourth, fifth, and sixth verses; but the whole Revelation is a kind of letter.

To the seven churches which are in Asia — That part of the Lesser Asia which was then a Roman province. There had been several other churches planted here; but it seems these were now the most eminent; and it was among these that St. John had laboured most during his abode in Asia. In these cities there were many Jews. Such of them as believed in each were joined with the gentile believers in one church.

Grace be unto you, and peace — The favour of God, with all temporal and eternal blessings. From him who is, and who was, and who cometh, or, who is to come - A wonderful translation of the great name JEHOVAH: he was of old, he is now, he cometh; that is, will be for ever.

And from the seven spirits which are before his throne — Christ is he who "hath the seven spirits of God." "The seven lamps which burn before the throne are the seven spirits of God." " The lamb hath seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God." Seven was a sacred number in the Jewish church: but it did not always imply a precise number. It sometimes is to be taken figuratively, to denote completeness or perfection. By these seven spirits, not seven created angels, but the Holy Ghost is to be understood. The angels are never termed spirits in this book; and when all the angels stand up, while the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders worship him that sitteth on the throne, and the Lamb, the seven spirits neither stand up nor worship. To these "seven spirits of God," the seven churches, to whom the Spirit speaks so many things, are subordinate; as are also their angels, yea, and "the seven angels which stand before God." He is called the seven spirits, not with regard to his essence, which is one, but with regard to his manifold operations.

Verse 5

[5] And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first begotten from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth — Three glorious appellations are here given him, and in their proper order. He was the faithful witness of the whole will of God before his death, and in death, and remains such in glory. He rose from the dead, as "the first fruits of them that slept;" and now hath all power both in heaven and earth. He is here styled a prince: but by and by he hears his title of king; yea, King of kings, and Lord of lords." This phrase, the kings of the earth, signifies their power and multitude, and also the nature of their kingdom. It became the Divine Majesty to call them kings with a limitation; especially in this manifesto from his heavenly kingdom; for no creature, much less a sinful man, can bear the title of king in an absolute sense before the eyes of God.

Verse 6

[6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

To him that loveth us, and, out of that free, abundant love, hath washed us from the guilt and power of our sins with his own blood, and hath made us kings - Partakers of his present, and heirs of his eternal, kingdom.

And priests unto his God and Father — To whom we continually offer ourselves, an holy, living sacrifice.

To him be the glory — For his love and redemption.

And the might — Whereby he governs all things.

Verse 7

[7] Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Behold — In this and the next verse is the proposition, and the summary of the whole book.

He cometh — Jesus Christ. Throughout this book, whenever it is said, He cometh, it means his glorious coming. The preparation for this began at the destruction of Jerusalem, and more particularly at the time of writing this book; and goes on, without any interruption, till that grand event is accomplished. Therefore it is never said in this book, He will come; but, He cometh. And yet it is not said, He cometh again: for when he came before, it was not like himself, but in "the form of a servant." But his appearing in glory is properly his coming; namely, in a manner worthy of the Son of God.

And every eye — Of the Jews in particular.

Shall see him — But with what different emotions, according as they had received or rejected him.

And they who have pierced him — They, above all, who pierced his hands, or feet, or side. Thomas saw the print of these wounds even after his resurrection; and the same, undoubtedly, will be seen by all, when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.

And all the tribes of the earth — The word tribes, in the Revelation, always means the Israelites: but where another word, such as nations or people, is joined with it, it implies likewise (as here) all the rest of mankind.

Shall wail because of him — For terror and pain, if they did not wail before by true repentance.

Yea, Amen — This refers to, every eye shall see him. He that cometh saith, Yea; he that testifies it, Amen. The word translated yea is Greek; Amen is Hebrew: for what is here spoken respects both Jew and gentile.

Verse 8

[8] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God — Alpha is the first, Omega, the last, letter in the Greek alphabet. Let his enemies boast and rage ever so much in the intermediate time, yet the Lord God is both the Alpha, or beginning, and the Omega, or end, of all things. God is the beginning, as he is the Author and Creator of all things, and as he proposes, declares, and promises so great things: he is the end, as he brings all the things which are here revealed to a complete and glorious conclusion. Again, the beginning and end of a thing is in scripture styled the whole thing. Therefore God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end; that is, one who is all things, and always the same.

John 20:19-31

Verse 19

[19] Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36.

Verse 21

[21] Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Peace be unto you — This is the foundation of the mission of a true Gospel minister, peace in his own soul, 2 Corinthians 4:1.

As the Father hath sent me, so send I you — Christ was the apostle of the Father, Hebrews 3:1. Peter and the rest, the apostles of Christ.

Verse 22

[22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

He breathed on them — New life and vigour, and saith, as ye receive this breath out of my mouth, so receive ye the Spirit out of my fulness: the Holy Ghost influencing you in a peculiar manner, to fit you for your great embassy. This was an earnest of pentecost.

Verse 23

[23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Whose soever sins ye remit — (According to the tenor of the Gospel, that is, supposing them to repent and believe) they are remitted, and whose soever sins ye retain (supposing them to remain impenitent) they are retained. So far is plain. But here arises a difficulty. Are not the sins of one who truly repents, and unfeignedly believes in Christ, remitted, without sacerdotal absolution? And are not the sins of one who does not repent or believe, retained even with it? What then does this commission imply? Can it imply any more than, 1. A power of declaring with authority the Christian terms of pardon; whose sins are remitted and whose retained? As in our daily form of absolution; and 2. A power of inflicting and remitting ecclesiastical censures? That is, of excluding from, and re-admitting into, a Christian congregation.

Verse 26

[26] And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

After eight days — On the next Sunday.

Verse 28

[28] And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

And Thomas said, My Lord and my God — The disciples had said, We have seen the Lord. Thomas now not only acknowledges him to be the Lord, as he had done before, and to be risen, as his fellow disciples had affirmed, but also confesses his Godhead, and that more explicitly than any other had yet done. And all this he did without putting his hand upon his side.

Verse 30

[30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

Jesus wrought many miracles, which are not written in this book — Of St. John, nor indeed of the other evangelists.

Verse 31

[31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

But these things are written that ye may believe — That ye may be confirmed in believing. Faith cometh sometimes by reading; though ordinarily by hearing.

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The Upper Room Ministries

PO Box 340004

Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Sermon Story "Full Obedience to God" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 3 April 2016 with Scripture Acts 5:27 They conducted them to the Sanhedrin, where the cohen hagadol demanded of them, 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name! Look here! you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching; moreover, you are determined to make us responsible for this man’s death!”

29 Kefa and the other emissaries answered, “We must obey God, not men. 30 The God of our fathers[Acts 5:30 Exodus 3:15] raised up Yeshua, whereas you men killed him by having him hanged on a stake.[Acts 5:30 Deuteronomy 21:22–23] 31 God has exalted this man at his right hand[Acts 5:31 Psalm 110:1] as Ruler and Savior, in order to enable Isra’el to do t’shuvah and have her sins forgiven. 32 We are witnesses to these things; so is the Ruach HaKodesh, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

On this Sunday which is considered the Second Day of Easter, we look at passages from the New Testament other than the Psalms. We see that Jesus comes to the disciples twice through closed doors with and without the Apostle Thomas. We see that Jesus came to John on the Island of Patmos saying that He is the first and last, but on this day we concentrate on the Acts of the Apostles passage 5:27-32. Here we have the Apostles arrested by the Religious Leaders proclaiming Jesus is alive after they had Him killed by crucifixion which placed guilt upon them. Apparently, this was not the first time they appeared before the religious leaders because the religious leaders said that they have told them to not speak in Jesus' Name. Peter, as the spokesman for the Apostles, imply stated to the relgious leaders asking the question if it was right to obey God or people. They were not killed at this time, but were severely reprimanded for their words and actions. Many times since this, there have been Christians before us who have found themselves in similar circumstances stating the same thing whether it is right to obey God or people. Even today, there are Christians who beleive that in the defense of the LGBTQ community and the marriage between two same gendered people that they need to obey God rather than people. Again, there are other religious people and leaders who want them to stop and they simply say to obey God over people is the way to go. Then, we have the immigrants and refugees leaving their homeland for a life without violnece and poverty and governments are closing their naitons borders and not helping them desiring to send them back to their homeland. While the Christians are divided on this issue the Christians who desire to help the immigrants and refugees to get setled in their new land of choice while others criticize them simply respond that God's call is the help them because it is better to obey God rather than people. Then we still have the actions against the African Americans or Blacks in this country by shooting unarmed black men and women with no condemnation of the people who are killing them in cold blood as well as people who have a different faith than being Christian. Then there are the people stuck in poverty in the United States who are being denied the right to a safe home and food and proper clothing by certain government officials and even some other people just because they are poor. Then there are the people who are disabled or differently abled whether from birth or disease or war wounds or violence in the streets are being denied access to various areas of the community even the church. The call has been to segregate them so we do not have to look at them or interact with them. This being seen even in the Church where too often the proclamation of Jesus is that the ground is level at the cross. Where is the inclusion? Where are the people to be fully obedient to God? Where are you in this ministry with the differently abled people? We come to realize that the transformation will not come all at once, but we need to begin the process with ministries with such as L'Arche International or The Global Methodist Lanb's Hope. Where we stand currently is to confess our sins in repentance to get up and be fully obedient to God rather then people. We examine ourselves as we come to eat the Body of Jesus and drink His Blood as He showed us through the Fourth Cup of the Passover Feast as we come and rememer His command in participating in the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. We come to receive from God singing the Hymn "Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, With all Thy quickening powers" by Isaac Watts (1707)

1. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
with all thy quickening powers;
kindle a flame of sacred love

in these cold hearts of ours.

2. In vain we tune our formal songs;

in vain we strive to rise;

hosannas languish on our tongues,

and our devotion dies.

3. Dear Lord, and shall we ever live

at this poor dying rate?

Our love so faint, so cold to thee,

and thine to us so great!

4. Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,

with all thy quickening powers;

come, shed abroad a Savior's love,

and that shall kindle ours.

Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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