The Book of Acts
Acts picks up where Luke’s Gospel leaves off, recording the early progress of the gospel as Jesus’ disciples took it from Jerusalem throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the Mediterranean world.
Acts forms a bridge between the four Gospels and the rest of the New Testament, showing how the apostles carried on Christ’s work and providing a historical background for Romans through Revelation.
The Passover Seder
In modern Judaism, Pasach or Passover is a term that reflects a week of observances which call to mind the events of Exodus. The term derives from the sacrifice of individual lambs. A whole range of observances are included in this festival, but two chief parts which may originally have been separate festivals still retain their distinctive natures: The Festival of Unleavened Bread, and the Seder meal of the Passover, itself. The theme of the festival included spiritual renewal, fellowship and historical commemoration.
What does this mean for us as Christians as we celebrate the season of Easter?
The Gospel of John
The Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John in about A.D. 85, to persuade people to believe in Jesus. The opening verses declare that Jesus is God, stressing his unique relationship with God the Father. The book focuses on seven of Jesus’ signs (miracles), to show his divinity.
Jesus called people to believe in him, promising eternal life. He proved he could give life by raising Lazarus (ch. 11) and by his own death and resurrection. John features Christ’s seven “I am” statements, his encounters with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, his Upper Room teachings and washing of the disciples’ feet (chs. 13–16), and his high priestly prayer (ch. 17). It includes the most well-known summary of the gospel (3:16).
The Letters of John
The letters of St. John (Epistles) were written by John the Apostle after the book of Revelation. Returning from exile on Patmos, St. John goes to Ephesus and writes (either on the way or upon first arriving at Ephesus) letters to the churches of Asia Minor. He has served as the elder spiritual father to these churches for decades, but during his exile under Domitian, they have been without his leadership and guidance.
John acts with pen and ink to give clear guidance to the churches and to prepare for his arrival and visits. His preference is to deliver his teaching orally with personal visits and worship, but he is aware of his aged condition and the probability that he will be with the Lord very soon. The Second Epistle of John acts as the cover letter for the First Epistle of John. The Third Epistle of John is a situation-specific addendum addressed to Gaius, a dear friend of John’s.
Revelation, A Closer Look
Deuteronomy
Numbers
Numbers tells how God’s people traveled from Mount Sinai to the border of the Promised Land. But when they refused to take possession of the Land, God made them wander in the wilderness for nearly forty years. Throughout the book, God is seen as a holy God who cannot ignore rebellion or unbelief but also as the one who faithfully keeps his covenant and patiently provides for the needs of his people. Numbers ends with a new generation preparing for the conquest of Canaan.
Leviticus
Leviticus begins with the people of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai. The glory of the Lord had just filled the Tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–38) and God now tells Moses to instruct the Levitical priests and the people of Israel concerning sacrifices, worship, the priesthood, ceremonial cleanness, the Day of Atonement, feasts and holy days, and the Year of Jubilee. The central message is that God is holy and he requires his people to be holy. The book also shows that God graciously provides atonement for sin through the shedding of blood.
Artist William Holman Hunt, “Scapegoat”.
Exodus
Exodus is all about God making Israel his own. God rescues the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whom he made some important promises to back in Genesis). Then he gives them his expectations — a list of dos and don’ts. Finally, God sets up camp in the midst of the new nation: they are his people, and he is their God.
When God gave Israel the Ten Commandments, he frames them by stating his relationship to the Hebrews. This verse sums up the themes of Exodus nicely:
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Ex 20:2) address and passcode.
Prophets
In Christianity, the figures widely recognized as prophets are those mentioned as such in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is believed that prophets are chosen and called by God.
First Epistle of Peter
Epistle of James
The Epistle of James is a general epistle and one of the 21 epistles (didactic letters) in the New Testament.
James 1:1 identifies the author as “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” who is writing to “the twelve tribes scattered abroad”. The epistle is traditionally attributed to James the brother of Jesus (James the Just), and the audience is generally considered to be Jewish Christians, who were dispersed outside Israel.
Framing his letter within an overall theme of patient perseverance during trials and temptations, James writes in order to encourage his readers to live consistently with what they have learned in Christ. He condemns various sins, including pride, hypocrisy, favoritism, and slander. He encourages and implores believers to humbly live by godly, rather than worldly wisdom and to pray in all situations.
First Epistle of John
The First Epistle of John is the first of the Johannine epistles of the New Testament, and the fourth of the catholic epistles. There is no scholarly consensus as to the authorship of the Johannine works. The author of the First Epistle is termed John the Evangelist, who most scholars believe is not the same as John the Apostle. Most scholars believe the three Johannine epistles have the same author, but there is no consensus if this was also the author of the Gospel of John.
Revelation