Once more the first lesson is from Acts and once more shows the necessity of more background than the brief excerpt provides. The martyr is not identified until the second last verse. Saul who later became Paul of the epistles is identified as officiating at this stoning. One comes to understand why he chose to leave Jerusalem and minister to Gentiles who did not know him by his former reputation. Stephen's Saint's Day is observed as the day after Christmas in Western Christendom.
Psalm 31 is a prayer for deliverance from persecution.
The Epistle Lesson continues readings from First Peter 2 quoting old Testament Scripture to establish Jesus credibility as the rock of our salvation. Just as the Jews saw themselves as a people set apart the writer sees those who believe as a royal priesthood. Not sure I cotton to this elitism.
And so we return to John chapter 14 today. Many choirs will sing an anthem based on the first four verses today.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Whether or not Jesus spoke these lines they are the basis for a great deal of conservative Christian Theology.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
In this passage Jesus makes his most bald claim to godhood. To know me is to know God for I and the Father are one.
One must place today's lessons in the context of a fledgeling society of Christians who faced persecution for their faith. To know Jesus is to know God and to keep the faith is to ensure union with Christ in the hereafter.
Bad things happen to good people even today but we must keep faith that the God of our Salvation means every good thing to come to us in our lives. Jesus' epiphany and incarnation made manifest God's Love for his creation. We cannot comprehend the depth of this Love but we can have faith in the Grace that will sustain us in life and death to eternity.
Psalm 31 is a prayer for deliverance from persecution.
The Epistle Lesson continues readings from First Peter 2 quoting old Testament Scripture to establish Jesus credibility as the rock of our salvation. Just as the Jews saw themselves as a people set apart the writer sees those who believe as a royal priesthood. Not sure I cotton to this elitism.
And so we return to John chapter 14 today. Many choirs will sing an anthem based on the first four verses today.
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Whether or not Jesus spoke these lines they are the basis for a great deal of conservative Christian Theology.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
In this passage Jesus makes his most bald claim to godhood. To know me is to know God for I and the Father are one.
One must place today's lessons in the context of a fledgeling society of Christians who faced persecution for their faith. To know Jesus is to know God and to keep the faith is to ensure union with Christ in the hereafter.
Bad things happen to good people even today but we must keep faith that the God of our Salvation means every good thing to come to us in our lives. Jesus' epiphany and incarnation made manifest God's Love for his creation. We cannot comprehend the depth of this Love but we can have faith in the Grace that will sustain us in life and death to eternity.
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