SATURDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 6:1-7: They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: 6:16-21: They saw Jesus walking on the lake.

Jesus Walks on Water: The Deliverance from Fear

Jesus Christ is the great deliverer from fear. He is definitely revealed as the great deliverer in this experience.

1.     The disciples set sail to cross the lake (v.16)

2.     The causes of fear (v.17-19)

a.     Being in the dark

b.    Being without Jesus

c.      Being caught in a storm

d.    Being tired and gripped with a sense of horror, of impeding death

3.     The answer to fear (v.20-21)

a.     The presence and Word of Jesus: “I AM”

b.    Receiving the presence of Jesus

c.      The result: deliverance through the storms of life

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FRIDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 5:34-42: They left, glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name of Jesus.

Gospel: 6:1-15: To all who were sitting there he gave out as much as they wanted.

Jesus Feed Five Thousand: The Provision for Human Need

Chapter 6 reveals Jesus to be the provision for every human and material need. Jesus first demonstrated the truth, then He began to preach and teach it. He showed that He was concerned with every need in life (even a missed meal, Jn 6: 1-15) and concerned with every overpowering need (the calming of a storm, Jn 6:16-21).

No matter how small the need or how stormy the problem, Jesus is the provision, the Bread of Life, the power to meet people’s every need. He can provide a single meal, and He can calm the stormiest problem.

1.     The setting (v.1-6)

a.     After sometime Jesus crossed the Lake of galilee

b.    Feverish, surging crowds followed Him

c.      Jesus sought rest and relief

d.    The pilgrims were gathering for the Feast

e.      The two concern of Jesus

1)    The missing of a meal-Jesus wants to meet every need

2)    The testing and strengthening of his disciples: Teaching the kind of faith

2.     Lesson 1: There is a pessimistic faith (v.7)

3.     Lesson 2: There is an optimistic but questioning faith (v.8-9)

a.     Andrew searched for and brought food

b.    He questioned the supply

4.     Lesson 3: there is positive, unswerving faith (v.10-13)

a.     Jesus’ faith

1)    He took and gave thanks for what he had

2)    He gave what he had

3)    He used others to help him

b.    God’s answer and provision

1)    He met the people’s need: He fed and filled them

2)    He gave an overabundance

3)    He allowed no waste

5.     Lesson 4: There is a materialistic profession of Jesus (v.14-15)

a.     The people’s profession: Jesus was the Messiah

b.    The people’s concept: Jesus was the earthly and materialistic king

Thought: If a man/woman so gives, God does the rest. The need will be met. While a person is giving what he/she has, he/she must trust the power and provision of God (Mt 6:33; Lk 1:37; Acts 20:35).

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THURSDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 5:27-33: We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: 3:31-36: The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him.

The Revelation of Jesus, the New Master, Jn 3:22-36

This passage points to Jesus Christ as the New Master, the One whom God has set before man as the only Master worthy of serving.

1.     Setting for the revelation (v.22-26)

a.     Jesus and his disciples were baptizing in Judea

b.    John and his disciples were baptizing close by

c.      Two basic questions of life

1)    Who really purifies man’s heart?

2)    Who is the supreme master

2.     Answer 1: Jesus alone was God’s appointed Messiah (v.27-28)

a.     God alone appoint men

b.    God had not appointed John as the Messiah, but as the forerunner

3.     Answer 2: Jesus alone was the bridegroom (v. 29-30)

a.     He is the One by whom the friend stands

b.    He is the voice that is to be heard

c.      He is the cause of joy

d.    He is the only objects of loyalty

4.     Answer 4: Jesus alone was from above-from heaven (v.31)

a.     Meaning: “Out of”

b.    Result: Jesus is above all

5.     Answer 4: Jesus alone was God’s spokesman (v.32-34)

a.     He testifies

b.    Some reject

c.      Some accept and seal his testimony

d.    Proof: Sent from God and speaks God’s words

6.     Answer 5: Jesus alone had the Spirit without limit (v.34)

7.     Answer 6: Jesus alone determines man’s destiny (v.35-36)

a.     To believe Him brings eternal life

b.    Not to obey Him brings wrath

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WEDNESDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 5:17-26: The men you imprisoned are in the Temple, preaching to the people.

Gospel: 3:16-21: God sent His Son into the world so that through him the world might be saved.

Man’ condemnation, John 3: 18-21

God sent His Son into the world to save the world, but this does not mean that everyone is automatically saved. In fact, some are condemned and doomed. Jesus revealed man’s condemnation.

1. Who is condemned: not the believer but unbeliever (v.18)

2. When he is condemned: already (right now) (v.18)

3. Why he is condemned (v.18-20)

a. He has not believed

b. Light has come into the world

c. He loves darkness; loves his evil, his sin

d. He does not come to the light (Christ)

4. Who escapes condemnation (v.21)

a. He who practises truth

b. He who comes to light

c. He whose works are done through God

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TUESDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 4:32-37: United, heart and soul.

Gospel: 3:7-17: No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man.

God’s Great Love, John 3:16-17

Three types of love: (Agape= sacrificial love; phileo= blood relational love; and eros= an erotic love)

This is the world’s most well-known Scripture. Brief and to the point. Jesus revealed God’s great love (agape=sacrificial love).

1.     The fact: God so loved (v.16)

2.     The evidence: God gave (v.16)

3.     The purpose: To save (v.16)

a.     From perishing

b.    To eternal life

c.      By believing

4.     The proof: God sent His Son (the Incarnation) (v.17)

a.     Not to condemn

b.    But to save

5.     The means: through Him (Jesus Christ)

Thought: God Loved: past tense: A past, proven fact. An outline of the greatness of God’s love is seen in this verse.

1)    Height: God loved

2)    Depth: so loved

3)    Length: God gave

4)    Breadth: whoever (Jn 21: 15-17)

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MONDAY, 2^nd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 4:23-31: As the prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.

Gospel: John 3:1-8: Unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The New Birth, John 3:1-15

The new birth along with God’s great love (v.16-17), is the most important revelation ever made in all of human history. Jesus revealed the new birth.

1.     Nicodemus approached Jesus (v.1-2)

a.     He came in behalf of the religionists: “We”

b.    He acknowledged Jesus only as a teacher from God

c.      He asked, “Who are you?”

2.     The new birth: a necessity, an imperative (v.3)

a.     A strong assertion

b.    Importance: One can never see God’s kingdom unless born again

3.     A new birth: a spiritual birth (v.4-8)

a.     Its source: being born of the Spirit

b.    Its importance repeated: one will never enter God’s kingdom unless born again

c.      Its nature: spiritual, not physical and material

d.    Its absolute necessity: reemphasized

e.      Its illustration: the wind

4.     The new birth: a true experience (v.9-11)

a.     Nicodemus’ heart touched

b.    Jesus’ strong assertion: we do know; have seen

5.     The new birth rejected (v.11-12)

a.     Some did not accept the witness

b.    The reason: man’s nature of unbelief

6.     The new birth: revealed only by Jesus (v.13)

a.     His origin: heaven

b.    His timeless experience: “From heaven”

7.     The new birth: secured by tow acts (v.14-15)

a.     By Jesus’ death

b.    By believing in Jesus

Thought: The new birth is a changed life, a totally a new life. A person proves that he/she is born again:

a.     By doing righteous acts ( 1Jn 2:29; Eph 2:10; 4:24)

b.     By not practising sin ( 1Jn 3:9, 5:18)

c.      By loving other believers (1Jn 4:7)

d.     By overcoming the world (1Jn 5:4)

e.      By keeping himself (1Jn 5:18)

f.       By possessing the divine seed or nature (1Jn 3:9; 1Pet 1:23; Col 1:27)

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2^nd SUNDAY OF EASTER-A

(Divine Mercy)

I Reading: Acts 2:42-47: The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common.

II Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9: In his great mercy he has given us new birth as his sons by raising Jesus from the dead.

Gospel: John 20:19-31: Eight days later, Jesus came.

The Great Character of the Church-Jesus Appears to the Disciples,

John 20:19-23

This was the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples as a group after His resurrection. What would His talk and conversation about? John focuses upon the subjects and topics discussed when Jesus first appeared to the disciples.

1.     The disciples were hiding in fear (v.19)

a.     Was the same day: at night

b.    Discussed reports

c.      Jesus appeared suddenly

2.     Subject 1: The risen Lord-His presence was very real (v.19-20)

a.     His message: Peace

b.    His wounds: Evidence

c.      His effect: Unbelievable joy and gladness when they saw Him

3.     Subject 2: The Great Commission (v.21)

4.     Subject 3: The Holy Spirit (v.22-23)

a.     The endowment or the giving of the Spirit

b.    The authority

The Great Conviction-Thomas’ Confession, John 20:24-29

This is an excellent study on conviction and confession. It is the great conviction and confession of Thomas.

1.     Thomas’ frustrated reactionary spirit (v.24-25)

a.     The disciples testified; Thomas argued

b.    The reason: Guilt-he had forsaken and withdrawn from them

2.     Thomas’ false picture of Jesus (v.25-26).

a.     He was just an earthly deliverer

b.    He was now dead

c.      Result: persistent doubt for eight days

3.     Thomas’ critical confrontation and confession: Jesus appeared and challenged and convicted him (v.26-28)

a.     The confrontation

1)    Jesus was aware of Thomas’ demands

2)    Jesus warned and called for belief

4.     Thomas’ great lesson for all men (v.29)

The Great Purpose of the Signs (Wonderful Works) of Jesus, 20:30-31

 It is quite clear that the gospel writers did not include all that Jesus did in their gospels. A few signs are recorded which are very essential for people according to the plan of God. The word “Sign” chosen by John who demonstrates that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. In these two verses, John gives the great purpose of the sings.

1.     The great fact: Jesus did many signs or wonderful works (v.30)

a.     In the disciples’ presence

b.    Not recorded by John

2.     The great purpose: To select a few signs that would lead to belief (v.31)

a.     Jesus is the Messiah

b.    Jesus is the Son of God

3.     The great result: Life through Jesus’ name

Thought: Jesus gave all the evidence in the world:

·        Acts of love and purity

·        Acts of righteousness and justice

·        Works of mercy and compassion

·        Works of miracles and power

·        Works of godliness and sovereignty

·        Words of truth and salvation

·        Words of peace and faith

·        Words of hope and joy

·        Words of morality and discipline

·        Words of commitment and self-denial

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