SUNDAY- 4^TH WEEK OF EASTER -A

I Reading: Acts 2:14.36-41:  God has made him both Lord and Christ.

II Reading: 1Peter 2:20-25: You have come back to the shepherd of your souls.

Gospel: John 10:1-10: I am the gate of the sheepfold.

The Shepherd and His Sheep: False vs. True Teachers, 10,1-6

This passage begins the great revelation of Jesus as the Shepherd of Life. Jesus is pictured as the true Shepherd of the sheep. Peter tells us that Jesus is for us Lord and Christ, Saviour; who is the good shepherd care for us and protect us from all sin and dangers of life and finally gives us life which is eternal. Jesus appointed Peter and the apostles shepherds of his flock to lead his church in his name. So the Christian community must take care and look after the shepherds of the Church and they must pray for more vocations to become good shepherds for the mission of Jesus Christ the Lord.

1. The sheep pen (v.1)

2. The false shepherd (v.1)

a. Enters the wrong way

b. Is a thief and robber: Seizes by false entry and force

3. The true shepherd (v.2-3)

a. Enters the appointed door

b. Is known by the watchman (God)

c. Knows sheep by name

d. leads and shepherds the sheep

4. The sheep (v.4-5)

a. Know the shepherd’s voice

b. Follow the shepherd who goes before them

c. Flee from strange voices

5. The parable or figure or speech: was not understood (v.6)

The Gate of the Sheep: The only Way to God, 10:7-10

Jesus claims to be the gate of the sheep. Jesus is probably referring to the gate of the community sheep pen or a community pasture which housed all the flocks of an area. There is however, descriptive picture of Jesus as the gate.

1. Jesus is the only gate of the sheep (v.7-8)

a. All others are thieves and robbers

b. Proof: The sheep did not listen to them

2. Jesus is the only gate that leads to salvation (v.9)

a. “In and out” : security

b. “Pasture”: provision

3. Jesus is the only gate that leads to abundant life (v.10)

a. All others come to take and to steal

b. Jesus comes to give life

Thought: Jesus answered “ I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)

The strange voice can be the voice of false religion, false science, false psychology, false philosophy, humanism, materialism, worldliness, fame …etc.

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SATURDAY-3^rd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 9:31-42: The churches built themselves up and were filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: John 6:60-69: Who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life.

People are often offended by Christ. Four things in particular offend them.

1.     Jesus’ message was to the synagogue crowd in Capernaum (v.59-60)

a.     Many disciples were present

b.     They had difficulty accepting His message

2.     There is the idea of eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood (v.61)

3.     There is the ascension and exaltation of Christ (v.62)

4.     There is the teaching that the Spirit quickens, gives life and the flesh counts for nothing (v.63-64)

5.     There is the fact that God saves man, man does not save himself (v.65)

6.     The conclusion: there were three responses (v.66-71)

a.     The disciples who turned back

b.     The disciple who believed Jesus was the Christ

c.      The disciple who believed Christ

Thought: A person is saved unless he/she has come to Jesus Christ. A person is lost unless he/she comes to Him.

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FRIDAY-3^rd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 9:1-20: This man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans.

Gospel: John 6:52-59: My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

The Results of Partaking of the Bread of Life, Jn 6:52-58

A person must receive and partake of the Bread of Life. When he/she does, he/she receives five wonderful things.

1.     The religionists were perplexed over Jesus’ words (v.52-53)

a.     They questioned partaking of His flesh

b.     Jesus proclaimed a much more shocking thing: unless one partakes of Him, he/she does not have life

2.     Result 1: eternal life-conquering death and being resurrected (v.54)

3.     Result 2: true not false satisfaction (v.55)

4.     Result 3: supernatural companionship and fellowship (v.56)

5.     Result 4: a life that is full of purpose and meaning (v.57)

6.     Result 5: incorruptible food received with in the heart-energizing life forever (v.58)

Thought: Unless a person receives (eats and drinks) Christ, he/she has no life within him. He/she is a dead person spiritually and eternally. He/she is walking around a dead person. (Eph 2:1; 5:14; Col 2:13, 1Tim 5:6; Rev3:1)

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THURSDAY-3^rd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 8:26-40: If you believe with all your heart, you will be baptised.

Gospel: John 6:44-51: I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.

The Way a Person Partakes of the Bread of Life, 6:41-51

How one partakes of the Bread of Life, that is, how one come s to know Jesus personally, is the focus of this passage.

1.     The religionists rebelled against the claims of Jesus (v.41-43)

a.     They questioned Jesus’ origin

b.     They misunderstood the incarnation

c.      Jesus appealed: stop grumbling

2.     A person must be drown by God (v.44-46)

a.     The result: he will be raised up at the last day

b.     He must be taught by God (God’s part)

c.      He must hear and learn trough Christ (man’s part)

1)    Because no man has seen God

2)    Because Christ is from God and has seen God

3.     A person must believe on Christ (v.47-51)

a.     Believe He is the Bread of Life

b.     Believe He is “out of” heaven-has come to deliver man from death

c.      Believe He is the living bread-the One who gives life to man forever

d.     Believe He gives His flesh for the life of the world.

Thought: “My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” says two things.

1)    Jesus Christ came in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16; 1Jn 4:2-3).

2)    Jesus Christ gave His flesh (life) for the life of the world (Heb 2:14-15; Rom 8:3; 1Pet 2:24; 3:18).

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WEDNESDAY-3^rd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 8:1-8: They went from place to place.

Gospel: John 6:35-40: It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son shall have eternal life.

The Assurance of the Believer, Jn 6:37-40

The believer has great assurance and security.

1.     Assurance 1: God’s predestination (v.37)

2.     Assurance 2: Jesus’ Word (v.37)

3.     Assurance 3: Jesus’ purpose to do God’s will (v.38)

4.     Assurance 4: God’s will for those whom He gives to Christ (v.39)

a.     That Jesus should not lose a single one

b.     That Jesus should resurrect every one

5.     Assurance 5: God’s will for the believers (v.40)

a.     Is eternal life

b.     Result: Jesus “will raise him up”

Thought: The believer is assured of eternal life (Jn 3:16), victory over death (1Cor 15:52-57) and the resurrection (Jn 5:25-29; 11:25).

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TUESDAY-3^rd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 7:51-8:1: Lord Jesus receive my spirit.

Gospel: John 6:30-35: It was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread.

The Bread of Life: The Source of Spiritual Satisfaction

Jesus is the source of spiritual satisfaction, of man’s spiritual nourishment. He is the only bread that can feed man’s great hunger, the hunger that gnaws and gnaws within his inner being. There is no other source upon which man can feed and be nourished.

1.     The people demanded proof (v.30-31)

a.     Jesus’ great claim

b.     The specific proof demanded

2.     Christ is the true Bread (v.32)

a.     Man cannot provide true bread: satisfaction

b.     God alone provides true bread: true satisfaction

3.     Christ is the Bread of God (v.33)

a.     He came from heaven

b.     He gives life

4.     Christ is the Bread of Life (v.34-35)

a.     The request for the Bread of God

b.     The phenomenal claim

c.      If man comes to Jesus, he will never hunger

d.     If man believes, he will never thirst

5.     Christ was seen but rejected (v.36)

Thought: Christ (The Word of God) gives life to the believer by doing the five things as bread.

1)    Bread gives life by...nourishing and sustaining

2)    Satisfying

3)    Energizing

4)    Creating desire (the need) for more

5)    Being partaken on a regular basis

Man never has enough. He craves and craves, never being fully satisfied.

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MONDAY-3^rd WEEK OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 6:8-15: They could not get the better of Stephen because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said.

Gospel: John 6: 22-29: Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life.

The Answer to Man’s Great Hunger

Man/woman has a gnawing hunger within for both the physical and the spiritual. He/she hungers for both food and material things and for God and spiritual things, things such as love and joy and peace. Therefore, most of Man’s/woman’s time and energy are spent in seeking to satisfy his/her hunger. This passage deals with the answer to man’s/woman’s hunger.

1.     Answer 1: Know that man has great hunger, a great need (v.22-25)

a.     The people were miraculously fed. V.1-15

b.     The people acknowledge their need

c.      The people noted Jesus’ absence

d.     The people sought Jesus

e.      The people questioned Jesus’ absence

2.     Answer 2: Acknowledge that man’s motive is corrupt (v.26-27)

a.     Sought the Messiah for what they could get out of Him

b.     Sought food that spoiled-misplaced labor

3.     Answer 3: Work for food that endures-that gives eternal life (v.27)

a.     Source: Son of Man

b.     God guaranteed

4.     Answer 4: Do the work of God-believe (v.28-29)

Thought: people should search diligently to find Christ until the Lord is found. (Lk 11:9-10; Heb 11:6; Is 55:6)

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3rd SUNDAY OF EASTER-A

I Reading: Acts 2:14.22-33: It was impossible for him to be held in the power of Hades.
II Reading: 1Peter 1:17-21: Your ransom was paid in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or slain, namely Christ.
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35: They recognized him at the breaking of the bread.

Jesus’ Appearance to Two Believers on the Road to Emmaus:

An Immortal Journey, Lk 24:13-35
This is one of the most beloved accounts of the resurrection story and it is found only in Luke. Three points come to mind: the courtesy of the travellers in inviting the stranger to dine with them; the significance of the breaking of bread and searching of the Scriptures.
It is an account of Jesus’ helping two ordinary persons who had lost hope and fallen into the pit of sadness and despair. Their experience was an immortal journey. 
1. Scene 1: Taking a lonely but thoughtful walk (v.13-14)
a. They had heard about the resurrection: “that same day”
b. They thought about and discussed the events
2. Scene 2: Considering three critical questions (v.15-27)
a. Jesus drew near, but he was unrevealed
b. Question 1: What are you talking about?
1) A gloomy look
2) Answer: The things that have happened
c. Question 2: What events?
a) He was a great prophet
b) He was crucified 
c) He was thought to be the Messiah
2) Jesus’ prophecy of three days 
3) Jesus’ empty tomb and perplexing reports
a) Reports of visions
b) Reports of Jesus’ being alive
c) Reports confirmed
d. Question 3: Did not the Prophets predict the Messiah’s death and resurrection? 
1) A mild rebuke
2) His death and resurrection were necessary
3) He explains the Scripture
3. Scene 3: Experiencing the burning truth-Jesus is risen; He is alive (v.28-32)
a) The two sought to hear more: invited Him to stay with them
1) He accepted the invitation
2) He blessed the food
b) Jesus opened their eyes: They knew the Lord
c) They had experienced conviction: A burning within their hearts
4. Scene 4: Proclaiming the immortal witness (v.33-35)
a. The two rushed to the disciples
b. The exciting meeting, the immortal witness: Christ is risen
1) Had been seen by Simon
2) Had been seen by the two from Emmaus
Thought: These two were seeking to understand the death and empty tomb of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the subject of their conversation. They were seeking the truth; therefore, Christ drew near them.
The problem with the two from Emmaus , as it is with so many today, was there shortsightedness and unbelief.
Thought: The greatest of all tragedies is that some still do not accept and believe the Lord’s death and resurrection despite the irrefutable evidence.
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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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