Pam's Perambulation

He Said, You Said, God Said

•April 1, 2013 • Leave a Comment

In arguments, there is often an element of he or she said this, and I said that. Tit for tat arguing backwards and forward. Sometimes it helps if someone steps in and says,

well I say…

A voice of authority, of reason, of sense

²⁷When the apostles were brought before the council, the high priest said to them, ²⁸“We told you plainly not to teach in the name of Jesus. But look what you have done! You have been teaching all over Jerusalem, and you are trying to blame us for his death.”

²⁹Peter and the apostles replied:

We don’t obey people. We obey God. ³⁰You killed Jesus by nailing him to a cross. But the God our ancestors worshipped raised him to life ³¹and made him our Leader and Saviour. Then God gave him a place at his right side,so that the people of Israel would turn back to him and be forgiven. ³²We are here to tell you about all this, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to everyone who obeys God.

The apostles are excited, they want to tell everyone about Jesus. People were coming to faith, others were being healed. And what happens? The Pharisees become jealous (5:17). They are the ones who look after religion round here. so they have the apostles put in jail – yet at night, an angel opened the doors and led them out. From there they went out more enthused to tell everyone about all that was available to them in God.

So what did they do? Pretty much the same as they did with Jesus – bring them before the council. Try and find a charge for them. We told you not to do this, but you’ve done it anyway, you’re trying to blame us for killing Jesus. But amongst the arguing, one thing becomes clear:

Peter replies that they don’t take their orders from people, but from God.

They are here to tell God’s message and that is what they are going to do. Easter Sunday might be over – but the message and shouting about it goes on.

This is Peter who had denied he knew Jesus – now he is spending his life telling people all about Him. Nothing and no one are going to shut him up.

What about us?

Thank you God that there is something to shout about,
a gospel to proclaim.
That you were nailed to the cross –
but raised again.
Thank you that is not just a historical event,
but a reality that has meaning in our lives day by day.
That you offer forgiveness,
new life,
hope
and peace
– for each and every person.

So Lord
may I tell your message.
May nothing and no one stop me.
I have a gospel to proclaim
– your gospel
of love and forgiveness

Posted in bible, calling, Easter, faith, forgiveness, God, Jesus, Lectionary, love, Religion, theology
Tags: A Gospel to proclaim, Acts 5:27-32, Peter

He is Risen!

•March 31, 2013 • 1 Comment

John 20:1-18

Resurrection!

20 ^1-2Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”

^3-10Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

^11-13But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”

^13-14“They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.

¹⁵Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”

She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”

¹⁶Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”

¹⁷Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”

¹⁸Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.