Contents
Introduction
Again, happy feast of the resurrection of Jesus! I hope you are still enjoying the blessings and grace of the resurrection? As the psalmist says, it is the Lord’s making. It is marvellous in our eyes. Certainly, the Jews regretted their action, seeing the outcome of the crucifixion of Jesus. If they knew what would have been the aftermath of their plot to kill Jesus, I suppose they would have thought twice (cf. Acts 3:17). In his second volume, Luke provides us with a detailed account of the missionary cum pastoral activities of the apostles after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Unlike the instruction in Matthew 10:5–6, the Gospel can now be taken outside the territory of Israel (cf. Matt 28:19–20). God’s gift cannot be monopolized. Following the ascension of Jesus, the first official act of the Eleven apostles was to replace Judas Iscariot (cf. Acts 1:15–26). Having done this, they remained in prayer as instructed by Jesus until the great day of divine empowerment (cf. Acts 2:1–13). The fruits and effects of Christ’s resurrection are gradually unfolding. Those fruits are recorded especially in the Acts of the Apostles.
The Great commissioning
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Immediately after the greeting, followed the great commissioning. Once resurrected, Jesus appeared to his disciples and commissioned them to continue what he had started (cf. also Matt 28:18–20). Jesus, the One sent by the Father is now the Sender. To be noted is that in this commissioning or sending, the three persons of the Godhead are involved. As the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends his disciples, furnishing them with the Holy Spirit (John 20:21–22). After the commissioning, Jesus fortified them by breathing unto them, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you.…
Conclusion
“Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30–31). Without waiting for people to start speculating on the purpose of his documentation, John did that himself. Whoever is reading this Gospel should do that with the intention of coming to faith. John expects his readers to have eternal life by believing in God after reading about Jesus and his mission. There is no need searching for the book or books containing those ‘other things’ Jesus did that are not written in this very book. For John, the things written in this book are enough to lead one to faith and therefore, to eternal life.
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE: SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I and II)!! The reflection for the Second Sunday of Pascha (B) is found in vol. II pages 167–182. Happy reading!
For details on how to get it, contact the author on this link: https://m.me/uchennabiblia?fbclid=IwAR2yeg4a6sDGBp9QGkIvKj6FSADumMokN6lshdE0zuo-JHs6qOmlhA7jyHo or email me at: postmaster@uchennabiblia.com or simply send an SMS on 08116100926, and I will get back to you.