Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Feb 18 2020 - Acts 1:1-26 – Over to you …

The book of Acts is the second half of Luke’s two-part work telling the story of Jesus and of the earliest disciples. He begins this second part with a link back to the first: “I’ve already told you”, he says, “of the things Jesus began to do and to teach.” He seems to imply that this is a continuation of the same story. In this second part we will also read of what Jesus is doing and teaching, but now in and through his disciples.

This continuity is reinforced in other ways also. The Gospels, including Luke’s Gospel, have told of Jesus teaching concerning the kingdom. The book of Acts begins and ends with the same theme. In the opening verses we have the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples over a period of 40 days and “speaking to them about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1.3). The book ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome where, for two years, “he welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ...” (Acts 28:30-31).

But one of the most remarkable parallels is in Luke’s reference to the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ teaching of his disciples was empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2) – the Spirit who descended upon him when he was baptised by John. He began his preaching ministry with the affirmation that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because he had been anointed to proclaim good news – the Gospel (Luke 4:18). Jesus now tells the disciples that he is about to return to the Father, but they are to wait in Jerusalem for a gift from the Father: “For John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). When the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them they will be empowered to be witnesses to Jesus and his kingdom (Acts 1:8): the Spirit of the Lord will now be upon them, anointing them to proclaim the Gospel.

Putting all of this together, Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God and demonstrated its presence through the power of the Spirit. His death and resurrection are the portal through which the kingdom is now streaming into this world. But it does so as his disciples follow Jesus in proclaiming the kingdom of God and demonstrating its presence through the power of the Spirit. They do this as they proclaim that Jesus of Nazareth, crucified under Pontius Pilate, is risen from the dead and has been declared by God to be both Lord and Christ. As they proclaim that Jesus is Lord, and teach the world about him, Jesus himself works in them and through them to make himself known and to establish his kingdom. This is the story of the Book of Acts.

Jesus has ascended into heaven, but his work of establishing his kingdom continues in undiminished power. As the disciples gaze up into heaven after their Lord, they are asked by angels why they are hanging around here. Jesus has given them a task to do and, by virtue of his resurrection and ascension to the place of all power, he will equip them to do it. Their task is to get on with it. And that is what they did, as recorded in the Book of Acts.

Luke wrote no third volume. That's down to us. We also are empowered by our risen and ascended Lord to continue his work of establishing his kingdom until that day when he will return from heaven just as those disciples saw him ascend into heaven.

Risen and ascended Lord, you are seated in glory in the place of power at the right hand of the Father. All authority is given to you, and every knee must bow to you. Help us to continue your work of proclaiming your kingdom, your power and your glory. Empower us by your Spirit and work through us to bring many out of the kingdom of darkness to live under your kingly rule.

Feb 18 2019 - Exodus 7:25-8:32 – Frogs, gnats and flies

One plague follows upon another, but still Pharaoh hardens his heart against the Lord's demand to let his people go. The whole of Egypt is crawling – or more accurately, hopping – with frogs. Again the Egyptian sorcerers manage to add to the plague rather than providing any relief from it. The frogs have even entered the royal palace and hopped into Pharaoh's bed. It is clear that Pharaoh no longer has authority over his own palace; he is losing control.

Pharaoh knows that this is the work of the God of Moses and so he summons Moses and Aaron asking them to pray to the Lord and ask for the frogs to be taken away. Moses appears to restore something of Pharaoh's authority in allowing him to nominate when he wishes the frogs to be removed. However, this is in fact a further demonstration of God's power; the God who sent this plague is alone able to control when it will be removed.

When the frogs died their rotting bodies filled the land with the smell of death and Pharaoh again hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites go. So the air is now filled with gnats. This is too much for the Egyptian sorcerers who tell Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God"; they acknowledge that they are up against a power which exceeds all of their own magic arts. It is not Moses or Aaron who have done these things, the supreme God has done them by his own hand and by his incomparable power. Despite their warning, Pharaoh still will not listen.

The gnats are followed by swarms of flies. God again demonstrates that this plague is not some chance event but is an act of his own judgment. He does this by discriminating between the land occupied by the Egyptians and that occupied by his people. The Egyptians are plagued with flies while the Israelites are left unmolested. The mighty God who has done this is clearly the God of the Israelites.

Thus far, we have focussed on the way the plagues were designed to convince Pharaoh and the Egyptians of the power of the living God. But we should not forget that they were also to convince the enslaved Israelites of God's power to save them. After Moses' first confrontation with Pharaoh, the Israelites burden had been increased and they had told Moses that all he had done was to put a sword in Pharaoh's hand to kill them (5:21). God now clearly distinguishes between his people and the Egyptians (8:23). God's acts of power will crush the Egyptians but will save his people. The Israelites can see this process already at work.

Pharaoh is weakening and is ready to compromise. He suggests that the Israelites can have a holiday from their work and celebrate a festival of worship to their God within the land of Egypt. Moses is uncompromising; the Israelites must take a three-day journey into the desert to worship God. Pharaoh concedes; the people may go into the desert to worship as long as they do not go very far. Pharaoh sends Moses away to pray that the plague of flies may cease. But as soon as the flies are gone, Pharaoh hardens his heart again and will not let the Israelites go.

As we saw in the last reading from Exodus, those who resist God's purposes do so to their own hurt and the hurt of those around them. It is a dangerous thing to stand against the living God or to seek to strike bargains with him.

"No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear you?" Precious Saviour, I thank you that all power in heaven and on earth has been given to you. Help me to trust in your saving power and never doubt that you are with me. Help me also to watch over my own heart and to fear the sin of rebellion that may so easily lead me away from walking humbly with you.

Peter Misselbrook