November 14th – The Jesus People




3000 people were baptised into Christ and his church on that first day of the first Pentecost in the Christian era. Then we read:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42Acts 2:42
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  

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That verse lists four characteristics of the living church: namely: the Apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. Those four things. Let’s look at the first one today.
“They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching”:
They were hungry to know what those who had lived with Jesus for almost three years, day and night, had to teach them about Jesus. They all believed that he was the Messiah, the Son of God, but there were so many other things they desperately needed to know. Such as, just who is He? ‘When did you Apostles discover the secret of his person?’ He was not a phantom man – nor an ordinary human promoted to the status of a god by hero worship – just what was he?
The Apostles told of their personal experiences of Jesus. The miracles of healing, the casting out of demons from the possessed, his extraordinary powers. When he ‘stilled’ a storm on the lake with a word, they were awe-struck “What manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?” they gasped. The crowds were astonished and filled with wonder at his teaching. No legal hair-splitting like they were used to, but clear direct, and to the heart of things. They also taught how Jesus fulfilled the prophesies of him in the Old Testament. Not only those obvious references to him, as in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, which speak of God’s suffering, redeeming servant, but also his mission to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. “It’s at hand now” he said, and he meant the very realm for which Israel had been chosen, to become a working model of God’s Kingdom on earth, which all the world could see and flow toward to learn the ways of God: that’s what has arrived. He brought it.
They also wanted to know what about their old Jewish religious rules, for example, did he observe the Sabbath strictly? What about paying taxes? How did he see the occupying Roman army? What did he teach them about the Law of Moses? What did he eat? Are Kosher food laws still to be observed by Christians? What about prayer? What about worship? They couldn’t get enough of the Apostle’s teaching for they taught also about the mystery of his Passion, his crucifixion, his resurrection, his ascension, his coming again. It was not that they learned so much about Jesus, but they got to know Jesus himself.
This is how the Apostles could speak:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. 1st Letter of John 1:1-4John 1:1-4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

The Gospel According to St. John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  

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A Prayer: Lord, I can never know enough of Jesus, nor ever know him well enough. I am hungry for him.
Now read Mark 7: 1-23Mark 7: 1-23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

7 1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. defiled: or, common 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. oft: or, diligently: in the original, with the fist: Theophylact, up to the elbow 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. pots: sextarius is about a pint and an half tables: or, beds 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: covetousness...: Gr. covetousnesses, wickednesses 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.  

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