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June 21 Final Episode

6/22/2015

2 Comments

 
The series comes to end with what seems like the focus on the Roman centurion, Cornelius.  He was the one who was weeping in the previous episode and he contemplates his actions in killing Tabitha.  We find more happening in his life as an angel appears before him and is to send for Peter.  Peter has a vision also that will lead him to Cornelius.  What is remarkable is that Cornelius will hear a word of forgiveness on behalf of his wrongdoing.  How timely, as we consider the word of forgiveness that came from the families of those killed in the church in Charleston.

Cornelius comes to accept Christ and is baptized and the place is vibrant with the speaking in tongues.  God's Holy Spirit is present.  What struck me was the statement made by Cornelius: "I feel so alive!"   I wonder how many of us have this same feeling - in terms of the difference faith in Christ makes in our lives?  Is everyday just an ordinary day, or is it one where we are living out the adventure that we have in being a follower of Christ?

Although Cornelius has come to faith in Christ, he now feels the tension as he is called back to Jerusalem to deal with the placement of the emperor's statue in the temple.  Can Cornelius go through with this now that he is a Christian?  I believe the same tension comes to us today.  You may be in the working world and discover that you are asked to do things that might be unethical and actually go against your faith.  How will you respond?

I also found the scene intriguing where Peter and the apostles are together and contemplating leaving Jerusalem.  Peter asserted that if they did nothing, they would be like the priest in the Good Samaritan story who failed to act.  They needed to do something!  It is also a challenge for us today whether it is injustice or helping the poor.  Will we remain in a safe position or will we have the courage to act?

The episode ended with a cliffhanger with Peter facing the sword of a Roman soldier.  What is going to happen to him?  Maybe there will be a 2nd season!

I believe that the series was remarkable in dealing with the resurrection experience of Christianity.  While the movie industry may have done some embellishments, it made me think of the courage needed to be a disciple at that time. How much are we overcoming safety and complacency in being disciples today would be my major question from this series.

You can feel free to express your thoughts in the comments section.

Pastor Marty
2 Comments

June 14 Episode

6/15/2015

1 Comment

 
In this episode we continue to see the influence of women in shaping policy, whether with Leah or Claudia.  Claudia seeks to persuade her husband, Pilate, to release Johanna, who brought to Gospel of Jesus to Tabitha.  Pilate flatly refuses.  It is later that Claudia takes it on her own to have Johanna released and brought before her husband.  Pilate in anger, and being ruthless, has Johanna killed by strangulation.

It is Cornelius who has the job of being executioner.  However, we see the emotional side of Cornelius with him weeping after he did his job.  The human side of him comes out it seems for the first time in this episode.

The Ethiopian is brought before Pilate after it was told him that this foreignor was providing weapons for a revolt.  Pilate has him banished from the city, and the movie shows where he is allowed to take the scroll of Isaiah with him.  The reunion of Philip with Peter becomes the pivotal moment when Philip gets an angelic message to head toward Gaza.  It is in this way that Philip meets up with this Ethiopian, whose chariot has broken down. This meeting becomes the occasion for the Ethiopian to learn about the passage from Isaiah that he has been reading and later to become baptized!

Yes, Philip got his cue from an angel.  I wonder how we might desire to have a direct message from God in terms of our own witnessing to others?  Can we tell if someone really needs our witness?  In our day, we need to be attentive to how God might be speaking to us.  Possibly, it could come through a friend whom God uses, who has us meet up with someone who is ripe for the hearing the good news.

Another miraculous event comes with Peter being called to Joppa.  Tabitha had left Jerusalem to return Joppa.  While there she dies (supposedly from the flogging).  Peter comes by her dead body and brings her back to life.  Here, we must see that the apostles were empowered to do great things.  I wonder how much we even think of what our potential is as people of faith.   Jesus did say that we would do greater works than what he did.   Maybe we feel we can't bring someone back from the dead, but there might be some other ways we can enhance someone's life beyond our expectation.


We also see in this episode how the apostles were still eager to talk about Jesus in public - yes, in public.  I'm afraid today, for a lot of folks their faith has become a private affair.  Faith as well as church can only be talked about under the safest and "appropriate" situations.

Next Sunday will be the final episode.  It will  be interesting to see what all comes of the statue of the emperor that has arrived and is to be placed in the temple.  

As I have been following the Twitter feed, it's interesting how some people are hoping for a continuation of the series.  The book of Acts provides us with quite a history of the post-resurrection life of Jesus' followers!  You may post your thoughts in the comments section here.

Pastor Marty



1 Comment

June 7 Episode

6/9/2015

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The temple itself comes into play twice in this episode.  As the episode opens up Paul is released from prison and meets up with Caiaphas, and the high priest calls for Paul to "come back to the temple."  It was interesting that Paul countered that invitation by saying that there was "no need for your temple customs."   This makes us think of the transition taking place from Judaism to Christianity.  Jesus was revolutionary in bringing in what is new.  He did talk about the fact that you cannot put new wine into old wineskins!  Remember, also that the curtain in the temple had been torn into two pieces upon his death and we now have access to God directly through Jesus.

We also note the tension taking place between Simon (the Zealot) and Paul.  Simon commented on how easy it was for Paul to be released.  We later get a hint that Simon was asked to deliver Paul in order for him to be killed!  Could these two individuals trust one another?  The tension between this new convert (Paul) and one of the apostles comes out here as it has in the past episodes.

The person of Tabitha, the seamstress, is introduced into the series.  It was interesting here that with a needle being used, Jesus' words come to the forefront where he said how it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich person to enter the kingdom. The account in Scripture (Acts9:36) tells us that Tabitha had died and was revived by the apostle Peter.  In this episode we have her being flogged for coming to faith and receiving words of comfort from Paul.

The Ethiopian is introduced as well in this episode.  The writers of the series have elaborated here by having him bring gifts to Pilate.  Certainly he had some wealth available to him, being the treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia.  The account of him given in Acts 8:26ff. has him being confronted by Philip as he is on his journey home and is reading from the book of Isaiah (given to him by Caiaphas as the movie indicated).  

The temple enters the discussion again as Caiaphas is worried about the statue of Caligula being put into this sacred place.  I see here a triangulation taking place as there is tension with Rome's intrusion into Judaism and with Caiaphas worried about the Christian influence overall.

As the episode ends, Paul leaves the apostles and heads north for his mission work as he delves into reaching the Gentiles.

As I was watching this episode, I was following the comments made with the #adtheseries on Twitter.  I found this to be helpful in reading the various comments being made while watching the show and when the episode ended.

Please feel free to post any thoughts you have about the early life of the disciples or the value of a series like this being presented on TV.

Pastor Marty




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May 31 Episode

6/1/2015

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The episode began with a converted Saul (to be called Paul) going into the synagogue in Damascus and proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.  We learn that Saul's activity there produces a riot in the streets of the city.  He exclaimed in defense:  "Everyone needs to hear Christ."  Yes, we might echo that for ourselves and also live with the conviction that everyone needs to hear Christ.  We probably each need to examine how willing are we to talk about our faith to someone else.

Saul then makes the journey back to Jerusalem where he meets the apostles and where there is the hesitation of accepting him.  Has he really turned to Christ?  Can you picture how dumbfounded the apostles must have been to learn about Saul's conversion?  The tension is palpable between Peter and Saul.  Scripture states that Saul went back to Jerusalem and spent 15 days there conversing with Peter and James.  Galatians 1:18.  Then, we would later learn the tension would continue as Paul opposed Peter to his face when Peter withdrew from eating with Gentiles.  Galatians 2:11.

The episode also brought out the infusion of Rome's power that would include setting up a statue of the Emperor (Caligula) in the temple.  We must remember that the emperor wanted to be revered and worshipped, if not be considered divine!   Reference was made in the movie to the prophet Daniel, prophesying this.  The prophecy in Daniel 12:11 is about an abomination being set up in the temple.  A line of thought is that it referred to Antiochus Epiphanes, King of Syria, setting up a statue in the temple as he tried to stamp out Judaism.   Centuries later the Gospel writer Matthew wrote about the "desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place,"  which would be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. Matt 24:15   When you look at the emperor's desire, you see the desire to assert power and squash the religion that seemed to be problematic for the emperor to have peace.

Also, the movie showed that where there had been a sense of unity between Pilate and Caiaphas, there now is friction - the tension even being evident between the wives of these two figures.  There is political maneuvering going on to deal with all the religious problems in Jerusalem as well as their relationship to the emperor.

The episode ended with Saul being taken prisoner.  We know from Scripture that this imprisonment would be a long ordeal for the apostle that would stretch out to his appearance before the governors Felix and Festus and also appearing before Herod Agrippa and finally being transported to Rome for a hearing that would lead to a two year house arrest.

I believe we are confronted with what does it mean to be loyal to your faith even in the midst of those who might overtly or covertly try to marginalize the church.

You may share your thoughts about this episode in the comments section here.







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    A.D. The Bible Continues Series

    Reflections by Pastor Marty


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