Kontakion

Reading Amount: 1 Peter 1:1-12 Central Verse: By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. - 1 Peter 1:3b-5 Central Truth: The hope that we have in Christ comes not from forgiveness of sins or from his death on the cross, but from the resurrection. The Resurrection has brought us into a relationship with God with eternal rewards. Food for Thought (Questions about the text): As in the case of most letters in the New Testament Peter sets up the general themes that we will see reoccurring throughout the letter. In verse two Peter writes "May Grace and peace be yours in abundance." (1 Peter 1:2 NRSV). The greeting of grace is a traditional greeting in the Roman world, the addition of the word peace i...

Who: Like all biblical books the question of who wrote the book of 1 Peter is a complicated one. Tradition has taught that the author of 1 Peter is in fact the disciple Peter. This doesn't stand without some issues that have to be faced by faithful stewards of scripture. One of the difficulties with Peter being the author is that from the Gospels we know Peter as a fisherman. It is doubtful that Peter would have been able to write this letter in the form that it is written. For instance the Greek used in 1 Peter is very 'proper' and well articulated, hardly what we would expect from a fisherman. Another difficulty is that in this letter when the Old Testament is quoted it is the Greek version of the Old Testament (the Septuagint, abbreviated LXX) that is quoted. It seems reasonably safe to assume that Peter would have quoted the scriptures in Hebrew or Aramaic because that is what he would have grown up understanding. Peter would have quoted what was comfortable and he was ...

Reading Amount: John 21:1-25 Central Verse: But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down. I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 Central Truth: God is still speaking!!!!! Food for thought: (Questions about the text) The ending of the Gospel is a common form of ending, giving respect to all the information that doesn't make it into the written word. The disciples were back fishing, this may have been a sign that they were giving up on their mission. But Jesus appears to call them back to it. Jesus asks Peter to take care of his sheep three times, this may be a way of giving Peter forgiveness for denying him three times. Connections: (Time with Our Society) Why doesn't God speak to me? Why doesn't God speak today? These are questions that I've had to face quite often as a pastor. Usually its someone who is upset about something and there is honestly no answer to give. Wh...

Reading Amount: John 20:1-31 Central Verse: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they ware forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20:21-23 Central Truth: The Holy Spirit has been given to all of us so that we might spread the light of Christ to all the world! Food For Thought: (Questions about the Text) The word for "breath" here is meant to call to mind the text in Genesis where God breathed life into Adam and Eve, it is also meant to call to mind the text in Ezekiel where the dry bones are given life. There is nothing in the text that limits the disciples to only the twelve. It is safe to assume that there were more followers than just the twelve present. Making this text about forgiveness of sins inclusive of all the church life not just the clergy. Connectio...

Reading Amount: John 18:1-19:42 Central Verse: Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." John 19:11 NRSV Central Truth: There is a sin that is worst than all others according to the Gospel of John. It is the rejection of God in the form of Jesus, you can be redeemed from this sin but it is the primary issue in the way of salvation for John. Food for Thought: (Questions about the text) There is always a question of who was responsible for the death of Jesus, it is important theologically and historically. Who do you think is responsible? Connections: (Time with our Society) In many of our churches there is an almost constant emphasis on sin. This also happens in how our churches interact with society there is a huge emphasis on what people do and the sin that people engage in. In the Gospel of John the greatest sin is to not acknowledge who Jesus is. Pil...

Reading Amount: John 13:1-17:26 Central Verse: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35, NRSV Central Truth: At the heart of the Gospel is love. Love for God and equally as important is this commandment by Jesus to love one another. Food for Thought: (Questions about the text) Our theme verse comes to us in a section of discourse by Jesus. The statement of loving one another actually occurs at another place in this discourse as well. What do you think the over all theme of these chapters are? Is there a theme? Connections: (Time with our Society) On 7 July 1967 the Beatles release one of their most easily recognizable song "All You Need Is Love." A song with simple but powerful lyrics it spoke of the power that love can and should have in our lives. The song came at a time when our world was rife with...

Reading Amount: John 11:1-12:50 Central Verse: He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. John 11:51-52 NRSV Central Truth: God uses imperfect, even conniving, vessels to speak of the work that Jesus would complete. Jesus work was not just for the salvation of the people of Israel but for all the children of God! Food for Thought: (Questions about the Text) The office of high priest was intended to be a lifelong position. John seems to remark that Caiaphas was only shortly in office this may have been noticing the reality of living under Roman rule. In fact a number of years later Caiaphas was removed from leadership. There is a marriage of political wisdom with a strong underlying of prophecy in the wisdom of Caiaphas. The political wisdom was contained in their precarious set-up with Rome. Connections: (Time with our Society...