Bible notes

New Testament Acts 2.14a,22-32

This extract from Peter’s Pentecost speech shows him speaking at two levels. First, he refers to human activity: what Jesus did in his ministry, and how others responded. But he also speaks of divine activity: how God was at work in what Jesus did and what others did to him, notably in reversing the verdict of the Jewish and Roman authorities that he deserved to be executed. But the resurrection is not simply a one-off divine decision. It flows from God’s hidden purposes, about which the Scriptures provide the clues.

Many Jews at the time believed that the message of the Scriptures was not locked up in the past, but waiting to be disclosed when the Messiah (anointed one) came and the Holy Spirit revealed God’s ancient purposes. So, Peter reads David (the assumed author of Psalm 16) as a prophet who spoke of the Messiah and his resurrection (v.31). On this understanding, the resurrection of Jesus confirms his divine authority as God’s anointed one. And now, ‘having freed him from death’ (v.24), God has opened up a new age of freedom, beginning in Judea before extending to the ends of the earth.

Peter’s speech weaves together trustworthy stories: the Hebrew Scriptures’ promise of God’s blessing, and the story of Jesus that takes shape after Pentecost, as God’s promises are realised. By holding these two strands together in the story of the trustworthy God, the Bible proves to be indispensable for Christians in all ages.

Gospel John 20.19-31

As does John’s Gospel as a whole, this extract from what was probably the original ending of his Gospel (verses 30-31 read like a conclusion) has Jesus speaking to two audiences: the first disciples in Jerusalem, and the Christ-followers for whom John writes. The evangelist has the disciples remaining in Jerusalem after Passover. They are behind locked doors in the house they had rented for the festival, afraid that the authorities will come after them too. They are ashamed by the humiliation of Jesus and their own failure to show their loyalty to him.

John’s readers are also afraid. The local synagogue is hostile towards them, and some at least have been expelled (see 15.18-20; 16.2). Though he has promised to be with them in the coming of the Advocate (14.16-17), it would be easy for them to feel that Jesus is absent when they need him the most. The coming of the risen Christ to those whose security depends on locked doors reassures both audiences. His wounds reveal that the mysterious figure in their midst, unconstrained by space and time, really is their master and friend who was crucified. His repeated ‘peace be with you’ (shalom) is the traditional Hebrew greeting. Jesus, though, invests it with new meaning, as the peace that he had earlier promised (14.27) overcomes the power of death, and remakes the world that God so loves. Little wonder that the disciples rejoice. Breathing on them is a reminder that their wounded Lord is the source of God’s renewing Spirit, like living waters flowing from his pierced heart (John 7.38-39; 19.34-37). Now they are commissioned to come out from behind locked doors and extend his ‘Lamb of God’ mission that refuses to allow anyone’s sins to have the last word (see John 1.29).

The story of Thomas says that even those who were not there at the beginning are given a share in Jesus’ victory and commission. It isn’t necessary to see or touch, only to take on trust the story that is captured in the witness of Mary Magdalene and the other disciples: ‘I/we have seen the Lord’ (20.18,25). Thomas’ ‘My Lord and my God’ comes as he works through his doubts and questions to make the story told by Mary and the other disciples his own. The witness of these unlikely apostles becomes the trustworthy story on which the Church’s faith has been founded ever since.

The links between the readings

Peter’s speech in Acts 2 uses Scripture to write a trustworthy story of Jesus’ resurrection. John’s story too can be trusted, because it rests on the reliable evidence of the first apostle of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene. 1 Peter echoes the message of the Gospel that trust in the Easter message brings love, joy and hope.

Notes on Psalm 16 and ideas for using it together.