EASTER • 3

Introduction to Easter Season

(March 31 – May 18, 2024)

Easter Sunday marks the start of the Easter Season. And in the Gospels and Book of Acts a fresh fire is ignited within the Christian community. The followers of Jesus are growing and they’re not just going through the motions—they are diving deep into the stories of Jesus, soaking up every word from Apostles who taught them, and more. As their hearts unit around the Good News of Jesus, they become a part of the grand narrative of transformation and revelation.

Imagine being in that upper room with Jesus, feeling his presence fill you with new life and purpose. That's what Easter does—it breathes fresh vitality into our faith and connects us all in a powerful way.

As we enter Easter season in 2024, let's remember that we're part of something bigger than ourselves—a global community rooted in love, service, and devotion to Jesus. And as we continue to grow as sons and daughters learning to serve Christ together, let’s spread His message of hope and redemption to everyone around us as we live, work and play

reading for: Tuesday Night, 16 APRIL

John 10:11-18

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    Scripture Reading: John 10:11–18

    11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

    Commentary

    The imagery of shepherd and sheep is a very popular imagery in the Bible. For example, Psalm 23 draws out the imagery of shepherd and sheep with the psalmist proclaiming that “The Lord is my shepherd”. John 10 similarly makes use of the imagery of shepherd and sheep extensively.

    John 10 starts with a description that only the person that attends the sheep fold by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. If anyone climbs in by some other way, he is not the shepherd but a thief or robber. When the sheep hears his voice, the sheep follow him out into green pastures. The sheep will follow the voice of the shepherd, but they will not follow the voice of the thief or robber.

    Jesus then makes it clear who the shepherd is. He declares that he is the shepherd. He is the shepherd that lays down his life for sheep and protects them from the wolf so that they would not be snatched or scattered. He knows the sheep and the sheep knows him, they have a relationship with him. Jesus then makes the assertion that this relationship that he has with his sheep is grounded in the relationship that he has with his Father and his Father with him.

    There are many sheep that are not of this fold that Jesus must bring also, and they will similarly listen to his voice. Jesus was likely referring to us as Gentiles for we were previously not in the sheepfold of God but now have been included in. No matter Jew, Greek or Gentile, we are now part of the one flock of God, the one flock that follows the shepherd and hears his voice.

  • REFLECT

Are we listening to the voice of the Shepherd or are we listening to the voice of the thief and robber? Do we follow him out into green pastures? Are we treasuring our relationship with the Shepherd?

Let us in this season of easter, learn to hear the voice of shepherd by being immersed in the Scriptures and praying to him. Let us treasure our relationship with him by not going to bed wrong, waking up strong and pausing in our day to pray.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 17 APRIL

Acts 4:5-12

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Scripture Reading: Acts 4:5-12

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Commentary

In Acts chapters 3 and 4, Peter and John, filled with the Holy Spirit, perform a miraculous healing at the Temple gate, drawing attention to Christ's resurrection. They boldly proclaim Jesus as the source of this miracle, despite facing opposition from religious leaders. In Acts 4:5-12, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, fearlessly defends their actions, emphasizing the power of Jesus in the healing. He boldly declares salvation through Christ alone, despite threats from the authorities. Their courage stems from the Holy Spirit's empowerment, showcasing the transformative effect of encountering Christ.

In today’s passages, Acts 4:5-12, Peter and John's boldness, fueled by the Holy Spirit, challenges the authority of the religious elite. He asserts that salvation comes solely through Jesus, which would have been seen by their opponents and a direct contradiction to Jewish ideas about salvation. This courage reflects the Holy Spirit's work in empowering believers to boldly proclaim the gospel despite opposition. Through their witness, they exemplify reliance on the Spirit's guidance and empowerment.

Verses 5 and 6 set the scene for the confrontation between Peter and John, who had performed a miraculous healing, and the religious authorities. In verse 7, the high-priestly family's question challenges Peter and John's authority. Peter's response in verse 10 highlights Jesus as the source of their power, echoing Psalm 118:22, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." This Old Testament reference emphasizes Jesus as the rejected yet crucial foundation of faith. In verses 11 and 12, Peter boldly asserts that the religious leaders, like the builders, rejected Jesus, but God exalted him as the cornerstone of salvation. By invoking this scripture, Peter asserts Jesus' authority and the legitimacy of their actions, despite opposition from the religious leaders.

  • REFLECT

    1.     How does the Holy Spirit empower believers to overcome fear and boldly proclaim the gospel in the face of opposition?

    2.     In what ways does the Holy Spirit enable Christians to rely on Jesus as the only source of salvation and hope?

    3.     How can experiencing the Holy Spirit's transformative power influence our daily lives and interactions with others in sharing the gospel?

reading for: Thursday Night, 18 APRIL

1 John 3:16-24

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    Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:16-24

    “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.”

    Commentary

    Tonight’s reading begins with a declaration – “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.”

    Love is the laying down of one’s life so that another may have life. It is the giving away of self for the sake of another. Until we experience and understand this love that drove God to become man and compelled Christ to lay down his life for us, we will never fully know love. And consequently, we will never be able to fully give our lives away for the sake of Christ and our brothers (and sisters) who are in Christ.

    That is the call that John is making. When he wrote these words, he is calling you and I to give our lives away instead of keeping it for ourselves. There is no excuse or exception for all who are in Christ. We are supposed to live like Jesus, love like Jesus and look like Jesus.

    John puts it plainly. If we have the means to meet the needs of our brothers yet our hearts are cold and distant towards him, we have no love and we know no love. Love that remains on the lips without being embodied in the body and translated into action, is dead

    Nevertheless, John is also well aware that we will fail in our pursuit of love. He is no stranger to the shame and condemnation that weighs our hearts as we labour to love. John assures us that God is greater than the sinking feeling within us and He knows the genuineness of our love. We can’t hide from God and neither can we lie to Him. God knows our hearts and sees both the truth and the deceit in us.

    Therefore, we do not have to feel like a fraud before God. We can come as we are and make our requests known because we are listening to Him and doing what He wants. And what God desires is for us to abide in Him, stay true to Jesus and love His people, with the help of the Spirit that He has given to us.

  • REFLECT

As you read and meditate on this passage tonight, what is the Lord saying to you?

1. Is He inviting you to know love?

2. Is He challenging you to love in a tangible and practical way?

3. Is He highlighting a particular person or situation?

4. Is He calling you to love again and to keep on loving?

5. Is He asking you to stop running and come home?

If He is speaking to you today and you hear His voice, do not harden your heart! May you know love and live out love at home, at work and at play.

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 19 APRIL

Psalm 23

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    Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

    23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

    23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

    23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

    23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me.

    23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

    23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

    Commentary

    Have you ever considered that Psalm 23 was a Psalm that Jesus Himself prayed?

    The scriptures that Jesus had, grew up with and heard sermons on was actually just the old testament. And He was certainly taught to pray and sing Psalm 23.

    What does that mean?

    First and foremost, it means that God the Father is Jesus’ Shepherd. And even though Jesus too battled with his own desires and wants, He found Himself truly satisfied in the Father who is his Shepherd (v.1).

    Jesus too yearned for rest and rejuvenation. And God the Father, his Shepherd, led him to green pastures and still waters (v.2).

    There were also times when Jesus needed to be restored in his soul, times when he struggled to walk in the path of righteousness (v 3). (Remember Garden of Gethsemane where his soul was anguished? Matthew 26:38)

    And of course when Jesus Himself experienced death on the cross, he had to battle the fear of evil, seek God the Father in that time and find comfort in God His Shepherd (v.4).

    In that place of death however, Jesus found a table, a provision of food and communion and a crowning moment in the resurrection (v.5).

    It was then he could proclaim with confidence that goodness and mercy will follow him all the days of his life as he dwelt in the house of God forever (v.6).

  • REFLECT

    What difference does it make that Jesus Himself prayed and experienced Psalm 23?

    Isn't Psalm 23 just a meaningful go-to Psalm when we go through difficult times?

    Because of Jesus’ prayer of Psalm 23, through his life, death and resurrection we can now see the fulfilment of Psalm 23. In his life we saw how God the Father is His Shepherd and led him to green pastures and still waters. In his life we see him find his wants satisfied in the Father. And in his life we see him not just face and experience death, but walk through death and experience the goodness and mercy of God. A goodness that ultimately led him to being raised from the grave.

    Because of this, we now have a sure foundation and hope in our valleys. Are you facing and feeling like you are walking through the valley if death? Are you questioning if God is still good?

    If Jesus Himself prayed, experienced and saw the goodness and mercy of God then you can also. For in Christ all of God's promises have been fulfilled with a resounding yes! (2 Cor 1:20)

Season of LentCNL