EASTER • 5

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, 30 April

John 15:9-17

  • READ

    Scripture Reading: John 15:9-17

    9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

    Commentary

    John 15:9-17 picks up from where John 15:1-8 left off. We recall that John 15:1-8 speaks of Jesus using the imagery of the vine and the branches to call on his disciples to abide in him. The one that abides in him is the one that will bear fruits and the Father will prune so that more fruits will be borne. Vice versa, the one that does not abide in him will not bear fruit and will be thrown and burn in fire.

    John 15:9-17 continues the same theme of abide but this time focussing on love. This love is not a superficial love, but it is a deep love that Jesus has for us which is premised on the Father’s love for Jesus. Jesus calls us to abide in the love that he has for us by keeping his commandments just as he also kept the Father’s commandments and abides in his love.

    We may wonder what is this commandment that Jesus is speaking about. Jesus does not leave us guessing for he tells us that the commandment that he is speaking about is loving one another. He then makes another comparison that this love for one another is to take place as he has loved us. The great love that leads him to lay down his life for his friends, and he calls us his friends if we do what he commands. In short, Jesus is saying that he wants us to abide in him and his love and we do so by choosing to love one another. To love is to know God for God is love.

    Love is a difficult thing, it is not easy to walk in the way of love choosing to love one another and lay down our lives for others as he has loved us. Yet this is a way and process that we must walk. As we continue to ponder his love for us we will walk more and more in love for others.

  • REFLECT

Have you experienced the love of God that he has for you recently? Spend some time this week to be in his presence, praying, reading his word or worshipping him. Abide in his love this week.

What is one way in which we can love others this week?

reading for: Wednesday Night, 1 may

ACTS 10:44-48

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Scripture Reading: Acts 10:44-48

The Holy Spirit Baptizes

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Commentary

In Acts 10:44-48, we witness a transformative moment in the early Christian church—a moment where God's redemptive plan extends beyond the confines of Jerusalem (Jews) and Samaria (descendants of the lost 10 tribes of Israel), to embrace Gentiles (all non-Jews) fully. This passage embodies the fulfillment of Peter's vision, where God prepares for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gentiles, ushering them into the new covenant and into Christ's Spiritual Body on earth, the Church.

Peter's visit to Cornelius, a Gentile centurion a few verses earlier, is a pivotal event in the spread of the gospel. As Peter shares the good news of Jesus Christ with Cornelius and his household, the Holy Spirit falls upon them, confirming their inclusion in God's family. This divine encounter demonstrates that salvation is not limited by ethnicity or heritage but is available to all who believe in Christ.

The inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation echoes Old Testament prophecies. Isaiah foresaw a day when Gentiles would join with Jewish believers to worship God (Isaiah 49:6), and the psalmist proclaimed that all nations would praise Him (Psalm 117:1).

Furthermore, the unique sequence of events in Acts 10:44-48 highlights the significance of water baptism. The Gentiles receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit before undergoing water baptism, symbolizing their spiritual rebirth and initiation into the Christian community. Water baptism, while symbolic, serves as a tangible expression of their commitment to Christ and their identification with His death and resurrection.

  • REFLECT

    1.     Have we personally experienced the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our life? If you have, when was the last time? (Reminder: Fresh Fire Conference 2024 is coming up. Make a personal decision to go be rejuvenated by a fresh ‘baptism of the Holy Spirit. Discuss going together as a Life Group (see https://www.freshfire2024.com/)

reading for: Thursday Night, 2 may

1 John 5:1-6

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    Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-6

    “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 6 This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

    Commentary

    There are a couple of things for us to think about from tonight’s reading.

    First, anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Second, anyone who loves God will love those who are born of Him. Third, anyone who loves the children of God will love God and keep His commandments. Fourth, anyone who has been born of God will overcome the world. And lastly, the Spirit is a witness to the truth that Jesus is indeed the Christ.

    In other words, when we choose to believe in Jesus, we are born into a new family of God and given a new life in Christ. And in this new Christ-life, we have the Spirit who enables us to love God and His children, helps us to overcome the ways of the world, and gives us the assurance that Jesus is indeed the Christ.

    And though John speaks in circles, what he essentially desire is for us to believe and to have life.

  • REFLECT

    Unbelief is likely more prevalent in our lives than we care to admit. If we were to examine the motivations behind the decisions we make daily, we might be surprised to uncover the depth of unbelief.

    Could it be that the reason why we struggle so much to live by God’s Word, find it so difficult to love people and can’t seem to prevail over the sins that beset us, is because of unbelief?

    And could it also be that we have so quenched the Spirit that we no longer hear His voice, feel His presence and know His love?

    Perhaps tonight is a good time for you and I to take a good hard look at our lives – the decisions we make, the plans we have, the words we use, the things we do and the treasure we seek – and consider if we truly believe that Jesus is the Christ.

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 3 may

PSALM 98

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    Scripture Reading: Psalm 98

    98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

    98:2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

    98:3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

    98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

    98:5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.

    98:6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

    98:7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.

    98:8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy

    98:9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

    Commentary

    Psalm 98 is an invitation to praise. Its said to have inspired Isaac Watts who composed the familiar song “Joy to the World”. The first verse of “Joy to the world, let earth receive her King, let every heart prepare Him room” echoes Psalm 98:4-6. While the second verse of “Joy to the earth, let all their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy” echoes Psalm 98:7-9.

    All of this happens because of the marvelous and wonderful things that the LORD our God has done. His right hand, his holy arm has brought and given victory (v.1).

    For the Israelites, it was their deliverance from Egypt and Pharaoh that was the most significant victory in their nations history. But for us, followers of Jesus, its the resurrection of Jesus that has eclipsed that. As Jesus’ death and resurrection has not just paid the full debt of our sin, but has conquered death itself (1 Cor 15:54-57). 

    This victory we now see because of what God has done and revealed to us (v.2). And just as the nations saw the mighty hand of God in the deliverance of Israel, we as Gentiles now are evidences of the other nations.

    All this has happened because of God’s character, his steadfast love (Hesed) and faithfulness. His steadfast love and faithfulness to Israel. Which has been revealed to all the nations (v.3).

    This is why we rejoice, why we sing (v. 4).

    This is why we sing with all sorts of instruments, even our very own voices (v.5).

    We are singing and making the sound of victory, we are proclaiming God’s victory (v.6).

    Even all of the earth, the sea, the floods, the hills, clap and sing for joy. Or as Jesus would later say, even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40). (v. 7-9)

    For the LORD our God is righteous and He will rule and reign with justice and equity!

  • REFLECT

    As we continue to learn to wake up strong with gratitude, what are we grateful for? How do we cultivate a heart of gratitude?

    Psalm 98 shows us how. By remembering and recalling the miraculous work of God. First in the history and nation of Israel. Which culminated in the giving of His Son Jesus. His life, death and resurrection is the revelation of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

    Take time to read and meditate on this Psalm. Recount and re-read the stories of Israel’s deliverance. Re-read and recount the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

    You will find your heart brimming with joy and gratitude. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! 

Season of LentCNL