The First Week of May
- Hannah Jones-Nelson
- 12 minutes ago
- 6 min read
We Read…
What does it look like to encounter Jesus Christ? Saul has a pretty intense experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus stops him in his tracks in a dramatic way. Saul needed Jesus to confront him in this fashion - he was dead set on stopping the mission of the Christians. Jesus knew that a gentle greeting wouldn’t change Saul.
But then we see Peter’s encounter with Jesus in John 21. Peter had just had some of the worst days of his life, from denying that he ever knew Jesus (three times!) to watching his friend die, to hiding out because all of his hope was lost forever. Jesus, in all of his grace and mercy, offers Peter redemption that could never be deserved. For the three denials, Jesus offers Peter three chances to affirm his love. I imagine that this encounter was exactly what Peter needed.
What does it look like to encounter Jesus? It may look like a blinding light and strong correction, it may be a gentle reminder that Jesus is with us, it may be a time of wrestling or questioning, it may be an encounter filled with love and joy. Sometimes we can experience all of these in a short period; sometimes we may never encounter Jesus in the same way as someone else. No matter what our encounter looks like, though, we know that when we cry out, God hears us.
Acts 9:1-6
Meanwhile, Saul was still spewing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest, 2 seeking letters to the synagogues in Damascus. If he found persons who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, these letters would authorize him to take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 During the journey, as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven encircled him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice asking him, “Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me?”
5 Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are harassing,” came the reply. 6 “Now get up and enter the city. You will be told what you must do.”
Psalm 30
1 I exalt you, Lord,
because you pulled me up;
you didn’t let my enemies
celebrate over me.
2 Lord, my God, I cried out to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 Lord, you brought me up
from the grave,
brought me back to life from among
those going down to the pit.
4 You who are faithful to the Lord,
sing praises to him;
give thanks to his holy name!
5 His anger lasts for only a second,
but his favor lasts a lifetime.
Weeping may stay all night,
but by morning, joy!
6 When I was comfortable, I said,
“I will never stumble.”
7 Because it pleased you, Lord,
you made me a strong mountain.
But then you hid your presence.
I was terrified.
8 I cried out to you, Lord.
I begged my Lord for mercy:
9 “What is to be gained by my spilled blood,
by my going down into the pit?
Does dust thank you?
Does it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Lord, listen and have mercy on me!”
Lord, be my helper!
11 You changed my mourning
into dancing.
You took off my funeral clothes
and dressed me up in joy
12 so that my whole being
might sing praises to you
and never stop.
Lord, my God,
I will give thanks to you forever.
Revelation 5:11-14
11 Then I looked, and I heard the sound of many angels surrounding the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. They numbered in the millions—thousands upon thousands. 12 They said in a loud voice,
“Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb
to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and might,
and honor, glory, and blessing.”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea—I heard everything everywhere say,
“Blessing, honor, glory, and power
belong to the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
forever and always.”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.
John 21:1-19
Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.”
They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus.
5 Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
6 He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” 11 Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” 19 He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
What does it mean for every creature to proclaim these words in Revelation 5?
Why did God choose to talk to Saul?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
How does Jesus’s invitation to Peter make you feel?
When has Jesus given you forgiveness that you don’t feel worthy of?
We Believe…
Saul persecuted Christians, and Peter denied his friendship with Jesus, yet both received forgiveness. It can be easy to think that we don’t deserve forgiveness - maybe we feel like we’ve gone too far. It can also be easy to think that others don’t deserve forgiveness - we feel there is no way that Jesus could ever love that person. Maybe we’re even tempted to think we have somehow earned Jesus’s forgiveness, but none are true. Jesus’s forgiveness is for all of us, no matter what we have done, and it’s a gift that could never be earned.
We Practice…
As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the new life he gives us, reflect on what this has meant in your own life. Listen to the song “Graves into Gardens” with the link below or wherever you listen to music. These lyrics reflect the words found in Psalm 30. How should we live after Jesus turns our grave into a garden? What does this mean for how we go into the world? Take time today to reflect on how your life differs because of what Jesus has done in your heart.
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