Part of a series of post, based on the Revised Common Lectionary. This reading is for April 22, 2007.Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
With the events of the past week, David’s song is a great source of comfort.
1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
4 Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
6 When I was prosperous, I said,
“Nothing can stop me now!”
7 Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
8 I cried out to you, O Lord.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 “What will you gain if I die,
if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O Lord.”
11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
The other three passages deal with various subjects. The Acts passage deals with Saul’s Damascus Road experience. It is a great story of transformation. I’ve said this before, Saul went from an all the way Pharisee to an all the way follower of Christ. All of that was a result of an encounter with the risen Christ. Has that happened to us? Has your life been radically changed as a result of an encounter with the risen Christ? My prayer is that it has been. Even Saul’s name was changed to Paul and he became a great leader in the early Church. Are you a Christ follower the way Paul was?
The John passage also deals with encounters with the risen Christ. After the resurrection, it appears the disciples, just went back to what they had always been doing. They had spent three years with Jesus. This is the third appearance of Jesus to the disciples. They already know that Jesus is risen and yet they go back to what they have already done. Perhaps this is why Jesus questions Peter after breakfast. Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. Peter responded that he did. Jesus replies to feed the sheep. This happens three times. Perhaps repealing the three denials. Jesus makes it clear what their mission is; to be shepherd/servants as He is. That is what God has called me to. The disciple’s encounter with changed them.
The final passage deals with John’s letter that we call The Revelation.
11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
belong to the one sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
This is just one of several “hymn” snippets found in the book of Revelation. Last week I started a series that will look at these hymn snippets in depth and I will continue that next week. We have a hope because of the risen Christ. That is the hope alluded to in the Psalm. It is what changed Saul to Paul. It is what changed the disciples lives. Because of the risen Christ, we have a hope that we can be with Him and worship Him forever.
