Br. John R. Barker, OFM

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

Having traveled for some time proclaiming the gospel and making disciples, Paul and Barnabas now return home, reversing course and revisiting earlier regions. They emphasize to these fledgling Christian communities that their discipleship will bring hardship, but that this is a necessary result of their fidelity to God. They also serve the communities by appointing religious leaders (presbyters), who will guide and strengthen them. Upon returning home to Antioch (of Syria), the apostles report with great joy what God has done in extending his gifts to the Gentiles. So ends Paul’s first mission to the Gentiles, which has already borne great fruit by spreading the gospel throughout much of the Mediterranean world.

The book of Revelation culminates with a dramatic scene of recreation, in which everything is renewed by God. All of the damage done to God’s creation through human sin and violence is undone or transformed in God’s new creation. The sea is a common scriptural metaphor for chaos, the hostile forces in the world that oppose God’s creation. That it is “no more” indicates the final conquest of chaos and the definitive triumph of God’s saving will for all of creation. The old order has passed away, death and mourning are no more as God “makes all things new.” The heavenly Jerusalem, as it often does in the Old Testament, represents God’s people. God will now dwell with the people (as God did originally in Eden); the estrangement between God and the people is now brought to an end.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ “glory” begins and is most clearly manifested in his death on the cross, an example of Johannine irony. The glory of Christ consists in his showing forth the Father, and in his death, he exhibits the Father’s love for what God has created. In this way he also glorifies God. Jesus and the Father thus glorify one another and are glorified in one another. The glory is in the divine love shown by both, and it is this love that Jesus insists his followers must also exemplify (and thus, we may say, give glory to both the Father and the Son). Those who meet them will know they are true disciples of Jesus not by their teaching but by their love, which is the true test of Christian discipleship.

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

The apostolic mission has extended beyond Jerusalem and Judea and is making its way along the Mediterranean coast. Paul and Barnabas are now in the southern regions of modern-day Turkey. As we have come to expect, they are not favorably received by all Jews. In response, the apostles announce that they are now taking the gospel to the Gentiles, which has been God’s plan all along, once the gospel had been announced to Israel. The Gentiles in the crowd are delighted to hear that the gracious gift of life offered first to the Jews is available also to them, and through them the message begins to spread even further. Once again, even though they have been rejected and persecuted, the apostles are filled with joy that they are fulfilling their mission.

The Lamb seated on the throne receives worship not only from the angels and elders, but also from the multitude from every nation who have remained faithful to Christ in the face of persecution. The fact that they “survived the time of great distress” may mean either that they lived through the persecution without apostasizing or that they died faithfully as martyrs, and thus survived into eternal life. In either case, they are now in the Lamb’s presence, washed clean in his blood and ready to receive their reward. Although they suffered much on earth, now they can rest in his shelter. The vision is clearly intended to encourage those in John’s audience who struggle to stay faithful under the Romans. That time of struggle will end, he assures them, if only they will persevere in Christ.

The metaphor of shepherd is used often in the Old Testament to describe religious and royal leaders in Israel, as well as to describe God (Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23). The image evokes care and protection, especially against predatory animals. Yet in Israel, human leaders often failed in their task, abusing their “sheep” rather than caring for them. In response, God promises either to shepherd them personally or to raise up a proper shepherd (Ezekiel 34:16, 23–24). Jesus, of course, is this Good Shepherd, who protects them not necessarily from physical harm in this world but from eternal harm. Unlike regular sheep, which can be stolen, none of Jesus’ sheep can be taken from him because they are guarded by divine power, that of the Father, which the Son shares because they are one.

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

Although, as we saw last week, many of the Jews in Jerusalem “esteemed” the apostles for the healing and preaching, the religious leaders are suspicious of the apostles and their message. Accordingly, the apostles have been summoned before the Sanhedrin, which once again commands them to cease teaching in the name of Jesus (see 4:17–18). Here the Sanhedrin objects in particular to the claims that it is somehow responsible for the death of Jesus. Peter announces that of course it does not have the authority to stop them from teaching, because they are acting in obedience to a higher authority. They must preach the gospel, even if it brings them “dishonor,” which they joyfully accept as the price of their fidelity to God.

Having written letters of encouragement and admonition to the seven churches of Asia (2:1–3:22), John now recounts his vision of the heavenly liturgy, in which Christ, as the Lamb, receives the worship of countless angels, elders, and others. They acknowledge with one voice that the slain Paschal Lamb is worthy of worship, adoration, praise, and thanksgiving for his sacrifice on behalf of all creation. The entire creation, without exception, rightfully acknowledges Christ’s right to sit on the throne and rule that creation, receiving everlasting obedience and fidelity. The four living creatures are hybrid creatures (4:6–8), a clear reference to the four creatures in Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot throne, who are in fact cherubim (Ezekiel 1:5–21; 10:20).

In his final conversation with the disciples in John’s Gospel, Jesus appears to them at the Sea of Tiberias as they are fishing. Having caught nothing all night, they prepare to go ashore when Jesus sends them back out. The haul of fish, numbered at 153, is most likely symbolic, but readers through the centuries have been unsure of exactly what. More importantly, the threefold confession of Peter that he loves Jesus represents his rehabilitation after his threefold denial on Holy Thursday (John 18:17, 25, 27). Peter is now the shepherd who will tend Christ’s flock, caring for them as Christ did. The final verses point to the crucifixion of Peter, once again reminding readers that even those most in Christ’s favor (or perhaps especially those) cannot escape suffering in his service.

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

The apostles of Jesus have been sent by him to continue his mission of proclaiming God’s reign, God’s exercise of sovereign power to heal all deformations of the divine will for the flourishing of all creation. In addition to the forgiveness of sins, the apostles proclaim God’s reign by acting as instruments of physical healing and deliverance from demons. At the Jerusalem temple many have gathered to see the apostles. Although they are hesitant to “join them,” that is, to become disciples of Jesus and be baptized, they nevertheless “esteem” the apostles (in contrast to many of the religious leaders). The power of the apostles to heal is matched by the powerful faith of the people, who trust that even Peter’s shadow will bring healing!

The larger context of the book of Revelation is the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire. The book begins with an introduction by the author, John, who is on the Roman penal colony of Patmos because of his witness to Christ. He recounts here how he was called to give prophetic witness and encouragement to other Christians from his imprisonment. The scene of seven lampstands calls to mind the interior of the Jerusalem temple (1 Kings 7:49); we are thus in the divine realm. The “one like a son of man” (see Daniel 7:13) is the glorified Christ dressed in royal garb. Christ, who encompasses all of reality (first and last), is master over death. The message for faithful persecuted Christians is clear: Christ reigns and they have nothing to fear.

The fearful disciples have hidden from the world. Into their fear comes Christ, who twice proclaims peace and sends them back out into the world. Their mission is not only to forgive (or retain) sins, but to proclaim Jesus as God’s Messiah, proof of which claim is his resurrection. While the disciples have the advantage of actually seeing the resurrected Christ, those to whom they are sent will not. The story of Thomas emphasizes the necessity for those who are not able to “see the mark of the nails in his hands” to believe on the strength of the witness of others that Jesus of Nazareth, crucified as a criminal, is in fact “Lord and God.”

Dec 10 2024

Scripture Study for

In the coastal town of Caesarea lived a Roman named Cornelius who was “devout and God-fearing.” He had received a vision from God, instructing him to summon Peter, who, for his part, has been instructed by God to go (10:1–33). His speech is the kerygma in a nutshell: Jesus was anointed by God to go about “doing good and healing.” Nevertheless, he was condemned to death. Yet God raised him from the dead, after which he appeared to witnesses who could testify with certainty that his resurrection was real. Peter affirms that Jesus’ mission is being extended through himself and others, who are preaching in order to bring God’s forgiveness of sins to everyone— Jew or Gentile—who believes (trusts) in Jesus.

Colossians reminds the baptized that, like Christ, they have died to earthly things, those aspects of the world that are opposed to Christ. Now “raised,” believers actually live “above” with Christ, and must act accordingly. When Christ appears again, this new life, now “hidden” (accessible only by faith), will be revealed in all its glory. Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians has a simple point: you are now new people in Christ, so act like it. In preparation for Passover, all yeast and leavened bread is cleared out of the house; after the feast new leavened bread is prepared. The Corinthians have failed to do the necessary “house cleaning” both in their own hearts and within their community and are therefore not properly celebrating the Paschal feast, begun with the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb.

When Mary Magdalene sees the empty tomb, she thinks at first that perhaps Jesus’ body has been stolen. The Evangelist spends some time, however, describing the empty linens, something thieves would not take the time to leave behind. We remember that when Lazarus (who would die again) was raised, he came forward in his linens. Jesus, who will not die again, has left the linens, like death itself, behind. When the Beloved Disciple sees the empty tomb and the linens, he believes that Jesus has been raised from the dead, not stolen, but he does not yet fully comprehend the meaning of the Resurrection. Understanding only comes when one encounters the resurrected Lord.