Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)

Acts gets spread around in the 3 year cycle of the Lectionary, often in Easter week, but a different section each year. This year, we get one of the most significant events in Christian history, Paul's experience on the road to Damascus. He is still Saul at this point. The experience is significant enough to warrant a change of name. He turns from being a Roman Pharisee who persecutes Christians, to a believer in Christ. He will use this vision throughout his career to claim his right to speak of the one who spoke to him.

In 2016, researchers at Hadassah Medical Centre, linked to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, theorized that Paul actually had an epileptic seizure. Seems pretty difficult to prove from 2,000 years away, but people have reported interacting with deities after having such seizures. I don't have much to say on this debate, but you should know that it is out there.

Revelation 5:11-14

After the first chapters of introduction, which are pretty earthly we are told of a vision of heaven. Things get weird pretty quick. Of course there is a beautiful throne. This is the image of the time. Most people would be lucky to own a wooden stool, let alone a comfortable chair. The image of the ones who were in control of the world had to be adorned with jewels and be the height of luxury. If you were ever to get an audience with this throne, you would throw yourself down at it and be willing to give anything for the chance to ask something of it. In Revelation's version of heaven, apparently that's all they do night and day, forever, just keep giving glory and honour.

The vision continues, seeing the slain lamb taking the throne. The lamb is standing, and is symbolic of Jesus, but that image is not given in detail so I don't know how he knows the slain part. Which brings us to today's verses. Singing and worshipping all of this. The seven seals are then opened, releasing some great fury on the earth, which tells us this must be a vision still in the future, or we'd already have heard about it. Although more detailed, this is no different than any other threat of the wrath of God, judging us for our sins, just like he's done dozens of times before.

John 21:1-19

Even among believers, you will find it more common to openly accept that the gospel of John was written much later, at least a generation after the time of Paul. It is a story for followers of a religion under siege. The Temple has been destroyed and they are not embraced by Jews or Romans. Crucifixion was a very real thing for them, something they could see around them because the Romans left them on display to keep the population under control.

Last week seemed like the end of the story, this week we get an epilogue. The many other signs that were mentioned at the end of the last chapter should have come to pass, but we still need another visit from Jesus. Peter is a primary focus of this chapter. In all of the gospels, Peter denies Christ. Peter is also known as the rock of the church, based on other passages. He denies him three times. Here he proclaims his love for Jesus three times. The final verses seem to be telling us that Peter was crucified, a death that would glorify God. The part about fastening your belt is not entirely clear, so the author adds the parenthetical explanation.

The turn of the first century is a period that offers almost no information about what the early Christian church was up to. Very few writings survived. Historical data is scant. From this chapter, it appears something reawakened. They had this story of Christ that promised a better world, one of peace and justice. But that wasn't actually happening. They needed to hear the mission statement again, feed my lambs, feed my sheep, follow me.