Book clubs last summer were a hit! Over the course of the summer, groups gathered to discuss everything from highbrow theology to great novels. Some books took a lot of effort to wade through and others were quick reads. The only criteria were, effectively, “Does this book help us see more fully the glory of God or what it means to live as his creatures?” You could summarize that as simply, “Is this book good for a Christian to read?”
For those who weren’t able to participate, it was a pretty simple endeavor—we gathered in various homes, ate good food, and discussed a good book. Some people read the whole book before the meeting and some people only made it a couple chapters in, but no tests were given! Some discussions had 25 or 30 people, and some had 5 or 10.
Given that small groups and Bible studies take a break for the summer, this is a great way to continue to learn and grow, and so we are planning to do this again. These are wonderful moments to bring friends to, and wonderful moments to enjoy each other’s company during the summer.
We need suggestions for this summer! If you would like to lead a discussion on a particular book, email Steven. If you want to facilitate an evening together over a book, but don’t want to lead the discussion itself, let Steven know—there might be someone that could join with you to help. We will finalize the list of book clubs in mid-May, so don’t wait too long to email.
Scripture Reflections
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. (John 20:19-21)
There is a truth about God’s word that recurs in Scripture: God’s word accomplishes what it declares. For God, to speak is to do.
This is not a minor point—you cannot get three verses into the Bible before you run into this truth. Over and over, the Bible implicitly and explicitly makes it clear that God’s speech is not like ours. His creative statements and promises always come true. When he speaks, reality changes. This fact undergirds prophecy—what value, after all, is God’s speech, if it does not accomplish what he declares? Yet the testimony, over and over, is, “It does! What God speaks is accomplished simply because God has spoken it!”
The two greatest testimonies of this truth are creation itself, where God speaks the world into existence, and the incarnation, where the Son of God, come in the flesh amongst us, is declared to be God’s Word to us. In the incarnation, we see that God’s ultimate speech to us is actually his own presence—his dynamic, powerful, and compassionate presence in our midst. His speech accomplishes what it says because, in the end, Jesus is his speech to us.
With that in mind, we need to reconsider Jesus’ own words to his disciples after the resurrection. He stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” This was no pious sentiment, but instead the word of God, which always accomplishes what it says, spoken by the Word of God, who is God’s final speech to us. In other words, if there ever were a trustworthy statement, this is it!
Most of us cannot imagine true peace being present in all parts of our lives—we may have tasted it here or there, but not overall. Yet Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” and God’s word does what it declares. These are not just nice words, but instead God’s powerful word, spoken to those who trust Jesus.
It will take us a lifetime to learn to receive the peace Jesus speaks into existence in us. There are impediments to receiving it (we are our greatest impediment!), and we need to learn to open our hands to it. But his offer is real; the word declared is effective. Peace is given to us.
Steven+
Scripture Reflections
In their various encounters with Jesus after the resurrection, the disciples didn’t easily recognize Jesus. When he showed up, he had to do something to open their eyes. Revealing his wounds, speaking a specific command, saying a name, breaking bread—they could not recognize him until he revealed himself. If you read the stories in succession, it is difficult to miss the point—unless Jesus takes the initiative, no one knows who he is.
Another weird aspect of these appearances is that Jesus doesn’t stick around. He shows up, reveals himself, then leaves. The longest meeting, when he came to where the disciples were fishing (John 21), seems to have only lasted for an hour or so. Long enough to cook fish over a fire and have a short conversation with Peter and John, but not much more.
From a historical standpoint, it is clear that Jesus’ appearance was changed after the resurrection, so much so that the disciples didn’t initially recognize him. But from a pastoral standpoint, these passages teach the church something profound: We cannot recognize Jesus unless he opens our eyes, and we can’t make our experiences of him last forever.
The appearance of Jesus to the disciples on the road to Emmaus is particularly instructive. As Jesus explained the Scriptures, the hearts of the two were burning within them. The testimony in Scripture about the Messiah lit a fire inside them—it prepared the way for the revealing. Scripture, interpreted as pointing to Jesus, opens our hearts. And then, in the breaking of bread, Jesus suddenly became clear. It is true that other disciples recognized in other ways—Thomas saw the wounds, John heard the command, “Throw the nets on the other side,” Mary Magdalene only needed to hear her name—but these are all personal, rather than formulaic. We shouldn’t expect Jesus to open each of our eyes in the same way. But to the disciples walking to Emmaus, the regular pattern is given, and it is the pattern the Church adheres to: In the proclamation of the Scriptures, specifically as we ask, “What do they say about Jesus?” combined with the breaking of the bread, Jesus makes himself known as he pleases.
We cannot force him to reveal himself to us; and we cannot force him to stick around as long as we want. Momentary epiphanies are gifts, but not the norm. In other words, he is in charge, and recognizing him anew is a gift that cannot be compelled. But we can place ourselves where he tends to reveal himself, if we hope to see him anew. We can immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, looking for Jesus on every page, and we can participate with the church in the breaking of bread, expecting to see Jesus there.
It may not be often. It may not be what we expect. It may not last as long as we wish. We walk, after all, by faith, not by sight. But Jesus does make himself known, and he will open our eyes. And so, turn to the Scriptures, looking for Jesus, and come to the breaking of bread, expecting to see him. Let your heart burn with desire for his unveiling.
Steven+