MARANATHA

the Story of the Apostolic Church (ca. 55 - 90 AD)

Found in: Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude and Revelation


After receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter and the twelve went out to spread the good news, performing miracles in Christ's name, baptizing households, and forming churches. They were persecuted by Romans and Jews who had not accepted Jesus. Stephen was the first martyr, stoned to death for his “blasphemous” faith in Jesus. 

One of the persecutors was both a Pharisee and Roman citizen named Saul. Christ appeared to him en route to one of his persecutions, temporarily blinding him. Taking the name Paul, he became the great apostle to the Gentiles, embarking on three journeys to the new churches, writing them letters of instruction in their new Christian faith.

Meanwhile Peter and the twelve met in Jerusalem to discuss early church matters like whether to enforce Jewish laws (like circumcision) on new converts before they could become Christians. When Paul checked in with them to have his mission to the Gentiles approved, he insisted to Peter that they not impose circumcision. Peter concurred.

Paul's main message was that just as all of us, Jewish or not, are under the dominion of sin, so all of us are now offered freedom by following Christ. The Jews of the old covenant had been instructed to sacrifice animals for their sins, but this was only in preparation for the ultimate sacrifice of God’s own Son, whose death atoned for all our sins, past and future. Anyone who believed in Jesus would be saved, adopted as God's own children. The idea of a suffering Messiah was a stumbling block for Jews and Gentiles alike, and Paul found himself persecuted and beaten, but endured it for the sake of building up Christ's Church.

Other apostles wrote letters as well. James stressed that true faith had to be a living, working faith. Peter warned against the false gospel that Jesus was God but not a real man. And John provided the criteria for detecting false teachings: (1) they deny Jesus to be the Son of God in the flesh, and (2) they claim to love God but hate their neighbor. 

The famous closing letter, Revelation, described a series of apocalyptic visions of the end times reminiscent of Ezekiel and Daniel. At the great tribulation there is a battle between God’s armies and a beast who fights the children of a woman whose child the beast wants to devour (reminiscent of the serpent and child in our first story). The enemy - and death itself - are defeated, followed by a final judgment, the Day of the Lord when God calls his Bride, a new Israel to join him forever in the new, heavenly Jerusalem, where every tear will be wiped away. "Until that day”, says Jesus, “let the sinner keep sinning and the upright keep being upright. I am coming soon.” 




Notes:

Peter proclaims to Israel that it is this Jesus whom they crucified that is the long awaited Messiah ("annointed  one").


Paul preaches that we are slaves to our passions more than to any external oppression, and that only Christ frees  us from this slavery.


Being "all things to all people", Paul presents Jesus to the Gentiles as the “Unknown God” they sought, named after a statue they had in one of their temples.


With the advent of Christ, the prophesies of world peace are now understood to take place at the time of his second coming (“and you will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds…”) So while Jews await the Messiah’s first appearance, Christians await his second.


Review questions:

What does all humanity have in common, Jewish or not?

What made Jesus a stumbling block to the Jews, both then and now?

How does the story of the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman in the first story come full circle?

Mary and the twelve apostles
Were gathered in the Upper Room.
Tongues of fire descended on them.
It's time to preach the word of the tomb!

What do we do about circumcision?
The Gentile problem’s begun!
So Pete and Paul and the James decision
was: Keep it kosher, follow the Son!
(Here we go)

Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, Adonai!
Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, God on high!

Paul, a Pharisee and a Roman, 
was persecuting the Way,
Saw the light and became a spokesman. 
We read his letters today:
Forget your animal sacrifices! 
I got your “Unknown God”!
Now you can call me the late apostle. 
Besides, Peter gave me the nod! 
(Here we go)

Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, Adonai!
Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, God on high!

Eschatological revelation
Just when, the Son wouldn't say.
The real apocalyptic question is: 
“Are you ready today?” 
Are you ready today? 

Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, Adonai!
Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, God on high!
Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, Adonai!
Maranatha! 
Venga, Yeshua, God on high!
Venga, Yeshua, Adonai!
Venga, Yeshua, God on high!