Jesus is in Gethsemane with 11 of his disciples. The 12th then arrives – Judas – but he does so to betray. It’s such an ugly scene as Judas exploits his friends’ confusion to sell Jesus with a kiss of
Squeezed in the press
As his enemies close in, and death draws near, Jesus protects his disciples and readies them to run. However, there one more element of preparation he needs for himself and them: prayer. So they walk to Gethsemane, a place where
Ransom
The disciples are falling out over the behaviour of two of their number. Jealousy and rivalry can spring up so quickly in any group. It stems, in this case, from their desire to have power like those who rule Jerusalem.
Charging to Jerusalem
The team of twelve disciples travelling with Jesus are feeling under great strain. He’s talking about dying and they don’t know where that leaves them. He speaks of riches yet also of persecutions. He strides towards Jerusalem ahead of the
Anticlimax
Our finest moments in life sometimes feel spoiled by disappointment at the end. So it is for Jesus’ 3 close disciples: Peter, James and John. They have seen Jesus transfigured with glory on the mountain and had their hopes raised
A taste of glory
Jesus previously said he’s on a hard road with a nasty death at the end of it, and anyone who sticks will him will have to cope with that. But he also said he would give some of them a
Misunderstood at home
Returning to our childhood home can be hard, especially if we have changed in ways which are not clear to those still there. Paul has this on a grand scale as he returns to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, where he spent
Ancient rules
James, the brother of Jesus and a pastor of the Jerusalem church, lays out in Ac 15:13-19 why it is acceptable for Jewish and non-Jewish Christians to worship together, without the latter converting to Judaism. However, one problem remains if
A battle of two kings
In Acts Luke has shown us the Lord Jesus taking old Israel and remaking her, through repentance, forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit. He has also shown Jesus expanding his reborn Israel to unite Gentiles with Jews in his