- Mar. 26-Apr. 1… The Story, chapter 25 (Matthew 17,21; Mark 8-12,14; Luke 9,22; John 7-8,11-12)
- April 2-8… Holy Week and Easter
- April 9-15… The Story, chapter 26 (Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-14,16-19)
- April 16-22… The Story, chapter 27 (Matthew 27-28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 19-21)
- April 23-29… The Story, chapter 28 (Acts 1-10,12)
In church and Sunday School we are studying The Story, a condensed and carefully arranged Bible that helps us see God’s plan throughout human history. God continually works in the big picture (the “upper story”) to redeem all of creation and bring humanity back into beloved relationship with himself.
Jesus Christ, God’s son, links the upper story with our lives, the “lower stories” of individual people. Christ became human in order to bring God’s plan to perfection. In April, we come to the tipping point of all history. At Easter around the year 30 CE (Common or Christian Era) Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, winning the battle with sin and death for those who choose to believe in him and accept his free grace.
As we begin the month, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter makes the breakthrough recognition: “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” A week later, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on a mountaintop and they see him transfigured and shining in full heavenly glory. After this, Jesus begins the march to Jerusalem and crucifixion.
He arrives in Jerusalem the week before Passover, the most important Jewish religious festival of the year. The city is crowded and people are excited. The week begins well – Jesus is welcomed by the crowds as the Messiah. But this also poses a threat to the religious and civil leaders. Jesus challenges them throughout the week, and the mood turns ugly. By the end of the week, the fickle crowds are jeering. When Pilate, the Roman governor, asks what should be done with Jesus, they shout “Crucify him!”
The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, tend to see the story with one shared point of view (syn-optic is Greek for “one eye”). John presents a different but complementary view of the events. Each gospel author is trying to make a very specific point.
Mark, the first of the gospels to be written, emphasizes the human suffering that Jesus endured. When Jesus prays in the garden (Mark 14:32ff) he is deeply distressed. Jesus’ last words in Mark 15:34 are “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Mark’s gospel originally ended with 16:8, as the mournful women find the empty tomb and hear the angel announce that Christ is risen.
Jesus’ last words quote Psalm 22, and Matthew points out how Jesus’ death fulfills many other details from this and other ancient prophecies: the soldiers play dice for his clothes, the people mock him, and his hands and feet are pierced. Luke’s gospel portrays Jesus as calmer at his death, saying “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
John emphasizes that Jesus is the Son of God. At the last supper, John records much more of the teaching of Jesus. Instead of the bread and wine, John talks about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in an act of deep and humble service (John 13:1-17). When Christ dies on the cross, completing the great work of his life, he says “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Christ’s resurrection catches everyone by surprise, even though he predicted it repeatedly during his life. The details vary in the gospels, but all agree that women were the first to discover the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene is commissioned as the first evangelist (John 20:17-18), bearing the good news of Christ’s resurrection to the disciples.
With Christ’s resurrection and ascension into heaven, the disciples must become evangelists, carrying their witness of the good news to the world. Acts is actually “Luke, part 2.” It was written by the same author as the gospel, and continues the story of the early church. The disciples receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the early church grows explosively.