John 12:12-19 The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! (Save Now) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt.” 16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
 
THE Pharisees were very distressed. They had debated with Jesus. They had accused him of being a pretender, a magician, a false teacher and even of the devil. For most of Jesus’ ministry, some Pharisees sought to kill him.
    But now a boisterous, happy crowd in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast praised him as the long awaited Messiah, the King of Israel. Their cry, “Hosanna!” is actually a prayer, “Save us now!” It was often prayed at the Feast of Tabernacles, remembering that God had dwelt with the Jews through the exodus. While the ruling Jews – the “church” of that day – sneered, the crowds cheered.
    The Pharisees were concerned about their power and about Rome’s power. If the people believed Jesus’ is the true Messiah, their authority was gone. They also knew Rome’s heavy hand on such demonstrations. Rome relied on the Jews to keep the peace. If the Jews could not, Rome could. The incarnate God stood before them, and the ruling Jews were afraid because, “The whole world is following him.” The Pharisees and Sadducees saw Jesus, but they missed the wonder of God in their midst.
    Do we as a church see the wonder of God dwelling in our midst? The Holy Spirit dwells within us, doesn’t he? Are we then attentive to pray, “Hosanna – Save Now, Jesus.” for people in desperate need of Jesus’ eternal salvation? Or might we inadvertently keep people from Jesus?
    One way we may keep people from seeing Jesus is to be too casual about him. We may express little joy and wonder at Jesus’ triumphal entry into our lives. God’s saving work as the expression of his extreme love for us. If we see God’s redemption as something he should do for us, we will miss the fullness of his grace. When you deeply appreciate someone, you are willing to tell others about that person’s goodness on your life. Let’s be sure we deeply, lovingly appreciate the Father’s work through the Son and Spirit to dwell with us.
    To be a church that lives a resurrected life, keep Jesus’ Triumphal Entry in your heart and foremost in your mind. Be a Christian who adores the resurrected Jesus. With heartfelt joy and loving wonder. Remember to often pray “Save my loved ones and neighbors now. Blessed are you, Holy Spirit, who has come to me in the name of the Lord!”
 
Resurrection Truth: Ephesians 2:22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

John 12:1-4 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected.
 
QUITE a gift…quite an honor Mary offered. Mary’s attitude had changed a good deal since she had questioned why Jesus remained absent during Lazarus’ illness. But then Jesus came to her brother; Jesus came to Mary’s sister Martha, and Jesus came to Mary with his full life. Now it is time to ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (Psalms 29:2)
    With thanksgiving and praise in her heart, Mary purchased a very expensive pint of perfume to anoint her Lord with honor and worship. In the perfume’s sweet, powerful, even overwhelming aroma is Mary’s love. She wants Jesus and all around her to know Jesus is worth far more than any price that is on that bottle of perfume.         
    Judas is the disciple who complains the perfume is wasted. To many his comment seems very practical. Jesus had fed many thousands with his compassionate miracles. Certainly he cared for the hungry! Yes, the perfume’s price could have been used for the poor; it could have been used for Mary’s own household. She could have bought food through the year for her family.
    Instead, she honored Jesus. Mary knew what to do about Jesus (see previous lesson) because she completely understood Jesus is life. Perhaps she knew because she had taken time on another day to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to his teachings. Luke 10:39 Martha had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. Jesus is the great Provider, the loving giver of himself, so the world can eat the Bread of Life.  
    How do we form Mary’s understanding into our lives? First it makes sense to sit at Jesus’ feet each day for some time to learn from him. We may then more faithfully respond to his life-giving resurrection with our own sacrificial offering. We will be willing to give our time to his work instead of being “too busy”. We will release our gifts to strengthen his church. Our love and our encouragement also become daily offerings to family, friends, neighbors, strangers and church family. To the broken and the least of these (Matthew 25:45) we sacrifice some things we want, so they can have something to eat or a place to safely sleep.
    Yes, that is resurrection living. Worship and honor Jesus. Share his resurrection gift. Give him to others who need his tender care.
 
Resurrection Truth: You can give life as Jesus has given to you.  

John 11:45-58 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
 
“WHAT shall we do?” asked the Pharisees. How would you answer? You could respond, “You can love him. Enjoy and experience his miracles and glorify him with your faithfulness to his commands. You can love others in his name. And yes, you can worship him!” Control and power were on the Pharisees’ minds, and they did not know what to do when the Lord of Life encountered them. Do you want to reach back through the centuries and awaken these faithless hearts?
    But with some grace in our own hearts, let’s consider the ruling Jews were not the only ones confused about Jesus. Several times the gospels tell us our Lord’s closest disciples were confused: Luke 18:34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
    Jesus’ incarnation was a mystery to nearly everyone who encountered him. “What shall we do?” was often accompanied with, “Who are you?” (John 8:25) “Where are you going?” (John 13:36) The disciples were even confused about what to do as the resurrected Jesus prepared to ascend: So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Why did the Jews’ leaders and  the disciples have so much difficulty knowing what to do about Jesus?
    God demonstrates throughout Scripture he reveals himself to particular people at certain times with what they need to know. He told Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, the prophets and others what they needed to do with him. Sin’s curse has hidden God from our spiritual vision. It is impossible to know what to do in response to God until he grants you the right eyes to see him.
    Amid the disciples’ confusion at Jesus’ ascension, Jesus then told them: Acts 1:7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  
    God withholds and gives knowledge according to  his will. He willed the Son to die. The Jews’ response to their question was to crucify Jesus. In contrast God’s will was that the Spirit revealed to the disciples the answer to, “What shall we do?” They proclaimed the good news to the nations.
    Do you know Jesus? Then praise God today that you have God’s full counsel – his Bible – so you can know your answer to, “What shall we do?”   

John 11:38-46 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  
 
John 11:44c “Unbind him and let him go.”
 
DEATH’S bondage is broken! Do we have any comprehension of the joy that Mary, Martha – Lazarus! – and the other mourners experienced? Were they too shocked to be happy? Were they filled with so much wonder they could not comprehend the man who was four days dead is alive.
    Against all hope, in spite of all doubt, Jesus raised Lazarus. This is God’s grace disrupting death’s penalty. Mary and Martha had faith in the future resurrection, but expressed no expectation in the present. His disciples seemed silent, too, even though they had seen so many miracles. Yet, Jesus called out, and he destroyed death. “Unbind him and let him go.”
    Let’s pray Jesus’ command will release the bonds that hamper our walk with Jesus . Pray you can know how to respond to his promise of a full life (John 10:10). May the Spirit of the risen Christ open our minds. Jesus wanted the people at the tomb to see God’s glory – his power – that will unbind them from death and welcome them into his eternal salvation.
    Of course, Jesus’ will remains the same. Through his Helper, the Holy Spirit, he has granted us eyes to see the glory of God that unbinds us from death into eternal life. Free in Jesus’ resurrection, our grave clothes are gone. He has granted us the glory to be dressed in fine linen, white and clean (Revelation 19:14b).  

Resurrection Truth: Free in Jesus, you are dressed up for eternal life.  

John 11:28-37 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
 
“Jesus wept.” Oh, this is such great comfort! Have you considered that if the Triune God had not wept over death, Jesus would not have come to give life.
    Can you imagine the incarnate Lord of Life standing in front of a grave? He had surely done this before. Other friends had died. Apparently his earthly father Joseph was dead when Jesus’ ministry began. Jesus had wept before.
    But why would the Resurrection and the Life have wept here? He knows that in a few minutes this grave will open, and his friend will walk out. Why did Jesus weep?
    When we consider Scripture’s revelation of God’s great work to redeem mankind, we can understand Jesus wept for all humanity. He wept because so very much had been lost. After all, Jesus is the eternal God: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2)  At the Father’s command and with the Spirit’s power, the Son spoke life into the void. He formed a sparkling universe of extraordinary, perfect beauty. The Resurrection and the Life put eternity into the hearts of man. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Jesus wants us to know what God has done from beginning to end.
    With a grievous heart Jesus witnessed Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. How could Jesus deal with death –  the death of God’s holy perfection, the death of peace, the death of humanity’s unity with our Creator?
    He could only tolerate the corrupted creation because he knew his resurrection power would come to redeem the world. Since eternity before time, the Son knew the day would come when mankind would experience once again the life-giving wonder of the Father’s imperative: “Let us make man in our image.” (Genesis 1:26)
    Jesus wept because he loves us.
    Jesus’ love is why Jesus’ walk to the cross is called “passion”. He has a deep passion to awaken his people to witness and know his resurrection power.
    Do you see this power? Do you know it in your life? May it be so.
 
Resurrection Truth: Jesus is alive. He wants you to be alive in Him!

Read John 11:17-34 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." 28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.
 
John 11:20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed in the house.
 
WE might have been as Mary and stayed in the house. Mary may have been thinking something like this: “After all, Jesus claimed to love Martha, Lazarus and me. But he did not hurry here to help Lazarus! Where was he? We called, but he did not come. What was he doing? He has healed so many people, and many he did not personally know. Why didn’t he come to make Lazarus well? Where was Jesus when we needed him?”
    Yes, Mary. Where is Jesus when we need him? We’ve all experienced the unexpected loss of loved ones. We have watched faithful people suffer illness, accident or unbelief. What happened? Where was Jesus when he could have given physical and spiritual protection to his brothers and sisters he had called to faith?
    Is it ever appropriate to ask Jesus, “Are you really the resurrection and the life? Where were you?”  
    To answer that question, let’s consider what “resurrection and the life” means. Jesus is so much more than redeeming your life for the here and now. “What have you done for me lately, Jesus?” is the humanistic way to think of God’s relationship to us. We want what we want, and God should deliver!
    But let’s remember Jesus’ purpose is eternal life. Eternal life is the gift!! We must dwell on the eternal because everything else is temporary. Yes, Jesus did eventually answer Martha’s and Mary’s desires. He raised Lazarus into life. But Lazarus’ physical life did not last. Amid the pain of loss, we have the hope to look to see Jesus is eternal life, “Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
    Keep foremost in your mind that Jesus came from his throne in Heaven to offer you a home in Heaven. He came in the Father’s time in a very different way than anyone in the world anticipated. Celebrate Jesus’ remarkable gospel of salvation that goes eternally beyond our daily needs:
 
Colossians 1:4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints, 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.  
   
Resurrection Truth: life is forever in Jesus.

20 Days Considering Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life

​The Death of Lazarus
Read John 11:1-17John 11:1-17 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."  5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."
8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" 9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  
 
John 11:4 “The final result of this sickness will not be the death of Lazarus; this has happened in order to bring glory to God, and it will be the means by which the Son of God will receive glory.”

AS we perhaps more purposefully consider Jesus’ death and resurrection this time of year, we begin with a resurrection story second only to that of Jesus’ own resurrection. Consider this: Jesus words, “The final result of this sickness will not be the death of Lazarus” is a topic sentence, a purpose statement of the entire Bible! When we begin to read this story of Lazarus, knowing the final result, we have hope and joy in our heart. We are able to withstand Jesus’ waiting to go to his friend’s aid because we have a full understanding of the life power he is about to unveil to mankind.
    God’s people need that hope. Hope is what drives God’s message forward from Genesis.
    The Bible’s beginning can cause us to despair. The first two chapters are wonderful! They tell of God’s glorious creation. We see “and it was good” expressing God’s benediction to each day’s creation. But we know what happens next, don’t we? Does grief lurk in your soul as you await the “not good” to intrude into Eden? “Good” lasts only until Genesis 3. Disobedience, sin – death – enters into perfection. The rest of the Bible is a story of struggle against our Creator. But then after much despair and darkness Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, reveals it is the time to restore God’s “good” benediction to his creation.
    To believe in Jesus’ resurrection means you embrace the “resurrected” life. In God’s grace you are no longer controlled by the disobedient, sinful nature. Your life begins to form and grow into a complete trust in Jesus’ good power. His resurrection transfers to your soul to empower you to a life in the Spirit’s power: 2 Timothy 1:9 This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  
    In Jesus’ resurrection, life has come to light. We can get up in the morning to confidently confront the “not-good” of each day. We can be glad for challenges. We can squarely face adversity and have the strength of life in Christ to overcome it.
    A resurrected life opens the doors wide, so you can step into each moment with confidence, love, hope and promise.
    Do you perhaps fear you’re asleep in the grave of hopelessness, discouragement or disappointment? Turn to Jesus. Focus on his life-giving power. Read the gospels. Receive the Spirit’s good grace to know Christ has resurrected you.
 
Resurrection Truth: Jesus’ resurrection is for you to be alive in him.

Acts 28:30-31 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
THESE are appropriate words to conclude Acts. For nearly seven months, about 200 commentaries, we’ve witnessed the church begin with Jesus’ ascension, the Spirit’s empowering tongues of fire and the apostles and evangelists boldly preaching the kingdom of God. Salvation in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ changed the status quo and resurrected lost souls. Through Luke’s history, we’ve witnessed thousands enter the kingdom of God in one day. The Spirit has shown us miraculous healings for the lame and chain-breaking exorcism for the demon possessed.
   Luke has also faithfully reveled the gospel’s savage opposition. The gifted Stephen and anointed apostle James were among the first martyrs. Peter’s, Paul’s, Silas’ and Barnabas’ sufferings included beatings and imprisonment. Through the spiritual storm, God opened doors. The Lord of the Church is the victor. He prospered his church with salvation, and he sifted it with tribulation.
   This is how Jesus’ church began, and this is how it is today. Boldly and without hindrance the church is to proclaim the gospel. Yes, the church has been and will be hindered with oppressive laws and demonic suppression. But the most destructive hindrance is lack of passion for Jesus. People who love their Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength will confront the opposition with a determined focus for the reveal Jesus’ salvation. Faith-filled disciples know the cross the Spirit gives us to bear is a mark of Jesus’ favor. When we believe Jesus died to give us life, we understand our lives belong to him. He will use us to his glory and his purpose for his eternal church.
   As their ministry began, Peter and John faced the judging Pharisees. But that did not concern them because they knew they were fully obeying his command, “Come follow me.” They understood that pathway includes suffering and it includes resurrection. At the end of the battle there is always eternal victory in Jesus. With a joyful faith they prayed, “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:25-30)
      This is a good prayer to keep in mind as your life is an active response to Jesus’ resurrection. 

Acts 28:23-28 The Jews arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet: 26 ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’” 28 Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
 
PAUL held a day-long conference for Rome’s Jews to learn about Jesus of Nazareth. In the style of rabbinical teaching, it is likely there was ongoing discussion, questions and opinions from many. As the day concluded, some were convinced by what Paul said, but others would not believe.
   Likely with a mix of frustration, sadness and acceptance, Paul quoted from Isaiah 6:9-10: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
   800 years before Paul, God had called Isaiah to teach God’s truth to Judah. But God warned his new prophet that the people’s eyes and ears were incapable of seeing and hearing the true Word of God. They were so disobedient, God said he would ultimately remove them from the land.
   The Spirit often revealed to his prophets that the Jews would reject them and their words. Paul, beaten, scourged, jailed and threatened, had certainly understood many would remain deaf and blind to God’s salvation. The Jews in Rome were as Jews from long ago and everywhere he had ministered.
   How would he respond to the non-belilevers? The only thing to do was to continue preaching the gospel. In the days and months to come, Gentiles and Jews would hear and see the gospel through churches and other ministry partners who were Paul’s coworkers in Christ. Surely he would have often prayed this prayer he wrote to Ephesus:
 
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
          Yes, Lord, open the eyes of their heart to see the gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16b)

Acts 28:17-22 Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.” 21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
 
FOR years Paul had wanted to go to Rome. In his letter to the Romans, he had written one of history’s most accomplished works on God, the doctrine of salvation and the Christian’s response to Jesus. Romans also reaffirmed the Jews’ role in God’s ultimate salvation for the world. Even though he is chained to a Roman soldier and restricted to a house, Paul immediately invited Rome’s leading Jews to come and hear his story.  
    Once more Paul defends himself. But they had not heard of him, and seemed to only want to hear of one thing: the hope of Israel.
   The Jews understood their nation’s hope as a general resurrection that would occur for all Jews in the Messiah’s reign. As we know, most Jews strenuously, even violently objected to Jesus of Nazareth being Messiah, the hope of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
   But the Roman Jews were curious, interested to learn more. They had heard of this faction of Jews who preached Jesus of Nazareth. Even though there is much talk against this new teaching, the Roman Jews were curious to hear from this experienced messenger of some reputation. The LORD God had arranged this meeting. He will use it to expand the gospel among his chosen people in Rome.
   Just days in Rome, Paul acted quickly to open the gospel door. Paul was always purposeful for Jesus. He knew the Savior had saved him. He  hoped with all his heart the Savior would save all Jews into the living Hope.
 
Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.