May 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Acts 1:12–14

Devotional

Between the ascension and Pentecost the church of the Lord was left alone. The Lord had ascended but the Comforter that Jesus promised had not yet come. The church expected a mighty work of God and that common hope united them. They had one hope and one faith. That is why they could not do without each other. Not one of the disciples was absent when they met together in an upper room to wait for the promise of Christ.

Peter is the first disciple mentioned as Luke records the attendees of the meeting. That was not because he had accomplished more than the others. Peter himself knew this very well. That he was still there was only because the Intercessor in heaven had prayed that his faith would not fail.

Then we have James, one of the inner three who were very close to the Lord. But James would not live long. Shortly after Pentecost he would die a martyr’s death under Herod. He was the least fortunate. Or better said, he was the most privileged one, for he would be the first to be glorified with the ascended Christ.

There is also John, who is called the apostle of love. It is recorded of John that he was the disciple Jesus loved. He experienced the love of Christ in communion with Him. And he showed much love for others, evidenced in the epistles he wrote to the church of Christ.

Then we also have Andrew, Peter’s brother. He is not mentioned next to Peter. The spiritual ties are deeper than blood ties. He was a man who stood in the background. But this quiet disciple brought forth rich fruit. In fact, he was the disciple that brought his own brother, Peter, to Christ. Andrew is a reminder that the fear of the Lord starts in one’s own home.

Next we have Philip. He did not have deep insight in the secrets of salvation. Once Christ had to tell him, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?” (John 14:9) And yet he also eventually had forsaken everything when Christ said to him, “Follow me” (John 1:43).

Thomas is also present. How much shame did he have because of his unbelief? If there is no faith, that is always one’s own fault, but where it is present, that is always by God’s grace. By God’s grace, he is now at this meeting. God has worked in his life and he now sincerely believes in His Savior.

Then we have Bartholomew. That is the same as Nathanael. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (John 1:47)! How blessed it is to be upright and sincere before God and men. That brings forth fruit for one’s own soul and for others.

Matthew is also with them. He was also known as Levi the publican, a tax collector. He was drawn out of a rich but wicked tollbooth. He is here as a sign of God’s electing grace. The fruit of that election was that he could no longer live in sin.

The other James, the son of Alphaeus, is also present. We don’t read anything of him, but the Lord knows of him. The unknown James may also say, “Lord, thou knowest.”

Simon Zelotes also belonged to them. The nickname Zelotes means “to be a zealot.” His name was an incentive to be zealous and dedicated to the name of the Lord. Laziness can do much harm to the kingdom of God.

The eleventh disciple is Judas. This is not Judas Iscariot, for he never really belonged to them. He had attached himself to them and sought his own honor. But this Judas was Judas Lebbaeus. That nickname means: “a man of the heart, a man of courage.” How blessed it is to have someone who encourages us in days of despondency!

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.