Jesus
had prepared the disciples well for their task of spreading the Word – they
were of “one accord” in their prayers.
Wonderful
that everyone heard the message proclaimed by the apostles in their own
language. So powerful is the Word of God. It reminds one of the way
representatives at the United Nations hear the messages translated into their
own languages. It seems to me that invention on a human plane is finding
some way to emulate what Spirit has already shown to be possible. In this
case, it took about 2,000 years for the penny to drop, so to speak.
Mrs.
Eddy speaks of the pure language of Spirit which “ear hath not heard, nor hath
lip spoken” (Science & Health,
page 117:14-15). Yet, we all can and do
hear the Word when we are still and listen with a spiritual sense of expectancy
and receptivity.
Peter
takes on the task of preaching to the people. These people had heard
Jesus teachings and turned away from them to insist that he be crucified.
Now they are learning that the Christ could not be killed through their hate
and stupidity.
The
people were convinced, and the church grew. This is the third mention of
“church” in the New Testament. Jesus used it, saying to Peter, “Thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Of course, the Catholic
tradition is that Peter was the first Pope of that denomination. It is
good to know that the gates of hell which seem to have opened for some must
eventually be closed, and purity reign.
S&H
is expansive on this saying of Jesus (p. 137:26). The church was founded,
“…not on the personal Peter as a mortal, but on the God–power which lay behind
Peter’s confession of the true Messiah.”
The
other “church” is also in Matthew (18:17). This is part of Jesus teaching
about how to handle the trespass of a brother. It says, “And if he shall
neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the
church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
My
Bible concordance defines church as “the body of Christians in general.”
My Bible Dictionary is much more expansive, and enlightening. One point
is, “in the Gospel of St. Matthew the church is spoken of no less than
thirty-six times as ‘the kingdom.’ ” It is an interesting read.
Joyce Voysey
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