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As the darkest moments of Jesus’ life came closer and he knew what suffering he was about to go through, he warned his disciples that they would all fall away. But Peter responded confidently that he would never be afraid and go with him even unto death!

Matthew 26:31-35 describes the scene:
Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ’I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Their boldness, however, was founded on mere human strength and when time came to testify, they all ran away. In brutal honesty, the Bible describes how Peter did have the courage to follow the soldiers who arrested Jesus and he went up to the palace of the high priest. But when he was identified as one of Jesus’ disciples, he was gripped by fear and denied just as Jesus predicted.

Verses 69-75 describe the scene in detail:
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

But after Jesus died, resurrected, appeared to the disciples and ultimately ascended to Heaven, the disciples waited in Jerusalem just like Jesus instructed them. And on Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, the Holy Spirit came down and filled all of them, so they went out and testified and many people came to faith.

Acts 3 then records the first miracle that happened through Peter and John who healed a beggar who was paralyzed from birth. Concerned about the increasing crowds that began to listen and believe the followers of Jesus, the High Priest and elders of the people arrested them and brought them in for questioning. The scene mirrors the events where Jesus was arrested and questioned by the very same people, but the image of Peter changed.

A few weeks earlier, Peter boasted that he would follow Jesus even if he would die but he ended up denying Jesus in fear and going out to weep bitterly. Now, however, facing the same threat again, he boldly testified. How did this transformation happen? They key verse is Acts 4:8 where it says “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them […]”

It was the Holy Spirit who transformed Peter and gave him the courage that was not based on his own strength but a courage that was founded on the faith of the resurrection. Peter was filled with the confidence that even if he dies, it will not end as a failure. Just like Jesus died but overcame death with love and faith and resurrected on the third day, so Peter now had the confidence to testify in the face of the threat of suffering the same fate like Jesus.

Reading the whole passage in Acts 4:1-22 clearly reveals the change that the Holy Spirit brought about:

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ’the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

May the Holy Spirit who transformed Peter also work in our lives, so that whatever fear we may face will be overcome by the faith in the resurrection. May we testify boldly about the name of Jesus Christ as the only name that saves. And may many thirsty souls come to find rest in God because they hear the Good News of a new life in Jesus Christ through us who have experienced the transformation of the Holy Spirit. 

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As the pandemic restricted in-person gatherings and moved much of daily life online, World Olivet Assembly (WOA) launched a new mission strategy last year to adjust to the new realities for existing churches while at the same time expanding mission efforts to reach new audiences through online evangelism. Key in the effort have been the establishment of web churches that allowed local churches to pioneer neighboring cities by setting up a digital web presence and offering services, Bible studies and other activities remotely.

Social distancing, travel restrictions and lockdowns caused many people to feel isolated and led them to reflect more deeply about the meaning of their lives, which led to an increased interest in learning more about God. The digital web church approach brought the Word of God into their homes regardless where they live, and even regardless of whether there is a local church nearby. The web and social media opened up new opportunities to reach those who would otherwise not have had a chance to be invited to church activities because of where they live.

After hundreds of web churches gained experience over several months reaching thousands of people around the world, WOA is now developing and rolling out a refined template that will offer new functionalities and a more streamlined experience for desktop and mobile users. Audio and video contents, such as sermons and Bible study recordings, will be more visibly featured. And a new responsive design will allow mobile users to more easily navigate the site and find the information and resources they are looking for.

It is WOA’s hope to bring the Good News of the Gospel and the hope of a new life in Jesus Christ to many more people, so that they would discover the meaning of their lives according to God’s good will and plan. May the web churches that continue to be launched in new cities be used as a tool by the Holy Spirit to bring thirsty souls back to God. 

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The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ’the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

May the Holy Spirit who transformed Peter also work in our lives, so that whatever fear we may face will be overcome by the faith in the resurrection. May we testify boldly about the name of Jesus Christ as the only name that saves. And may many thirsty souls come to find rest in God because they hear the Good News of a new life in Jesus Christ through us who have experienced the transformation of the Holy Spirit. 

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In the book of Acts, Luke records what happened after Easter: After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:3-5, NIV)

The disciples spent the time between Easter and Pentecost in earnest prayer together, reflecting on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. And after fifty days, when they were gathered together the Holy Spirit descended on them enabling to share the Gospel boldly and reach numerous people with the message of repentance and hope in Christ.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)

With the anticipation of the work of the Holy Spirit, WOA members and churches are putting renewed focus on gathering together in prayer for those who have not yet heard the Gospel message. May many souls be reached with the Good News of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, which will give new hope and meaning to their lives. 

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As the finale of the Lenten period, the Easter retreat is expected to allow participants to mediate on the three days of Jesus’ cross and resurrection with a series of Bible studies focusing on the last chapters in the four Gospels.

The message of salvation is deeply embedded in the walk of Jesus Christ who took the path of Golgotha for our sins. His determination and unshaken will after the prayer of Gethsemane was the image of true victory for all humanity and over the power of Satan. The chains of sin were finally broken by the redeeming death of our Christ and Savior.

May the virtual Easter retreats open the door for many thirsty souls from every corner of the various cities, countries and the world to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ – his death and resurrection that gives us new life. 

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But at the same time, the religious leaders of that day conspired against Jesus whom they perceived as a threat to their authority and power. John records that the “Pharisees said to one another, ‘See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!'” (John 12:19)

In the following chapters, John then goes on to describe how Jesus spent his last hours with his disciples and “loved them to the end” (John 13:1b) by washing their feet like a servant and giving his last exhortations and prayer for them. Meanwhile, Judas had gone out to betray him and later found Jesus and his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane bringing with him soldiers to arrest the Lord. He is led away to the high priest, then the Roman governor and ultimately flogged, mocked and condemned to death on the cross.

After the triumphal entry to Jerusalem where people welcomed Jesus as King, there seemed to have been a sudden turn of events where he was made to suffer the most horrible torture and death. How then should believers interpret the cross, which seems the ultimate failure of this young Jewish rabbi and even a curse from God (Galatians 3:13)?

The answer is found in Isaiah’s prophecy hundreds of years earlier where he described the suffering servant of God:
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:1-6)

The sin of the whole world – the arrogance, hatred, jealousy, envy and every evil thought and deed – was placed on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, so that he would carry it on our behalf, so that we would be free from guilt.

The Holy Week is the final week and culmination of the Lent Season where believers reflect on the path that Jesus took, the path of loneliness, suffering and death on the cross. It is the time to examine our hearts and remember the price that the Lord paid because of our sin, and then with a grateful heart become true followers of Christ who carry out his command to take up our cross daily and help carry other people’s burdens like Jesus bore ours.

The deeper we understand the suffering of the cross on Good Friday, the deeper we will also experience the joy of resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

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They’re hope is to find young people whose hearts have been prepared by God and who are thirsty for His Word. Once they gather a group, they will prayerfully plant the seed of a Bible fellowship where local leaders could widen the circle and share the hope of Christ with more and more students.

“We are grateful to God for opening a door for short-term mission in these two Latin American countries and for igniting the fire in the hearts of the members in OA Colombia,” said Pastor Mark Spisak. “As we are touched by the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, we are compelled to respond to this love and share it with others. May God bless the short-term mission trip and allow the seed of mission to grow in Ecuador and Peru at this time.” 

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