March 17, 2019
Scripture:
Hymn 57 - “Almost persuaded” now to believe;
Prayer
Last time we heard about the first sermon ever preached to the Gentiles; which Peter gave. Part of the way through the sermon got interrupted when the Holy Spirit came down upon all that were there.
Acts 12:1-17
The church was growing pretty big and the Jews weren’t happy. So King Herod killed James the brother of John. When he saw that that made the Jews happy he captured Peter and after the Passover was going to kill him. He threw Peter in prison and had him guarded by four quaternions of soldiers.
Meanwhile a bunch of Christians had gather at a house in Jerusalem to pray. On one side of Peter you have King Herod with all his power. On the other side you have God and all the Christians praying for him. Peter’s just sleeping chained to two soldiers not caring about having to go before Herod the next day.
Peter needs to get saved from Herod and his chains; like that so many people are caught in the chains of sins. Sadly many of them aren’t aware of their predicament. I heard a story once of a man who was addicted to drinking. He was chained to drinking for 27 years. When he got saved he was able to break free from those chains with God’s help. Everyone is able to get free of their chains through Jesus’ work on the cross.
Back at Peter, an angel comes into the cell and wakes him up. He takes off his chains and tells him to put his garments on. Peter thought this all was a dream; probably the best he had ever had. The angel led him across the prison and through the iron gate. All of a sudden the angel disappeared, the fresh air hits Peter and he realizes that it isn’t a dream. He goes the house the Christians were praying in. A girl named Rhoda goes to answer the door and she hears Peter on the other side. She got so excited and ran to tell the others before opening the door for him. Everyone was like no it can’t be him. They went to see who was at the door. They were shocked to find out that it was Peter. Peter tells them to be quiet and proceeds to tell them what happened. Then he left to go somewhere else.
What a wonderful story and picture of salvation.
John 11: 1-46
We have three accounts of Jesus raising a dead person to life - Jairus’ daughter, the widows son, and Lazarus. God is a God of redemption. The resurrection is the backbone of Christianity. Lee Strobel was a journalist who set out to end the idea of Christianity. But he came to the resurrection and was saved. Only God can do that. No other religion has a story like the empty tomb and a living Saviour. He is the One we now seek to follow as Lord.
In the eyes of God, all who know Him as Saviour died in Christ and are now alive in Christ. We will be raised in the end whether we’re dead or alive.
Resurrection isn’t just getting life again. The people Jesus raised died again later. True resurrection in Christ is with a glorified body. These pictures are beautiful, but we will one day know what resurrection really is and have a glorified body. Christ is the only One who is the Giver and Sustainer of life. In the previous chapter we learned He could lay down His life by choice and here we learn He is the Resurrection and the Life.
We do have the resurrection life now. We’re new creatures. God sees us in Jesus in the Resurrection life. One day we will be there in reality.
Luke 10:38, 39
It was Maratha’s house, but Mary’s town. It was the town of the one who sat at Jesus feet. Later we see when Jesus visits them Maratha serves, Lazarus is in communion, and Mary is worshiping. All are important and we can do all three.
The sisters weren’t telling Jesus something He didn’t know. But they didn’t ask for healing. The just said, “The one You love is sick”. They had a level of confidence. Later it seems like they expected Him earlier though. They figured when he’s alive he can be healed, but when he’s dead its hopeless. But Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. It’s hard to see in the beginning how this situation could glorify God. But He had a plan and wasn’t rushing it.
Hymn 48 There is life in a look at the crucified One.
Prayer