ACTS 12:1-5; 6-18, 22-25
“DIVINE INTERVENTION”
One of the things I love about Luke's sequel to his gospel is what a name dropper he is. Have you noticed that? It's particularly true here in chapter 12. We've got a James, a John, Peter, Mary, another John, another James, Rhoda, Blastus, Saul and Barnabas! It' quite the lineup!
It reminds me of the days when my Dad would take us to Wrigley Park – home of the Chicago Cubs! No sooner had we found our seats then the vendors would show up selling their wares. These guys must've thought fans were deaf cause they're aways yelling. “Ice cold beer here!” “Peanuts, tasty Peanuts!” Then the guy selling programs showed up . His pitch was always the same: “You can't tell the players without a program! Get your programs here!”
I have to admit he was right. Every year the roster was different. Without a program, with all the players listed by position, you could never know who's who... (Bro walks up singing 'Take me out')
Don: So bro, I understand the Cubbies have all new players in the infield this year.
Bro: That's right, Don. It's a whole new roster. You can't tell the players without a program.
Don: Well, can you help me out? Like, for instance, what's the guy's name playing first base?
Bro: Actually, what's the guy's name playing second base.
Don: I'm not asking you who's playing second.
Bro: No, who's on first.
Don: Well, what are you asking me for!
Bro: I'm not asking you! I'm telling you, Who's on first.
Don: That's what I'm trying to find out! What's the guys name on first base?!
Bro: No, what's the guy's name on second base.
Don: I'm not asking you who's on second.
Bro: Who's on first!
Don: I don't know!
Bro: He's on third. We're not talking about him!
Don: Third base! How'd we get on third base?! Never mind! Get out of here! (Bro finds a seat)
If you'd like to see that resolved, join us for the November Variety Show! The point being, you can't tell the players without a program, and that's true for today's Acts 12 roster of players as well.
Take King Herod, for example. This is not the first time King Herod's mentioned in the Bible. Herod was on the throne when Jesus was born. He's the guy the Magi visited right? Actually, no, that was a different King Herod. That was Herod the Great. Oh, then this must be the King Herod who had Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, killed right? Well, no, that's also another King Herod. That was Herod the Great's son, Herod Antipas. The Acts 12 King Herod is Herod Agrippa, Herod the Great's grandson.
This King Herod, Herod Antipas, was a bit of a playboy and was always trying to play both sides of the fence. He cozied up to the Roman emperors Caligula, and later, Claudius, but also tried to impress the Pharisees and ruling elite in Jerusalem. That's why he had James executed. He was trying to eliminate the leaders of the early church to impress the Jewish leaders. It worked so he arrested Peter
Speaking of James, which one is this? There's a book in the New Testament titled, James. Is this James the author of that...? No, actually, that's a different James. That James is mentioned later.
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That's the James Peter is talking about when he tells his siblings in Christ:“Tell James...what happened...” That James is one of Jesus' brothers, and as a result of these events in Acts 12 that led to “Peter escaping to another place”, James, becomes leader of the Jerusalem church. (Acts 12:17)
The James who was executed by Herod Antipas is the brother of John. And which John is that? Is that John the Baptist? Actually, no, this is a different John. This John is one of the original disciples of Jesus, as is his brother, James. They're the sons of Zebedee the Galilean fisherman. They were part of Jesus' inner core of three, along with Peter, whose escape from prison is told here in Acts 12.
So what about the other John mentioned here, John Mark? Who's he? Well, he's a major player in the early church as well. Paul informs us in his letters that he was a cousin of Barnabas. He traveled with Barnabas and Paul on their first mission trip which we'll hear about next week, was the author of the Gospel of Mark, and was the son of Mary, who's hosting this church Peter comes knocking.
(Colossians 4:10/Acts 13:5)
But which Mary - the mother of Jesus? No. I'm afraid not. Well, is she the same Mary who was the first witness of Jesus' resurrection - Mary Magdalene? No, that's not her either. Well, then it must be Martha's sister, Mary, whose brother, Lazarus, Jesus raised from the dead? Nope, sorry. There are a lot of Marys in the Bible. This Mary was also a key player on Jesus' team. She was host to the first home church. Luke informs us that her house had an outside gate, indicating a courtyard, and thus a large house, and since she employed at least one servant, probably more, she was clearly a woman of wealth and influence. What's more, both her son and nephew were kingdom players too.
Her servant Rhoda, which means Rose, was quite a blossoming flower in the church as well. She alone correctly identifies the person knocking on Mary's door as Peter. She not only recognizes his voice but she recognizes that it's a God thing: “When (Rhoda) recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, 'Peter is standing at the door!'” (Acts 12:14) Like the women at the tomb, she is filled with joy as she embraces the remarkable reality of God's divine, supernatural intervention while those praying for it initally miss it!
It's one of a number of contrasting details in Acts 12 that points to God's surprising ways of dis-rupting the ways and plans of man. There's the contrast between Herod's unjust judgment of James and Peter in contrast God's just judgment of Herod, whose death is connected to his blasphemous vanity.
There's the contrast of all the efforts of men trying to exert their will with that of God's will prevailing (evident in Herod making sure Peter is guarded by four squads of trained guards of four soldiers each, in contrast with one angel effortlessly securing Peter's freedom. The contrast is found in Luke's syntax, using the same Greek word, pata'kas, 'to strike', to contrast how an Angel awakens Peter with how the Angel condemns Herod: “The angel struckPeter on the side to awaken him...”, and later, “An angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness because he accepted the people's worship of him instead of giving glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.” (Acts 12:7, 23)
Again, there's the contrast between a servant's reaction to Peter's appearance...and that of the church... It's quite a comical contrast. Picture it! There's all these prayer warriors going at it! “Lord, show mercy to our brother, Peter! Deliver him from death! Set him free! Return him to us, O Lord!”
Suddenly Rhoda bursts into the room. “Hey you guys! It's Peter! He's at the door knocking! He's free! Your prayers are answered! Come check it out!”
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And what's their reaction? “What are you crazy, lady? It can't be Peter! You must be hallu-cinating! Maybe you ate too many oysters! Maybe it's a ghost! Maybe it's his guardian angel?!”
Finally Mary speaks up. “Wait – what? Why would his guardian angel be here without Peter? How does that make any sense? And Rhoda, if Peter's knocking at the door, what are you doing in here telling us about it? Go open the door and let him in for goodness sake! People these days...!”
There's the uncomfortable contrast between James' fate and that of Peter's as well. Why is it that God didn't send an angel to rescue James? Was he of less significance than Peter? Such contrasts still raise questions today. Why are some people we pray for healed while others are not? Why do some people die in a tragic accident or act of violence while others survive? Luke doesn't answer that except to paint a number of contrasts to show that though God's will may be a mystery, ultimately it will pre-vail, as God longs to see as many people saved as possible. That's why this chapter of contrasts ends as it does. “Meanwhile the word of God continued to spread and there were many new believers.”
(Acts 12:24)
And then there's the contrast between Peter and the angel. While Peter is sleeping, God's angel is working. As the chains slip from his wrists the angel urges him to slip into his clothes. While he slowly stumbles about in a sleepwalking daze, the angel acts quickly and decisively to set him free. Oh, and by the way, it's the sixth time angel activity has been cited in Acts so far! What's that suggest?
(Acts 1:10-11;5:19;8:26;10:3-7;11:13-14;12:7-10)
Luke is witnessing here to the ongoing work of angels in the life of Jesus' church. Brother Yun one of China's most prolific home church leaders, would strongly concur. Like Peter, he was super-naturally liberated from the Zhengzhou Maxmimum Security Prison. No one escaped from there...!
Unable to walk a whispering voice guided him out, past three iron gates on three floors, and past six armed guards, ordered to shoot should a prisoner make it past their station. In broad daylight Yun walked through each locked gate, the first as another prisoner was being escorted in, a second as a result of a guard suddenly answering a phone and the third, as well as the iron gate to the courtyard one floor below, thanks to both gates inexplicably being left unguarded and and the gates standing ajar.
A few weeks ago I referred to the book, Decoding Cody, in which a pastor talks about his friend ship with a young man with severe autism. A new tool has enabled Cody, and others like him, to com-municate for the first time. One thing that Cody and others...share is of Jesus' gift to them to see angels
Cody matter of factly says that he sees them all the time, standing guard over the woman who has given him voice. When asked why her, Cody states it's because the enemy doesn't want people to know what he knows. Three things stood out to me about what Cody and his peers, completely independently of one another, have reported about these angels they see in our midst. One, there are a lot of them. Cody uses the word, mountain to describe just how many. Two, they are powerful, able to do things that defy the laws of science. Apparently chains on prisoners, iron clad prisons gates with armed soldiers, even sinister demonic forces can't hold a candle in the wind to a single angel. And three, the angels answer only to God, but are often set in motion by the prayers of Jesus' followers.
As C.S. Lewis put it: “The angels of heaven do not stand idle while we pray. They are present, not as passive observers, but as active agents in the great drama of redemption, taking part in the communication between God and His children and intervening on their behalf.” (C.S. Lewis)
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Luke points to this very thing, not once but twice in Acts 12: “While Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” And then later, upon his newfound angelic based freedom, “he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.”
(Acts 12:5,12)
Lest there be any doubt, Luke gives witness, there is tremendous power when we pray together and when we pray in earnest. What might that look like if we were to do that? What if we were to pray in earnest for God to set people free here – for those in bondage to addiction, or unresolved hurt or from unwanted voices in their head, or from the enemy's attacks, or for the persecuted to be liberated?
What might God do thru us? Care to find out? Let's pray in earnest together, shall we?!