Drew’s Blog - Drew Boswell

To Seek and Save the Lost: Redeeming the Past, Transforming the Present, Redirecting the Future Luke 19:1-10

To Seek and Save the Lost:

Redeeming the Past, Transforming the Present, Redirecting the Future[1]

Luke 19:1-10

There are some great children’s books that Kimberly and I have been given as parents, and ones that we have purchased for our children. Some classics that I loved reading to my kids were the “Frog and Toad Treasury,” by Arnold Lobel, and Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” and “If you take a Mouse to School” series by Laura Numeroff. One of the books that stayed on the shelf and that I really didn’t like was Shel Siverman’s, “The Giving Tree.”

It is the story of the relationship between a tree and a little boy. The tree gives the boy apples, branches, and eventually it’s trunk – only the stump was left. The boy took and took, and the story ends with the boy, now an old man, sitting on the stump. It always bothered me that the boy never learned to give, only to take. It bothered me that the tree gave and gave, eventually having someone sit on it – unable to give anymore.

Today we will look at a man who has taken, and taken, and taken from his community to such so that they hate him. He is isolated and miserable because of his decision to do these things. Have you ever regretted a decision that you have made, and now have to live with the fall out? Are we to live with the guilt, shame, and weight of our sin forever? What if there was a way out? I am going to go out on a limb here and say that there is.

We will start and the end of the text for today, verse 10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This was his mission summarized into one sentence.

Prayer

Seeking the Lord Who Redeems the Past (vv. 1-4)

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.”[2]

“There was a man named Zacchaeus” – his name means “pure and clean” and for the Jewish people, a person’s name was very important. Parents would name their children with the hope that they would exemplify their name.

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of a very active area for the Jericho region, which was part of the Roman empire.[3] He had heard about Jesus and wanted to see who he was. Why would a wealthy man, who held a high position want to see Jesus?[4]

Perhaps he had heard that Matthew (Levi) the former tax collector had become one Jesus’ disciples.[5] As the chief tax collector, he may have known Matthew and heard about how he walked away from his tax collecting booth one day. Matthew himself, describes the encounter “he [Jesus] saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9) If Jesus had something to do with other tax collectors, then maybe he would talk with Zacchaeus too.

In the preceding passage a blind beggar pleads with Jesus to heal him of his sight, Luke 18:35-43 “As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” The blind beggar called out, and would not stop. Luke takes the reader from a man lost in blindness and poverty to the deliverance of a man lost in wealth and corruption.[6]

Zacchaeus, even though he was wealthy, and held a prominent position, climbed a tree (which would have been very embarrassing for the people of his day) just to see Jesus. “he was seeking to see who Jesus was” It is a very sad picture of a man isolated from his community, hated and despised, lonely just wanting a glimpse of hope of a new life. He was anxious to see Jesus, this morning are you too anxious to see Jesus? Do you want just too see who Jesus is?

The Lord sees those who seek him, Deuteronomy 4:29-31 “But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. 31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.”

Receiving the Lord Who Transforms the Present (vv. 5-6)

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”

“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down. . .” “This is Jesus’ last personal encounter before his arrival in Jerusalem and the events leading to his death.”[7] Zacchaeus did not know Jesus (personally), he “was seeking to see who Jesus was,” yet Jesus calls him by name, and it seems he was why he had even traveled that way through the city, “for I must stay at your house today.”

There was a drawing happening in the heart of Zacchaeus, and there was a Savior who was seeking him out, meeting him in the street, coming to his house, calling him by name. Zacchaeus went up the tree lost, but came down the tree saved, “he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”

Jesus is making the first move, he sees Zacchaeus, and he calls him by name. 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”

In John 4:3-6 we see similar language with the woman at the well, “he [Jesus] left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.” He is waiting for the woman to arrive. Jesus is given direct instructions from the Father – there are divine appointments all throughout Jesus’ ministry. Zacchaeus is one of these appointments, “I must stay at your house today.”

Saved by the Lord Who Redirects the Future (vv. 7-10)

“7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

“they all grumbled,” – in the original language it gives the word picture of bees buzzing, or doves cooing.[8] Jesus is the hero that everyone is swarming around to see what he will do, and hear what he will say, but now the crowd is shocked that Jesus wants to spend time with the chief publican, a notorious sinner, who had robbed nearly everyone in the city by exorbitant taxes and no doubt those in the crowd.[9]

Jesus fully understands that when he says that he wants to associate with Zacchaeus then the anger of these people toward the corrupt tax collector would turn toward him as well. Jesus freely associates with sinners. “Under the impact of unconditional acceptance by Jesus, a transformation is worked in the life of Zacchaeus.”[10]

The man whose name means pure and clean – was not pure or clean. He was a thief, a traitor, and had gotten wealthy by stealing from others. “In that moment Zacchaeus saw it all: what his past had been, what his present was, what his future must be.[11]

The grumbling and murmuring had reached Zacchaeus’ ears and before Jesus and he enters, he turns around and faces the crowd and said, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” This was the Mosaic law requirement for anyone who had stolen from another person.

Exodus 22:1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.”

Numbers 5:6 “When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, 7 he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong . . .”

Restitution is a good sign of a changed heart, and he seems to be willing to make it right with people right there on the spot.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Why would Jesus seek out this man and then go to his home? “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus’ mission is to seek out and save the lost – this man was lost and needed a Savior. The lost Zacchaeus was sought out and now saved.

Earlier Jesus had taught, “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” The camel is going through the eye of the needle. God is doing that which is incredibly difficult. This meeting was ordained before the foundation of the world.[12] Jesus had to go this way, he had to go to Zacchaeus’ house, and salvation would happen that day.

Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham” Jesus gives Abraham has an example of how one receives salvation. So, how is that Abraham, who lived way before Christ, is saved?

Genesis 15:5-6 “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

Righteousness is “holy and upright living, in accordance with God’s standard. The word “righteousness” comes from the root word that means “straightness.”[13] It was Abraham’s faith in what God told him that made him righteous or upright before the Lord.

So what was it that brought salvation to Zacchaeus’ home that day? Zacchaeus put his faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ, just like Abraham believed God’s promise to him.

God has also promised us, that we can be freed from our sin, like Zacchaeus – John 3:16 “For God so loved the world,9 that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

For Zacchaeus, he went from being lonely and miserable to being accepted by God. He craved riches and power, but now freely gives it away – He is changed.

The Lord who had to go through Samaria to see the woman at the well, and the same Lord who had to stay with Zacchaeus at his house, now comes to our service today – He sees you, he is speaking to you, and wants to save you from your sin – to take off that weight. He says, Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

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[1] George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 8 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abington Press, 1952) 320.

[2] Milton, Paradise Lost, Bk. 1 “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, and hell of heaven.”

[3] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Luke (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1930) 239.

[4] James Russell Lowell, The Present Crisis, “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side.”

[5] Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, Luke (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Press, 2015) 656.

[6] John Nolland, Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 35c (Dallas, Texas; Word Books, 1993) 903.

[7] Hughes, 655.

[8] Robertson, 240.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Clifton J. Allen, Gen Ed. The Broadman Bible Commentary, Luke-John (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1970) 147.

[11] Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers, 1993) 718.

[12] Ephesians 1:4-6

[13] Ronald Youngblood ,Gen. Ed., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, Tennessee; Nelson Publishing, 1995) 1089.

The Capernaum Caper – Luke 5:17-26

The Capernaum Caper[1]

Luke 5:17-26

Introduction

When Caleb was in middle-school he not getting the best grades. We tried taking things away but that didn’t work. So I said, what do you want – if you get good grades, what would you want?” He thought about it for a couple of days, and I had even forgot about it – he came to me and said, “Dad, if I get all As for a semester I want a pig.” I said, there are some many things that need to happen for you to have a pig, (food, vet visits, a pin would need to be built, etc.) I would allow him to have a pig, with all the expenses if he went an entire year with all As. I thought for sure the odds were on my side.

When you really want something, you will do what you need to do to get it. Today we will look at a group of friends who did what it took to get their friend who needed help to Jesus. What are we willing to do to see our friends won for Christ?

Prayer

The Stationary Gate Keepers and the Faithful Friends (vv. 17-19)

17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.[2]

This early in Jesus’ ministry and he has not even recruited all of the disciples yet. Jesus had set up his ministry hub in Capernaum and was teaching regularly in the synagogues. Jesus would go out preaching, and then return back to his home, this hub of ministry. “Jesus had already made a tour of Galilee which stirred the Pharisees and rabbis to active opposition.”[3] The men gathered in this room are there to find something against Jesus.

There are “Pharisees and teachers of the law (or scribes) were sitting there,” These were people who had devoted their lives to memorizing, interpreting, and teaching God’s Word to others. The text tells us that they came “from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem” If anyone should have understood how important it was for people to come to God then it should have been the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. But instead of ushering people to God, then like gatekeepers are keeping people away.

Jesus has gathered to teach and preach in someone’s home. Most Palestinian homes had a flat roof that was accessed from an outside staircase[4], and we see from the gospels that there was a tiled roof which the friends dug through. But most houses were small in comparison to our homes today. Luke adds that the leaders were sitting inside, and were “from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem.”

We also know that Pharisees don’t like to be around sinners, and law breakers – to touch them would have made them unclean – so the room was packed with these religious leaders and not many other people. There is no interest in teaching people the Word of God, showing them how to have a relationship with God – They were there to be right. So when people seeking God come to where Jesus is they “find no way to bring him in, because of the crowd,”

The friends are described as “bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him” This is compared against the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were “sitting there.” There is time for sitting, studying, absorbing – but if we are to reach the world for Christ, then we must go and bring them to Christ. The religious leaders were there to find fault, pick what Jesus said apart to find error – the friends just wanted to bring their friend to Jesus (because they knew He could heal him.)

It is easy to sit and judge, but it is hard to go and bring others to Jesus. In fact, it says, “some men,” and Mark’s account says there were four men, which we assume is the corner of a tarp or pallet, and together they work, sweat, and they bring their friend.

“The typical roof of that day consisted of timbers laid parallel to each other about two feet apart. Sticks were closely laid crosswise upon the timbers, and the structure was padded with reeds, thistles, and twigs. The whole thing was overlaid with about a foot of earth, which was packed down to minimize leakage. All told, it was about two feet thick.”[5]

These friends have to cooperatively work together to reach their goal. God never sends us out alone – Jesus sent the early disciples out in groups (Luke 9:1-6), Paul went on missionary journeys with Barnabas, and John Mark. We are to accomplish the Great Commission as a church – working together to bring our community to Christ. But we don’t accomplish such a great task alone, nor do we accomplish it by sitting and waiting for Bellevue to come to us. These men don’t sit at home and wait for someone else to get their friend – they do it.

Luke (the author) being a doctor uses a more specific medical word for the man – he was “paralyzed”, The men could carry their friend, but they could not cure their friend. This necessitated a meeting with Jesus. Whoever this man was, his friends loved him. They carried him from home, they figured out a plan that involved vandalism, they endured the harsh looks of the religious leaders, they could care less about interrupting a church service – they loved their friend and would do whatever it took to get him to Jesus.

If our motivation is not love for another, then we will quit when we begin to feel the sweat of the journey, or when our plans face a seemingly impossible obstacle, or when our reputations may be endangered – love causes us to do whatever is needed to see others won for Christ.

“Spurgeon writes: ‘When four true hearts are set upon the spiritual good of a sinner, their holy hunger will break through stone walls or house roofs.’”[6]

So, do we really see the gospel as important?[7] Do we genuinely care for and love others or are we going through the evangelical motions of looking like we do? What about the Lord’s will? We like to throw that kind of spiritual language around – How would they get the man there? I guess it wasn’t the Lord’s will. How would they get through the crowd? I guess it wasn’t the Lord’s will. How would they get through the roof? I guess it wasn’t the Lord’s will. . . on and on we go.

Christ blessed the men’s faith, their determination, their endurance, and their creativity for the sake of their friend. If we really love our community, then we will stop at nothing to find a way to bring them to the love of Christ.[8]Where is our creativity, our determination, our sacrifice for the sake of the gospel?

There will be a price to pay – someone has to fix that roof, sweep up the debris in that home – but a friend was has encountered Jesus, who has experienced His healing is worth the time, the expense, the effort, and what we don’t expect it to cost us.

For the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,2 in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

Kimberly went on mission trip years ago to Guatemala some years ago – where she discovered that once the children at the orphanage where her group had served would have to leave and go out into the local communities and work. While she was there she really wanted to help a particular young man, so when she came home she said “Drew, we could have him come and live with us!” I said, “there are so many things that need to be taken care of, where would he sleep, what about this education, how would we pay for the new expenses, how would we manage this new person in our home with our kids, etc. I thought for sure, with all the things that needed to happen, the odds would be in my favor.

Think of it as giving up your seat in the front row of this home, letting these men make their way to the front, and letting this man encounter Jesus. Religious people do all kinds of things to not only not pursue the lost, but to actively block them from coming in to where Jesus is. Are you a religious gatekeeper or a loving faithful friend?

The Showing of God and the Frustrated Fanatics (vv. 20-26)

20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

I find it interesting that Luke includes “And when he saw their faith” – The men played a role in the man being healed, yes – they brought him to Christ. But their bold and insistent actions is attributed as “faith.” “The faith of the believing community also has an important role to play in bringing wholeness to the afflicted.”[9] Jesus uses our faith in the healing of other people.

The friends did not bring their friend to be forgiven of his sins they wanted him to be physically healed. Is Jesus cruel of playing some kind of mind game? Jesus begins with dealing with the man’s greatest need, not what the paralyzed man perceived as his greatest need. If it were up to us we would want the temporal things fixed, that would be our primary focus – but God starts with the most important, the eternal things first.

No matter what the miracle would have been (blindness, bleeding issues, even death) Jesus wanted the person to be able to have a relationship with God, and to properly give Him glory with their whole restored being – so He heals him of his moral deformity before he heals the man of his physical maladies.

When Jesus says, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”, we need to understand that Jesus is not saying, “God has forgiven your sins”, or some generic “because of what you have done, your sins are forgiven.” The original language is clear that Jesus is saying, “I forgive your sin.”

The Pharisees can’t see that not only can they not heal this man of his physical deformity (they feel he deserves to be in such a condition), neither can they rid him of his sin problem (because he has not kept their religious rules). How do you know that the man hasn’t kept the rules? Because he is paralytic. Jesus frees the man of both.

Faith is defined in Luke 5 as “those who act decisively on the basis of the conviction that God’s help is to be found with Jesus, and gratefully receive God’s action through him.”[10]

John 4:13-14 “Jesus said to her [the woman at the well], “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.2 The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”

The Pharisees are correct in their understanding that God alone can forgive sin, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Their lack of understanding was that Jesus was God whom “the power of the Lord was with him to heal” and as God had the authority to forgive sin. He has power to heal to prove that he has the power and authority to forgive sin.

To deal with their confusion Jesus asks a question, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” Jesus is claiming to be God (who can forgive sin), so how does He prove it? If he says, “your sins are forgiven” how does he prove the sin has been forgiven? So “that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” Jesus heals the man to show He is God in the flesh, the Messiah.

Jesus had healed other people, people were amazed – but here for the first time he explains why he is performing miracles. “that you may know. . .”[11] Does it matter if the Bible to true or not? Jesus is drawing a line in the sand – “I am doing miracles, I am the Messiah (who has the authority to forgive sin).”

The Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders who were zealous for the Jewish faith and “were champions of the messianic hope.” They believed that if everyone would follow the law of Moses (which included the observance of their oral traditions, designed as a “fence” to protect the law) God would raise up his Messiah and deliver Israel.[12] They were actively looking and desiring the Messiah to come – but their understanding of how he would come kept them from accepting him, even when Jesus proved to them that he was God who had come to forgive mankind of its’ sin.

The Pharisees also believed that if something bad happened to you, or if you were sick – it was because you had sinned in some way. You were sick because of your sin. There was even a saying, “No-one gets up from his sick-bed until all his sins are forgiven.”[13] Jesus uses this false belief in order to create this crisis in their belief system.

Their problem with Jesus was that He didn’t follow their oral traditions – Jesus kept the Mosaic law, but he kept jumping over their religious fences. He associated with sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, he even allowed them to wash his feet with their tears, and have him over for dinner.

The friends went to the man’s home, gathered him up, and took him to Jesus because they loved the man and had faith that Jesus could help him. The religious leaders are sitting in judgement, and expecting sinners to clean themselves up, follow their manmade rules and come to God – what Jesus did threw a wrench in that whole way of thinking.

Later Jesus tells his followers, “Go therefore and make disciples. . .” (Matthew 28:19) Being faithful to what Jesus desires of His disciples is to be going out, bringing in, there is movement and intentionality. Nowhere are we to wait for the world to come to the church – the church is to go out into the world. And when we are bringing them in, we must be careful not to put religious manmade expectations in front of people that will keep them from getting to Christ.

It is pharisaical to want to clean up the outside, before God deals with the heart on the inside. Let God deal with the sin, the most important thing first, and then God can deal with the physical outside. We cannot cure, we can only come along side.

But imagine the men’s return trip home – what had been hard, grueling, frustrating, now was a time of dancing, running, and jumping. His legs would eventually give way to time and age but his restored soul would carry him into eternity. But on this return journey home he was, “glorifying God.”

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[1] Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, Luke, That You May Know the Truth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2015) 180.

[2] Parallel passage: Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12

[3] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. II (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1930) 74.

[4] Acts 10:9ff; Peter having a vision.

[5] Hughes, 180.

[6] https://www.christianstudylibrary.org/article/healing-paralytic

[7] “Evangelical Shibboleth” from Judges 12:4-7, Hughes 181. “He may have been a governor, a head, a commander, and a leader in Israel, but he never cared about the people he governed nor about the God to whom they belong.” Daniel Block, The New American Commentary, Judges, Ruth(Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman, 2002) 386.

[8] Hughes, 182.

[9] Clifton J. Allen, Gen. Ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 9 (Nashville, TN; Broadman Press, 1970) 51.

[10] John Nollan, Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 35 (Dallas, Texas; Word Books, 1989) 235.

[11] Allen, 52.

[12] Craig A. Evans, New Testament Biblical Commentary, Luke (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers, 1990) 91.

[13] Nolan, 236.

Going Fishing With Jesus – Matthew 4:17-25

Going Fishing With Jesus

Matthew 4:17-25

Introduction

One of my favorite memories from childhood is where my father and some friends would rent a charter fishing boat in Florida. We would leave early in the morning, way before daylight, and go to the deep waters. As a young boy, my imagination would run wild about what was under the boat in the hundreds of feet of dark ocean water.

I loved the ocean spray, I loved the feeling of riding in the boat, I loved looking over the side and watching fish and sometimes dolphins swim beside the boat – but I especially loved being there with my Father. There were times when I would turn green, or get knocked about in rough waters – but my dad was always there to smile and give me assurance that everything was fine.

He showed me how to put a lure on the line, how to bait the hook, where to throw the line. And there were times when the water was a smooth as glass, and times when there were 3-4’ waves. There were times when we caught nothing, and times when we caught our limit, but all the while – my dad and I were together. There was nothing like going fishing with my dad.

This morning we are going to look at where our heavenly Father says, “Let’s go fishing!” Guys, life is too short not to go fishing with your dad. There is nothing like it. Our Heavenly Father shows all we need to know about fishing in His fishing guide (the Bible) and He instills within us the ability to catch fish after fish, after fish.

Prayer – Father, thank you for loving us enough to make us apart of your plan to redeem all of creation back to you. You want us to go fishing with you, thank you for taking us along for the ride. Give us the boldness, to put our fishing rods and hooks in the water. Let us catch our limit, make us into Fishers of Men.

Dropping Your Nets – Leaving the World Behind

Matthew 4:18-22 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Jesus sets up his preaching ministry in the area of Capernaum.[1] John 1:35-40 tells us that Simon Peter, and Andrew his brother had already met Jesus, followed him to where he was staying, and heard John the Baptist indicate that Jesus was the promised Messiah.[2] Also, we see that the brothers were not satisfied with the fishing nets, “their livelihood was not their life.”[3]

They were looking for something more. John 1:40-42 “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.”

“These men craved wilder seas.”[4] One commentator says that the men are “homesick at home, and strangers under the sun” There is a discontent that rumbles around within all of us, and we ask. “Is this all there is in life?” Where is true purpose, and adventure?

Jesus then goes on to talk to another pair of brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee – who is in the boat with them. Matthew’s emphasis in both sets of brothers is immediacy and decisiveness.

When Jesus Christ called four fishermen from Galilee to follow him, they had no idea of the magnitude of where that calling would lead them. They did not know that they would face persecution, prison, and even death for the sake of the gospel of Christ.

They did not realize that they would be the leaders of the infant church that would eventually span the globe and turn the world upside down. They did not realize that they would have a part in the revelation of Holy Scripture. They just knew that Jesus called, so they obeyed.

The same is true of us today. When Jesus calls, and we follow, we do not know what he might be pleased to do in our lives. We do not know where we will serve, or how we will serve, or the cost that following Christ will demand. But when he calls, we obey. They were not attaching themselves to a creed, or a philosophy, or an idea – they were following a person. In Christianity, we are following a person.

This calling took them away from their vocation of fishing and required that they give up everything, even leaving a father behind, a successful career behind – in order to follow Christ. What have you dropped, in order to follow Christ? Has being a disciple of Christ cost you anything? Salvation is free, but being a disciple is not – it costs you everything.

There were no promises of wealth, or good health or even a place to live. There is no promise of power or prestige – only a relationship with Christ. To be His disciple.

In the opening chapters of the book of Matthew, you have Jesus’ birth narrative, his interaction with John the Baptist, then His temptation in the wilderness with Satan. From there Jesus begins His public ministry and the first recorded word of Jesus’ once he officially begins his public ministry is “repent.” The word order in the passage is important because it is the order that we are to follow as Jesus’ disciples. Matthew is holding up a mirror to these first disciples and we are to see if our faith reflects theirs.[5]

Repent, Follow, Faith

Repent – We are to turn from our sins before we can follow Christ. Are we constantly, daily, turning from sin and toward our relationship with Christ?

Follow – Following is to leave things behind, fathers, sisters, mothers, careers, fish, boats, nets, income, a disruption of an ordinary life. Then we have to stay close to Jesus, and constantly gauge how close we are to Him.

Faith – he will call us to do things, to forsake things, to try something. Am I doing what I’m commanded to do – be fishers of men?

Pony Express riders were usually lightweight young men, often teenagers. For this reason, an 1860 Pony Express advertisement in California read: “Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” This ad had an overwhelming turnout of people wanting to ride for the Pony Express. Why? People wanted to be apart of something worthy of risking death daily.

Most of the time church ads go something like – “Come join us for healing, comfort, and a pleasant worship experience.” And once they are there at the church we say “Enjoy the coffee, the show, and a message of inspiration. “Don’t give, go about your lives as normal and we’ll see you again next week if that’s convenient for your schedule.”

Delivering An Eternal Message – Repentance

Notice what Jesus is preaching, Mathew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The word repentance means a change in the mind and action of a person regarding sin. They think differently about sin than before – they act differently than they did before.

Repent means to turn 180 degrees, and go the other direction. In order to follow Christ there must be a change in our lives. For these disciples they dropped their nets and followed.

Repentance also allows us to see the world differently – we see sin differently, yes, but we also begin to see the world as Christ sees the world. When Jesus sees their net, he thinks capturing people. Jesus loves people and is always thinking of how to save them – If there was talk of a harvest, he spoke of a human harvest (John 4:35), If they were talking about a well, then he talked about “living water” (John 4:10). Where other people saw buildings, laws, battles, Jesus was always thinking about his brothers and sisters. To be a fisher of men, is to have the mind of Christ – to think of how others may be saved.[6]

It says “is near” – what’s near, what’s about to happen? The kingdom of heaven is stepping into human history in a way that it never has before – so much so, that it announces and begins a new epoch in human history. We must turn from our sin, because if we don’t we will miss a God who stepped into human history.

He is providing through Jesus the promise of salvation. These disciples are promised nothing but salvation, and a commission to show others how to have this salvation.

Two men get on a plane, one man is given a parachute and promised that the parachute will make his flight more comfortable. He puts it on and as he makes his way down the center aisle, people begin to snicker at him. When he sits down it is very uncomfortable, and he can’t even put his tray table down. People continue to look at him, and after a while he takes it off and puts in under the seat, hoping that people will forget he even had it on.

Another man gets on the plane, but he is given the parachute and information that the plane is going to crash before they reach their destination. He still hears the snickers, endures being uncomfortable from sitting on it, and he clutches the pull pin tightly.

He could care less about what people thought about him or the parachute – because when the plane goes down, he would be safe. Salvation is not about our lives getting easier, or joyous – it is about not going to hell. Is the parachute enough? It is when you realize that it will save you from death. What if you had an extra parachute – would you give it to anyone? Would you ask if anyone wanted it?

Jesus’ preaching is summarized in this one sentence “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Turn from your sin, or you will miss the only way to have eternal life – you will miss the only person on the plane who is handing out parachutes.

Discovering the Depth of Discipleship – Everything

“Immediately they left their nets” and “Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him” These were fishermen who would have reeked from being out all-night fishing, hauling the fish in, and cleaning them.

They are mending nets. Jesus did not ask them to go home and get cleaned up, he did not tell them to go home and say goodbye, He did not tell them to change in any way than they were right that moment – stinky and tired. “Follow me”

This is a command, not a request. Jesus does not say, “Please consider being my disciple in your spare time and when you get a chance, please come by and see, perhaps when you are finished with your work here we can talk.” – no, God in the flesh looked these men in the eye and said “I have a plan for your life, let’s go – right now.” There was a sense of urgency.

Jesus said “Follow Me” – It was a call to relationship, to know him as Redeemer and Lord. It was a call to learn of him, to listen to what he taught, to observe the details of his life, to receive rebuke and instruction from him.

It was a call to evaluate the darkness and sinfulness of their own hearts in light of the purity and holiness of Christ’s. It was a call to love Christ more than any earthly treasure, to find him as the pearl of great price that consumes the mind, the hidden treasure that one sells all that he has to buy (Matt 13:44-46). It was a call to walk with Christ, talk with him, and if need be, die for him. To Follow Christ – would cost them all that they had, even their lives.

Later while they are discussing salvation, and the future, Peter says in Matthew 19:27 “See, we have left everythingand followed you. What then will we have?”

Those that Jesus calls to be His disciples, he says “I will make you fishers of men.” You can not teach yourself to become a fisher of men. Jesus alone will make you one. This requires a dependence upon Him, and a growing relationship.

Just as Jesus called fishermen who gather fish from the sea, so disciple’s of Christ would gather men, women and children to radical obedience in Christ. Walking away from everything in order to be a disciple.

Jesus explains this radical obedience in Luke 14:25-30 “Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” Consider what it costs and what is required of a follower of Christ – you will be fishers of men.[7]

The call of Christ is the same today. It is not that we quit our jobs or leave our families to pursue gospel ministry. While He does call men and families to do this — Instead wherever the Lord places us we are to fish for men.

Spurgeon comments, “The winds of providence will waft you where you can fish for men” [MTP, vol. 32, 344]. God moves upon our lives, placing us in strategic locations and settings so that we might, as followers of Christ, become fishers of men.

If you were to drive up to your home, knowing that your family was trapped in the roaring flames inside. Then you look and you see the large red fire engine, with all the fire fighting apparatus, ladders, axes, hose, gauges, and picks, etc.. and the firemen were feverishly shining the chrome, washing the tires, and neatly folding the firefighter jackets. Some were even huddled in the cab complaining at how cold it was outside. What would you think about this fire fighting unit? Fire fighters fight fires!

Disciples of Christ “will be” fishers of men no matter wherever your’ fishing hole may be.

Conclusion

I think that it is interesting that these men are fishermen and when Jesus comes to call them to discipleship, they are doing what fishermen do, they were beside the shore, they were casting nets, mending nests, they were in a boat. When Jesus comes to collect us to heaven, let him find us doing what Christians do being fishers – fishing for men.

One of the most powerful outreach tools that our Father has given us is prayer. We are on day 21 on our 40 Days of Prayer Challenge– Begin to pray and focus on who you can invite for August 15^th. And re-read today’s passage again and again until you understand that you are a “fisher of men.”

The other night I was watching how Navy Seal train new recruits. The training itself is grueling and painful. Only a few make it through the whole process. One of the ways they train is to take a rubber boat fill it with water and require that six men to eight men hold it above their heads. Eventually there will be one guy, because he is tired, who will not really push as hard as he can, expecting the other guys to hold their weight, plus his weight. In the church there are many people who are expecting others to hold the weight. Don’t be “that guy.” Let’s go fishing with out Father.

This morning if you have never received Christ, He is calling you to Him just as you are. There is absolutely no need to clean yourself up – just follow Him. Lay your life down and follow Him. But consider that that you must give up the sin, repent, and follow Him with a radical obedience.

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name.

___________________________

[1] John A Broadus, An American Commentary of the New Testament, Matthew (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Judson Press, 1886) 75.

[2] Craig Blomberg, The New American Commentary, Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Publishing, 1992) 90.

[3] Halford Luccock, The Interpreter’s Bible, Matthew (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1980) 276.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Matthew, All Authority in Heaven and on Earth (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2013), 95.

[6] Luccock, 277.

[7] In the Old Testament the concept of fishers of men has a judgmental tone, such as in Jeremiah 16:16 “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the LORD, and they shall catch them.” Luccock

Starting Over – John 21:15-19

Starting Over

John 21:15-19

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14

Introduction

Last year for vacation we went to Port St. Joe, Florida, and we went to the beach as much as we could. One of the days I decided to build a sand castle. So I started to big and built layer upon layer of intricate sand sculptures. As my three oldest saw what I was doing, they made their way from swimming in the ocean and began to join me. Kimberly and Isaac (my five year old) had gone walking down the beach looking for seashells and to chase sea gulls.

With the smell of salt in the air, and the sound of crashing waves, the sand castle building project stretched out over 12 feet and we began to have roads to various buildings, there was a mote, and a lake in the middle where we dug down to water. The children took sticks and began to carve the shape of rocks in into sand.

It was a thing of beauty.

About a hundred yards off, Isaac saw our building project. In his five-year-old mind, he suddenly became a giant sea monster who was going to attack the tiny sand people – so he began to run with all his five-year-old strength toward the sand castle. Before we realized it, the sea monster was upon us and within seconds had stomped and knocked over our thing of beauty. All of our work seemed wasted.

What happens when we think about our lives, and things of more importance than a sand castle? What do we do when we like a sea monster have kicked over our marriages, when we have breathed fire all over our testimonies at work, or when we have stomped our ministries? What do we do when sin comes in and has wrecked something we greatly value? Is there any way to recover, does God hate us forever, does He leave us to suffer under the weight of our guilt for the rest of our lives?

Prayer – Jesus, show us a glimpse of your mercy and grace that you freely pour out upon your children. There are people here and within the sound of my voice who have fallen and in shame they now live under a heavy weight. Show us the truth of your Word this morning, and how we should then live – We pray this in Jesus’ name; Amen.

____________

Our story today begins at the trial of Jesus. Jesus had told Peter before that he would betray him three times before the rooster crowed. In John 18:26-27 “One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.” Peter emphatically said in Matthew 26:33, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

As Peter stood and watched the trial, he heard the crowd yell, “crucify him!”, did he lower his head, did he cover his eyes? He followed him, in the crowd, out to Golgotha where he was crucified. Did he weep? How did Peter deal with this horrible event?

While he went through that horrific day of seeing his Teacher and dear friend tortured, he now also had to bear the crushing weight that he had betrayed Jesus. He had denied being his disciple of the man whom had loved him with an eternal love.

Peter was one of the twelve, one of the apostles, he sat at Jesus’ feet and heard all the sermons, and even went out from him to share the good news to others. He had heard Jesus say on multiple occasions, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”[1]

After the resurrection Jesus specifically appeared to the disciples two times in the Upper Room, and in today’s passage on a beach.

Do you have a time in your life where you have betrayed Jesus? Do you have a sin that when it comes to your memory, you drop your head and you feel the weight of regret and your betrayal to the one who has done nothing but pour out His love upon you? Do you put your head in your hands and cry out, “why did I do that?”

God does not want to leave us there – He desires to lift your head and for you walk in honor before Him. Psalm 3:3 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

God was not going to leave Peter with this crushing weight of guilt. God does not want to leave you where you are; He wants to take the weight away. Jesus went to this beach to talk with Peter. God has come to you this morning and wants you to hear His Word.

Life for Peter was more than living in the guilt of the past, Jesus wanted to use him greatly now. This morning, in spite of all that we have done, God still desires to have a restored relationship with all of us, and to use us for His kingdom work. Would you like to just start over? How do we start over?

Remember Jesus Has Called You (v. 15)

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

Peter was the leader of the disciples. He was the one who spoke on their behalf most of the time, and where he went the rest followed. Even, in this story he had said, “I’m going fishing,” and the rest followed.

Now, he has gone back to what he was doing before he ever met Jesus. Peter was called by God to preach and share the gospel – but now he has returned to what he knew before Christ. Fishing for Peter didn’t require spiritual courage, supernatural empowering, or steps of faith.

Matthew 4:18 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” They were fishermen before Jesus called them to be disciples, so they go back to their previous life.

Jesus gave them a glimpse of how their lives could truly and genuinely make a difference in the world – They even had a season where Jesus had to guide them through this reality and their own sinful natures. Matthew 20:20-21 “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him [Jesus] with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Peter had walked on water, and seen the transfigured Christ.

When Christians feel that they have betrayed Jesus, and are feeling crushed with guilt, they withdraw to what they knew before Christ. They return to their default setting. You naturally have a talent, skill set, gifting, interests, etc. that is built into your personality.

Satan’s ploy is to get believers out of service, out of worship, out of church, get them away from what they were created to do. He lies to them and persuades them that God really does not love them, or can use them anymore. He desires to pull them away from courage, empowering, or faith – he lies and says, “that’s just not your thing.”

When we live in this place, there is no peace. God loves us enough to not leave us there. So Jesus comes to Peterto take off this weight of guilt and to get him back on track.

When Jesus says, “do you love me more than these?” Who or what are “these?” Why the miracle of catching so many fish? If Jesus could just speak and let them know that it was Him. I believe that Jesus allowed them to catch a great number of fish, so that he can turn to them as say, “these (fish).”[2]

The large number of fish would have been worth a lot of money for the fishermen. So, Peter had returned to working as a fisherman, with a potentially lucrative amount of catch – and now a return to a calling by the resurrected Christ to go back to leading as an apostle.

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” – Peter was not called by Jesus to be his disciple so that he could fish, he was to love Jesus more than anything else and do what Peter was created before the foundation of the world to do – “feed Jesus’ lambs” – to preach the gospel, “tend Jesus’ sheep” – take care of the people. Peter had a calling from the Lord, a very special task or ministry to accomplish – and so do you.

Remember that Jesus Knows Everything (vv. 16-17)

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Why does Jesus ask Peter the question three times? It mirrors Peter’s three times of denial. Peter is grieved because Jesus keeps asking him “do you love me?” So Peter acknowledges that Jesus knows everything. Peter knows in his mind, and Jesus moves that knowledge to his heart by getting him to repeat it again and again.

Jesus knows everything. Jesus Christ is sovereign and omnipotent and in that he knows that we will deny him. He knows that we will fall into temptation, and sin.

John 13:36-38 “Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

Jesus knows what we are capable of, the greatness of our sin and depravity. He can see into the future and knows all our mistakes, our stubborn times of rebellions, and denying him with our actions– and he says, “but you will follow afterward.”

Jesus knows everything. Jesus Christ is sovereign and omnipotent and in that he knows that we will serve him. That there will be moments when we shine and give the Father and the Son glory with our actions.

He sees into the future and knows all the time when we get it right, our obedient times of submission, and proclaiming him to the nations – and he says, “Feed my sheep” Do what I created you to do. Despite our stumbling or triumphs His love for us never wavers, it never changes. He also knows that we love Him.

Remember that Jesus Promises that You Will Finish Well (vv. 18-19)

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)

Jesus had called him to be a disciple, had predicted that he would deny him, had told him that he would follow once more, and now he is telling him that he will die for Him. “When you are old . . .” Wherever he would fall along the way, in all the ways he would sin over the years, when it was all said and done – he would finish well.

This is not sentimentality, or some false way of trying to encourage Peter, Jesus says, “truly, truly . . .” At the end of his days on earth, Peter would glorify God. It is so encouraging to know that when we fail, Christ will come after us, and has promised that He is still at work in our lives.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Then Jesus says to Peter, “And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

In all three of the times where Jesus asks Peter, “do you love me” the question is preceded by, “Simon, Son of John” in verse 15 – there are only two places where Peter is called “Simon, Son of John” here, and when Jesus originally called him to be a disciple.

Matthew 4:18 “While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

John 1:40-42 “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus9 was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).”

By calling him “Simon, Son of John” and by saying to him “Follow me” Jesus is taking Peter back three and half years to when they first met, to the beginning. Peter, Let’s start over.

I remember the first time I met Jesus. I was a nine years old child who was afraid of dying. I remember telling my mother, “the Mormons believe this, and the Buddhists believe this – what is the truth?” “If someone dies, where do they go? Is heaven real?” I was afraid.

At VBS that summer the preacher came and shared the gospel to our class and asked if anyone wanted to talk more about salvation and eternal life to step into a side room. I put my craft down, pushed my chair back, and walked into the room. After, that day I have never feared death. I can tell you what decorations hung on the wall, what the room smelled like, who sat next to me, what I wrote inside the little paper box I made.

Do you remember when you first met Jesus? Do you remember the excitement and passion? Do you remember when you said things like, “Jesus, I will die for you!” “I will do anything you ask, I will go anywhere you say!” Do you remember the joy of your salvation?

But time passes, years go by, life happens, and perhaps today Jesus desires to take you back to that day. Years of guilt and feelings of failure have caused you to drift away from your calling. This morning, hear the truth of God’s Word, and lay your weight at the foot of the cross. Jesus died, so that you can be set free.

__________

Isaac, after the sun was beginning to hide behind the horizon, as we sat on the beach, asked “can we build a sand castle?” So there among the piles of sand that he had destroyed, we began to rebuild castles, as a family.

Jesus is waiting for you this morning to say, “Jesus I want to start again, I want to rebuild.” He has told us in His word the answer will always be, “yes my precious child, let’s rebuild.” Lay the weight of guilt at the foot of the cross, and say to Jesus, “I want to start over.” Do it today, do it right now. You don’t have to live with the weight any longer.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

_______________________

[1] Matthew 10:33

[2] Clifton Allen, General Ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 9, Luke-John (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 374.

The Power of a Praying Church – Acts 12

The Power of a Praying Church

Acts 12

Introduction

Last week we looked at how Jesus taught the disciples to pray, and what has become known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” And I challenged you (and myself) to begin praying through the booklet “40 days of Prayer.” As of today we should be on day 7. If this is new to you, that’s fine, just jump in with us today. The booklets are outside the sanctuary.

Today we will look at the power of the church, prayer. Prayer has been described as the electricity to the toaster. The appliance with worthless until it is plugged into the wall socket. We can have great dreams, good plans, but unless God leads the way, changes our hearts, and guide our decisions through prayer then we are like an unplugged toaster.

Also, when you have a church family you do not have to go through hard times alone. One of the ways that we support and love one another is that we pray for and with each other. So prayer is not a program or even something we do once a month at a meeting – it is the lifeblood of the local church and believers.

Prayer – so before we jump into today’s passage, let’s pray. Jesus, we come before you today in recognition that apart from you we would be nothing, can do nothing, and will accomplish nothing. We call out to you, to show us what you would have us to do, to be, how to think, how to serve You and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We also pray that you will show us the importance and power of prayer this morning. Amen.

The Power of God Displayed in Impossible Situations (vv. 1-4)

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

The Herod in these verses is Agrippa I, a nephew of Herod Antipas who beheaded John the Baptist. Herod Agrippa through political maneuvering had managed to expand his kingdom to about the same size as his grandfather’s, Herod the Great;[1] who killed baby boys at the time of the birth of Jesus.

Herod Agrippa had James the “son of Zebedee” beheaded and, because it delighted the Jews, he intended to kill Peter. Polling data told him the majority of the citizens approved of that action so he captured Peter.

Herod Agrippa was a politician who desired to look good before the Roman Empire – one of the ways to look good was to keep the peace. So, if it pleased the Jews to kill Peter, this would help maintain the peace. He was also careful not to break the customs of the Jews by executing a man during the Passover.[2]

The Passover was the first of the three great festivals of the Hebrew people. It referred to the sacrifice of a lamb in Egypt when the people of Israel were slaves. The Hebrews smeared the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a signal to God that He should “pass over” their houses when He destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt to persuade Pharaoh to let His people go.

In New Testament times, Passover became a pilgrim festival. Large numbers gathered in Jerusalem to observe this annual celebration. Jesus was crucified in the city during one of these Passover celebrations.

He and His disciples ate a Passover meal together on the eve of His death. Like the blood of the lamb which saved the Hebrew people from destruction in Egypt, His blood, as the ultimate Passover sacrifice, redeems us from the power of sin and death.[3]

There was a political tension between the Jews and the Romans – So Herod is holding Peter as an “ace up his sleeve,” if something were to happen during the Passover feast. The Jews were looking forward to his death. In v. 11 we see “from everything the Jewish people were expecting (NIV says anticipating).”

The Power of God is Dispersed By Interceding Saints (vv. 5-12)

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.[4]

Knowing that Peter had allies, Agrippa took extra precautions against any attempt to free the prisoner – as Peter had already escaped from prison before. Four relays of soldiers took turns guarding him: four guards at a time, one on either side of him (to whom he was chained) and two at his cell door.[5]

I love this picture of Peter. He has taken his sandals off and they are lying by his bunk. He has stripped down to his underclothes and is soundly sleeping – while chained to Roman guards. Did peter’s snoring keep the guards awake? What was it that gave Peter so much resolve to endure the pressure and threat of death that he was able to be sound asleep? So soundly, that the Angel had to strike him?

His Relationship With Christ

Peter was able to sleep so soundly because first, he had seen the transfigured Christ; Luke 9:28-33 “Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, [2] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said..”

Peter had seen the resurrected Lord; John 21:2-4 “Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.”

Peter spent three years with Jesus, he had been with Him constantly – He saw the miracles, he experienced the masterful teaching, Peter was amazed at Jesus’ servant heart when he washed his feet. Peter denied him, heard the rooster crow, raced to the tomb after the resurrection, he knew the heartache of doubt. He saw the resurrected Christ on the seashore, and in the upper room.

Peter slept because he had a relationship with Christ – He knew that if he were to die, he would be with Christ. If he were to live, then he could continue to live for Christ. Another apostle had such a faith while facing death.

Paul in Philippians 1:18-21 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Sometimes we think the worst thing that can happen to us is to die – but Peter and Paul show us that is far more devastating to the believer to forget why he is here, and the all-important relationship they have with Christ.

Experience

Acts 5:18-20 “. . . they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Peter had already been rescued one time by an angel – if it were God’s will, He would do it again. That is the wonder of Christianity – through our relationship with Christ, and daily experiencing his power, we have hope and faith for tomorrow. If your execution was in the morning could you sleep tonight? In light of all the ways God has provided for you, and shown you that He loves you would you rest easy?

He Knows His Church Is Praying

Peter is shackled with two chains, he is chained to two guards, he is surrounded by specially trained soldiers, who knew if the prisoner were to escape it would cost them their lives. Peter is in a barred room, within the Roman prison. For an average man, escape would have been impossible.

But this man had a very special group of people on his side. His church is praying for him. The church is praying for their pastor. They knew that if God does not step in a do something Peter is going to die, just like James. The church knew that there was no hope for Peter, other than prayer.

The Church’s Prayers Are United

There prayers were united because they were “gathered together.” Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” When believers gather together there is power.

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Within our unity of prayer, there must also be purity in the congregation. Then the prayers of the righteous are (NIV) “powerful and effective.”

The Church’s Prayers Are Earnest

They were “praying” – this Greek word was used to describe a muscle that has been stretched to its limit. They were straining in their prayer; they were stretched in their prayer. This was not a flippant prayer, but a prayer that pushed them to the point of strain, praying with all their might.

The same Greek word used here of the way in which the followers of Jesus were praying for Peter is used in Luke 22:44 for the way in which Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.[6] Luke writes, “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

The Church’s Prayers are Unceasing

“Unceasing” – they had prayed through the night, late into the night. They kept on praying until they heard that God had done something. Other translations have fervent. The origin of the word used here references the pleads of one being tortured on a rack that pulls them apart. The pleadings are urgent.

The church had prayed perhaps for days, and now on the eve of Peter’s execution – their prayer continues. We must not stop our prayer, even if the situation seems to already worked out before us.

Could their pleadings not only have been for his life to be spared, but also that he would not deny Christ as he had done earlier in his life? Peter had denied knowing Christ three times after Jesus’ arrest, and then the rooster crowed.

The Angel led him only the length of one street, he left him all alone in a city that wanted his head. It would only be a matter of time before they came looking for him – where would he go?

He went to a place where he knew he would be safe, a place where he would be loved, taken care of, those who knew his history and prayed all the more fervently for him, – he went to this family’s home because it was a home that was known to be a house of prayer.

It is not the craftiness of Peter that got him out of jail – Peter was asleep when the angel came. It wasn’t the sympathy of the jailers that enabled Peter to find deliverance – they would later lose their lives over Peter’s escape! There was no explanation for Peter’s escape except for the power of God!

It was the power of God that sent the angel! It was the power of God that loosed the chains! It was the power of God that opened the iron gate! It was the power of God that had changed the heart of a fisherman from coward to fearless apostle!

Once free Peter came to his senses and arrived at the same conclusion. In verse 11 we read, “When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” It was the power of God!

Also, just as an aside, In Acts 5 the popularity of Peter and the apostles is so prevalent that when the Roman soldiers are ordered to arrest them, Acts 5 says, “Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.” But by Acts 12 the Jewish people would have been delighted to see Peter executed. We don’t share the word of God based on its popularity – but because it is our mission.

The Power of God is Doubted and the Saints are Surprised (vv. 13-17)

13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James[7] and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

When Peter arrived at Mary’s house the followers of Jesus were still praying. They had been up all night long praying for Peter. I don’t know what they were praying about. I haven’t a clue if they were praying for Peter to be comfortable, for the living conditions to be cordial, or for Herod not to kill Peter.

I believe that they were praying for Peter to be spared, released, comfort but when he showed up at the door they didn’t believe the young lady who said, “He’s here!” They ignore the answered prayer when it’s right at their door. They try to rationalize the answered prayer, They said, “You are out of your mind!” They even try to explain awaythe answered prayer by saying, “It is his angel!”[8]

The followers of Jesus were praying, they were even praying earnestly, but they weren’t praying with expectation. When you come to know the desires of God’s heart for your situation (and for our church), ask for Him to move in the situation, and pray as though you know He is listening – and when the answer knocks on the door, answer the door.

Conclusion

The purpose of prayer is to draw us close to the heart of the Father so that our wills, our deepest desires, our passions will be those of the Father and not our own. When we draw close to the heart of the Father then He will be glorified through our lives, our words, and our works done for His glory! Then when we know God’s will and pray accordingly we should expect Him to do great things.

You have been challenged with the 40 Days of Prayer, so how do you bring it about? You begin with prayer.

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[1] Frank Stagg, The Book of Acts, The Early Struggle for an Unhindered Gospel (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1955) 128.

[2] Clifton J. Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970) 76.

[4] J. Jeremias, TDNT, III, pp. 175ff. There were other ancient stories of doors opening and fetters falling off as a story motif. Sudar Singh was thrown into a dry well for execution. FF. Bruce, 236.

[5] F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary, The Book of Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Eerdmans Publishing, 1988) 234.

[6] I. Howard Marshall, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, Acts (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Inter-Varsity Press, 1980), 208.

[7] This is James the brother of Jesus. James the “son of Zebedee” had already been killed by Herod.

[8] The Jewish people believed that people had a guardian angel, and that this angel resembled the person they watched over. (Allen, 77).