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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Saturday, April 27, 2019
Today's Passage : Today's Passage:God Releases Peter from Prison [2] Bible Verse : Acts 12:11-19 "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.” 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. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 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. 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!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 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 and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there." Message:
In the previous verses, Peter was arrested by Herod (Agrippa), but an angel led him out of prison and out of the city. Peter was stunned until he went through the city gate and walked a while; here, he finally regains his senses and realizes what has happened.
So we find ourselves at the house of Mary, mother of John also known as Mark. Just what we needed — another woman named Mary and another man named John and/or Mark! This man (whom we will call “John Mark”) is not fully identified in the Bible, but scholars have long believed that he is Mark the Evangelist.
Ask and it shall be given unto you
In a nice little symbolic scene, Peter knocks on the door of the house. Although the servant recognizes him, nobody believes her, and they do not want to let him in. It takes the servant—the lowliest member of the household—to convince them. The drama parallels the life and teaching of Christ in several ways, e.g. Luke 12:35-40.
But Peter’s troubles, and those of the other believers, are growing. While the high priests of the Sanhedrin could be hypocrites and would stoop to killing heretics, they were men of God and lived (at least to some degree) under the Law of Moses. However misguided, the only murders they have committed were Jesus himself and Stephen, on grounds of heresy and blasphemy. They have, however, let Peter and John go free twice, despite the disciples’ teaching Christ’s divinity right on a porch of the temple. And even though Stephen was stoned in a fit of temper, he was given a trial first.
Herod the Great
Herod is another matter. Here is a truly evil man who will murder at the least provocation, an Eastern potentate who, unlike the Sanhedrin, has no regard for human life at all. Remember his grandfather, Herod the Great, who murdered hundreds of innocent babies simply because he feared that one of them would become “king.” (Matthew 2) And his father, Herod Antipas, beheaded John the Baptist for no reason except that his stepdaughter danced for him. Today’s passage gives us a taste of Herod’s character by recounting the casual murder of his guards.
The apostles and other disciples of Jesus now face a whole new level of danger. They have appeared on Herod’s radar. He wants to appease the Sanhedrin, because of their political clout. Luckily, the followers of Christ are not a great danger to him personally, so he does not go on a rampage against them. If he finds them, however, will not have qualms about killing them on the spot, with no more conscience than swatting a fly.
As surely as night follows day, the increasing numbers and influence of Christ’s followers brings fear of political power and opposition, and therefore, persecution.
Meditation : Prayer : God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make me and all who confess your holy name people of this light. Make me faithful to your Word that I may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord.........Amen |
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