April 1 (Easter) 2018 Acts 10.34-43 “New Life Calling” Pastor
Jacqueline Hines
There was a religious
woman who had to do a lot of traveling for her business. Flying made her very
nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her. One time, she was sitting
next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and
smirk and went back to what he was doing.
After a while, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really
believe all that stuff in there do you?"
The woman replied, "Of
course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well,
what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"
She replied, "Oh,
Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in the Bible."
He asked, "Well,
how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?" The woman
said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask
him." "What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the woman.
++
In our Easter bible
readings this morning, we find the most famous disciple of Jesus, besides Judas.
[slide # 1 Judas] His name is Peter. Peter was invited to a city called
Caesarea. [slide
# 2 Peter] He was invited to the home of
Cornelius (a nice Greek name – from Roman society). Cornelius wanted to hear
what Peter had to say about this Jesus who was supposed to have risen from the grave.
[slide # 3 Cornelius
welcoming Peter]
Cornelius was a highly
spiritual man, and he was a military officer. [slide # 4 Cornelius] Of course, the military was also a part of the police
force and they knew all about this Jesus and his followers. [slide# 5 Jesus
surrounded] There were constant calls about him. Jesus was in the news
every week for some controversial issue around money or power. Outstanding
things happened when he showed up. Some felt he was getting too much attention,
drawing it away from those who thought they deserved it more. Finally, they
nailed him to a cross, Roman style. The Romans were known for being sadistic
and cruel. [slide
# 6 Jesus arrested]
It is a blessing that
we as Americans make laws against cruel and unusual punishment? We even support
Humane Societies that advocate for tender, caring treatment of people and animals
and speak against behaviors that cause suffering. [slide # 7 humane society]
Jesus was murdered in a
most cruel and hateful way. Yet, death did not stop him from loving the whole
world and rescuing all who were willing to be saved from their sins. Somehow, a
lot of people still felt his presence and heard his voice. [slide # 8 Jesus and
child]
Some even said they saw
him after he was killed on Golgotha’s hill on Calvary. [slide # 9 Golgotha] A few saw him while they were walking on the road to
Emmaus, not too far from Jerusalem. [slide # 10 road to Emmaus] The 11 disciples saw him come into their underground prayer meeting,
[slide # 11 Jesus
walks in the meeting] as they were hiding from the Chief Priests, who
probably wanted to do to them what they did to Jesus.
All who saw him after
he had risen had no doubt that he was still alive. They began to share what
they witnessed.. [slide
# 12 He’s alive!] The stories spread like wildfire. Death was only the
beginning. It was not the end as some had believed. [slide# 13 he lives]
Jesus’ Spirit seemed to
overflow from the grave, causing earthquakes and shivers in unexpected places. Believers
from everywhere were flooded with a sense of victory. They saw visions, [slide # 14 Jesus rose
] they felt an inexplicable tingling in
their spine, powerful dreams rocked their world, awesome and unimaginable
things happened like being at the right place at the perfect time.
The first century
Christians experienced the same thing modern-day Christians experience today
over 2,000 years later. In the last few weeks, we heard the stories of how we
see the power of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working in our lives. In
every service, we heard a testimony. [slide # 15 testimony]
We started with our
music director who shared how God gave her a new husband and what a blessing he
has been to her along with so many mind-blowing blessings she has received. A
father talked about his recovery from opioids and how at last he has seen the
light, that will guide him to being the best father and husband he can be. A historian
talked about praying to God as conversation during his sister’s illness rather
than simply reciting the prayers he had learned in his faith journey.
A senior citizen shared
her gratitude that she survived a Florida hurricane and returned home to
Pennsylvania with nothing but $2,000. She says God paved a way to get to Bethel
Church who welcomed her with loving and open arms. A fourth generation member
at Bethel, testified to the blessing of joining church the same day as his
paternal grandfather. One of our favorite cooks answered a phone call from a
stranger and saved his life. He was preparing to commit suicide. A member of
SPRC told of feeling God’s supernatural peace and calm when she went through
cancer treatment and answering God’s call to serve on the mission field.
One liturgist talked
about God giving her the love and strength in family matters, especially the
children, and especially, her granddaughter Scarlett who was just baptized. A ten
year old told how she saw God blessing her family and when one of her
classmates saw her praying for God’s help during a math class, she explained
what she was doing, and the classmate started praying also.
A trustee shared a
light bulb moment when a prayer he had prayed for 6 years did not seem to be
answered. Then God revealed to him a not-so-perfect side of himself that would
lead to many answers. Our church decorator blessed us with details about how
God used Bethel in a superb mission to our sister church in Philadelphia.
These are the stories
that keep us together as a family of faith, passing the torch to the next
generation. These are the stories that remind us that Jesus is alive. He lives
within our hearts. We see him everywhere, and the more we work and grow together
in harmony, the more we experience the power of the Holy Spirit working in us
and around us.
Jesus’ name meant
trouble for those who were jealous, but comfort for the believer. [slide # 16 Jesus comforts
man on floor] Peter was invited to come
and tell stories about Jesus, to share evidence that could prove that Jesus was
still speaking to hearts that cared and guiding those who were willing to walk
in the paths of right living. [slide # 17 follow Jesus]
Peter was known around
town as Simon – Bar - Jonah, or Simon “Bar” – [slide # 18 “Bar”…] and “Bar” means “son” as in, Bar Mitzvah – son of the
law. [slide # 19
Bar Mitzvah…] The man we call Peter, Bar
Jonah, is the w “Son of Jonah” [slide # 20 Peter – son of Jonah] (Not the prophet swallowed by the whale, of course.)
Peter was very much a
family man. By trade he was a fisherman. By night he followed Jesus into the
gardens of Gethsemane or a certain olive grove to pray privately, protecting
themselves from the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were sad you see. That’s where
Judas knew to find him to turn him in to be arrested. That’s why Judas brought
lanterns and torches. It was at night.
We call the most famous
disciple, Peter, but his real name in the Greek translation is “Petros.” [slide # 21 “Petros” ] The New Testament was written in first century Greek.
“Why Greek? You say? I thought you’d never ask! Why would it not be written in
Hebrew, using the word “Tsuwr” [slide # 22 Tsuwr =
Tsoor] from
the common language of the ancient Jewish communities? Why was it not written
in Aramaic, a language Jesus spoke from his home region? Everyone knows that the
Aramaic word for “rock” is “Cephas” [slide # 23 Cephas.]
But, the New Testament
wasn’t written in any of the languages with which Jesus was most familiar. It
was written in Greek, the more common language of the ruling government, the Roman
Empire. It was perhaps, especially common among journalists and government
officials.
Language is one of the
most powerful forces in the universe. That is why the language of social media
matters. The language in our homes matters; in our church, language matters. Lobbyists
are at this moment trying to keep words such as “Pepsi” and “Coke” away from
the television screens when children may be watching. They hope it will
discourage them from drinking unhealthy sugary drinks. Language spreads like
wildfire from heart to heart and mind to mind and quickly becomes infused into
our brains and lifestyles for better or for worse.
Words and stories and
testimonies can be like gentle breezes to soothe and comfort, or they can be
like dynamite. God wants to use all of our words for powerful purposes. As a
guest in the home of Cornelius, Peter says in verse 38 that Jesus was anointed
with the Holy Spirit and with “dunamis.”
The Greek “dunamis” is
used 120 times in the New Testament. It means “strength, power, or ability.” [slide # 24 “dunamis”
means “power”] It is the root word of our English words dynamite, dynamo
and dynamic. There is power in the name of Jesus. When we hear the name Amazon,
Google, America, or Bethel, there is a reputation and expectation that comes to
our minds. Peter’s message to those in Cornelius’ home that day was that if we
get to know Jesus, he will guide us to a power that has a dynamism which brings
life to our lives where we need it most and it defeats death.
God’s power is not a
power that makes us 100% perfect or prosperous or pious or pain-free or anything.
The power of Jesus simply makes us a child of the living God, loved and adored
every step of the way. [slide # 25 father’s love] What
can be better than that! Amen. [slide # 26 child
of God]
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