Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Lift High the Cross"
Today's Bible Reading
Acts 11:1-18 Peter Explains His Actions
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.'
This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.
These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?"
When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
Reflection
Have you ever been called to account for something that you have done or said? Maybe at work or school or in a group of friends. It can be a very uncomfortable feeling having to justify your actions, even if you think you are in the right.
That’s the situation Peter finds himself in with the Jerusalem church. But before we look into this I will give a little historical context.
At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus instructs His disciple to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” [Matt. 28:18-20]. A lot of this is what the book of Acts is about – how they spread out far and wide sharing the good news of the Gospel and building up the early church.
But who were they inviting to join this church of the new Jewish Messiah?
Peter and the others were all Jews, so it was only natural that they would want to convert their Jewish neighbours to become Christians, or to put it another way, to become Christian Jews. Jews also believed that as part of their covenant with God they must be circumcised, hence the reference in verse 1 to ‘circumcised believers’. The practice of circumcising men as a mark of being God’s chosen people goes all the way back to the time of Abraham. [Genesis 17:10-14].
All other people who were not believers in the God of Abraham were called Gentiles - no matter what or who they believed in or where they came from. Moreover, because they were not considered to be Children of God descended from Abraham, they were considered unclean.
By the time Peter visits Cornelius, a Roman centurion, (and therefore a Gentile), the disciples have been growing the church significantly for more than 7 years. But all the converts were previously Jews.
That is why, when the elders of the church in Jerusalem learn that Peter has not only been to the house of a gentile but also shared a meal with them – the are outraged. Especially so because Peter was probably the strongest preacher and evangelist in the name of Jesus who had brought thousands of people to the new church. He had also been empowered by God to work miracles in the name of Jesus curing the sick. How could he possibly associate and what’s more, eat food and socialise with unclean people?
Peter finds himself being dressed down and held accountable for his terrible behaviour. As a result Peter has to stand his ground and tell them how it is. Hey guys, this was not my idea, it was God’s. It was God who sent me repeated visions and told me to go and visit the Gentiles and eat with them.
What’s more, the Holy Spirit gave the same gift to them as was given to us all on the day of Pentecost. God has made everything He has created clean and it is not for us to challenge His way. Peter challenged the elders and said – who am I to stand in the God’s way? God has made it clear that from now on, everyone who is willing to believe in Jesus will be offered the gift of the Holy Spirit and may be baptised in the name of the Spirit.
This was indeed a totally momentous revelation. The Jews are no longer the only chosen people of God. God is at work amongst the Gentiles just as much as with the Jews. Jesus offers salvation to everyone. They were learning what the salvation of Jesus was truly about. Not surprisingly they were stunned into silence and as the message sank in they became jubilant, and glorified God who offers repentance to the whole world.
They were beginning to realise that the covenant through Jesus was much more powerful than the covenant through the ancient Jewish laws.
I leave you with one last thought. Sometimes, no matter how good we try to be and how much of God’s work we do – we will still be criticised. But that’s Ok because Peter has been in that place too.
Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
We thank you that we are all included
in your promise of salvation through repentance.
Let us all praise you for your grace and all inclusive love for everyone.
