David Bahn – Reflections

Click here for an audio version of this blog post.

Acts 12:11-17

Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. ¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

Peter isn’t the only one needing to be awakened (see yesterday’s post). He was in a stupor, dazed, and confused about what had been happening to him. But you’ve gotta love Rhoda. She’s scattered and ditzy with joy. So much so she leaves Peter at the door when he shows up, having been released from prison. But she’s at least aware that Peter was at the door. She left him there, but she knew it was him.

You can’t say as much for the rest of the disciples on this occasion. Let’s imagine the conversation.

Peter’s at the door!
No way. It can’t be him. He’s in prison.
Yes, way. He’s at the door. I heard his voice. It’s him.
You’re crazy. It must be his angel.
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Peter. P.E.T.E.R. Let me in.
Then they let him in.

This is a humorous passage of Scripture.

Peter left outside having been released from prison, now vulnerable to being recognized and dragged back.
Rhoda ditzy with joy running back to tell the others, leaving him there.
The brothers and sisters at Mary’s house praying for Peter, and dismissing God’s answer to their prayers.
Peter finally getting everyone to realize it’s him, and telling them of his miraculous escape.
Then he leaves.
There and gone.

The humor is two-fold. Rhoda’s ditziness for starters. But she’s only the warm up act. The real comedy (dark comedy, sadly) is the disbelief of those who had been praying for Peter. He’s there. They’ve been praying for him and his release. And they don’t see it. Sadly funny.

He who sits in the heaven laughs (Psalm 2:4). It’s not a compliment. I usually use that verse when I play golf. God is watching, and he’s surely laughing at my poor game. But if God is laughing now, it is a sad laugh. Not derision, but sadness that we expect too little from God. C.S. Lewis comes to mind:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

Whether it’s too little faith, too small expectations, or too many distractions, we all need to awaken to God’s goodness, power, and faithfulness, and see how he answers our prayers in ways we would never see if we’re not looking.

All this (Peter’s miraculous escape, et. al.)  is happening so that more people will hear the message of Jesus and receive the gift of eternal salvation. Peter will go on to other places, telling other people, and seeing other miracles – all in the mission of God. Centered in Jesus. Anchored in hope. Empowered by the Holy Spirit. Promised by God. Let’s stay awake and see what God is doing.