Another Servant Recognizes Peter's Voice

Third Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2015

Acts 12:14

Another Servant Recognizes Peter's Voice

In the name of the Father and of † the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

This could have been Peter's good Friday. There are many parallels with what happened to Peter in Acts 12 and what happened to Jesus before He was crucified. But there are a couple of big differences.

Let's mention the similarities first.

One thing that was the same was that after Jesus died His disciples gathered in a house and shut themselves inside because they were afraid. This happened again when James was murdered by King Herod and had arrested Peter, too. Jesus' followers were afraid.

Another thing that was the same both times was a servant girl heard Peter's voice and recognized it. While Jesus was on trial, Peter's voice gave him away as one of Jesus' followers. Tragically, Peter denied knowing Jesus at all, just as Jesus had said He would. Later, when Peter was arrested himself a few years later and then was set free, he went to house of his fellow believers and knocked on the locked door. A servant girl named Rhoda heard Peter's voice and recognized him. And this time it was a happy recognition; His words weren't important and weren't recorded, but the fact that he was talking and breathing outside her door was a miracle from the Lord!

Something else was the timing. Jesus and Peter both were arrested during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the time of the Passover. Their enemies planned to execute them after the Passover. It would be hard to imagine that Peter wasn't mulling over that coincidence as he sat in his prison cell.

Then there were the angels. They came to help Peter and Jesus during their time of suffering. In Gethsemane before Jesus was arrested the Father sent one of His angels to strengthen Him, as His answer to Jesus' request:

"Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. (Luke 22:42-43)

And right here is where the similarities end, and the wonderful differences begin. The angel was sent and strengthened Jesus to prepare Him for death; on the other hand, an angel was sent to spare Peter from death. This reversal of events was so stunning that even Peter thought he was dreaming his rescue.

Peter came to himself and [he] said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating." (Acts 12:11)

The differences in these events demonstrates God's mercy on us. He takes people who have been humbled by their sin, their love of themselves, and makes them whole in His blood. Peter's love of himself is found out by the words of a nameless servant girl; he is brought to the brink of death by her simple questions and accusations.

So often we experience the same humbling that Peter went through. A child notices our inconsistency in our words and deeds; someone you hired pointed out that your big idea had a big hole in it. We are all big and important to someone and so often those who are small in our life show us our hypocrisy and sin.

Don't despair. Be like Peter in this way also. After the rooster crowed and woke Peter up from his lies about how he didn't know Jesus, Peter was correctly ashamed. But even then on the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter's rescue wasn't his own doing; Jesus brought Peter back from the brink of death with His divine words, "Peace be with you," on the night of His resurrection.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:36-45)

He opened their minds not with some special knowledge that has been lost to us through the centuries. He isn't giving them a top secret briefing for apostles' eyes only. He told them what you have already been taught: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Scriptures; He is the one who saves you by His death and blood. And now He gives you His blood today to forgive you from all your shame and humiliation. He brings you back from the brink of death with His life-giving body. And now because of His mercy not only will the great and small here on earth recognize your voice, but He does too, now and forever.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. Alleluia! Amen!