Ananias, praying man and ordinary guy

Ananias prayed often. This secret time with the Father guided all he did and was the only way he could carry the load he felt for the new church in Damascus. Great numbers of converts to the faith were joining believers who had come fleeing persecution in Jerusalem. It was an exciting time, seeing people set free from their sin and sickness, seeing relationships healed, seeing the Kingdom of God come. Some days Ananias could hardly believe he was privileged to be part of it.

But it was also a time of grave danger. The new faith had enemies who were serious about stopping the spread of this “rumor,” this “legend,” that the long-awaited Messiah had come at last. Not content with just killing Jesus, religious leaders were now after everyone who believed in him, both Jews and Gentiles.

Prayer was a lifeline. One day as this godly man came before his God, he felt more than the usual urgency. “What is it, Lord?” he asked and tried to quiet his own thoughts to listen.

Ananias felt himself slipping into a dream state as a vision unfolded. God called his name. He heard it.

“Here I am, Lord!”

“Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Ananias’ heartbeat sped up.

“Lord,” he answered, “We know of this Saul of Tarsus. I have heard reports of the evil he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And we hear he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

Ananias’ heart was pounding now. Surely there was some mistake.

But the Lord said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Someone outside his room sneezed and Ananias was back in the present moment, the material world. The voice of the Lord was silent and his own thoughts were shouting. Saul of Tarsus here already! On Straight Street! Praying. And blind. Hadn’t the Lord said he was blind? Yes, he was sure of it. What did it mean? Would answering this call be a death warrant?

He wrestled with his thoughts, but in the end Ananias knew he would obey. As he walked toward Straight Street, he recited.

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all peoples see his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols—worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, LORD.
For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

As he walked toward this divine encounter, the Holy Spirit strengthened Ananias in purpose. What happened to him did not matter. He was only a servant, a slave of Christ. If God chose to release him into the hands of this killer, so be it. The Kingdom must advance. He got to be part of it!

The Spirit had also shown Ananias more details of Saul’s experience on the road: the flash of light, the vision of Jesus. By the time he reached Straight Street, Ananias did not for a second doubt that he was in the right place at the right time, and that indeed he was about to meet the infamous Saul of Tarsus.

“Is there a man named Saul here?” he asked at the door of the roomy house which often hosted guests.

“Yes, yes,” said Judas. “He came several days ago. How did you know? The man has barely spoken and not eaten a bite.” Judas led Ananias to a back room where a lifeless looking young man sat head in hands.

This was the terrible persecutor? The room was quiet as Ananias approached. Suddenly he was filled with compassion for this lost soul who had so much misplaced devotion to God. “Brother Saul,” he said gently, putting his weathered hands on the shoulders of the young scholar, “the Lord—-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

The face turned upward. “Yes,” said Saul. “He told me you would come.”

Ananias prayed, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” and immediately Saul’s eyes were opened, his vision restored.

Ananias prophesied, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth. For you will be a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard. Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’

They found water. Saul was baptized that day. After taking some food, he regained his strength. And Ananias said, “Thank you, Lord.”

A Time to Fast and a Time to Eat

~Acts 9.9, 17-19 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. . . . . Then Ananias went to the house . . . something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Love this story. About food, we see here again that there is a time--for spiritual purposes--not to eat, and a time to eat again. Although over-eating can deprive us of health and energy, eating properly gives us strength.

Not everyone is called to be a food monitor.

~Acts 6.1-5

In those days ... the Hellenistic Jews . . . complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
This proposal pleased the whole group.

~Acts 21.8

The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food.

A couple of food points can be observed here.

Believers shared food in a daily distribution.

And not everyone is called to be a food monitor; specific people were chosen for this. Even so, Philip, one of the seven chosen for this physical work, later is known for his evangelism as well.

Eating together is a valuable part believers' lives.

~Acts 2.42-43, 46-47 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. . . . . They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

For all the wealth it contains, the Bible is not a big book, and the New Testament only about a quarter of the whole. Therefore, every detail carries weight and repetition carries more weight. Twice in this short passage Luke says that the first believers in Christ ate together. He wants readers to hear this. Eating together is part of the life of the church, of the fellowship of believers. We need to eat; we eat together. Christianity is not a solitary pursuit.

Thanksgiving Secret

My brother-in-law Charles came to Thanksgiving dinner asking if I was serving tofu turkey. Certainly not! I did however slip something by my guests at TG. Steve dislikes celery, which I think adds so much to certain dishes, turkey dressing being one. He said since I had put celery in the dressing anyway, that I should put the turkey giblets in it as well. We always cook up the giblets--you know, the gizzard, liver, and heart--to make broth for the gravy. I accepted the challenge, chopped them really fine, and added to the dressing. I was prepared to hear complaints as soon as the liver was tasted, but all I got were compliments. Gotta say, it was the best dressing I've ever made. Shhhh.

Sharing Meals

~Acts 2.42, 46-47 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . . . . They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Eating together is part of the Christian life.

Poison Protection?

~Mark 16.15, 17-18 Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. . . . . And these signs will accompany those who believe: . . . when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all. . . .”

A footnote says that earliest manuscripts do not include this verse, and I wouldn't presume on God's mercy by testing it anyway. Still--Wow!--what a remarkable indicator of God's favor.

The Fisherman and the Master, part 2

~John 21.1-19

"Don't think about it. You can't change the past. You can't change what happened. You're a big-mouth boasting idiot with no more guts than the fish you clean, a pathetic excuse of a friend who bails out when the things get tough. You're a worse traitor than Judas. At least Judas had the balls to face Jesus and betray him outright." The more Peter's thoughts accused him the harder he worked. Even though the air was sweet and cool as dawn approached, sweat poured down his bare back.

It had been his idea to come to the lake. After all, they were just sitting around wondering when and how the Lord would appear to them again, wondering if he would appear again. While words could barely express the amazement and joy they had felt at seeing Jesus alive, still, when left to themselves, they had no idea what to do next. Often it had been Peter who had the ideas. But since that night of the arrest, he was so immersed in his own failure he could barely function. And unlike the others, his relief and joy at seeing Jesus was tempered with shame.

Abruptly he had ceased pacing the room and announced, "I'm going fishing."

Although it was late in the night, most of them jumped to their feet too. Work was better than just waiting to see what came next. But it had been pointless work, as it turned out. All night they'd caught nothing.

None of his companions dared say anything to Peter as he worked furiously, rowing to re-position the boat, sharpening their fishing knives, anything to stay busy. Peter's restless activity stood in sharp contrast to the quiet of the water and the other men. The sails hung as empty as the nets and as their hopes for a catch.

Then, just before dawn broke, someone hailed them from beside a fire on the shore. "Young men! Have you caught anything?"

"Nothing," Thomas yelled.

The man on the beach called back, "Throw out your net on the right side of the boat and see what happens."

Peter paused, wiped an arm across his forhead and reached for a drink of water. The rest of them, happy for distraction, humored the odd request and threw the net over. Within minutes there were fish, not just a few fish, but as many as the net could hold. Suddenly, Peter's full attention was riveted on the man on the shore.

"It's the Lord," said John, voicing the thought of all.

Without hesitation, without deliberation, Peter grabbed his tunic, threw it over his head and plunged into the sea, swimming for land with all his might. Only as his feet touched bottom and he walked up dripping from the cold, shallow water did he realize that he had nothing to say to his one-time Master and friend. It was the third time he'd seen Jesus since the resurrection. The other times had been in a room with everyone there, James, John, Andrew, all of them. Jesus had paid Peter no special attention. Why should he? Peter felt his own failure deeply, but he did not know how to express the anguish of his regret. He had betrayed the Lord. That was an irrefutable fact of history. Still, he was drawn to Jesus.

Wet and cold Peter went to the fire and stooped without a word to warm himself. As he did, he was hit with a horrible deja vu: dawn breaking, Peter shivering, warm fire, Jesus nearby. Unbidden, the scene replayed in his mind. The servant girl stares and accuses him, "He's one of them!" Peter denies it. "I don't know him!" Three times someone had suggested he was a follower of Jesus, and three times he had denied it—once with an oath. How could he have lost his nerve, his commitment, so completely? And then Jesus had turned to him just as the rooster crowed. It had happened exactly as the Lord, who knew him so well, had predicted, and just as Peter, who apparently knew himself so little, had poo-foo'd as impossible. Well, he knew better now. And what he saw of himself was weak and ugly.

Peter miserably rubbed his hands and stared into the fire as he remembered these words of the Lord: “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." Denied before Yahweh. And deservedly so. There was no more reason to live or to die. Peter shuddered, not entirely from the cold.

The boat had not been far from land, so the others approached within minutes, towing the laden net of fish. Jesus was tending some bread on the fire, getting ready for breakfast. "Bring some of your fish," he said. Mechanically, Peter rose and dragged the net in as the others gathered eagerly around the Master. Yes, they too had been afraid. They had even run. But they had not so blatantly denied him. They could interact with him now without shame.

Soon fish crackled on the coals and everyone but Peter enjoyed the catch and the bread that Jesus had prepared.

Afterwards, as the sun climbed, Peter walked away from the circle of fellowship where he felt an outsider. But Jesus followed. For the first time since the terrible event, the Lord spoke to Peter directly, using his formal name. "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others?"

There had been a time, it seemed long ago, when Peter was sure he loved the Lord more than any of the others. "Yes, Lord," he answered without conviction. "You know I love you."

"Then feed my lambs."

What did that mean? Before Peter could decide, Jesus asked again, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

"Yes, Lord. You know I love you."

"Take care of my sheep."

Peter's misery increased. Obviously the Lord saw right through him and the profound limits of the meager, piddling love which was all he had to give.

Jesus stopped walking, stepped in front and put his hands on Peter's shoulders to look into his face, but Peter could only study his sandy feet. "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Finally, Peter looks up and meets Jesus’ eyes. Tears gather. "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you."

"Feed . . . my . . . sheep."

Feed my sheep. At last Peter is able to hear. It’s a commission. Even he, with all of his weakness and self-loathing, is not rejected. He is restored! The Lord will still use him. Can it be?

Jesus answers the question in Peter's eyes. "I tell you the truth, when you were young you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” These sobering words prophesied death. Peter understood. He was reinstated into the Kingdom he thought had been lost to him forever; this time he would be faithful until death. Jesus knew. Jesus could see it. Peter would still get an opportunity to bring glory to God. Relief and joy washed over him.

"Follow me," said Jesus. And Peter did.

In the days following, Peter and all the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, so that they no longer sat wondering what to do. They had a broken world to reach with the message of Jesus' good news. On that Pentecost it is Peter who tells the people, "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” And when the people hear this and are cut to the heart and ask what they should do, it is Peter who answers with confidence from his own rejection and restoration, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

The Risen Lord Eats

~Luke 24.30-31 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

I love the Emmaus Road story. Love it. We learn nothing new about food here, but it's a beautiful picture of the risen Lord taking bread, giving thanks for it, breaking the loaf and sharing it. I do wonder why it was the guest who did this and not the host.

~Luke 24.39-43 "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.

~Mark 16.14 says he appeared to the disciples as they were eating.

Remember the little girl Jesus raised from the dead? The first thing he said to her parents was to get her something to eat. Here in his first recorded post-resurrection appearance to his disciples, Jesus also asks for food. Was he really hungry or was he just reassuring them again with the reality of his physical presence?