Series: Advancing
Message: Easter in Acts
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Reflection: Japhet De Oliveira
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Purpose: Jason Calvert
Editor: Becky De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.
Read: Acts 12:1-18 in the English Standard Version (ESV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: I am not really sure why so many characters in the Bible have the same names. I can only think that the deep traditional belief in legacy is passed on through the naming of a child. This meant that parents would place their hope of salvation in their children’s names, resulting in many characters with repeated names. Acts 1:3 refers to a James who was reported as having been killed. The James mentioned was the James of “James and John”—the young brothers called the Sons of Thunder. James’s brother John was the youngest disciple who also wrote the Gospel of John, the letters of John, and the book of Revelation. He was the last apostle to die. James, however, was the first apostle to die a martyr’s death. The disciples did not replace him as they had done before (in the case of Judas). Could it be that this was because the advancing of the Kingdom of God was no longer left in the hands of just the twelve disciples? Could it be that Easter is about Jesus saving not just one person, not just one community, not just one church, not just one country, not just one planet—but the universe? Could it be that the picture is bigger than you or me or any one individual? Frank Viola in his book The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, shares that:
Eusebius (A.D. 320) preserves the tradition that the guard who watched James in prison was so impressed with his witness that he professed himself a Christian and was beheaded along with him. (p. 69)
It was 10 years from resurrection morning. I wonder if every time Passover came around, Peter remembered how he had denied Jesus that night and how Jesus forgave him. I wonder if, when James and others were killed, Peter (captured during the Easter celebration) sang songs because, like Paul, he felt it was his honor to stand for the name of Jesus. I wonder if Peter and Paul had more in common than we generally suspect. Paul (originally Saul) also knew what it was to deny Jesus and to be saved. Acts 11:29 explains that the members of the early Church were all brothers and sisters together. The Gospel unified them. In Jesus, we can handle whatever is thrown our way. The story of Easter also includes the truth that death will not prevail. For those of us who have lost a loved one and understand this pain every day, Jesus promises His soon return will restore the world and death will never occur again.
Recalibrate: What does the promise of the resurrection morning mean to you?
Respond: Pray for those who have yet to know the wonderful hope of Jesus’ soon return.
Research: Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
Japhet De Oliveira is senior pastor of Boulder Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado.
When our babies cry and we cannot comfort them or take away their pain, our hearts break. We wish we could comfort them and cure what is causing them so much pain. Jesus earnestly wants to be our comfort and cure for what causes us pain too.
While Peter was in prison, the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Earnestly means "with all your heart". Make a list of people that you can earnestly pray for. Pray for God to make a way to surprise them with good things in their world.
When was the last time you knew you were totally busted? Pulled over by police? Caught by parent, teacher, adult, friend, or random stranger doing something you didn’t want to be seen doing? Peter would understand. Read Acts 12:5-12. It’s so intense! First, an angel—a supernatural being—shows up right in front of Peter and he keeps sleeping! This brother is so knocked out that the angel actually has to hit him to wake him up! How surprised do you think Peter was to be hit awake by a supernatural being? Then those chains that shackled him just fell off! And then Peter and the angel walked past entire gangs of soldiers and locked gates magically opened for them. Check it out, this whole thing is so crazy! While Peter was in this dark awful place, the Bible specifically says people were praying for him. Yes—there is power in prayer! Surprised? Who’s praying for you? Who are you praying for? Is it possible a crazy-powerful supernatural experience is waiting to happen?