Written by Paul Lane
John Dezso Ratzenberger, who played Cliff on the TV Show Cheers. When given the Final Jeopardy clue, “Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz and Lucille LeSueur” gives the question, “Who are three people who’ve never been in my kitchen?”
The Word
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:34-43 (ESV)
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 (ESV)
Reflection
The title of today’s passage is “Gentiles Hear the Good News.” And that’s a good name, but we should understand that when it says “gentiles,” it means everyone who is not a Jew. So, you could say the title is “People who are not Jews Hear the Good News.” This is an interesting term because it is a complete description of humanity. All of humanity can be divided into Jews and non-Jews. Similarly, all of humanity can be divided into people who have been in my kitchen and people who have not been in my kitchen.
gentile /jĕn′tīl″/
noun
- A person who is not Jewish.
- A pagan or heathen.
- A non-Mormon.
- …
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
When Jesus tells Peter “feed my sheep”, I’m sure Peter was focused on the crowds of people who had followed Jesus, most of them being Jewish. After all, all of the disciples were Jewish. They only traveled in Jewish areas, and large portions of Jesus’ ministry was focused on correcting the Jewish leaders. Yes, Jesus used a Samaritan in one of his lessons, there was a Samaritan woman that he had talked to, and Jesus had put Rome in its place by pointing out that God had a larger claim on a man than did Ceasar. But all of that was in the context of the Jewish laws, traditions, and teachings. Why would anyone else be considered one of the “sheep” that Jesus was talking about?
It is because Jesus did not come to just correct a few Jewish teachers that did not have the lesson quite right; He came to fix a problem much more deeply intrenched in our lives and something that was broken at the start. Jesus covers your sin, but he also heals your desire to sin. It is a healing of your nature.
Think of a ship that was in water so rough that the main line of the ship was bent, so it had a tendency to naturally turn to the left. The ship could still function, but to go anywhere the pilot would always have to put in a hefty amount of right rudder to keep it going straight. Yes, it could sail, but not as efficiently as before. To fix this problem, the ship would have to be put in drydock, unloaded, and have much equipment taken off, while it was reheated, rewelded, and hammered on. The amount of rework needed would depend on how deeply the keel had been bent. For each of us, we are all drastic cases. There is no one who only needs a little work.
But we should note that Peter said, “every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” So, the qualification for this kind of deep repair is fairly simple. You must fear the Lord and do right. And later he says, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” So, we must also believe in Him to receive forgiveness and to be restored.
Application
I know that Christian faith can feel like an easy out. All you have to do is believe and everything is fixed. I would say that that is true-ish. Yes, you must believe to have your sins forgiven, but belief is not always that easy. C. S. Lewis said that when I command my arm to move, it moves. But when I command my mind to move I experience resistance. Faith can be like that too. You can not just tell yourself that you believe something. True faith only comes when you actually believe something. God will give you a gift of faith, which is like a starter kit, but God is also looking for you to experience him, so that you can be sure of what you believe in.
We are told, that if we act as if we have faith, faith will be given to us. What is one simple act of faith that you could take this week, that would give space for God to build upon? Offer to pray for someone? Give an unexpected gift? Invite someone you don’t usually talk to, to a social event? Let someone in the lane in front of you on the highway? You never know what the Lord could do with it.
Prayer
Dear Lord, the time is now for those who love You to follow You with fear and obedience. I recognize that I have not always been willing to be counted on one side or the other. I do pause, delay, and hold back at times. I am not as brave as I wish to be. Give me the strength to press ahead in Your calling, and in my obedience to Your Word. I know that it is good, and that it is good for me. Add to my faith as I step into Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
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