Three Sheets in the Wind

Acts 11:1-18 RSV

Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” But Peter began and explained to them in order: “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me. Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.”

Three Sheets in the Wind

Three times... three seems to be a common number in the Bible. And what did God say? What God makes clean is clean... even if it was once unclean. And that ain't common... not God's words but mine as I read it. And how did the unclean become cleansed. It wasn't due to what the unclean did... hey! wait a minute... that's me! I'm an Unclean Gentile animal of sorts. I didn't make myself clean. Only God can cleanse the unclean. And that is not common!

Then the Holy Spirit drops by. Maybe that the Wind in the Three Sheets. But don't take what I have to say here lightly. It's not in jest even though I'm making it to be. Because in the end... myself, perhaps you also and the Gentiles to which "God has granted repentance unto life."  are gathered together in that sheet dropped to this earth and taken back into heaven to be with God. And that IS a big deal. I am acceptable to God not because of me but because of God. I am cleansed in the waters of my baptism through the Holy Spirit and claimed by God. Claimed, even though I come unclean. For it is through God that I am cleansed. "If then God gave the same gift to them (me... you) as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"

That believing in Jesus. As I recall my baptism... how can I help to not respond in belief?

Thanks be to God!

Prayer

Lord... you show me in your life and your ways how to believe. How can this common man be acceptable? Only through you. I give you all thanks and praise for what you have done for me and all humanity... today... tomorrow... and forever.

Amen

Father... "Give me to Jesus!"

 John 10:22-30

22 It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Jesus... walking in the Temple and under cover. It's winter after all and the Jews are commemorating the purification of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus. It's the 25th of Chislev... our November/December time frame. I think maybe Jesus had something to say as he walked in the temple. But Jesus was met by some Jewish hecklers who wanted it plain and clear from Jesus, "Are you the Christ, Jesus? Huh?" "Come on and tell it plain to us!" 

But Jesus turns it all on them to an issue of believing. Earlier in the book of John in chapter 5... Jesus was at another festival and it was the Sabbath. Jesus approaches a man who had been sick for some time and Jesus asks the man if he wants to be made well. Jesus tells  the man to get up... the man gets up and is well. The man believed in Jesus and he the man goes on to tell others that he was healed by Jesus. He heard the voice of Jesus and followed what Jesus told him to do.

Well... this started a ruckus with the Jews... it was the Sabbath and Jesus told the man to pick up his mat and go... it's against the law to pick up his mat on a Sabbath... but... but... when I believed in Jesus and did what he told me to do... look! I'm healed!

Jesus declares the the Jews then that the Father bears witness to the Son. The Father sent the Son. Believe! 

And so now, in this passage the Jews want it plain and clear. Are you the Christ? Tell us. 

And just as with the sick man, Jesus' reflects upon his works. It's Jesus works that saved the man and Jesus' works that save us as well. If you don't believe... then you aren't listening.

Jesus sheep know his voice... they believe in Jesus as the Messiah and they follow him. Just like the man with the mat on that Sabbath.

You see... God gives and God gives abundantly. And God gives you, me and all of us to Jesus. Will you believe in Jesus as the Messiah?

If so... listen to the Shepherd... take up your mat... believe... and follow the Shepherd's voice. 

How I love how God keeps it all so simple... dumb sheep that I am.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer

My Shepherd... thanks and praise to you for taking me in to yourself. Thanks and praise to you for calling my name. Thanks and praise to you for covering me in my weakness, my illness, my sinfulness to give me a rest in green pastures beside still waters. For it's your voice that calls, you know me. I believe in your work of love, your strength of will, your salvation that your have poured abundant living water into, onto and all over me in my life with you. You are the Lamb at the center of it all. As I listen to your voice, lead me today... tomorrow... and forever with you by my side to eternal life in you.

Amen.