Jump Start # 1581

Acts 12:4 “When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.”

  Our passage today comes from one of the dark times for the early church. Things up to this point were excelling. The word was spreading and the little band of followers were multiplying by the thousands. It was just as Jesus said it would be. That small little mustard seed had become the largest tree in the garden. The Jews were grumbling about things. Herod, wanting to quiet the Jews down and not wanting more Roman presence in his region, decided to gather up some of these believers. His plans were to mistreat them. Herod started with the leaders. The apostle James was assassinated with a sword. This thrilled the Jews.

Herod then ordered Peter arrested. Peter seemed to be the main leader of this group. James was dead. And now, Peter was in prison. Taking no chances, Herod placed sixteen soldiers to guard Peter. He was even chained to some of the guards. As soon as the Jewish feast was over, Peter would be brought out before the people. His fate seemed sealed. What would happen to this group if Peter was executed? It looked like the wheels were coming off the kingdom.

The very night in which Herod planned to bring Peter out, an angel appeared, doors were opened and chains came off. Peter escaped through the miraculous help of God.

There is an expression from our verse that we need to consider. First, in the King James Version, the word “Easter” is used instead of Passover. There is a difference. The Jews do not celebrate Easter. Easter as a “religious holiday,” as it is today, was not known back then. Poor choice of words. Anglican influences of James, the King of England, led to that.

Herod was intending after the Passover to bring Peter out. Intentions. Plans. Goals. We all have them. After high school, the question is asked, “What’s next?” There are plans, goals, intentions. After the retirement party, “What’s next?” There are plans, goals, intentions.

Have you ever considered what your intentions are after church services? I do not mean, where do you want to go to eat. That’s the common thought. Services have ended. You have worshipped God. You have prayed, sang and heard God’s word preached. Now what?

Some intend on changing because of the service. Something was said. A point was made. A passage was read. It struck a cord with a good and honest heart. Now, the mind and the heart are working together. It may have been a dad sitting in the audience that day. He hears a lesson about raising children to know the Lord. He realizes that he’s been spending too much time at the office and not at home. He sees that he has not been doing his part. The lesson moves him. He intends to make adjustments and do better.

It may have been a young couple sitting in the audience that day. The preacher talked about purity and holiness. Be holy as Jesus is holy. The couple feel guilty. They realize that they have allowed their affection to go unchecked and gotten too close to sin. The lesson hits them. They intend to spend less time alone and be around others more. They intend to work more on being pure in thought.

It may have been someone who has held on tight to his money. He hears a lesson about the generous God. He sees the good that the congregation is doing. He understands that the church needs givers. He intends to give more.

Intentions. Do you see how it works? But for some, it’s the opposite.

Some will sit through a lesson with no intention of changing. They will leave as they came in. The lesson sails right past them. They have not made personal application. They have allowed their mind to wander as services went on. They fully expected not to be changed and they weren’t. That is the intentions of some.

Others, like Herod, are waiting for something to happen. They are intending to do something after school. Or, it may be after they move out of the apartment. Or, it may be after the baby is born. Or, it may be after the kids have moved out. They have intentions, but not right now. It’s a later on thing. They put things on hold, until a better time. The problem is, there is never a better time. There is always a reason to delay things. There is always sacrifices that will have to be made. There is always something. Always. This is where faith and commitment to God must come first. Take up that cross and follow Me, is what Jesus said. That cross was heavy and rough for Jesus. It may be hard for us.

Intentions. There is a great line from the movie Apollo 13, when it is revealed that the astronauts were not going to make it to the moon. Tom Hanks says, “Gentlemen, what are your intentions?” He replied, “I want to go home.” And, so it is for us. We want to go home. Not to our houses, but to Heaven.

What are your intentions to get there? What must be done for this to come about? What’s the plan?

Intending afterwards—God had other plans for Peter. God wouldn’t let Herod’s plans come about. God had intentions! He always does!

Roger