Psalm 93, 98; Jonah 2:1-9; Acts 2:14,22-32; John 14:1-14
Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish is truly a prayer of faith. He is proclaiming God’s deliverance while still in the fish! Jonah has great faith in God and knows the Lord’s character well but he doesn’t truly love the Lord in many ways. For some reason this incredible act of disobedience still doesn’t humble the prophet in any shape, form or fashion. He continues to believe in God’s providence and His concern for him in spite of his disobedience. He has, however, received great mercy already in this story. He ran from the Lord, was thrown overboard and rather than being killed is taken into this fish where he has now survived for a time and is able to write poetic prayer. He has to know at this point that God has indeed preserved his life and therefore is likely to deliver him. The final proclamation, “Salvation belongs to the Lord” is indeed great theology but Jonah also believes that the Lord has more or less the same prejudices and attitudes Jonah does. This sign, however, the sign of Jonah delivered from the belly of the fish after three days, is the sign Jesus said would be given of Him.
Jesus speaks of going to the Father and preparing a place that He might come back for them and they are utterly confused. Thomas doesn’t know the way that Jesus is talking about, the way to the Father and Philip just wants to see the Father and that will be enough. Jesus’ frustration shows here that they either don’t understand or don’t yet believe. The most powerful words Jesus speaks are, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Can it be any more straightforward and simple than that? There is but one way of salvation and that is Jesus. We can’t pick and choose from among different options. If we doubt His words here then we can skip ahead to Revelation 5 and see that Jesus alone was able to take the scroll and open it.
Peter is clearly on top of his game here in this sermon explaining all that had happened. Is this theological reflection, Jesus’ teaching in the forty days He was with them after the resurrection, or the Holy Spirit giving forth in the moment? It could be all the above as Peter clearly couldn’t have gone to pray with the others this day expecting what happened on the day of Pentecost and that he would be called upon to preach to a great crowd of non-believers drawn by the signs of that day. Peter has come to believe that all that happened was predestined to happen, according to God’s plan. He is able to find this passage from the Psalms to prove that David saw in advance what God was going to do. It is incredible theology for a man who had no rabbinic training but He did have Jesus as a teacher and the Holy Spirit as a guide. So do we.
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!
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