Acts 10:34-38 Sermon

The First Sunday after the Epiphany

Shepherd of the Hills Ev. Lutheran Church (WELS)

God Doesn’t Play Favorites

Acts 10:34-38

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (NIV)

You know that about the only time that we don’t mind if others play favorites is when we are numbered on the list along with the other favorites.  Otherwise, we aren’t usually too fond of people playing favorites.  When we’re not listed among the favorites, then we are often listed among those who cry, “Foul!” or “Unfair!”  Maybe it’s justified, maybe it’s not, but either way, if we can’t be listed among the favorites, then generally speaking, we’re not real fond of others playing favorites.

For that reason, we may find it refreshing this morning to discover that God doesn’t play favorites.  He used a man named Cornelius to help us see this.  Cornelius was a centurion in Caesarea whom Luke describes this way: “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (Acts 10:2).  Cornelius was the kind of believer that didn’t need words to convince others of his belief, for his actions told the story clearly enough for others to see.  Now an angel of the Lord came to Cornelius in a vision and directed him to send for Simon Peter in Joppa.  Committed to the Lord as he was, Cornelius did just that.

Meanwhile, God was preparing Peter in a special way for the company that was on its way to see him.  Peter had been praying up on his roof, and as the noon hour rolled around, his stomach started grumbling.  It was then, while lunch was being made, that Peter “fell into a trance” (Acts 10:10).  He then saw what appeared to be something like a sheet being let down from an opened heaven by its four corners.  Suspended inside that sheet were bunches of unclean animals, the kind a Jewish person would never expect to see on the menu of his favorite kosher restaurant.  As puzzling as that sight must have been, the real shocker came in the spoken words that accompanied the sight: “Get up, Peter.  Kill and eat” (Acts 10:13).  Peter was understandably taken aback.  His strict dietary regulations did not include what was considered to be unclean food.  A brief exchange followed.  “‘Surely not, Lord!’ Peter replied, ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’  The voice spoke to him a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean;” (v.14, 15).  This happened three times, so as to reinforce what would have been a mind-blowing vision and accompanying command.  It was so blatantly contrary to everything Peter had known about clean and unclean food, that seeing it three times was necessary to help it sink in.  Then, while Peter was pondering what he had seen, his company had arrived.  The Holy Spirit revealed to Peter what their purpose was, and after a good night’s sleep, they all headed to the home of Cornelius the next morning.

When they arrived, Cornelius was ecstatic.  His laudable behavior is worth noting.  Here was this child of God, eagerly waiting to hear the Word of God, from a man of God, and was he by himself?  No. Luke tells us, “Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends” (v.24).  Cornelius was anticipating hearing a message from Peter, and his zeal compelled him to seize the opportunity so that others might hear the Word as well.  Imagine the “problems” the Lord’s church would have today if all of God’s people followed suit.  Issues of budget shortfalls and member decline and churches cutting back and closing doors would be replaced with issues of building projects, having to add services, expanding ministries, what to do with the surplus at the end of the year and so on.  Indeed, that example of Cornelius is worth following.

But we would probably do well to avoid following his next example.  As Peter walked into his home, Cornelius dropped to the ground before him in reverence.  Peter rightly discouraged such behavior: “‘Stand up,’ he said ‘I am only a man myself’” (v.26).  He then went on to explain to those gathered at the home of Cornelius how things had fallen into place for him to be there.  He pointed out that although it had been completely out of line for Jews to associate with Gentiles – in the same home, no less – but that God had revealed to him in his vision that no longer was it appropriate to speak of things as clean or unclean.  So, when the representatives of Cornelius had come to his house, God had made it clear that there was nothing wrong with his obliging their request to accompany him.  So there Peter was.  Peter then asked specifically why his presence was requested, at which point Cornelius stood up and explained what God had revealed to him, and it was all suddenly clear why God had charted their courses to intertwine.  So there they were, Gentiles, gathered together to hear the message of the Jewish church leader, Peter.

Then, as the final stanza of the Hymn of the Day concluded, and the members plunked down in their padded pews to get comfortable, the sermon started.  That was when Peter revealed that it had all been made clear to him: “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism” (v.34).  A Jew in the home of a Gentile would have been shocking enough, but now for this Jewish preacher – a representative of the people who claimed to have the monopoly on monotheism, worshiping the one true God – for this man also to speak this message of equality in terms of God’s view of salvation for all people, that was absolutely turn-your-world-upside-down-type news!  A Jew was preaching to Gentiles and telling them that God didn’t play favorites, as had previously been thought.  We can scarcely imagine the level of excitement that this message must have stirred up in Cornelius and his guests.  Formerly on the outside looking in, now they too were included among those acceptable to God.  Even though there was no Jewish blood in their lineage, they still mattered to God, who “accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right” (v.24).

Wait a minute.  Is the second part of that statement so exhilarating after all, or is it actually quite… terrifying?  “Accepts… the one who fears him and does what is right?”  Already the Jewish people had such strict and stringent requirements governing nearly every facet of life.  Who could possibly keep them all?  So what good was it for Gentiles to be able to be accepted by God,  if he still only finds those acceptable who fear him and do what is right?  Who rightly fears God as he alone should be feared?  Who is able to do what is right?  Cornelius wasn’t.  You aren’t.  I’m not.  No one – Jew or Gentile – is, so what hope was Peter really offering?

That wasn’t the end of his sermon, and to put into the proper context what Peter was preaching, we must continue to hear the rest of his sermon.  He continued, “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (v.36).  And there was the peace Cornelius and his houseguests no doubt longed to hear – peace through Jesus Christ.  That peace – peace that comes through Jesus Christ – makes all the difference.  Without that peace, it matters little whether or not God plays favorites, for even if he chose not to play favorites, but declared that it was possible for all people to be acceptable to him on the basis of whether or not they do right, still no one would stand a chance!  But since God has announced that message of peace through Jesus, that message, coupled with his refusal to play favorites, means something.  It meant something for Cornelius and his guests.  It means something for all people.

Which is to say that it means something for you.  If God had chosen to play favorites, let’s be honest: his list of favorites would include a whole host of people more deserving than you and me.  But peace through Jesus means he treasures each of us as equals because of his Son.  Do you see why Jesus is so important; why he alone is the difference maker for every man, woman, and child?  The person who is willing to take his chances without Jesus is banking on making it on God’s favorite list by his own merits, and he will not make the cut.  Only Christ has made that list, and only those who rely on Christ are added to it.

That’s why Peter made such a big deal out of Jesus when he was preaching to Cornelius and his guests.  Starting with Jesus’ baptism, Peter emphasized that God designated his Son Jesus as his favorite, the Son with whom he was pleased, the Son who was anointed – chosen – play the role of favorite.  Peter said, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (v.38).  Jesus was set apart and designated at his baptism to be the one to fulfill all goodness and perfection…

…and to be the one who by his cursed death on a cross paid for the sins of those who failed to achieve such goodness and perfection.  Now if we consider Jesus to play the role of God’s favorite, what does that say about you and me that he gave up his favorite, his only Son, in order for us to make the cut?  How much we must mean to him, you and I!  How much he must treasure us, that he gave up the only One who deserved to be on any favorite list, just so that you and I could be added to that list by grace! 

It is true – God doesn’t play favorites, for he wants everyone to make his list, to make the cut; he wants everyone to be saved.  He made that clear to Peter, to Cornelius, and to you and me.  “You know the message,” Peter said; “You know what happened,” he continued; God accomplished everything that was necessary through his Son, so that we might have peace through Jesus.  He made sure that some how, in some way, through the mighty message of that gospel, you came to hear it and believe it.  Call it what you want – favorites or not – or we can agree to just let it be called grace. Amen.

                                                             

“For the freer confidence is from one’s own works, and the more exclusively it is directed toward Christ alone, so much better is the Christian it makes.” (Luther)