God Why James?
God Why James?
We are introduced today to King Herod, another enemy of God and of the Church. Remember that there was a King Herod (the great) who had ordered the killing of all boys two years and under so that he could kill the baby Jesus (Matthew 2). There was also another Herod who ordered the killing of John the Baptist and had his head brought to him in a platter (Matthew 14). Herod of Acts 12 is the grandson of Herod the great and cousin of the Herod who had killed John the Baptist. I guess for the fun of it, he decides to kill Apostle James, the brother of Apostle John and then goes on to arrest other Christians including Peter. Herod’s intent was to kill off the Church leaders and stop the spread of the Gospel. Did he really accomplish that?
In the midst of this great persecution and killing of Apostle James, God was doing incredible things in the early Church times. Things that you read and say, “I must be dreaming”. Today, we come across another miracle of God designed in line with God’s purpose to further the gospel of Christ. God miraculously delivers Peter from the hand of King Herod. There had been a previous miraculous release of the apostles from prison by God’s angel (Acts 5). Why was James killed and Peter delivered from death? Why is it that you are going through what you are going through right now?
Acts 12: 1-25:
1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews; he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" 15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Herod's Death
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. 21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from[a] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Why the killing of James of all people? We were not given any reason why Herod killed James. We are told that the killing pleased the Jews. We can then say that Herod was seeking favor with the people he ruled and did things to please them. Why should a child of God die or be killed senselessly? We are still asking the same question today. Couldn’t God have delivered James from the hand of Herod? God delivered Peter and why not James? We do not know but we do know that God was still in charge and that Herod was not.
2. Let’s understand who this James is. It was James (sons of Zebedee Matthew 4:21) and his brother John that Jesus had called while they were in a boat fishing. They immediately left fishing and the boat to follow Jesus as disciples. The two brothers had also made a request of Jesus to have them sit on the left and right hand of Jesus in the kingdom of God to come. Jesus only granted them "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with” (Mark 10:39). Is it possible that James had fulfilled his God-given mission and was allowed by God to come home? It is possible. James has drunk “the cup and baptism” of Jesus which is his martyr to the glory of God. We know that his brother apostle John lived the longest of all the original twelve and he was allowed to capture the vision recorded in the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John. God has a purpose in all things and I know that His Will must come to pass in the lives of His children in different ways.
3. Do you have the same question today in your circumstance? Why do bad things happen to good and godly people? There is no real answer if you are the one going through it. Remember Jesus said to us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Our peace is in Jesus and we have Him all the time and likewise the peace He gives us. We must trust is in God and not in outcomes. Hello my brother or sister, be of “good cheer” and “take heart”. Jesus has overcome your “world of circumstances”.
4. We all like happy endings like that of Apostle Peter in today’s account. God sent His angel and delivered Peter. Even Peter could not believe what was happening to him. He thought he was dreaming and finally “he came to himself”. God will blow your mind with His deliverance. By His Will and His choice, God will deliver us at the appointed time. In fact, God will always deliver us whether in life or death. My belief is that James and Peter were both delivered from the hand of King Herod for the glory of God. Two different deliverances. James was delivered from evil men into the blessed presence of God. Peter was delivered for more time in earthly service for the glory of God.
5. We see an example of the Church believing and praying and at the same time, full of unbelief. Those praying for Peter’s release could not believe that Peter was at the door. They told the young girl Rhoda, “You’re out of your mind” vs. 15. In reality, the adults were the ones that were “out of their minds”. Have you been there before? Yes, I have. You kind of believe your prayer but you really don’t believe. Lord, we believe, but help us with our unbelief. The only thing to do in helpless times is to pray and the church did.
6. God always has the final say. Do not miss the end of King Herod. 23”Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died”. Isn’t our God great! Who is the Herod that is after you and after the purposes of God in you? He will be eaten by worms very soon.
7. Always keep in mind the BIG PICTURE. It is all about God and establishing His Kingdom on earth. We see it in verse, 24”But the word of God continued to increase and spread”. The word of God is the Truth and the Truth sets us free. What the world need is the “TRUTH” in the person of Jesus. The truth is that we cannot save ourselves but Jesus has paid the price and saved us. Do you believe the Truth? Do you believe in Jesus? Jesus said, “I am the Way and the TRUTH and the Life”. John 14:6.
There are no clear cut answers to why God allows certain things but does not permit certain things. The only sure thing is that God is in total control of our lives and the world in general. He is Sovereign. “Be of good cheer”, “take heart”. Jesus has overcome the world and your world. Let us go and spread the good news of Jesus. This is the reason why you and I are still alive today. I know you have been delivered many times in the past from the plans of the enemy. I have. Thank you Lord. Amen.
We are introduced today to King Herod, another enemy of God and of the Church. Remember that there was a King Herod (the great) who had ordered the killing of all boys two years and under so that he could kill the baby Jesus (Matthew 2). There was also another Herod who ordered the killing of John the Baptist and had his head brought to him in a platter (Matthew 14). Herod of Acts 12 is the grandson of Herod the great and cousin of the Herod who had killed John the Baptist. I guess for the fun of it, he decides to kill Apostle James, the brother of Apostle John and then goes on to arrest other Christians including Peter. Herod’s intent was to kill off the Church leaders and stop the spread of the Gospel. Did he really accomplish that?
In the midst of this great persecution and killing of Apostle James, God was doing incredible things in the early Church times. Things that you read and say, “I must be dreaming”. Today, we come across another miracle of God designed in line with God’s purpose to further the gospel of Christ. God miraculously delivers Peter from the hand of King Herod. There had been a previous miraculous release of the apostles from prison by God’s angel (Acts 5). Why was James killed and Peter delivered from death? Why is it that you are going through what you are going through right now?
Acts 12: 1-25:
1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews; he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!" 15"You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell James and the brothers about this," he said, and then he left for another place.
18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Herod's Death
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. 21On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." 23Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
24But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from[a] Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Why the killing of James of all people? We were not given any reason why Herod killed James. We are told that the killing pleased the Jews. We can then say that Herod was seeking favor with the people he ruled and did things to please them. Why should a child of God die or be killed senselessly? We are still asking the same question today. Couldn’t God have delivered James from the hand of Herod? God delivered Peter and why not James? We do not know but we do know that God was still in charge and that Herod was not.
2. Let’s understand who this James is. It was James (sons of Zebedee Matthew 4:21) and his brother John that Jesus had called while they were in a boat fishing. They immediately left fishing and the boat to follow Jesus as disciples. The two brothers had also made a request of Jesus to have them sit on the left and right hand of Jesus in the kingdom of God to come. Jesus only granted them "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with” (Mark 10:39). Is it possible that James had fulfilled his God-given mission and was allowed by God to come home? It is possible. James has drunk “the cup and baptism” of Jesus which is his martyr to the glory of God. We know that his brother apostle John lived the longest of all the original twelve and he was allowed to capture the vision recorded in the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John. God has a purpose in all things and I know that His Will must come to pass in the lives of His children in different ways.
3. Do you have the same question today in your circumstance? Why do bad things happen to good and godly people? There is no real answer if you are the one going through it. Remember Jesus said to us, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Our peace is in Jesus and we have Him all the time and likewise the peace He gives us. We must trust is in God and not in outcomes. Hello my brother or sister, be of “good cheer” and “take heart”. Jesus has overcome your “world of circumstances”.
4. We all like happy endings like that of Apostle Peter in today’s account. God sent His angel and delivered Peter. Even Peter could not believe what was happening to him. He thought he was dreaming and finally “he came to himself”. God will blow your mind with His deliverance. By His Will and His choice, God will deliver us at the appointed time. In fact, God will always deliver us whether in life or death. My belief is that James and Peter were both delivered from the hand of King Herod for the glory of God. Two different deliverances. James was delivered from evil men into the blessed presence of God. Peter was delivered for more time in earthly service for the glory of God.
5. We see an example of the Church believing and praying and at the same time, full of unbelief. Those praying for Peter’s release could not believe that Peter was at the door. They told the young girl Rhoda, “You’re out of your mind” vs. 15. In reality, the adults were the ones that were “out of their minds”. Have you been there before? Yes, I have. You kind of believe your prayer but you really don’t believe. Lord, we believe, but help us with our unbelief. The only thing to do in helpless times is to pray and the church did.
6. God always has the final say. Do not miss the end of King Herod. 23”Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died”. Isn’t our God great! Who is the Herod that is after you and after the purposes of God in you? He will be eaten by worms very soon.
7. Always keep in mind the BIG PICTURE. It is all about God and establishing His Kingdom on earth. We see it in verse, 24”But the word of God continued to increase and spread”. The word of God is the Truth and the Truth sets us free. What the world need is the “TRUTH” in the person of Jesus. The truth is that we cannot save ourselves but Jesus has paid the price and saved us. Do you believe the Truth? Do you believe in Jesus? Jesus said, “I am the Way and the TRUTH and the Life”. John 14:6.
There are no clear cut answers to why God allows certain things but does not permit certain things. The only sure thing is that God is in total control of our lives and the world in general. He is Sovereign. “Be of good cheer”, “take heart”. Jesus has overcome the world and your world. Let us go and spread the good news of Jesus. This is the reason why you and I are still alive today. I know you have been delivered many times in the past from the plans of the enemy. I have. Thank you Lord. Amen.
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