Sermon 1st May 2022 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
Text: Acts 9:1-20 – Called by name
2 weeks ago, on Easter Sunday morning, we heard
about Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb a broken woman. The one in whom she
had put her very life in was put to death in a gruesome and horrific manner by
crucifixion on the cross. And to make matters worse it seemed to her that
someone has stolen the body from the tomb. Could life get any worse for her. Not
even speaking with Jesus, face to face. would take away that grief and pain
until Jesus calls her name – Mary – and she becomes a new woman. Now she is
empowered to go and tell the disciples all about her experience. She is a new
woman.
Today we hear about a man by the name of Saul. He is
on his way to arrest and persecute Christians in Damascus. On the way Jesus
calls his name – Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me. Even though Saul is
blinded. Even though Saul now relies on other people to help him. Saul is a changed
man – he is now a Christian and goes and is baptised. His eyes are open,
physically, but more importantly, like Mary, spiritually open to be able to see
Jesus.
An encounter with Jesus opens our spiritual
awareness of him to recognise him even in the most dire of situations. Like
Mary who thought he was the gardener, who thought someone had stolen his body,
who thought Jesus was dead. Like Saul who thought he was doing the right thing
persecuting Christians and approving of the disciple Stephen’s death by
stoning. An encounter with Jesus can also restore us when we feel broken and
discarded. When life is meaningless and there seems nothing to live for – Jesus
awakens us. It doesn’t mean life changes but the encounter with Jesus gives us
strength to go on. In fact, Paul, who when his eyes were opened, realised his
true brokenness before God even calling himself the worst of sinner for what he
had done to Christians.
We also see that in Peter in his encounter with
Jesus. Remember this was Peter, a broken man as he disowned Jesus in his time
of need. As Jesus is being interrogated before his death Peter had 3
opportunities to proclaim his faith in Jesus but instead, 3 times denied even
knowing him.
Have you ever been in that situation where you could
have helped someone by sharing the gospel with them. By giving them an
encounter with Jesus but kept silent? How did that make you feel? Guilty? Unworthy
to call yourself a Christian? Imagine how Peter felt. But here, in his
encounter with Jesus he discovers a loving and forgiving Jesus who wants to
restore Peter and reassure Peter of his love for him despite Peter’s denials.
The same Jesus who despite objections by Ananias to
welcome Saul - "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil
he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the
chief priests to thrown into prison all who call themselves Christian. But
despite these objections – despite what Peter and Saul did to Jesus – he tells
Ananias - "Go, for I have chosen him to bring my name before Gentiles and
kings and before the people of Israel;
Today Reuben has had an encounter with Jesus and he
is a changed person. He might still wake you in the early hours of the morning
for a feed or change of nappy and deprive you of sleep. But he now has the
assurance of being a child of God and the assurance of Jesus promise – I am
with you always till the end of the age. Does it mean that life won’t be
without challenges for Reuben? No – in fact sometimes the challenges of being a
Christian can intensify.
The first question we asked of Chris, Grace, Ben and
Jess on behalf of Reuben – do you renounce the devil and all his works and all
his ways – and you answered “Yes I do”. Do
you think that the devil just accepts that and says – oh well, I’ll just move
on to someone else. No. Look what happened to Jesus at his baptism:
He was cast into the wilderness where he was tempted
by the devil for 40 days and nights. Look what Jesus said about Saul’s baptised
future - I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my
name. Look what Jesus says to Peter earlier - Satan has asked to sift all of
you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
How comforting to know that Jesus is praying for
Reuben and all of us. And this is what Baptism is about. It’s about knowing
that Jesus is with you along your life journey. And that’s what he promised in
Baptism – I am with you always till the end of the age. In fact, as we see from
his comment to Peter, I am praying for you always till the end of the age.
Being baptised doesn’t mean life is not going to be
without its struggles. Just like insuring your car doesn’t mean you won’t be in
a car accident. But you’ll drive with that comfort and assurance that if
something happens you’re covered.
Baptism is about Jesus being with you along the
journey and assuring that you will arrive at your destination – in Heaven. That’s
why Jesus says, I’m with you always till the end of the age – till you’re
reached your heavenly destination – and then you’re totally safe in Heaven
where nothing evil can ever enter.
Baptism is an important part of the Christian life. That’s
why Saul, who later becomes Paul, the very first thing he does is gets baptised
– dealing with his spiritual needs even before he satisfies his physical needs.
He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his
strength.
Peter is asked by Jesus to feed his sheep – with
spiritual food. So when he preaches his very first sermon it says - When the
people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other
apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and
your children.
So, Grace and Chris, what you are doing today is no
small thing. You are continuing the work that Jesus gave to Peter to feed his
sheep. You have fed Reuben with the spiritual food of salvation and accepted
the promise for you and your children. And that assurance comes from the very
mouth of Jesus who says – whoever believes and is baptised will be saved. Grant
this Lord to us all.
I know you want the best for Reuben’s future – just
as we all want the best for our own future. But there is no better assurance of
our future and Reuben’s future than our future in God’s Kingdom and that comes
to us through our Baptism.
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