Date: April 22, 2020 ()

Bible Text: First Reading: ACTS 5:17-26; Gospel: JN 3:16-21 |

Series:

"That everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

In the first reading, the court officials had this report in regard to Peter and John’s disappearance at the prison: “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

My father bought us the ten-volume bible story when I was a kid. I enjoyed browsing through the pages to see different pictures. One of the scenarios I could remember about the story of Peter was this part of the bible narrative where Peter and John were freed from the dungeon. Both their feet and hands were shackled securely, and it was so amazing to see those shackles unlocked miraculously to pave way for their freedom.

This particular act of God illustrates to us His overwhelming power to save His servants. Nothing can stop the power of God to bring us to freedom. When God says He will save us, He will do it no matter how strong the enemies are. The two disciples’ escape from the dungeon physically demonstrates to us how God also can make our escape from our slavery to sin or from our subjection to death.

But God also wants us to respond to this invitation to freedom. Yes, by His power, the Lord had already unbolted the fetters of iron, but are we willing to walk away from the dungeon-like Peter and John who trustingly followed the instruction of the angel. This is where Jesus challenges us whether or not to believe in Him.

Like those who believe in Him, they become more courageous to preach the gospel. Peter and John, once outside, did not run away for their lives. They continued to do the good that they had started, became freer than ever from fear; believed that the Lord will always save them, and bring them to an abundance of freedom. As the gospel beautifully assures us in John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.”