“Grace Is Enough” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18) - Enough I -

 

*Edilberto Merida, Peru, Jesus on the Cross, 1996, ceramic corpus on wooden cross

Man’s Search for Meaning
Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor. While living in a death camp, he made a powerful observation. He noticed that people tended to become one of two kinds. Some grew bitter, angry, and cynical. They lost hope. Some even betrayed their fellow prisoners to survive another day. But there were others, a handful of people, who stayed kind and strong. They shared what little they had. They encouraged others. They even took the blame for others’ mistakes.

Frankl asked, “What made the difference?” He realized this: those who had placed the meaning of their lives in something the death camp could take away – family, work, success, power, or health –eventually lost everything, including their will to live. But those who found their meaning in something the death camp could not take away, something beyond this world, such as faith and God, stood firm.

Meaningless under the Sun
That’s exactly what the writer of Ecclesiastes is wrestling with. He looks around the world and says, “Everything is meaningless under the sun.” He’s searching for something death cannot take away – something eternal.

In today’s passage, the author introduces himself, saying, “I am the Teacher (Professor). I was king over Israel in Jerusalem.” (v. 12) Here King Solomon speaks as a teacher, almost like an actor on stage. He is acting out two very different attitudes toward life, not because they are his final convictions, but to help us see and learn from them. At times, he speaks like a pessimist, saying, “Everything is meaningless!” At other times, he sounds like a hedonist, saying, “Eat, drink, and enjoy life!” Through these contrasts, Solomon is guiding us toward what we might call “Christian realism” — seeing life honestly as it is, often broken, yet still filled with hope in God.

In verse 14, the Teacher says, “Everything is meaningless.” But there is one condition. He says, “Everything is meaningless under the sun.” In other words, “If this life (“life under the sun”) is all there is, yes, everything is meaningless. But there is more! There is a life beyond the sun — a life to come!” The Teacher is telling us that recognizing life’s meaninglessness under the sun is not despair. It’s a doorway. It opens a thirst for God, a longing for eternity.

Grace Is Enough
For Paul, that doorway took a different name – a “thorn.” He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it. But Jesus said, “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” After this, Paul says, “Therefore, I am all right with weaknesses, disasters, harassments, and stressful situations for the sake of Christ, because when I’m weak, then I’m strong.” (2 Cor 12:10 CEB) For Paul, that thorn became a door – a door through which he learned to accept weakness, embrace brokenness, and depend fully on Christ. It was his way of living not just under the sun, but for eternity.

Lately, I’ve been reading the autobiography of Alexei Navalny, a Russian lawyer, anti-corruption activist who boldly stand up to Putin. He was poisoned, yet miraculously survived. After treatment in Germany, he could have stayed in safety. But he returned to Russia, because he loved his country, and because he loved God. He was a devoted Christian. Not long after, he was arrested, moved from one harsh prison to another, eventually died in prison in February 2024. What he endured was unimaginable. But what amazed me most was how positive and cheerful he remained to the end. He didn’t grow bitter or resentful. He knew he might never see the fruit of his work under the sun, yet he trusted in God. He put his hope and meaning not in success, but in something eternal. He was a saint of our day, a Christian realist, standing with one foot in this broken world, and the other in God’s eternal kingdom.

Look Up, Lift Up
The world we live in is unfair, unjust, and deeply broken. Paul was wrongfully accused and suffered for his faith. Navalny was wrongfully charged and mistreated, accused of crimes he did not commit: embezzlement, contempt of court, vandalism, even terrorism. No evidence. Yet he was convicted, abused, tortured.

This reminds us of something far greater. Jesus, the Son of God, was also wrongfully accused, condemned, and executed. But unlike any other victim, his suffering was not meaningless under the sun. On the cross, he took our place — our sin, our brokenness, our injustice. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” he wasn’t simply marking the end of his earthly life. He was saying, “It’s all paid for. The case is closed.” Jesus took all the cruelty and injustice of this world upon himself, and he redeemed it.

In Merida’s artwork, Jesus on the Cross, the artist gives Jesus oversized hands and feet. Look first at his feet. Jesus always walked at three miles per hour, slow enough to meet the widow, to touch the leper, to heal the sick. He walked on those feet into every valley of despair, up the hill of Golgotha to finish the work and close the case. Then look at His hands. Even as they were nailed to the cross, his hands remained open. Open and inviting, never any clenched fists. With these hands, Jesus blessed children, lifted the crippled, broke bread. Big hands — big enough to hold the whole world. We almost hear the artist whisper, “Look up, lift up!”[1]

The Best Is Yet to Come
To me, all our saints are like “stars” in my heart. I get so easily distracted or preoccupied with things “under the sun”. But our saints remind me to look up, lift up, set my heart on things above. When I sing in the choir, I think of Patty Crawford – not just her beautiful voice but her faithfulness. When I run the dishwasher, I think of David Guy – his kindness and his labor of love. When I feel like I am not making a difference, I think of Bob Anderson – his warmth, his encouragement, his faith after doubt. Our saints are not only cheering us on, but also, they are pointing us to Christ and his kingdom.

I once read about a woman diagnosed with cancer and was given three months to live. So she contacted her pastor and planed her funeral together – which hymns to sung, what Scriptures to read. But before the pastor left, she said, “One more thing. This is important. I want to be buried a fork in my right hand.” The pastor was puzzled. She smiled. “In all my years going to church functions, whenever food was involved, my favorite part was when whoever was cleaning dishes of the main course would lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ That always made me smile, because it meant something great was coming, like pie or cake! So I just want people to see me there in my casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them, “Something better is coming. Keep your fork.” And when she passed away, at her funeral, the pastor told that story. And everyone smiled, because they knew. For those who die in Christ, this is not a day of defeat. It’s a day of celebration. The real feast is just beginning. Something better is coming.[2]

The Bible says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3, NRSV) So today, we give thanks to God for our saints, who tells us again and again, “Keep your fork.” May we too live for eternity, keep our fork, and lead many to Christ. Amen.

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[1] Ron O’Grady, Christ for All People (Orbis Books, 2001), 128-9.

[2] John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat (p. 170). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

“Who Belongs?” (Acts 15:1-35)

1488
A couple of weeks ago, there was troubling news in the Bangor Daily News. Large Nazi symbols were painted on a walking path in Bangor near I-95. The graffiti included a swastika and the numbers “1488.” For those who may not know, 1488 is a white-supremacist hate symbol. The number 14 refers to the “14 words” slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” and 88 stands for “Heil Hitler,” because H is the eighth letter in the alphabet. Sadly, this is not the first time. Just last month, members of Patriot Front (Texas-based hate group) were seen putting up stickers downtown in Bangor, promoting their message of white supremacy.[1] It’s disturbing news, but it’s not new. This “us versus them” mindset runs deep, all the way back to our ancestors in Genesis. From the very beginning, humanity has wrestled with this question: “Who belongs?”

Jerusalem Council
We often say that the early church is our role model to follow, but even the early church faced division and tension. As the church grew, there were growing tensions between different groups of people, especially between Jewish and Gentile believers. The question of their time was: “Who truly belongs to God’s people?” Some Jewish believers said “The gentiles must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved, just like we do.” (v. 1, 5) Here they were saying, “To be a Christian, they must first become Jewish.”

So the church gathered – leaders, apostles, elders – to listen and discern God’s will together. It was not a quick decision. It was a Spirit-led process. Their discernment followed four steps: reason, experience, fruits (tradition), and Scripture. This process later inspired what John Wesley called the Wesleyan Quadrilateral.

Reason (vv. 6-7)
First, when the church gathered to consider this question (“Who belongs?”), they began with open discussion and reasoning. The Bible says there had been a long and heated debate. They listened, they wrestled, and the weighed the issue together. This was “reason” at work – the God-given gift to think critically, prayerfully, and communally. Faith does not silence reason; faith invites reason to serve the Spirit’s leading.

Experience (vv. 7-11)
After the discussion, Peter stood and shared his experience how God had opened his eyes and changed his heart. One day, while praying, he saw a vision. Heaven opened, and something like a large sheet came down, filled with animals considered “unclean.” Then a voice said: “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” Peter protested, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything unclean.” Then the voice said, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” This happened three times. Soon after, Peter was invited to the house of Cornelius, a God-fearing Roman centurion. As Peter began to preach the good news, he saw the Holy Spirit fall on everyone who listened. He saw God gave the Holy Spirit to Gentiles before they kept the law. Peter’s pride and prejudice shattered. So he said in verse 9, “God made no distinction between us and them, but purified their deepest thoughts and desires through faith.” Then, he continued, “We believe that we and they are saved in the same way by the grace of the Lord Jesus.” (v. 11)

For me, I will never forget the moment I knelt on a military cot in the barracks while serving in East Timor. In that valley of death, I cried out, “Lord, have mercy on me!” God not only healed me from Dengue Fever, but also changed my heart. Our genuine Christian experiences shape the way we discern God’s will and interpret Scripture in real life.

Fruits of Ministry (Tradition; v. 12)
After Peter, Barnabas and Paul spoke. They testified about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through their ministry – lives changed, bodies healed, hearts renewed. The Gospel of Mark ends this way: “[The apostles] went out and proclaimed the message everywhere. The Lord worked with them, confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.” (16:20) These fruits of ministry (signs and wonders) confirmed God’s favor – the Holy Spirit was already moving among outsiders. This is “tradition” in a living sense – not a dead ritual, but the ongoing fruit of ministry, the story of God’s surprising work through time.

Scripture (vv. 13-18)
Finally, and most importantly, comes Scripture. When Barnabas and Paul finished, James spoke. By the Holy Spirit, he anchored their decision in the Word of God. He quoted the prophet Amos 9:11-12, saying, “I will return… rebuild… restore David’s fallen house, so that the rest of humanity will seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who belong to me.” (vv. 16-17) So salvation for all nations (Gentiles) was not an afterthought; instead, it was God’s original plan. So James concluded this way: “We shouldn’t create problems for Gentiles who turn to God other than the essentials: refuse food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.” (vv. 19-20, 28-29)

Reason, experience, and tradition help us discern God’s will, but Scripture remains the anchor. Through this Spirit-guided process, the early church learned this: God’s grace is bigger than our boundaries.

The Sign of Jonah
Jerusalem Council’s decision echoes our Christian confession: “We are saved by grace through faith.” Salvation is God’s gift from start to finish. All we do is trust him enough to receive this gift. It is free for us, but costly for God. It cost Jesus his life.

After World War II, Germany lay in ruins. People asked, “Who is guilty for all this?” Rutenborn’s Play The Sign of Jonah explores that haunting question: “Who is to blame?” In the play a soldier says, “I just followed orders. The generals are to blame.” The generals say, “The politicians are to blame.” The politicians say, “The system is to blame.” Each group passes the blame upward. At last, they reach the top of the ladder and point up to heaven: “Then God must be to blame.” So they decide to put God on trial and declare: “God is guilty. He must suffer as we have suffered.” The sentence: “God must become human, feel hunger, grief, and death.” But then comes the quiet revelation: God already has.

Like in Rutenborn’s The Sign of Jonah, we often draw circles, asking “Who belongs?” and “Who is to blame?” We blame our leaders, our systems, sometimes even God. But on the cross, Jesus doesn’t point fingers. Instead, he stretches out his hands and says, “I’ll take it.” On the cross, Jesus bore the blame, the pain, and the consequence of our sin. Just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish, Christ entered the depths of our guilt, our darkness, our death, to bring new life for all people. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, there is forgiveness. There is a new beginning. There is grace for all.

May we never forget the very first hour when God saved “a wretch like me.” May our church follow the example of the early church – to draw a circle wide, to bear the blame, and to do everything with love. Amen.


[1] Annie Rupertus, “Nazi graffiti painted on Bangor walking path,” Bangor Daily News (Oct 14, 2025), https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/10/14/bangor/nazi-graffiti-painted-on-bangor-walking-path/

“Miracle of Love” (Acts 14:8-20)

My Grandfather
My grandfather has always been my hero. He was a North Korean defector. To save his life, he had to swim across a river to the South right before the Korean War broke out. Living there alone, struggling with hardship, he once considered ending his life. But one day, a friend invited him to church. There he met Christ, and his life was forever changed. Later, he was called to ministry.

Throughout his lifetime as a Methodist pastor, he was appointed to several different churches. Wherever he served, the church came alive and revived. In his journal, he recorded in detail the surprising work of God at his last appointment, where he served for 27 years. He wrote,

“During those 27 years, 13 people were set free from unclean spirits in the name of Jesus and became faithful Christians and leaders, 4 paralyzed people were healed. 7 people (5 children and 2 adults) were raised from the dead. Quite a few people suffering from cancer were healed in Jesus’ name.”

Since he was my pastor when I was young, I personally witnessed some of these stories.

But for me, an even greater miracle than those healings was the miracle of love. In that church, there were chronically difficult people who bullied my grandfather and our family. Yet he never fought back. Instead, he continued to shepherd them, love them, forgive them. He stayed in touch with them and stayed the course. Many people, including myself, saw how he had responded and were drawn to Christ and his church.

Paul in Lystra
In today’s scripture, we see two miracles. While Paul and Barnabas were in Lystra, there was a man crippled from birth. Paul saw that this man had faith to be healed. So he watched him closely and said, “Stand up straight on your feet!” Then the man jumped up and began to walk! Everyone was amazed. They thought the gods had come down in human form. So they wanted to offer sacrifices. When Paul and Barnabas heard this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, barely able to stop them.

Now comes the second miracle – the greater one. Some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, the previous cities that Paul had preached, turned the crowd against Paul. So they stoned him and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day, he and Barnabas left for next town, Derbe, to preach the good news. There they made many disciples. But then, Paul chose to return to Lystra, the very place where he had been stoned, to strengthen and encourage other believers. Many who saw Paul’s response to suffering and persecution were drawn to Christ. I would call that the miracle of love.

The Sermon on the Mount
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus compares two kinds of people – not moral versus immoral, but religious versus Christian. On the outside, both do the same things. They give, they pray, they fast. But on the inside, they are different. The religious person does all these things to be seen, to feel good, to make much of themselves. But the true Christian gives, prays, and fasts out of love and gratitude to Christ.

Jesus’ moral standard is far higher than any other religious law. He said, “You heard, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you: If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” “You heard, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

How can we do that? The answer is in the Beatitudes. Christ, the Messiah, meaning the “Blessed One,” became the cursed one, so that we might be blessed. Deuteronomy 21:23 says, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Christ became a curse for us to set us free from the power of sin and death” (cf. Gal 3:13) Jesus became poor so that we could inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus became hungry and thirsty, so that we could be filled. Jesus was humiliated and persecuted, so that we might have his righteousness and his kingdom. Jesus did it for us. When we receive Christ, trust him, and place him at the center of our life, our hearts are changed. We receive “inner” righteousness.

Paul had always been religious. He obeyed all the laws – tithing, giving, praying, fasting, everything. He even persecuted Christians, thinking he was doing it for God. But inside, he was proud, insecure, hateful, judgmental. Only after he encountered the risen Christ, Paul became a new person – his inside and outside became one. And now, even after being stoned, he returned to that same city. He forgave, he loved, and he preached the good news of peace.

The Rabbi’s Gift
There was once a monastery that had fallen on hard times. Only five elderly monks remained. Once vibrant, it now stood silent and tired. In the woods nearby lived a wise Rabbi. One day, the Abbott went to visit him, seeking advice. The Rabbi welcomed him warmly, but after listening, sighed, “I know… The spirit has gone out of the people. It is the same in my town.” The two old men wept together, read from the Scriptures, and sat in silence. As the Abbott rose to leave, the Rabbi said quietly, “I have no advice, except this: the Messiah is one of you.”

The Abbott returned, confused. “He gave no advice,” he said his brothers, “except that the Messiah is one of us.” The brothers began to wonder: could he mean the Abbott, our leader? Or Brother Thomas, so full of light? Or Brother Elred, grumpy but wise? Or Brother Philip, so quite yet always shows up when needed? Or… could it be me? From that day on, each monk began to treat the others with deep respect, just in case one of them was the Messiah. And they began to treat themselves with care, just in case it was themselves.

Something beautiful happened. Visitors began to sense the love and light that filled the place. They felt peace there. Some stayed. Others returned. Soon, the monastery came alive again, all because of the Rabbi’s gift: the miracle of love.[1]

Foretaste
I believe the most powerful force for church renewal and revival is love – agape love, Christ’s love.

Isaiah, by the Holy Spirit, prophesied God’s peaceful kingdom this way:

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. (Isaiah 11:6-8, NLT)

God’s design for the church is to foretaste this peaceful kingdom here and now. Wherever and whoever acknowledges the lordship of Jesus Christ can experience this miracle of love. Jews and Palestinians can live together. Children of Ukraine and Russia can play together. Democrats and Republicans can work together – under the lordship of Jesus Christ. May the Lord fill our hearts and our church with renewed agape love. May the miracle of love begin with you and me. Amen.

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[1] M. Scott Peck, The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace (Touchstone, 1998), 13-15.

“John Mark: His Unexpected Journey” (Acts 13:1-5, 13)

Backsliding
Perhaps you have heard of the film title God Is Not Dead. It comes from a Newsboys album. The band sang with energy. They filled arenas. Their music inspired millions. But then the news came. Michael Tait, the frontman, confessed. He admitted to abusing drugs and alcohol. He admitted to touching men in ways that were not wanted. Multiple men came forward. They told their stories of being sexually assaulted on tour. Tait admitted that most of it was true. He had been living a double life. The Christian world was shocked. K-Love radio, the largest Christian station, stopped playing their music. The band members, families, and fans felt betrayed. Many asked, “How could this happen?”[1]

Friends, this is not just about one singer. This is about us. Because backsliding is real. Even after an excellent start, we can stumble. We can fail. We can lose our way. This reminds me of John Mark. He had such a promising start. His mother’s home was the upper room where 120 believers gathered, prayed, and received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. He joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey as their capable and trustworthy assistant. But then… his journey took an unexpected turn. He deserted them. He went back to Jerusalem. Failure. Disappointment. Pain. And yet, that was not the end of his story. God can use even our failures as a means of grace.

Disappointment
In his book Where Is God When It Hurts, Philip Yancey tells the story of Dr. Paul Brand’s leprosy patients, who could not feel pain in their hands or feet. At first it might sound like a blessing, but in reality, it was their greatest danger, because without pain they burned themselves, injured themselves, and wore down their bodies without knowing it. Pain, Yancey reminds us, is not a curse but can be a gift, a messenger that humbles us and slows us down – slow enough to see, hear, and pay attention to God.

I think of my own story. Several years ago, I lost my sense of smell. Sometimes my children tease me and say, “Dad, you are lucky, because you don’t have to smell bad odors.” But my response is always the same: “Even for a moment, I would gladly smell everything, even the bad ones.” I consider myself living with disability. Since I don’t smell, it keeps me humble, knowing that I need to reply on others, and it also makes me more sensitive to those who have disabilities. In the same way, disappointment, pain, and suffering, though we wish them away, can become a means of grace – the very bridge that connects us to encounter the crucified Christ deeply and personally.

John Mark was at the bottom. Perhaps he couldn’t come out of the great pit, struggling forgiving himself. But there was one person who still believed in him and invested in him – Barnabas, the son of encouragement. Even after John Mark’s backsliding, Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance, including him in a second missionary journey. Paul opposed Barnaba’s suggestion. He insisted that they shouldn’t take John Mark along. Their argument became so intense that they went separate ways. Paul took a new helper, Silas, while Barnabas took John Mark (Acts 15:39).

Pieta
Barnabas reminds us of the better and perfect Encourager, Jesus Christ our Lord. Our merciful Redeemer comes to us, especially when we are in the pit of deep sorrow and confusion.

The Pieta (meaning “pity” or “compassion”) is a picture or sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the dead body of Jesus on her lap. The Rondanini Pieta is the unfinished sculpture Michelangelo was working on until his death. Unlike his other masterpieces, it’s rough and unbalanced. Mary is holding Jesus from behind in great sadness. But if we look closely, it also looks as if the crucified Jesus is carrying her on his back, upholding and raising her up. The Bible says, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been temped in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) And because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help us when we are being tempted. (cf. 2:18) Jesus didn’t have to, but he went down into the greatest Pit, tasted death, became our sin, our sorrow, our failure, so that we could be set free from the pit of destruction and become his righteousness, his joy, his life. Jesus is able. Jesus makes us not just a better person, but a new person – no matter where we are in our journey.

Rembrandt’s Journey
The artist Rembrandt’s journey resembles John Mark’s. He painted himself more than almost any other artists—nearly ninety self-portraits over his lifetime. In his youth, he painted with bold colors and proud gestures. He showed himself confident, eloquent, even glamorous, wrapped in fine clothes and wealth. But life changed. He lost his beloved wife, Saskia. He buried three of his four children. He watched his only surviving son, Titus, die young. His fame faded. His fortune was gone, his house repossessed, his name forgotten. He walked through the wilderness of grief, disappointment, and debt.

Yet in the midst of the pit, Rembrandt encountered Christ. Something deeper was happening. In those later self-portraits, you no longer see a proud young man in shining robes. You see an old, weathered face, painted with honesty and humility. The brushstrokes are simple, almost prayerful. And in his final years, Rembrandt placed his own face into the figure of Simeon, the old man in the temple who held the Christ child. Simeon’s eyes, full of age and sorrow, are also full of peace as he cried out, “My eyes have seen Your salvation!” (Luke 2:30). That was Rembrandt’s own confession. He had an excellent start, then layer upon layer of loss and drifting away, and finally returned home as a man who met Christ and was satisfied in him.

Cactus Cross 

Recently, Joyce gave me a cactus cross as a gift. In the desert, the cactus survives with thorns. The thorns guard its water, its very life. But when the cactus dies and dries, the thorns fall away. What is left behind can be shaped into something new. In the desert Southwest, people take that dry cactus wood and form it into a cross. Out of what was dry and dead, something life-giving is created.

Now think about John Mark. He started his journey with fire and excitement. He was included on Paul and Barnabas’s mission. But when the road grew hard, he left. Maybe fear, maybe weakness, maybe pain, we don’t know. But we do know this: he failed. He backslid. Paul was disappointed. Barnabas was heartbroken. And John Mark was left with the sting of regret and shame.

Was that the end of his story? No. Like a cactus, what once seemed dry and wasted was taken by the hand of Christ, the Great Encourager and Redeemer. And he was reshaped. John Mark was faithful in his second missionary journey and soon regained Paul’s respect. Later in life, Paul himself would say, “Bring Mark, for he is useful to me.” He also worked with the apostle Peter. And he became the writer of the Gospel that bears his name, a Gospel of the Suffering Servant, who redeems failure, who restores the fallen, who creates something beautiful out of the ashes.

Disappointment, failure, wilderness, pain, loss—these are not curses. They are the very bridges where we encounter the living Christ. Where a dry cactus is made into a cross. Where a failed disciple becomes a Gospel witness. May the Lord redeem our life and make something beautiful. Our crucified Christ is able. Amen.

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[1] “Michael Tait Confesses Abuse,” Christianity Today (Sep/Oct), 120.

“Two Narratives, One Great Finale” (Acts 12:1-24)

Herod and Peter

Stars shine brightest in the darkest night. In the same way, the power of the gospel shines brightest in life’s darkest times.

At the beginning of Acts 12, King Herod seems invincible. He had James, John’s brother, killed with a sword. His approval ratings with the Jews sored, so he also arrested Peter. He was planning to execute him publicly after Passover.

At the beginning of the chapter, Peter seems hopeless. His close friend, James, was murdered. Now he himself is in prison, facing certain death. From a human perspective, this looks like a dead end – no possibility of escape. Yet even in this “no-hope” situation, God is still at work. God is still in charge.

 

Everything Is against Me!

When trials come, we often face two narratives: our perspective and God’s perspective. When things go wrong, our default perspective is, “Everything is against me!” Actually, this is an exact quote from Jacob’s lament in Genesis 42. His words come after the loss of his son Joseph, Simeon’s hostage, and the threat of losing Benjamin. Jacob is overwhelmed by layer upon layer of loss, exclaiming, “Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” (v. 36)

 

Everything Is for Good!

From Jacob’s perspective, the world was collapsing. No hope. No way out. But from God’s perspective, a greater story was unfolding. Jospeh, long thought dead, was still alive and preparing to save his family and even nations. Even when circumstances feel stacked against us, God is still tirelessly at work behind the scenes. Jacob saw only loss, but God was preparing great family reunion. Jacob feared famine and uncertainty, but God was preparing salvation.

So when we cry out like Jacob, “Everything is against me!” we are invited to trust God’s character: “God causes everything to work together for good.” (Romans 8:28) And if God is for us, who can be against us?” (v. 31)

 

Sole Foundation

But how do we know God is for us, not against us? On what foundation can we make this bold claim? Paul gives the answer: “God didn’t spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. Will he not also freely give us all things with him?” (v. 32)

So when you feel like everything is against you, or when the enemy whispers, “You’re not worthy,” lift up your eyes and look to the cross. Christ Jesus died for us. It is finished. More than that, he was raised to life for us. Jesus’ resurrection is the proof that he was innocent and the assurance that he will also raise his people. In this broken world, death feels like a natural part of life. But when God created the world, it was never meant to be this way. By his resurrection, Christ conquered the power of death. George Herbert put it beautifully, “Death used to be an executioner, but the resurrection of Christ makes him just a gardener.” Death no longer has the final word. Jesus does. His church will prevail, and his people will reign with him forever. In him, we already have the final victory.

 

Suffering and Grace

Peter himself was once fearful and anxious. He loved Jesus and promised to die with him. He did mean it with all his heart. But when he was challenged by the crowd, “You are one of them,” he didn’t have power to stand. Peter denied Jesus three times when tested. But now, look at him in Acts 12! Surrounded by guards, chained in prison, facing execution, he is calmy asleep (v. 6).

This echoes David’s words in Psalm 3:5, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (Psalm 3:5). David said this while fleeing from his son Absalom. How could he rest in such danger? As a prophet as well as a king, he saw and trusted in the Messiah to come – the Suffering Servant and the Risen Christ. How could Peter rest in such uncertainty? Because he had met the risen Christ, Conqueror of Death, and received the Holy Spirit. Now he too could say, “I will not fear though thousands surround me!”

The story of John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides, illustrates the same truth. One night hostile tribes surrounded his home, ready to kill him and his wife. They prayed through all night, and at dawn the attackers suddenly left. Later, a tribal chief who had come to Christ asked Paton, “Who were the hundreds of men with shining garments and drawn swords guarding your house that night?” Paton realized God had sent his angels to protect them. Yet Paton also knew deep suffering and sorrow. Early in his ministry, his wife and newborn child both died. He buried them with his own hands. But still, he testified, “I was never altogether forsaken. The ever-merciful God sustained me… But for Jesus, and the fellowship he gave me there, I would have gone mad and died beside that lonely grave!”[1]

Suffering and grace often walk hand in hand. Whether it is wayward children, persecution, disease, loneliness, depression, grief, or even death – whatever the trial – God’s grace is always greater. The risen Jesus was with Peter in prison, with David in exile, with Paton in grief—and He is with us today. Christ alone is our sure foundation.

 

One Great Finale

During the plagues of the Roman Empire, streets were filled with the dying. Many abandoned their loved ones. Bodies were left unburied. Most people fled for their safety. But Christians did something radically different: they stayed. Instead of fleeing, they nursed the sick, fed the hungry, buried the dead, and even died alongside them. This sacrificial, fearless love became a powerful witness. While everyone else saw only despair, the Christians revealed a resurrection hope stronger than death, drawing many to Christ.  

Acts 12 ends with a great reversal. Herod begins with in power but dies in disgrace. Peter begins in chains but walks free. And the final word is this: “The word of God continued to spread and flourish.” (v. 24)

Today, we too may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But it’s only a shadow. Christ Jesus faced death itself and conquered it once and for all: “Death has been swallowed up by a victory.” Now we know how the story ends. We already have the final victory. With full confidence, we can declare, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor 15:57) Because Christ is risen, because Christ will raise us, because Christ holds the finale, we can hold fast. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us stand firm, unshakable, always excelling in the work of the Lord.” Amen.

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[1] Ajith Fernando, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary Book 5) (p. 323). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

“The Great Encourager” (Acts 11:19-26)

 

*Christ at the Sea of Galilee by Jacopo Tintoretto (1570s)

Encouragement

Encouragement is empowering. This past Thursday was a sports day for the Han family. First, we all went up to Caribou to cheer for Grace at her cross-country meet. The weather was hot, and the course was challenging – especially the big hill at the end. As Grace was running up the hill, a Woodland runner passed her. All the GHCA team and families, and our family, cheered for Grace. Though she was passed, Grace came back strong and won her race. Then, we moved on to Washburn to cheer for Lydia’s and Abe’s soccer games. As I was watching the game, one of the parents said to me, “I’ve watched all of the boy’s games so far. Abe had been kind of timid and gentle. But today, he is aggressive and playing so well.” That’s the power of encouragement. In fact, encouragement is one of the spiritual gifts. Paul writes in Romans 12:8, “If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging” (NLT).

 

Son of Encouragement

Probably, Barnabas is the shining example of someone who used the gift of encouragement so well. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles nicknamed him “Barnabas” meaning, “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). He was known for comforting and helping others.

After Saul encountered the risen Christ and arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. But it was Barnabas who believed in him, advocated for him, and helped him to join the early Christian group. Saul passionately preached the good news, but wherever he went, he was not well received. Instead, people tried to kill him. So then, his friends took him to Caesarea and sent him to his hometown of Tarsus (9:30). Saul stayed there for about 10 years. They are often called Saul’s “silent years.”

It seemed he was forgotten, and his life was wasted. But then, some of the scattered Christians began to preach the good news in Antioch. Many people came to believe and turned to the Lord. The early church sent Barnabas to help this newborn church. Barnabas realized that the task was so big that he needed capable help. So he took a trip of about a hundred miles to recruit Saul (11:25–26). Saul was probably more talented and educated than Barnabas. By bringing Saul, he was seriously jeopardizing his own leadership position. Yet at the expense of his prominence, Barnabas encouraged Saul to use his gifts to build up the church. Over time, Barnabas’ presence decreased, and Saul’s influence increased.

 

The Great Encourager

Today’s scripture, the story of Barnabas, is not just a moral lesson or a role model. His story points to the perfect and greater Encourager, Christ Jesus. In 1570s, Jacopo Tintoretto painted his masterpiece, Christ at the Sea of Galilee.

Tintoretto captures the dramatic moment when the disciples are caught in a storm. The waves are crashing, the boat is tossed, and fear is overwhelming. Peter, by faith, steps out of the boat to walk toward Jesus. But then, he sees the wind and the waves, and his courage fails. He begins to sink.

This is the cry of Psalm 69:1: “Save me, O God, because the waters have come up to my neck!” Peter feels that desperation, drowning, helpless, lost. And yet, Jesus immediately reaches out, lifts him up, and brings him back to life. But here is the deeper truth: when Jesus stretched out his hand to Peter, it foreshadowed what he himself would later endure. Jesus would not just taste the spray of the storm. He would taste death itself. He went under the waves of judgment so that we might rise. He sank into the depths so that we might stand on solid ground.

Barnabas encouraged Saul by stepping aside so his gifts could shine. But Christ is the greater Barnabas, the greater Encourager, who goes even further. He takes our place in the storm, lifting us up when we are sinking at the cost of His own life. That’s why the gospel is about Christ – who he is and what he did.

 

O My Soul!

So how can we experience Christ, the Great Encourager, in our own lives? Psalm 42 and 43 give us the answer (Today’s Call to Worship). These psalms were written by the sons of Korah, the very descendants of a man who rebelled against Moses and was swallowed by the earth in God’s judgment (Numbers 26). Yet in mercy, God spared his children, restored them, and even raised them up to be worship leaders in Israel. Still, they carried the stigma from their past. People mocked them: “Where is your God?” Their souls were divided—hope pulling one way, despair pulling the other. And isn’t that our story too? Many of us know spiritual depression not just because of present troubles, but also because of guilt from the past—voices of shame, regret, or failure that haunt us.

What is the cure? The psalmist shows us: stop only listening to your soul; and instead, start speaking to it. Pray honestly, “Vindicate me, O God!” (cf. Psalm 43:1-4) Then preach courageously to your soul (v. 5), “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” This is how we taste and see the goodness of Christ the Great Encourager—by lifting His Word, His Promise, to our own hearts until despair gives way to hope.

 

The Way Out

Let me close with a story from The Pilgrim’s Progress. Christian and his friend Hopeful were on their way to the Celestial City. The narrow road was hard, so they decided to take a parallel path—an easier way, with fewer hardships. But that shortcut led them into terrible danger. They met a storm, then they lost their way, and finally they were captured by Giant Despair and thrown into Doubting Castle. For three long days, they were locked away—hungry, thirsty, beaten without mercy. The giant whispered lies to them, urging them to give up, even to take their own lives. He showed them the bones and skulls of others who had done so.

But on Saturday night, while praying, Christian suddenly remembered something. He had forgotten the key in his pocket all along. The key’s name was Promise. With it, he unlocked the doors of Doubting Castle, and he and Hopeful were able to escape.

I don’t know about you, but for me, I often find myself in the prison of despair – weary, discouraged, ready to give up. But in Christ, we have a key in our pocket. It is God’s promises. When we believe and peach His Word to our own souls, the chains of despair are broken and hope rises again.

So let us preach to our souls, as the psalmist did: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 43:5)

“Way Up, Way Down” (Acts 11:1-18)

 

*Crucifixion, by Matthias Grünewald (1515)

Babette’s Feast

Have you ever been invited to an extravagant feast – one you never expected? There is a beautiful Danish film called Babette’s Feast. Some of you may have seen it. It tells the story of Babette, once the head chef at a first-class restaurant in Paris, who fled as a refugee during the Franco-Prussian War. She found herself in a small, strict religious community. She served quietly for 14 years, caring for two elderly sisters, who were serving the small congregation, even after their father had passed away. The community was struggling—divisions and old grudges ran deep. Then one day, Babette won the lottery: 10,000 francs. She decided to prepare a feast for the sisters and their small flock in memory of their father’s 100th birthday. She offered to pay for all the cost of a “real French dinner.”

But the people were suspicious, even critical. They feared her French cooking might be worldly, even dangerous. But still, Babette went on quietly, pouring out her life, her money, her skill, her love into this one meal. And when the feast was served, something beautiful happened. As the people ate, old grudges softened. Forgiveness began to flow. Joy and laughter filled the room. The people, who were once cold and divided, became warm and united. At the end, the sisters assumed Babette would return to Paris with her winnings. But she revealed that she had spent everything—every franc—for this one feast. She had given her all to bless those who had misunderstood, doubted, even despised her. Does that sound familiar?

 

Jesus, Our Servant
This is exactly what Jesus has done for us. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and said, “This is my body, given for you.” He took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you.” He poured out his life completely. Not just for those who praised him, but for those who rejected him. Think about how Jesus was treated. He was constantly criticized, slandered, and hated by many. People were suspicious of his motives. He was doubted, even by his own disciples. And yet, he kept serving. He kept giving. He kept loving. The Bible says, “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1, NRSV). At the cross, Jesus gave it all. He lavishly poured out his very life, like Babette pouring out everything she had for a feast.

Misunderstood Servant

In Acts 11, Peter is misunderstood by his own people – the other apostles and believers. After visiting Cornelius’ house, they accused him, saying, “You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!” (Acts 11:3).

Do you remember Peter on the night Jesus was betrayed? People accused him of being with Jesus, and out of fear he denied it, even cursing. But here in Acts, Peter is different. He is calm, steady, patient—because he has become a true servant of Christ.

 

The Incarnation

When we hear the word, “incarnation” (God made flesh), we often imagine Baby Jesus lying peacefully in a manger. But the truth is, incarnation is costly and violent. For example, Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus, the Son of God, emptied himself, took the form of a slave, and died a criminal’s death on the cross.

Imagine being a free person suddenly kidnapped, sold into slavery, beaten, abused. Or imagine being innocent, yet wrongfully accused of murder, thrown in prison, and executed on death row. That’s the reality of the incarnation –except that Jesus chose it willingly. All his divine privileges were taken away. His freedom was taken away. His joy was taken away. He emptied himself, came down to the lowest place, and became the servant of all.

 

The Way Up Is Down

Jesus’ incarnation shows us how to live as his disciples: “The way up is the way down.” In his sermon, Jesus Our Servant, Pastor Tim Keller once said, “The real test of discipleship is whether the same spirit of servanthood that was in Christ now lives in us.” Especially two examples from his sermon speak to me. First, in our giving. Before I knew Christ, I gave only what I could “afford” – as long as my standard of living stayed the same. As long as it didn’t affect my vacation plans, or my meals out, or my comfort. But that’s not the way of Jesus. His “standard of living” changed drastically when he emptied himself for us. True servanthood means giving in a way that lowers me so someone else can be lifted up. If my giving never brings me down, I am not a servant yet.

Second, in how we handle recognition. Before Christ changes us, we serve as long as we get recognition, as long as people notice, appreciate, and affirm us. But Jesus made himself of no reputation. He didn’t serve for applause. A true servant doesn’t say, “Look how much I’ve done—why doesn’t anyone notice?” Instead, a true servant finds joy in serving unseen, because God sees. This is the way of Christ: the way up is the way down. And the more we follow him in this downward path, the more we find life, freedom, and joy.

 

Taking the Hit

Let me put it another way. When I ask my children to clean up their mess, they usually do it. But when I ask one of them to clean up a sibling’s mess, they protest, “Why should? It’s not my fault!” This is an instinct. This is exactly how we always feel. But that’s not how a servant’s heart operates. The servants say, “I know, this isn’t my fault. But someone has to take the hit. So I will do it. I will take the hit. I will pay the price.” That’s what Jesus did. He took the greatest hit for the sins of the world.

In 1515, Matthias Grünewald painted the Crucifixion. It was painted for a hospital, for people who were dying from a terrible plague called ergotism. This disease brought unbearable suffering—painful seizures, violent spasms, constant diarrhea, relentless vomiting. Many people died in agony, with their bodies twisted and broken. And in this painting, the Christ figure is depicted as if he too were stricken with this disease. His limbs are distorted and twisted. The artist wanted those suffering to see: Jesus suffers with you, and Jesus suffers for you. To Christ’s left, John the Baptist stands, pointing his long finger toward the crucified Lord, as if to say, “Look, here is the One.” In his other hand he holds an open book, a witness that all of this is the fulfillment of God’s Word. And at John’s feet stands a lamb carrying a cross—an echo of John’s own words: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”[1] This is the good news. Jesus entered into our deepest pain, bore the weight of our sin and suffering, and made it his own.

 

Easy Yoke

In Acts 11, Peter is misunderstood and criticized. But after explaining what happened, the misunderstanding is cleared up. The people calm down and praise God. When Abraham was tested to offer his only Son Isaac, the suffering was real and severe. But at the last moment, Isaac’s life was spared, and a lamb was given in his place. But for Jesus, there was no substitute. All the weight of our sins fell upon him. He got the greatest hit. And on the cross, he declared, “It is finished.” So, stop striving, and start believing in the finished work of Christ.

The heart of the gospel message is substitution – Jesus did it for us. “He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6, NLT)

Are you weary and burdened? Come to Jesus. He invites us to take his “easy” yoke (Matthew 11:30). Do you know why his yoke is easy? Because he shares the yoke with us. In fact, he takes most of the weight. Our part is to join him, to walk with him by faith. Paul put it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20, NIV)

Friends, this is the gospel: the way up is the way down. As we go down in repentance, go down in our bank accounts, go down in recognition, we will find a new kind of honor, a new kind of riches, a new kind of joy. Amen.

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[1] Christian Century, Art selection and commentary by Heidi J. Hornik and Mikeal C. Parsons

This artwork appears in the January 4, 2017 issue. https://www.christiancentury.org/article/crucifixion-matthias-gr%C3%BCnewald?check_logged_in=1