Daily Devotion for Lent 2020 - Day 15

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:1-23 (NRSV)

Luke has really been softening us up in the previous chapters.

We see Samaritans who are admitted into the fellowship.

The the Ethiopian eunuch.

Now, we have this Cornelius who is a Roman Centurion.  He was an officer who would have been in charge of 100 men.  Christian or Jewish zealots would have been opposed to ministry with any Roman soldiers and probably the higher the chain of command, the worse the opposition.  This would have been due to the fact that Roman soldiers were instrumental in their oppression rather than freedom.

Luke seems to have positive interactions with other centurions in his Gospel. 

In chapter 7, we see the story of Jesus not only healing a centurion's servant, but praising him for his faith.

Then at the crucifixion, Luke reports in a similar fashion to Mark and Matthew that a centurion speaks favorably of Jesus after his death:

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”  (Luke 23:47)

In any event, we see Cornelius having a vision at three o'clock.  I wrote in an earlier blog about a healing happening at this time and how this time was associated with the death of Jesus.  Cornelius is portrayed as a righteous Gentile - a God-fearer.  Will there be a place for him in the new fellowship?

There is often more freedom from today's
dietary laws at the kids' table.

Peter has his own vision prior to the arrival of the men from Cornelius.  It seems to be a vision that grants permission to the eating of unclean animals.  I wrote yesterday about Peter staying with a tanner who would have been considered unclean himself.  Now he is having this permissive dream concerning the Jewish dietary laws.  For many in his day, this would be too much. 

Rather than a vision from God, they would likely say that if his vision is contrary to scripture, you better check its source.

The greater commission seems to come from Jesus.  We are to be witnesses to the end of the earth.   

If this is the prime directive, it seems that other competing claims may be in jeopardy.  What are the things that may stand in our way today?  What is difficult to let go in order to reach the next generations? 

Prayer for the Day:

Jesus, my feet are dirty. Come even as a slave to me, pour water into your bowl, come and wash my feet. In asking such a thing I know I am overbold, but I dread what was threatened when you said to me, “If I do not wash your feet I have no fellowship with you.” Wash my feet then, because I long for your companionship.  Amen.

Prayer by Origen of Alexandria, 3rd Century

Photo by Greg Walters via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.