The Pilgrim Path---Acts 12: 1 – 5 

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

“…VIOLENT HANDS…EARNEST PRAYER…”

The history of the early church is astounding, thrilling, and sometimes rather bloody. This incident is particularly heartbreaking. One of the men that is so often the “closest” to the LORD Jesus in the Gospels (Luke 9: 28; Mark 14: 33) is executed by King Herod. This effort by Herod had nothing to do with religious fervor---it was simply an act to win the approval of the largest number of Jews. The death occurred during one of the high holy days---the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Herod would have the benefit of having many more Jews in Jerusalem. He could pass himself off as dealing with some sort of “religious insurrectionist”---with the execution of James.

The Apostle James is deemed the first martyr among the apostles. Obviously, the Church is shaken. Then, Peter is arrested---treated like an awful criminal from the looks of it. He goes to the cells---The Church goes to “calling” upon the LORD! We must remember in situations like these that the LORD oversees matters, and not the people of the world like Herod. Now, Herod Agrippa, I---was responsible for his murderous deeds---but he was merely the means of sending the LORD’S servant (James) home. Ole King David reminds us in Psalm 139: 16,

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them…

As the LORD Jesus Christ put it in John 17: 24,

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

When someone dies in service in the Salvation Army, they say that they have, “received a promotion!” My—My—how gloriously true!

In God’s wise and holy purpose---it was time for James to come home. Now the Church would gather and plead with the LORD of Glory that the Apostle Peter might “remain” and labor on a while within the Church Militant (the Church on earth). It will be interesting to “see” what the LORD does in response to the petitions of His People. We must pray in faith and know that the LORD will accomplish His Holy Will. Thanks be to God!

From William Gurnall: Faith cannot but pray as a baby that comes crying into the world. Faith assists the soul in prayer with wrestling grace. Faith takes hold of God and will not easily take a denial. It fires up the affections and sets them at work. Faith uses arguments and helps the soul to wield and use them, both valiantly and victoriously, upon the Almighty. Faith teaches us to press God with them, humbly, yet boldly. Faith melts promises into arguments as a soldier melts lead into bullets, and then helps the Christian send them with force to heaven in fervent prayer…

Isaac Watts: We shall see him face to face, and not through the glass darkly. What supreme glory shall our life display. This is eternal life indeed, and joy unspeakable. How gloriously shall the perfections and honors, both of body and mind unfold themselves. Is this the crown I fought for on earth at so feeble a rate? And was this the prize for which I ran so slow and lazily? O shameful indifference! O underserved prize and crown! Had I imagined how bright the blessing was which lay hidden in the promise, surely, I would have ventured through many deaths to secure the possession of it. O guilty negligence! And criminal unbelief! But your sovereign mercy has pardoned both and made me possessor of this fair inheritance. Behold I bow at your feet forever and adore your riches of overflowing grace.

HYMN

I am Jesus’ little lamb, ever glad at heart I am;

For my Shepherd gently guides me, knows my need, and well provides me,

Loves me every day the same, even calls me by my name.

Who so happy as I am, even now the Shepherd’s lamb?

And when my short life is ended, by his angel host attended,

He shall fold me to his breast, there within his arms to rest.

Henrietta L. von Hayn, 1778

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason