To go through open doors

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Some time ago, there was chirping in our ventilation shaft in the bathroom. I suspected that there was a nest in the shaft. But the mother bird kept flying around the house, calling out. Then I realized that the little one was trapped in the shaft. After a few days, when it was chirping more and more quietly and struggling, I removed the fan. A young redstart sat on the floor, frightened. Suddenly, it flew out the window into freedom, where it was cared for by the mother bird.

1. The Closed Gate

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts of the Apostles 12:5 (ESV)

The story tells of three major events:

• the arrest of some members of the congregation by Herod Agrippa. (A grandson of Herod the Great, the child killer of Bethlehem).
  
  
• by the praying congregation
  
  
• by the angel of the Lord who frees Peter. Although Peter is held in prison and closely guarded, escape is completely impossible. Yet, while the congregation prayed behind closed doors, the prison doors opened. When Peter knocks on the courtyard gate, the girl Rhoda comes out, but she does not open it. However, Peter does not stop knocking. Finally, they open and recognize him. Everyone was beside themselves with joy. With a hand gesture, he calms them down and tells how the Lord has freed him from prison.

When Peter knocks at the courtyard door, the girl Rhoda comes out, but she does not open it. Yet Peter does not stop knocking. Finally, they open and recognize him. Everyone was beside themselves with joy. With a wave of his hand, he calms them and tells how the Lord has freed him from prison. 

Let us observe how the liberation takes place:

Peter is constantly guarded by four soldiers, who are relieved every six hours. He is between two soldiers, chained to each. Two more stand guard at the door.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stands before him. A bright light fills the cell. He nudges Peter on the side to wake him. “Get up quickly,” he says. Immediately, the chains fall from his wrists. Peter follows the angel.

They pass the first guard, then the second, and finally reach the heavy iron gate, which opens by itself, into freedom.

2. A good message

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV)

How many good news have we heard, seen, or read today?

Don't the bad reports in the media prevail: wars, expulsions, uprisings, shootings, natural disasters

There, Isaiah says that he has been commissioned to deliver good news!

Who were those wretches back then?

In the time of Isaiah, it was those who returned from captivity and found a devastated land. The forgotten, the sorrowful, the poor, and the powerless. Now they were to hear a message of joy (according to Isaiah 61:5–8).

3. Grace the Gateway to Freedom

Today, God comes to us through Jesus Christ to open the prison doors. He has opened the door to life (according to 1 Cor. 15:55). He is the only one who brings salvation and liberation for all!

Who are the wretched today?

There are people who live in freedom and yet are imprisoned. Let's think of those addicted to alcohol and drugs, those addicted to nicotine.

Then there is a group, I call them the poor:

The divorced, the lonely, the fearful, the disappointed, the outcast, the hungry, the betrayed, the sick, and so on.

4. Song: (Reuben Morgan, Celebrate Jesus 3 / 215)

My Savior, Redeemer, you pulled me out of the darkness.  
You act all-powerful. Now nothing remains  as it was.
You came to us from eternity,  
to the earth here yourself, the Son of God.  
Because you live, because you died,  
because you rose again and the door to God  
is now opened through you, Hallelujah, thanks be to you.

Author: Egon Waechter
Images: https://pixabay.com/de/