Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday, the day when Jesus revealed His divinity to His disciples. We can read about this event in the Synoptic Gospels: Matt. 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:28-36, as well as see it being referenced in 2 Peter 1:16-21. God orchestrated this unimaginably divine event that took place on Mount Tabor in Israel not just for Peter, James, and John as they were praying with Jesus; and not just so Moses and Elijah could appear in presence, but also so believers of every generation could have a divine encounter and experience Jesus’ in His holy brilliance through these passages of Truth.
On Friday, Pastor Mary’s devotion was about another divine encounter that began with Cornelius and an angel of the Lord. Today we continue with that story of transformation, and we see a continuation of divine encounters, all in an effort to grow individuals in their faith and trust in the Lord. If you recall, we left Friday’s devotion with Cornelius sending his messengers to go get Simon Peter, as requested by an angel of the Lord. This was so Jesus could work His grace, love, and salvation through Simon Peter for Cornelius, and I image many others who were firsthand witnesses of these divine encounters.
Today we pick up as Cornelius’ messengers were nearing Simon, the tanner’s home, and Simon Peter was up on the roof praying. During this time, Peter had a divine encounter, or vision, from the Lord. In the vision, the Lord commands Peter to eat all animals, some of which were considered unclean or forbidden creatures for Jewish people to eat. Peter initially tells the Lord that he will never eat anything that is impure or unclean. Then the Lord spoke to Peter three times saying, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” (v. 15) The point the Lord was making with His vision to Peter is that only God determines what is clean (holy) and what is unclean (sinful), and this cleanliness would apply to the Gentiles messengers Peter was about to meet whom he would need to extend Jesus’ love and grace.
As the messengers arrived, the Holy Spirit instructed Peter what he had to do, and he followed the divine message with obedience, even though he was not sure what God had planned. Keep in mind, Joppa was a mixed town of Gentile and Jewish workers, and even if Simon the tanner had some less concerns with strict Jewish rules, he most likely would still have had concerns of impure table fellowship, and lodging of Gentiles overnight which would not have been acceptable. Yet, Peter invited the messengers to stay the night, and they would return to see Cornelius the next day.
Acts 10:9-23 (NLT)
Peter Visits Cornelius
9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”
15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your transforming work in and through our lives. Holy Spirit, please stir within our hearts today and bring us revelation of your divine presence. We want You to guide us to share Your love, grace, and the saving work of Your salvation with someone, today! Be with us as we prepare our hearts to enter into Your Lenten season this week. Allow us to be fully transparent with You as we reflect on what needs change and more of You, help us to be quick to repent, and please restore us anew, Jesus. Thank You for all You have done for us, we ask this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.