Daily Lectionary: Joshua 8:1-28 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The Bible is full of people having all sorts of interesting visions. Today we hear of Peter having a bizarre idea! The Jews were allowed only to eat foods declared clean by God.  In Peter’s vision, a picnic blanket descended from heaven by the corners three times, covered with unclean food! This doesn’t exactly look like something Peter would want to eat; it would make him unclean.  And then God speaks: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” A new order came down from above, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” The vision ended, and Peter sat perplexed.

The vision Peter was given was about much more than permitting him to discover that bacon makes everything taste better! The food laws no longer apply to Peter, but God’s command to “no longer consider unholy” goes far beyond pork chops and shrimp cocktails. God is showing Peter that Jesus, His church, His Word, and Sacraments are for all nations, even you!

In the past, Jews and Gentiles never mixed, let alone would a Jew eat what the Gentiles considered clean.  After this vision, Peter is told to go and interact with Cornelius, a Gentile. The centurion Cornelius was what the early church would have called a “God-fearer,” a Gentile who believed in the one true God. He was given the vision to reach out to Simon Peter so that Peter would go and see Cornelius preach and teach all about Jesus Christ.

When Peter was finished, he said: “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” No, they cannot withhold the water! Cornelius and his entire household were baptized that day and added to the kingdom of heaven.

Peter was later put on trial for his baptizing of Cornelius. Peter’s actions scandalized the leaders of the early church. But in all this, we see that the Kingdom of Jesus is for “all nations.” Jesus was talking about that when He said: “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” What this means is that the Gospel is for you as well!  You may not be of Jewish heritage or someone who could have encountered Jesus in the flesh, but Jesus has sent you His Word and Sacraments so that you might partake of His grace and forgiveness today.  You who were once unclean are now declared clean by your baptism into Christ.  No heavenly visions, no restrictions on food, just a place at Jesus’ table with all of the company of heaven, no matter their heritage, feasting on the marriage feast of the lamb in HIs kingdom, which has no end. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.