August 27, 2017

The Servant Rhoda

“Peter knocked at the outer entrance and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door.  When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!”  Acts 12:13-14

This is like a comedy routine of the early church.  Peter has been in prison and it is the night before his trial.  He miraculously escapes, thanks to an angel of the Lord.  Once Peter realizes what has happened he heads to Mary’s house, where there is a group of people praying for Peter’s release.

Now for the comedy: Peter knocks on door and a servant goes to answer it.  Her name is Rhoda, which means God’s unfolded love.  As soon as she recognizes Peter’s voice, she runs back to the group to announce that Peter is there.  She forgot Peter, forgot to open the door, and Peter had to stand there, knocking away until they came to the door.  Can you picture it?

Even funnier is the response of the group, gathered to pray for Peter’s release.  They proclaim it can’t be him; he is in prison!  They tell Rhoda she has lost it and when she persists, they think it is an angel.  That would mean they believed Peter had been killed and his angel showed up.  While all this is happening, just picture Peter knocking on the door.  After all, he is a wanted man!

It makes one wonder how many times we’ve missed something, even in the name of doing what is important.  It makes one wonder if we get so immersed in praying for something that when the answer has arrived and is knocking on our door, we don’t answer it, because we are praying that which has arrived!  It gives one hope, for if the early church engaged in such endeavors, then that is good news for us.