Revelation 21:1-6; Acts 11:1-18
Rev. Kenneth M. Locke, Interim Pastor
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church; Carmel, IN
May 18, 2025; Fifth Sunday of Easter
Imagine you have just received some really, really good news. Great news. Would you share it? Would you let others in on what you’ve just learned?
It would probably depend, wouldn’t it? Some good news you want to jump up and shout and tell anyone who will listen. ‘I just got my driver’s license! I just graduated from school!’ Fantastic news. Everyone should rejoice with you.
Other good news makes you happy, but you want to keep it to yourself. You’ve just received a note or card from your beloved and it makes you tingle inside. You get an email from your doctor with the test results: the results you wanted and prayed for, life-changing results. You might want to keep that kind of news close. Maybe just share it with family or a few close friends.
When do we share good news? When do we hold it close? And why?
This is something the early church is wrestling with. Is the good news of God’s love for us in Jesus meant for everyone, or just a few? Should it be shared widely or kept close? This question is at the heart of our Acts lesson.
Cornelius sends for Peter, who is in Joppa and staying with a tanner. Don’t you imagine someone said, “Cornelius, buddy. Being pious is great, but what’s with this Jew in Joppa? What does their god have to do with us? Besides, he’s living with a tanner. He’s got to reek!”
But Cornelius is ready. He has an explanation. An angel appeared to him and told him to send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring a message of salvation for the whole household. Cornelius doesn’t just act. He has a reason for his action. He shares the good news and explains why.
Peter meets with the leadership in Jerusalem. “Peter, old friend. What are you doing? Eating with Gentiles? Sharing the message of salvation? You think this is what God wants?” Peter, like Cornelius, is ready. He’s happy to explain. ‘I had a vision from God telling me there is no longer any distinction between Us and Them. In Jesus, God has made all people pure, clean, acceptable.’
What Peter and Cornelius have done raises eyebrows, but that’s OK. They can explain their reasons very well.
To me, the message is clear. The good news of God’s love in Jesus is meant for everyone, from tanners to centurions and beyond. We can’t keep it to ourselves, we can’t share it with just a few. Our Easter good news is meant to be shared as far and wide as possible.
Two weeks ago, Kristin preached for us and shared a new hope. In Jesus, God is with us. God loves us regardless of background, race, creed, religion, politics, nationality or any other divisive issue you can think of. In Jesus, God loves us all.
Last week, Trish preached for us and shared how we can trust Jesus. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He wants to lead us along meaningful, loving, and peaceful paths. We can trust him and follow his voice.
In today’s epistle lesson, we learn God is not distant. God is not far away. God is not indifferent or uncaring about our concerns. God’s dwelling place is with us. God is with us.
Friends, this is good news. This is the Easter message. In Jesus, God has done a new thing. God has given us new hope. We can trust Jesus, listening to his voice, as he leads us down paths of meaning, purpose and joy. God has come to us and is dwelling among us. By the Holy Spirit God is with us now, close as the breath in our lungs.
We have to share this good news with everyone: from tanners to centurions, A to Z, alpha to omega and beyond. It’s too good to keep to ourselves. Thanks be to God! Amen.