The Two Doors

“They came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him… he went to the house of Mary… where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer.” – Acts 12:10, 12-13

The interesting thing about Peter’s prison break is that the angel does not walk him all the way home. The angel pokes Peter in the side to wake him up, lights up the cell, unlocks the chains, tells him to get dressed and put on his jacket, walks him past several layers of guards, and opens the door to the city. Surely he could have walked him a few more blocks and made sure he arrived safely at his destination. But instead, immediately, he leaves him.

But Peter knows where to go. The first door was opened by the angel, but the second door was opened by his community. Even though it was late at night, many people were there together, praying for him. They were there to open the door for him. They were there to receive him and hear his story. They were there to experience first-hand this miracle of God together. They were there to spread the word to James and the others.

David spoke yesterday about how a community of Jesus-followers is marked by its source, posture, and depth, and we see those things here. Their source was Jesus: they were gathered not to strategize or vent worries with each other, but to pray. Their posture was one of active participation to the point of sacrifice: they were willing to lose sleep and come together. There was depth of vulnerability: Peter, bleary-eyed and probably not looking his best, did not hesitate to find them.

This is what a responsive community looks like: Peter, coming as he is, knocking at a time of day when no one would normally answer the door, not afraid to keep knocking. And his church, gathered together and praying for him. His church, opening the door to receive him.