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In Matthew 16, Jesus promised to Peter that he would give him the keys that would open the door so that all of humanity could have direct access into the “Kingdom of Heaven”. He did not say those exact words but that is what he meant and that is what happened.
First Peter unlocked and opened the door of the “Kingdom of Heaven” to the Jews in Jerusalem. That happened on the day of Pentecost.
- God gave Peter and the 120 assembled with him the Holy Spirit so that they would have the power necessary to spread the Gospel to the whole world. Upon reception of the Holy Spirit they all spoke in “tongues” (foreign languages)
- Jesus’ mother and siblings were in that group.
- Then Peter preached proving that Jesus was the promised Messiah and that the Jews had tortured and murdered him.
- Then Peter shared the conditions of walking through the door that led to the “Kingdom of Heaven” namely… repentance and baptism.
- On that day 3000 souls entered the unlocked and opened door into the Kingdom of Heaven. Many more Jews would follow in the coming days.
Secondly Peter unlocked and opened the door of the “Kingdom of Heaven” to the Gentiles. Also in the city of Jerusalem.
- God sent Peter to the household of a Roman Centurion, his family and his close friends. We don’t know how many were there… probably a lot.
- Using the power of the Holy Spirit Peter again preached that Jesus was the promised Christ.
- Peter again gave the conditions for entry into the “Kingdom of Heaven”… that “everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) would receive forgiveness of sins” and therefore entry into the Kingdom.
- At that point God poured out the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius, his family and his close friends and they all spoke in “tongues” (foreign languages).
- With that great sign from God, Peter immediately knew that the Gentiles were acceptable and “commanded them to be Baptized”
Cornelius, his family and his close friends entered the now unlocked door into the Kingdom of Heaven. Before long Gentile Christians would greatly out number Jewish Christians in the Kingdom.
That great door to the Kingdom was first opened 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead and has remained continually opened and is open even today.
To walk through that door one must believe in Jesus Christ and all that belief entails (baptism, etc.). Otherwise all you can do is look sadly through that door and never enter into that great and magnificent Kingdom.
Thank-you Peter for unlocking that door.
Tonight in class we were doing a character study of James the brother of Jesus and the question came up about when he became a believer. James had to have known the 12 disciples on some level. He had to have either experienced or heard of the events that accompanied his oldest brother’s death… the earthquake, the dead rising from their graves, the curtain separating the Holy of Holies being torn in two. He undoubtedly knew that his mother had witnessed her oldest son’s crucifixion.
James had to have known about the events of Pentecost and how his brother Jesus and his followers were turning the world upside down… and frequently being killed for not renouncing Jesus.
I’m sure at some point Mary sat each of her children down and told them of the exact circumstances involving her pregnancy. And the exact circumstances of the birth of their brother… the shepherds, the wise men, the gifts of Gold.
My guess is that neither James nor the other siblings would dare to call their own mother a liar. Think about that.
My guess also is that all of the physical family of Jesus became believers and became believers early. How could they not with such overwhelming testimony?
And Mary the mother of Jesus and his siblings were among the 120 disciples gathered together at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out. Acts 1.
It may be guessing but it is logical guessing.
Julie and I attended the funeral service for Joy Torno Miller recently. We didn’t know either of them very well but we knew their families.
I used to do cattle work for Warren’s dad, Nelson Miller, on their home place where Warren lives now in Papalote, Texas. I also worked cattle for Warren’s uncle Edwin Miller. In fact Edwin told me one time that during the depression sometimes their meals consisted of Grasshoppers. Hard times. Anyway, two true south Texas families.
I bought some land in Papalote because I liked the area so much. I go out once a week to clear brush, work on fence, drive tractors, etc. And every time I go out I drive past Warren and Joy’s home. I got to where I would call Warren as I went out and visit with him. Invariably Joy would be in the conversation on speaker phone. I began to realize how much they liked people. Sometimes Warren and Joy would drive their golf cart out to my place and visit.
Joy’s health has not been great for sometime but still she would get out in the South Texas heat to come visit and never complained about her health. I worried about her a little bit. But she wasn’t a complainer.
I learned a lot more at the funeral. Warren said that on their second date he brought up the subject of marriage and Joy “penciled” him in to see what he would make of himself. After their only child, Keith, was born she told Warren if he wanted anymore kids he would have to deliver them.
See what I mean about sense of humor? My kind of people.
Joy was the second oldest of 5 kids behind her older brother Ray. Often times that oldest daughter becomes like another mother… and she was.
The youngest was my friend Tim Torno. When he was born Joy was 8 years old and immediately took him under her wings. He said Joy included him in everything including her circle of friends. She made him feel special and loved. Tim said he has never known anyone as hospitable as his oldest sister and he’s no pilgrim. He has served as an Elder for many years.
Older brother Ray said in High School when he would get home late from a football game or running track everyone would be in bed except Joy. She would wait up for him and have a plate of food on the kitchen table and listen to him recount what happened in the games. Ray said it was a tradition that Sinton football players would be walked out on the field by one of the girls. Years later he found out Joy had recruited girls to walk out with her big brother.
You can imagine what Keith’s life was like having all that “mothering” focused on him.
Food was big in Joy’s life and she had a knack for figuring out what someone’s favorite food was and preparing that for them. I wish i had known.
These last few years I would consistently see that Joy was in the emergency room or in the hospital. Whenever I would talk to Warren they were either going to the doctor or just coming home from the doctor. That takes a toll not only on the sick one but on the husband of the sick one. In fact at the service… Ray mentioned the quiet dedication Warren had to Joy.
I’m glad I went to the funeral because I learned so much from these two great life examples, Warren and Joy. And if someone had offered me a thousand dollars not to go I would have laughed in their face. Priceless enduring memories for as long as I have the capacity to remember.
Thanks Warren and Joy the world needs more people like you.
