Hidden Treasure

Today's story is brought to you by the pastor of our church. It's actually a story HIDDEN INSIDE of another story. I think that's why I like it so much.

The story is found in the Book of Acts, the 20th chapter. Paul is going to be preaching, but then something happens.

"On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹²The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted." - Acts 20:7-12

Are you ready to start digging? How can I encourage you to grab a shovel and begin? Well, how about if I tell you that the "hidden treasure" in this story.  . . is Jesus? There is no mention of His name, but the clues, the gold, is everywhere.

Verse 7 - "the first day of the week" - this is Sunday, the Lord's day.

Verse 7 - "we came together to break bread" - communion? fellowship? Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." - John 6:25

Verse 7 - "Paul spoke to the people" - what was Paul preaching? It was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Verse 7 - "he intended to leave the next day" - Jesus preached HIS message right up to the day HE left too.

Verse 7 & 8 - "midnight" and "many lamps" - it was dark. We all were in darkness, until we "saw the light."

Verse 8 - "the upstairs room" - the kingdom of heaven? Where did Jesus hold The Last Supper? In an upper room.

Verse 9 - "Eutychus" - just a coincidence here, but the first and last syllables of Eutychus are pronounced YOU and US. seriously? In this story, Eutychus represents "you" and "us."

Verse 9 - "sinking into a deep sleep" - so will you and "us" sinking into a deep sleep (eternal death ie. hell) without Jesus.

Verse 9 - "picked up dead" - again, this is us without Jesus.

Verse 10 - "Paul went down" - and so did Jesus - from heaven to earth. Why? To save us. But I am getting ahead on myself.

Verse 10 - "He's alive!" - and so are we when we receive Christ. It is nothing we ourselves have done. It is Christ alone!

Verse 11 - "Then he went upstairs again" - and so did Jesus after His resurrection.

Verse 11 - "talking until daylight, he left" - this represents Jesus talking with his disciples for 40 days AFTER his resurrection. And then Jesus left.

Verse 12 - "The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted." - the rapture of the church? When Jesus and the heavenly host come to take US home?

This story is simply amazing, but it is only REALLY amazing if for those of us who have heard the story and been brought fully to life. If we don't hear the message, if we do not come to life, in Christ, we will fall into the outer darkness and truly die.

My prayer is that all of us would embrace this message, this gold that we have found, and embrace Jesus, just as Paul "fell on Eutycus" in verse 10.

Forgot that one.