“Speaking out for Jesus”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, June 27, 2023
Acts 5:27-42 (Forward, p. 60) CEV p. 1139
The difference is clearly like the difference between night and day. At one juncture the followers of Jesus are all huddled behind closed doors, afraid as it were ‘even of their own shadows’, out of their fear of the Jewish authorities. And now they are boldly and fearlessly proclaiming their crucified and resurrected Lord to the very people who had put Him to death not many days previously. As I said, the difference is like ‘night and day.’
So, what can account for such a change?
One explanation would surely be just the news itself, and their excitement over having experienced. Surely the resurrection of the once crucified and martyred Jesus was news that was simply ‘too good to be true.’ It reminds me of newly engaged young people—especially the bride to be who all of a sudden just ‘has’ to show off some ‘stone’. Or, the antique car affectio, who just ‘has’ to show off his newest and most prized acquisition. Surely, the calibre of the news itself can explain, at least partially, why they were so eager to share it.
The other explanation, most surely, is the coming and infilling of the Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus’ promise was that the Holy Spirit would give them ‘power to be his witnesses’, which is exactly what they are being. The Spirit gave them a holy boldness which they most surely did not have previously.
However, all of this puts me in mind of yet another ‘difference’, not the before and after difference of the disciples but the difference between them and us! I think that it could be said, almost universally, that there is little of this holy boldness in most of us. Rather than ‘shout it from the rooftops’, or in the marketplace or the council chambers as the earliest disciples did, we are as quiet and timid as church mice. Could it be that what was incredibly good news to those first Christians has become ‘old hat’? And, could it be that, not having fully ‘accessed’ the Holy Spirit, we are bereft of that power that Jesus promised, and are indeed afraid of the authorities, or of what people might say or think, or of how we might ‘come across’? Could it be that we simply aren’t prepared, simply don’t know how to share our story, the Bible story of Jesus, with others? Or, could it be that we simply aren’t
open enough to the possibilities and openings, to those places and times where we certainly could share the Good News? Maybe, this profound difference between them and us is something that we could all tackle—and, certainly, for the good of others and the world in general, need to. Let this be a challenge for all of us. Amen.
Forward notes: “As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” (verse 41).
“There’s a significant difference between the Way and the other movements that the Pharisee Gamaliel cites in his petition to the high priests on behalf of the apostles. When Theudas and Judas rose up, hundreds followed them, they were killed, and their followers dispersed. But when Jesus rose up, thousands followed him, he was killed, and his followers dispersed, and then Jesus came back, and his followers reassembled, and now they are the ones propagating his message.
“It is clear to the council that the name of Jesus has real, staying power. It is just a matter of who gets to control the power of that name.
“The same contention exists today in our communities—who gets to claim the name of Jesus, and who will be shown to be taking it in vain? I hope by our love and our repentance we will be considered worthy of acting for the sake of the name.”
Moving Forward: “Did you know Forward Movement donates resources to nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons? Learn how you can help in this vital ministry at ForwardMovement.org/Donate.”
Some concluding notes: Just two minor things: firstly it was not a matter that ‘Jesus rose up’, as our author contends. It was not something that He did, but that the Father did. And secondly, yes, the name of Jesus does have power, but there is absolutely no sense that anyone can control that power. Not any church or denomination, and certainly not any individual. Anyone can call upon the name of Jesus or come to Him in prayer. And, as for the Council, the Sanhedrin, they are the very last people who would want to use that name, much less control it.