Approved

Luke 11:37-52
I love the subtle connections we find throughout scripture. In fact, we have a good example of one today. We know that the author of the gospel of Luke is also the author of Acts, so look at these two passages, one from today’s gospel reading and the other from a familiar account in Acts.

“Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs” (Luke 11:47-48).

“Then (Stephen) knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him” (Acts 7:60-8:1).

Jesus condemned the lawyers and Pharisees with whom he speaking in the very strongest of terms, going so far as to say they had concurred with the murder of prophets generations before. Based on that passage, then, what are we led to think about the man who would later become one of the greatest evangelists in the history of the Church? When first we see Paul (still called Saul), he is witnessing and approving of the murder of a Christian by a crowd made up of lawyers and Pharisees. (Paul was still a Pharisee at this time, as well.) Are we supposed to like Paul at this point in the story? Are we supposed to expect great things from him as an apostle? Hardly! In fact, Luke would have us understand what a devious and dangerous man Paul really was. And yet, when the time was right even this Pharisee had a role to play in the life of the Christian faith.

Now turn back to the account from Luke. Knowing that Paul will one day find a role in the life of the Church, are we free to assume that those to whom Jesus is speaking are beyond redemption? No! If Paul can be converted, so can anyone. Why? Because the Pharisees and lawyers in Luke’s account are figuratively guilty—they act out their approve of the killing prophets long before. But Paul was literally guilty of aiding and abetting in the murder of Stephen. If Jesus can redeem Paul, Luke tells us, then we must be slow in assuming anyone is beyond the redemptive power of God in Jesus Christ which, by the way, goes for you and me as well.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we sin and help us to live as your people, sharing the good news of our own redemption with the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

An Extreme Example

Acts 7:44-8:1a

Not long after his selection as a deacon Stephen found himself standing before the religious leaders in Jerusalem, in large part because of the things he had accomplished in the name of Jesus Christ. Given the opportunity to address such an audience Stephen delivered a powerful sermon in which he laid out the claims of the gospel. According to our reading from Acts, however, “When they heard these things, (the Jewish leaders) became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:54-55).

As powerful as Stephen’s sermon was, what is most powerful about this story to me is that even in the midst of such violence Stephen is able to perceive the presence of God and Jesus Christ. It is a precious gift, this ability to see with “eyes of faith,” and one to be valued. I admit there are times when I am too busy focusing on what Hamlet calls “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” to see just how blessed I really am—and I’ve never been attacked by a mob bent on silencing me. But by grace Stephen was able to look beyond his situation and to see the “big picture,” the truth of God’s grace, and to take comfort in the promise he had received.

So while Stephen’s words convey a profound truth in the book of Acts, it is his ability to see what God is doing even at the moment of his death that inspires me most.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see with eyes of faith so that we may not lose hope nor be discouraged. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

That Didn’t Last Long

2 Chronicles 24:17-22

Acts 6:1-7, 7:59-8:8

Here it is, the day after Christmas, and our daily readings are full of conflict and death. The prophet Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:21) and Stephen, one of the first deacons (Acts 7:59-60) are each stoned to death, a persecution breaks out against the church in Jerusalem (8:1) and the church itself is torn by conflict over the treatment of widows (6:1-2). Frankly a few readings about peace and prosperity would have been nice today. The baby Jesus still lies in the manger. The Wise Men haven’t even gotten to Bethlehem. Could we not have had some time to enjoy the ambient glow from the stable? But that is not what we’ve been given today.

Maybe that’s just the way it should be. Had the world been filled with peace and light and warmth all along there would have been no need for prophets or a Savior. But the world needed God’s grace and over and over again that is what we got. Jesus was born into difficult circumstances demonstrating that God had not given up on us. Centuries later there are still issues that confront us and challenge us as people of faith, and yet God remains active in our midst.

It is also worth noting that in each of our readings today there is at least a glimmer of hope. Zechariah began to prophesy because “the spirit of God took possession” of him (2 Chronicles 24:20), and though he was killed for his efforts, Zechariah died showing faith in God (v. 22). Even though the church was conflicted early on, “the word of God continued to spread; the number of disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem (Acts 6:7). And the persecution that followed Stephen’s death helped to spread to word of God as Philip, another of the disciples, began to proclaim the word in the city of Samaria to the joy of it’s residents (8:5-8).

We’d like a rosier picture today. We’d like to dwell at the manger for a bit and watch the baby sleep. But the world needs the word of God too much for us to stand idle, and we know too much about the grace of God to remain silent for long.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the birth of our Savior. Now give us the courage to spread the good news throughout the world that all may come to share the joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dying Gracefully

Note: My original spelling for the title of this entry, "Dieing Gracefully", proved to be problematic, so I have changed it to a more acceptable spelling.

Acts 7:44-8:1a

Stephen, recently ordained a deacon by the early church, had gotten himself into trouble. But when he was brought before the authorities he chose not to defend himself so much as to offer his witness about the good news of Jesus Christ. In doing so Stephen became one of the earliest of martyrs for the faith. Yet as he died Stephen refused to condemn his killers. “While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died” (Luke 7:59-60).

Two things come to my mind today regarding this passage. First of all there is the fact that the Greek root of the work martyr is also the root for the English word witness. To witness to one’s faith, to affirm that which one believes, is to be willing to die for it. Stephen clearly was willing to die for the glory of God and at the end his prayer was not “help, save me!” but “receive my spirit.” On top of that Stephen was willing to face his death with no animosity against those who killed him nor against those who lacked the courage to stand with him. At least I think that’s how we can read this passage—if they weren’t for Stephen they were essential against him, and he was willing to forgive them all, even the believers who remained silent.

The truth is, even when it is safe for me to offer my testimony to the Lordship of Jesus I am not always willing to do so, and I certainly have never faced the possibility of death for what I believe. On top of that, I hold grudges for things far, far lest significant that what Stephen faced. But here is the good news for me and anyone else who falters in faith. Stephen’s witness to Jesus and his prayer of forgiveness echo though time in the pages of scripture until they touch our lives as well. “Forgive them,” Stephen asks God, and he is talking about you and me. “Forgive them when they do not give their all for you.” What a gracious gift to offer at one's death, one for which we should be very thankful.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we lack the courage to serve you faithfully and steadfastly, and help us to forgive others who have wronged us that your love may be visible in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.