"Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers...." (Acts 7:52-- From one of today's readings)
This is Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin. He reveals in this "message" that you and I as Followers of Jesus have a history, a tradition, a heritage. It all goes back to Abraham, one could even say, Noah and Enoch, who "found favor," and, "walked with God." Could we say, "Walked in God's favor?" Anyone who "hears" the, "Word of God," anyone who will listen to and obey the Living Triune God revealed in Jesus Christ is in the Family of God, i.e., "the household of faith."
Now our text does not assert that the Jews alone were responsible for the death of Jesus. This is one of the (excuse me) dumbest accusations ever made by anyone, let alone Christendom. What Stephen does say is that the Jews have been just as guilty of rejecting God as any other people group on the planet. Yet I do believe there is a sort of you-should-have-known-better in his tone to the Jews, "He came to His own, and His own received Him not." The prophets, "foretold the coming of the Just One," to all peoples, not just the Jews. And, Jews and Gentiles alike have persecuted the prophets and proclaimers of the Gospel. It was the sin of the human race, not just the Jews, which drove the nails into Jesus' Body, the sword into His side, the crown of thorns into His brow, and laid bare Jesus back with the scourge. It is true of all human beings who ever lived or ever will lived, "the Just One, of whom you have become the betrayers and murders."
I embrace anew today, as I also encourage you, the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, His journey from Gethsemane to Calvary to Resurrection, taking His Own Blood into, "the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." There Jesus, "makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." And now because of, "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," you and I can rejoice that we may have, "boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...."
"Jesus, keep me near the Cross." Amen.
Now our text does not assert that the Jews alone were responsible for the death of Jesus. This is one of the (excuse me) dumbest accusations ever made by anyone, let alone Christendom. What Stephen does say is that the Jews have been just as guilty of rejecting God as any other people group on the planet. Yet I do believe there is a sort of you-should-have-known-better in his tone to the Jews, "He came to His own, and His own received Him not." The prophets, "foretold the coming of the Just One," to all peoples, not just the Jews. And, Jews and Gentiles alike have persecuted the prophets and proclaimers of the Gospel. It was the sin of the human race, not just the Jews, which drove the nails into Jesus' Body, the sword into His side, the crown of thorns into His brow, and laid bare Jesus back with the scourge. It is true of all human beings who ever lived or ever will lived, "the Just One, of whom you have become the betrayers and murders."
I embrace anew today, as I also encourage you, the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, His journey from Gethsemane to Calvary to Resurrection, taking His Own Blood into, "the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." There Jesus, "makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." And now because of, "the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," you and I can rejoice that we may have, "boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...."
"Jesus, keep me near the Cross." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
