Stephen Starts at the Beginning
Acts 7:1-8
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this morning is the beginning of St Stephen's defense. Last week we heard from Acts 6, when people were saying, "This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us." When the council then turns to Stephen his face shines like an Angel, or appears like the face of an Angel.
So now the high priest turns to Stephen and asks him for his defense, or recounting of the situation. Stephen starts talking about Abraham, and how God brought him out his home land to wander around.
How many of you ever tried this strategy? Your parents ask you why you didn't clean your room. You start tell a story about how Grandma came over on the boat from the old country, and all the other family stories you have heard since you were born. Or you get pulled over by a police officer and tell them about when they first had to post speed limit signs, because motorized vehicles could go more than ten miles an hour. Think how funny it would be in an old western. Some sheriff rides up behind a guy on his horse and says, "Do you know how fast you were going back there?"
That is called a tangent. And some might think that is all Stephen is trying to do. He is just giving them a history lesson, in order to get himself out of trouble. But all this started because the text said, "But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which [Stephen] was speaking."
So the Holy Spirit has decided to remind these people who God is, and what God has done for these people. Abraham was not great because he knew the Law, and kept the Law. Abraham was sinful man. He lived in the world just like we do. We live in this sinful world and we are corrupted by it.
But God called Abraham. God made a promise to Abraham. God even turned Abraham's world upside down. He told Abraham to leave his family and go to a foreign territory. There he promised to multiply him into a great nation. Abraham and Sarah left their family behind because they had faith in God. Abraham and Sarah did not have any children, but they trusted in God to provide.
Stephen does even slightly explain why he starts with Abraham. Because Abraham was told that his offspring would suffer 400 plus years of oppression. Then God would judge that land. Stephen makes the connection with the promise given to Abraham with Moses and the Exodus.
This is only setting the stage for the further dialog about Jesus not coming to remove or abolish Moses. Jesus himself says, "I have not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it."
It is easy for us to think since Jesus has come to forgive sins, and he has died in our place and for the forgiveness of all sins. Then we can continue to lead a life of Sin. He has removed the Law from before our eyes. We are then free to be whomever we desire to be.
But God did not call Abraham away from his Father's house so that he would not have a Father to rule over him. He called him away from his earthly Father in service of his Heavenly Father. God did not call Jacob to flee from his Father, so he could be his own man. He actually places Jacob under his Father-in-law serving him 14 plus years.
Moses does not deliver the people out of Egypt so that they can be free to do whatever they want to do. God delivered them out of Egypt and brought them to Mount Sinai and gave them rules to follow.
So we also need to follow the covenant laws given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as the Laws written in stone a long time ago. These Laws help us to live out our lives in peace and harmony. The more we are able to love one another and share the love of God, the better this fallen creation can be.
But it is still fallen. So we still look for our Risen Savior.
He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
Jesus Christ has passed through death into life. He has brought to us victory over the grave. He has won for us the prize of eternal life. But even though the victory has been won, the battle still rages on. We need to repeat the story over and over again.
You need to be reminded that Jesus is Risen from the dead. He is the first fruits of the Resurrection. He will return so that we will not have to face a world corrupt by sin anymore. But he will make all things new. Even as he is risen from the dead and lives to all eternity.
Therefore, It is not a bad idea for us to repeat the story over and over. Starting at the very beginning can be a very good place to start. Then you recall all the times when God has delivered and forgiven his people throughout our story with God.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment