The Greater Moses
Acts 7:35-44
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
In Deuteronomy Moses records his own words, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen" St Stephen reminds the people of these very words as he comes to his final defense.
We have heard about how God was with Abraham as he sojourned in a foreign land. We have learned how God blessed Joseph through the highs and lows of his life. But now we are reminded of Moses' rule over the people, and the prophecy of one greater than or like Moses.
Moses was placed over the people of Israel. But the people of Israel continue to reject Moses. Stephen reminds us of the great and powerful signs Moses did. You can remember the ten plagues upon the land of Egypt. He points out particularly the parting of the Red Sea.
Now with this remember back to when Jesus himself goes down into the water. It is no longer the water that parts but the heavens themselves open up. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus. Then remember the voice, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Later in Matthew's Gospel Jesus goes up on a Mountain and there is another voice from heaven that says, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Remember, Moses said that the one who would come after him, would be the one they are supposed to listen to him.
Jesus is their brother. He did many very powerful signs in the land. The heavens were parted at the beginning of his ministry. Near the end of his ministry the voice tells them to listen to him. When he gives up his spirit on the cross, the curtain in the temple is torn to reveal, there is no ark of covenant there. The true temple is hanging on a tree outside the city.
Jesus was rejected by his own people. They asked even as the Hebrew slave asked of Moses, "Who made you ruler over us?" The people turned from Moses, looking to Aaron to give them gods that brought them out of the Land of Egypt. The people turned to their priests for comfort and lies. They turned to their Roman rulers for help and guidance. They rejected their God, and his prophet, and even yes God's anointed King.
Yet, as Moses held up his hands to part the Red Sea and provide the people with a way of safety and salvation from their slavery in Egypt. Jesus Christ himself, the one who was rejected, stretches out his arms upon the cross in order to provide a way of salvation for you. He dies and rises again, so that you to might die to sin and rise with him in Baptism. As you go through the Waters of Baptism, like the people of Israel went through the waters of the Red Sea. You are brought from death to life.
Sadly, we still live in a world full of suffering, disease, and death. Even though spring is a time of renewal, it can also be a time of sadness as there are some plants, animals, and yes even loved ones who did not make it through the winter. We rejoice because Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed Alleluia! but we are also saddened to remember those who are no longer with us to celebrate.
We hope these are no longer with us because they have moved on to the life in Paradise with Jesus localized now in Heaven. Or maybe a few have moved to another town and found a new church home. But the ones that should sadden us more than the rest, as those who have returned to Egypt.
Many under Moses desired to return to Egypt. They did not want to journey under the love and guidance of God. The path was too difficult. Life was too out of control. Way was too hard. And even for many following Jesus, they fell away on Good Friday. We hope that these were the 5,000 and 3,000 that were added to the disciples number after Pentecost and the days following.
But often people desire to turn to their star gods. They desire to turn back to slavery in Egypt. They desire to live without the voice of God. They want to live a life built on random chance. They want to believe in the goodness of man, rather than the flawed, sinfulness, of man.
Stephen is reminding the people of the promise given by Moses. Stephen is reminding them how they have rejected Jesus like their fathers once rejected Moses. Aaron was not a bad man, but he gave the people a golden calf to worship, leading them into sin. The priests of Israel often had good intentions as they allowed foreign theology and ideology creep into their teaching.
Stephen is pointing us back to the cross. Stephen points us to the stone the builders rejected. Stephen is building the case that Jesus is not a rejection of Moses, but that the rejection of Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses' prophecy. God even calls Moses a god for the people, with Aaron as his prophet. Jesus is the greater Moses. He is our brother and our God. He is even our way to eternal life.
So we walk through this valley of the shadow of death, and with our eyes fixed on the green grass of the resurrection. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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