my week...
last sunday brooke had the flu...wed i had the flu and was stuck at whole foods.
thurs morning i woke up with one the worst case of hives i've ever had...thurs afternoon my truck wouldn't start (thanks rocky)
also this week...our house finally got started in a major way (and we had a pleasant christmas).
seems to be going well. we're starting to think ahead about what comes after that.
it got me thinking about expectations and what qualifies as good and bad.
my measurement of bad tends to include physical discomfort (nausea and hives)
but for job, christ, and probably paul, that was god's will.
it is not then actually bad is it?
likewise, my measurement of good includes my house being framed without issue (so far).
but is that true? what if god's will includes my house being struck by lightning and burning this week?
that is not actually bad is it?
sounds pessimistic i guess...
this weeks passage had me thinking this way...actually, i think viewing this sort of thing as pessimism is a bit out of touch.
the apostles have a bit of a rough week in chapter 5...but they viewed it as a great week.
17. But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees),
and they were filled with jealousy.
18. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.
19. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,
20. "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."
21. Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the
high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons
of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.
22. But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,
23. saying, "We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but
when we had opened up, we found no one inside."
24. Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly
perplexed about them as to what would come of this.
25. But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and
teaching the people!"
26. Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for
they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
27. When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,
28. saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled
Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
29. But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.
30. "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.
31. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance
to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32. "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
33. But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.
34. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council
and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
35. And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men.
36. "For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined
up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.
37. "After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him
; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered.
38. "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or
action is of men, it will be overthrown;
39. but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against
God."
40. They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in
the name of Jesus, and then released them.
41. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy
to suffer shame for His name.
42. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Summary:
A --> Miracles galore, including that bit about the shadow of peter... (acts 5:12-17)
B --> Jewish powers are jealous, angry, and a bit afraid.
v17 calls them "filled with jealousy".
later, after talking to peter, they say in v28 that peter will bring "[christ's] blood upon [them]"
C --> They have 'the apostles' arrested and tossed back in jail.
this happened before, back in chapter 4 - many say that tradition for the jews was to give a warning for the first offense,
then to punish after that.
so now they're back in jail, and maybe a bit more worried? these are after all the folks who killed jesus (and terrified peter/etc).
D --> During the night, an Angel visits the jail, lets them out, and tells them to keep talking about Christ.
v20. "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."
E --> In the morning, they get up, go to the temple, and keep talking about Christ.
F --> Meanwhile, the Jewish leaders gather together and call for 'the Apostles' to be brought from the jail to them.
v21 - bring the apostles here.
v22-24 - "where are they?" "i thought you had them?"
v25 - uh, they're in the temple talking again.
v26 - some soldiers go and fetch 'the apostles' from the temple
G --> Dialogue with the high priest
v27,28 (high priest) - "i thought i told you to shut it about jesus." you're going to bring his blood on us.
v29-32 (peter and apostles) - "i thought we said we were going to ignore your request back in chapter 4:19,20? jesus is
the christ, and we'd rather obey him than you."
v33 - (jewish authorities) - "gnnaarrrggh. let's kill them."
H --> Gamaliel's advice
v34-39 "relax. if it's of god it will last, otherwise it won't."
note: is this always true?
well...i don't think so. otherwise all old religions/cults would be true.
but it is kind of true, in that god's revelation can not be stopped and will continue.
I --> The apostles get flogged, rejoice that they were considered worthy of suffering, and keep on ignoring the jewish leaders.
40. They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in
the name of Jesus, and then released them.
41. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy
to suffer shame for His name.
42. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
A. life makes sense with the appropriate concerns
1. what is god's concern here?
- clear proclamation of the gospel (the revelation of god)
to that end god springs the apostles and commands them to continue proclamation.
- sanctification of apostles
is this why they are flogged? we don't know...but possible.
2. what are the apostles' concerns here?
- clear proclamation of the gospel (the revelation of god)
- being worthy of suffering.
when they are in conflict:
misery: if their concerns were in conflict with god's, they would be miserable.
we got flogged! this sucks
when they are in unison:
peace, security...even rejoicing.
sorrow over hardship is good
god does not rejoice at pain
christ is in great anxiety before the crucifixion and cries out during it. he weeps at lazarus' tomb.
he ended/healed/removed illness.
heaven is spoken of as a place of feasting, without tears or injustice.
we are to weep with those who weep, pray for healing, etc
1 cor 12:26
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
james 5:14,15
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and
if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
but rejoicing over hardship is also valid
rom 5:3-5
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.
1. pray and seek for christlikeness, sanctification, and growth
this should be a huge concern for us.
if this is true, then difficult circumstances are good for us and can be cause for weeping but also rejoicing.
note: we construct life to make it easy.
unexpected, difficult times may be a gift from our father to push us to greater christlikeness.
2. pray and seek for the continued revelation of christ
the apostles (and god) worked to clearly communicate christ.
if we can find ways to do this in the midst of good and bad circumstances, we have good reason to rejoice (as does god).