Sermon Acts 4:5-12 (and 13)

You know there is trouble,when the text starts with Peter and John being hauled out of prison. The day before started simple enough with Peter healing and preaching. Healing and preaching in public about the Jesus and how he had risen from the grave.

But there was more; Peter was also challenging the religious powers, right to their faces, right out in the open, no fear, nothing hidden, telling how THEY could find forgiveness through the very one whom they plotted and schemed to kill.

Imagine their dismay, they thought they had gotten rid of another trouble maker, and they could therefore get onto more important business. They along with the Roman's had "cut the head off the snake" and fully expected that those who followed Jesus; these uneducated and ordinary people would "go back to where they came from." The authorities were shrewd for they had even ensured that guards were placed at the entrance to the tomb, so no one could take the body, then later claim Jesus had risen. And yet, here were the people proclaiming that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, but more than this, they were doing it boldly, without hiding the shamefulness of the fact that their leader was crucified in such a terrible way.

And more than this, they were filled with outrageous boldness, "How dare these uneducated and ordinary people claim such authority!" We can hear their confusion, their dismay, and their anger.

Isn't that the way of the powers of this world. Instead of seeing something good in these followers of Jesus, this new religious movement, they see danger. Indeed, instead of rejoicing in seeing a man healed, they reacted in fear by throwing the healers in prison. Instead listening to the Good News preached by these ordinary uneducated people and perhaps hearing Jesus' offer of salvation through the grace of God, they saw "upstarts". It's a challenge to us educated leaders and us educated people to remember that who God first chose to share the truth about God. And it is also a challenge to those of you who are uneducated, to not think that God might call you to lead.

But most of these educated and wealthy people did not see nor listen to what Peter and John were doing and saying. They were afraid. And when worldly power is threatened, look out, for first comes prison, next comes threats, then comes execution.

And yet, how strange it is that even after a night in prison, these ordinary men won't play according to the world's rules. Here are all the rulers of Jerusalem, the elders, the scribes, Annas the high priest and even Caiaphas; All the powerful leaders are gathered to intimidate these two preachers and "put them in their place." Show a strong presence, so these men will beg to be let free and go running home like frightened dogs with their tails between their legs.

"By what power or by what name did you heal the man?" They ask, then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, says to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders; it has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

As they say in the old western movies, "Them's a fightin' words." Those are strong words, bold words, challenging words. And the next verse shows how stunned the leaders are; "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition to them."

Here is the church at its core and at its best. Doing good, regardless of what the rulers and powers say. Indeed, amazing the rulers and powers with the good that the church does through the power of God. This has been the case for two thousand years. About two hundred years after the birth of Jesus, Celius, a roman philosopher said, "These Christians are a backward people with silly ideas about Jesus rising from the dead. They come from bottom of society, uneducated, and foolish. However, one must admit that their generosity to the stranger and the widows puts our temples to shame. If anyone is in trouble, these people will take care of him."

For those called to be the church, in response to grace of Jesus Christ, we reach out to those whom other's reject. Why? Because we know at the centre of our faith is one who was rejected. Jesus Christ, who was rejected has become our cornerstone. Even through we rejected Jesus, he did not reject us, that is kindness. We therefore are willing to societal rules of how is worthy of God's kindness.

Here, in this story of Peter and John is the church at its core, and at its best. Making trouble regardless of what the rulers and powers say. You see, to say that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the King; that's the kind of political trouble that Rome does not want to hear. There is only one king and his name is Caesar. Ah, but not for Christians, while we may submit to the authority of governments, we do so knowing that Jesus Christ is our true King, our true president, our true Priminister. Yes, we are called by Christ to be good citizens, to follow the rules and obey the laws, UNLESS of course they clash with the ways of Jesus. Then there is trouble; holy trouble. And history is full of the Church refusing to obey, even today in the United Kingdom, the government expected the Churches would come to the Iraq war victory party, but the Bishops said, "This was not something we could do." Threats were made that the church would lose its power as the established Church. And yet, this does not seem to trouble the Bishops? Why? Because they worship Jesus our King who even at his most powerless moment on the cross, became for us our salvation. Our first allegiance is to Jesus, and only secondly to any government, whatever form it may be. Our King has saved us, and therefore our loyalty is always first to Jesus.

And to proclaim salvation through Jesus is also to say that he alone is Priest. He is the one who can intercede on our behalf with the Father. Peter and John know that everything now is changed through Jesus. Their response is a direct challenge the temple system, the powers of the priests. Basically, he is saying, "You all are fired, not needed, we Jesus is our salvation and the salvation of the world! You are obsolete, through Jesus we have been made right with God. Gone is the striving to be good enough for God, or smart enough or holy enough. We know through faith that salvation is a gift, and therefore in gratitude we shall be his people, learn his ways, and be his people.

Here is the fulfilment of Jesus words, " I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days." Here we see his temple at work. Jesus has risen and ascended to the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit come to rest in his Church. His followers are the Church, the body of Christ, and temples for the Holy Spirit. Them, us, and those to follow us, we are the temple rebuilt, a moving temple that has spread and is spreading throughout the world not by our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit that is flowing through us to others in the world.

That is why for Christians faith can never be just a private matter. You know what I mean, be a Christian but don't let people at school know or let people at work know or let your friends know. You see, Peter and John can't keep such Good News inside, they can not hide their calling to be a public church, which tells others that there is a way that leads to life. They can not help but learning and sharing this way with others who are enslaved to self destroying ways that lead to death and destruction.

I sometimes wish we would get rid of all the frosted glass on Churches so we could see the world which Jesus came to save, came to challenge, and came to rule with the power of his cross. And yet, glass or no glass, Jesus has us. A group of ordinary people, given power through the Holy Spirit to bring healing to the rejected, whoever and where ever they may be. People who don't need a Ph. D., to proclaim the truth and way of Jesus Christ. People like us, who can even challenge the way the world is and proclaim a new world, a new reality, a new kingdom where our lives are not ruled by the powers of death but the divine life of Jesus Christ.

Sermon Acts 4:5-12 (and 13)
by James Love