Meditation I Aspects of love

LOVE’S POWER

In the second of his three-part series Major Jim Bryden looks at the power of the Spirit at work in Acts 4:8–12

WHO would have thought the healing of a severely disabled man involving Peter and John could cause such a furore among the ruling authorities! When the disciples are hauled before the nation’s leaders after a night in jail, they display all the signs that they have the upper hand. Assembled are the top brass, an indication of how worried the authorities are.

The real reasons for the arrest and trial of the disciples were their preaching and promotion of Jesus. The one whose crucifixion had been deviously manipulated by the powers that be was now proclaimed by these prisoners to be risen from the dead. While it is true that the authorities had decided what to do to Jesus, the believers’ prayer, made by the Christian community following the release of John and Peter, is telling: ‘They did what your [God’s] power and will had decided beforehand should happen’ (Acts 4:28).

The crux of the matter is that God is in control. It was his will that the Son should die to save humanity from the destruction of sin. The gospel in a nutshell says it all, making it clear that salvation comes at God’s initiative: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16).

The number of early believers was expanding rapidly. The more who signed up as followers of Jesus the greater the threat they posed to the power and rule of the nation’s political and religious leaders. They had to be stopped!

The question is: Who is really on trial here? It is meant to be Peter and John. Peter, however, in the power of the Holy Spirit, doesn’t mince his words. With incredible boldness he accuses the officials of rejecting and killing Jesus. But, claims Peter, despite their savage act, God had raised him from the dead. The one they had rubbished like a stone is the very foundation and exclusive channel of God’s salvation for the world. Back to the trial. The court adjourned and now we tune in to a very worried group of leaders. For Peter and John there was no backing down – no apology for what they had done in the Lord’s name in healing the man. The signs of the power of the Holy Spirit in this great act of love were there for all to see.

The rulers, as they conferred privately, knew there was no denying that something miraculous had taken place.

Its impact on the public arena ignited a widespread following. To go down the way of punishment and imprisonment of Peter and John could, potentially, spark an uprising. Realising this was too risky a route they agreed to impose threats should the two men continue to propagate their message.

When they were informed of this the disciples’ response was to throw the ball back into the authorities’ court, saying: ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:19 and 20). The authorities gave in to the inevitable and gave the men their freedom.

Are we ready and able to take our stand for Christ? Do we shudder at the challenge to speak up for him? Have we become so tamed, so conditioned by political correctness, that we tremble in our shoes to take on – should faith demand it – those leading lights of society who would gag the gospel where it does not fit the mould of popular opinion? Only in the power of the Holy Spirit can we claim the high ground for the gospel.

MAJOR BRYDEN LIVES IN RETIREMENT IN BELLSHILL

Journey Major Emma Knights traces the steps of disciples on the Emmaus Road

STUDY PASSAGE: LUKE 24:13–35

WE don’t know much about the disciples in this passage. There are two of them, but we’re not sure whether they are two men or a man and a woman. We know that one of them is a man named Cleopas. Whoever they are, they’re completely disheartened and in deep discussion.

They had been in Jerusalem for Passover and were fully aware of what had happened to Jesus of Nazareth. As followers of Jesus, their journey that week had taken them from glorious hope to the depths of despair – Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when it seemed like all their hopes and dreams would come true, to Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion and burial in a borrowed tomb. That morning, after hearing some reports about the empty tomb, they were puzzled and amazed. They tell the person who joins them on the road that ‘some of our women… went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his [Jesus’] body’ and they had ‘seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive’ (vv22 and 23).

We also discover that others in their company went to the tomb and confirmed that it was empty. Their hopes were dashed – the dream was over. The faithful band of Jesus’ followers appeared to be leaderless and falling apart. As Cleopas and his companion walk the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus, they must be feeling that their entire world has fallen apart.

Moving from the intensity of the past few days in Jerusalem, where they had witnessed the last week of Jesus’ life, the two conclude that the way they had been following – Jesus’ way – had come to a dead end. They can’t make sense

of it. It seems so pointless. It makes sense to return home.

As they are walking, talking and discussing the things that had happened, we are told: ‘Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him’ (vv15 and 16 ).

Every time I read that verse, it disturbs me, because I wonder if it would actually be possible for me to meet Jesus and not know it.

QUESTION O I wonder how many times people see us but don’t see Jesus in us. Why is this?

The two disciples speak of the suffering and death of Jesus to the stranger who is walking in step with them. Jesus takes hold of their bewilderment and sorrow and fills their hearts.

Through the week with Salvationist – a devotional thought for each day by Lieut-Colonel Brenda Oakley SUNDAY We have not known thee as we ought,/ Nor learned thy wisdom, grace and power;/ The things of Earth have filled our thought/ And trifles of the passing hour./ Lord, give us light thy truth to see/ And make us wise in knowing thee.

(SASB 630) MONDAY Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him.

(Luke 24:13–16) TUESDAY O, to know the power of your risen life,/ And to know you in your sufferings,/ To become like you in your death, my Lord,/ So with you to live and never die. (SASB 565)