May 22nd, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Wrong-footed

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Opening Prayer

Lord, if obedience is a mark of faith, help me to show my faith by the way I live today.

Read Acts 5:17-32

[17] Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. [18] They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. [20] “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” [21] At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin-the full assembly of the elders of Israel-and sent to the jail for the apostles. [22] But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, [23] “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” [24] On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. [25] Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” [26] At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. [27] The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. [28] “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” [29] Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! [30] The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead-whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. [31] God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. [32] We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

Peter went from being afraid of a servant girl (Luke 31:54-62), to defying the High Priest (29). It is obvious the Holy Spirit was at work in Peter (32).

Think Further

It is very satisfactory to draw a line through a matter and delete it from your memory. “Move on,” we say; “that’s history.” But the ministry of Jesus is not that neat. He has a way of escaping that would make Houdini envious, and here he refuses to let his word or his people be imprisoned. There is something farcical in watching the authorities use all the pomp of high office to cover their basic instinct: jealousy. They strut in their self-importance only to be left looking foolish and open-mouthed. Imagine the laughter as this story is retold within the infant church. The Sanhedrin assembles to ratify the impulsive reaction of the high priest. With a word, they command their officers to bring in the prisoners. Then the script goes wrong, for no group of prisoners appears. Instead, they are already acting in a more impressive place–the temple–to a larger audience, with a more appreciative response.

All the carefully prepared appearance of civility has gone. To be so humiliated by such people is insufferable. The soldiers alone recognize a new world and avoid taking sides in obeying orders. Protected from the people, surrounded by his own sort, the high priest dismisses what he doesn’t understand. You can almost hear him spluttering before such willful disobedience. Worse, they are being accused of what, so short a time ago, they took pride in, namely the death of Jesus. Interestingly, he cannot force himself to utter Jesus’ name.  

Peter has learned a lot in a short time. The resurrection has transformed his understanding of the cross. What was seemingly a disaster is now seen as God’s amazing way of providing forgiveness to all who repent. Having gotten it wrong before, Peter is now sure  whose voice he will listen to.

Apply

Where are the tension points between your faith and your world? Pray for grace to make the right choices today.

Closing prayer

Holy Spirit of God, I invite You into my life. Enliven and energize me so that I may courageously serve Christ.

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