2024 04
21 EASTER 4B
Acts
4:5-12 •
Psalm 23 • 1 John 3:16-24 • John
10:11-18
A couple of
weeks ago I ran a session on Pastoral Care for our street Chaplains and we
discussed how our western world has understandings and values due to the
influence of Christianity. This is why
our society cares about things like social justice, and because Jesus died for
all, we believe in up-holding the dignity of all people. However, the world is changing and there are
growing tensions within those values and understandings.
In the light
of the terrible incidences in Bondi, coincidentally, I was at a Safe Night
Precinct where the question was raised about what can be done about the odd people
that wonder around our town who are on drugs and mutter to themselves… talking
to unseen forces. (Perhaps reminiscent of Jesus’ day). We need
not be afraid, but we certainly ought to be wary, and police informed that they
can be called to move people on if it is deemed that they are disturbing the
peace. Although, that is a perception which
can have other implications as today, we read about a different disruption in
the peace. Someone had been healed and, consequently,
the people were being taught about Jesus by Peter and John. This resulted in the apostles being arrested
for disturbing the peace.
For today’s
readings, let’s consider the world in which the apostles were living. The governing body that arrested the apostles
were those who shared a similar world view to the apostles and were God fearing
people with the same laws and values, yet something had changed that brought
about tension and unrest.
That change,
was the fulfillment of that for which they had all been waiting… the
Messiah. The authorities rejected and
crucified Christ. They refused to
acknowledge that He was the Messiah, because Jesus didn’t fit the image they
had of what the Messiah would be like.
The followers of Christ witnessed His resurrection and being filled with
the Holy Spirit, they were proclaiming the Good News everywhere – and they were
continuing the ministry of Jesus by laying on hands and healing. It was a ministry of both ACTION and
WORD. This was one of the factors
leading to their arrest. Through their actions
a lame beggar had been healed and they were then teaching about Jesus and His
resurrection. The Sadducees, who don’t
believe in any resurrection were particularly upset and were instrumental in
calling the temple guards to arrest Peter and John.
We are
called to work for peace in our world, and we strive to have peace in our
relationships, remembering that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the
good of the sheep. The laying down of life
in this context meant that the apostles risked imprisonment and did not back
down for the sake of keeping the peace, but instead they spoke out… and they
were arrested. I wonder how we would
have acted in their situation. Would we
have stood and boldly proclaimed the truth about Jesus, or would we have backed
off to keep the peace, but left those people in ignorance about the truth of
Jesus?
There are
two important aspects here…. The
question of keeping the peace, and the importance of proclaiming the truth of
the Gospel.
It isn’t
easy and it isn’t black and white. There
are some Christians who don’t support the idea of Street Chaplaincy because we
do not “Proselytize” - meaning we don’t
preach on the streets. In fact, to do
so, would fall on deaf ears in the least and may disturb the peace in the
most. We believe that we preach at all
times – we simply do not use words. Our
caring actions speak loudly about the goodness of God.
However, the
truth of the matter, is that we most certainly own our faith, and we will truthfully
respond when asked about our faith, but note that we are simply there to
care. More often than not – in fact
almost 100% of the time, those on the streets are too intoxicated to comprehend
what we might say, but they understand our actions of care. So, we keep the peace.
While we are
doing a great job of helping and keeping the peace, we are doing things the
easy way. We are safe and not in danger
of being thrown in jail. We do still
live in a predominantly Christian country – after all, we all had a public
holiday because of Good Friday. In our
comfort, we are not really laying down our life for others, but we do give up a
little sleep and a part of our weekend.
The readings
today show us the apostles, teaching the crowd about Christ, knowing full well
that only a short time ago, that crowd was shouting, “Crucify Him”. And this should cause us to pause and ask
ourselves, “Am I willing to speak the truth about Christ, even if it is
somewhat confronting and revealing?
If Peter and
John had not stood up and proclaimed the Good News so boldly, would our
churches exist today? They laid down
their lives for this message about the Good News. Their lives were not easy because they were
followers of Christ, and that is a sobering message for us all.
Make no
mistake, God’s desire is for our good and He wants to bless our lives. But there is a bigger picture. God’s blessing for the nations came about
through Jesus, who was of the linage of Abraham and David, King of the Jews,
but God’s blessing to our community and our nation, and to those close to us,
will come about through us proclaiming this Good News – in both Action and
Word. It is God’s will for our
nation and towns and families to be blessed and to live good lives, but that
blessing needs to come through us and that will mean some kind of laying down
of life.
Are there
troubles in our family, friends, and town?
How can we bring the Good News about Jesus Christ to this town so that
we can influence the culture of our town through Him? It makes no sense to shake our heads at the television
when the News is telling of all the dreadful things going on. We can and do make a difference.
There are so
many government and secular initiatives, because all can see that our society
is seriously struggling. But in many
cases the problems continue…We need both Holy Spirit empowered Action and to proclaim
the Word – the Good News of Jesus. Did
you know that the highest cause of death in our country is suicide? And so we have a multitude of organisations
to help with all the varied needs. There
is Grapevine safe talk for mental health, Orange sky, and so many others for
homelessness. But what is God asking of
us as His people? These initiatives are
good, and maybe God will ask that we support these things, but more than
anything, I believe that God wants us to proclaim the Good News about Jesus,
His resurrection, and the love of God, because this message brings about a
deeper and lasting change. We need to be people who proclaim the message in both
ACTION and WORD.
We have a
society that is confused because they don’t know who they are, what they are or
where they came from. They are
disconnected and while belonging to one group or another can help, it is only
an unwavering faith in who we are as a child of God, saved by the gracious act
of Jesus Christ, that can really secure them and us. With this reality secure, groups can come and
go, situations come and go, but we and they can all stand firm.
To proclaim
the Good News is vital. Why? Because it is the one thing that not only
changes lives, but it is the one cause for which people will lay down their
lives… suffer hardships and rejection, because we know that it holds an eternal
Good that far outweighs any hardship.
We should
not be daunted or afraid of the task ahead, as scripture tells us, in the
presence of our enemies, the LORD prepares a table for us. He is our Good Shepherd and we will not be in
want. He restores our soul and He leads us in right paths. Even when we walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, He is with us and will comfort us. THIS is the way to goodness. So let us dwell in God’s presence - the house
of the LORD our whole life long.
Take a
moment now, to rest in that house of God’s presence and ask Him where he wants
us to proclaim His love and Good News.
He called Peter and John to be his witnesses and He calls us also…. To both
Action and Word.
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