Loving God, in spite of your rebellious people, you continue to come to us in love, gifting your people with your Spirit.  Empower us by that same Spirit to be witnesses of your love, sharing the good news with others, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Today, in our reading from Acts, we get a glimpse into some of the things that were happening in the life of the early church.  In spite of the presence and power of the risen Jesus and the activity of the Holy Spirit, some believers complained that they were being excluded.  (Can you imagine people complaining in the church?)  As a result of these complaints, the apostles realized that they couldn’t be in charge of everything and set apart some faith-filled and Spirit-filled believers to be deacons.

         One of these deacons, who was named Stephen, turned out to have many of the gifts of the Spirit.  He performed signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.  He spoke wisely and was inspired by the Holy Spirit, and those who tried to oppose him found that they couldn’t discredit him or disprove what he was saying.  And so, they lied about him.  They accused him of blasphemy against God and against Moses.  They also accused him of proclaiming that Jesus was going to destroy the Temple and change the law of Moses.

         It didn’t seem to matter whether Stephen had actually said these things or not.  In fact, the charges alone were enough for people to get angry and seize him and drag him before the council – the same council, in fact, that had put Jesus on trial.  And then, when Stephen answers their charges, he speaks to them out of the Scriptures that they all know, and reminds them of some of the things that are found there.

         However, a few of the things he mentions get them a little riled up.  Stephen actually says quite a bit about Moses – including how the people rebelled against him in the wilderness and even made a golden calf to worship.  He also mentions “the tent of testimony,” or the tent of meeting that they had in the wilderness and brought with them into the promised land – the meeting place that was given to Moses.  And, he mentions the Temple that was built by Solomon – even though God “does not dwell in houses made with human hands” (Acts 7:48).

         Stephen says these things to people who were worried about the destruction of the Temple and about changes to the Law of Moses.  However, the last straw is when he mentions how their ancestors repeatedly opposed the Holy Spirit and persecuted and killed the prophets – including Jesus.  And then he throws in that, even though they have been given the Law of Moses, they have not kept it.

         Like so many of the prophets, Stephen only speaks the truth – and it makes people so angry that they kill him.  As we reflect on these events, it might be helpful to ask where we find ourselves in this story.  Are we jealous of others who have obvious gifts of the Spirit?  Are we quick to jump on board when accusations are made against others that make us angry, regardless of whether those accusations are true or not?  Are we standing on the sidelines with Saul, watching Stephen die?  Or, are we among those who, like Stephen, resemble Jesus in what we say and do?

         Stephen, in fact, is so full of the Spirit of Jesus that his face is “like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15), and he easily speaks the Scriptures.  He even prays as Jesus did when he is dying, having the same forgiving love as Jesus.  Like Jesus had told his followers before, they would be persecuted and put to death just as Jesus was.  This has been true for Stephen and so many others.  Thankfully, most of us have not had to face such persecution.

         What we do, however, see quite regularly these days, is the readiness of people to jump on the bandwagon in order to condemn others.  There are numerous examples in the world around us of people who are ready and willing to vilify others.  This happens regardless of whether it is based on truth or not – as with the mob storming the capitol building and shouting “hang Mike Pence.”

         Unfortunately, however, things like this also happen within the church.  Historically, think of the time of the Reformation and how many church leaders were persecuted, and even put to death, simply for speaking the truth.  Even in our own time, those in the church who speak truth to power are always in danger of being black-listed – even if what they are saying is both Spirit-inspired and truthful.

         In spite of these things, however, there is always good news to be found.  For, in spite of history, and in spite of our readiness to condemn others, the Holy Spirit has never stopped being at work in the community of believers and in God’s church.  Just as Stephen spoke with wisdom and conviction and exhibited Jesus’ forgiving love, so Jesus continues to be present in, with and through us by the power of that same Spirit.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Easter 3 (NL 3)                                 Acts 6:1 – 7:2a, 44-60

April 18, 2021

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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