475 -- Same Voices, Different Ears
May 29 (5/29) in Godsfield -- Acts 5:29
(For Better or Verse: Each day in 2025 I will begin this Godsfield e-mail with a Bible verse that corresponds with the month (chapter 1-12) and day (verse 1-31) it is sent. This month features a lot of fifth chapters! Those with eyes and ears, let them see and hear.)
Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!"
Peter and his buds were standing before the most powerful people in the religion. Rome had the spears, but the Pharisees, the Sadducees -- the Sanhedrin -- had the law, the Torah, religious rules.
And they were telling the disciples, stop talking about Jesus; we took care of him, we vetoed him. Stop using his name.
How strange it must have been for Peter and the others, to be hearing these voices for what they were.
Three years ago they were the voice of God to them; don't question their authority, it if from the Lord himself.
Then the Lord himself appeared on the shores of Galilee and said, "Follow me."
A few months ago, they had followed Jesus into Jerusalem, still expected the Sanhedrin to join in and follow Jesus to toss Rome out of Jerusalem and give God the right place in the Promised Land, only to be have those church officials rock their world, with real rocks, and then by the end of the week to drag Jesus to the cross, in cahoots with Rome, of all things!
But that was not the end of the week, it was the beginning of the new time -- the Resurrection time, and Jesus was empowering the disciples to take this Good News to the whole world, beginning in Jerusalem.
And with Pentecost came the Holy Spirit, and now Peter and his brothers were healing and preaching and praising and baptizing.
And now, standing before that same group that so impressed them three years ago, and so terrified them three months ago, they are seen for what Jesus called them: Whitewashed tombs.
Hence, this response when they told Peter to stop using the name of Jesus:
"We must obey God, not you, any of you."
It rings true today. Speak Jesus, obey God, disregard the whitewashed tombs.
Love ya,
Paul