April 10, 2010
Saturday in the Octave of Easter
“Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19b-20a
(But) later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:14-15
Piety
Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever. The LORD, my strength and might, came to me as savior. The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in the tents of the victors: "The LORD'S right hand strikes with power; the LORD'S right hand is raised; the LORD'S right hand strikes with power." I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD. The LORD chastised me harshly, but did not hand me over to death. Open the gates of victory; I will enter and thank the LORD. This is the LORD'S own gate, where the victors enter. I thank you for you answered me; you have been my savior. (Psalm 118:1, 14-21)
Study
Today, the Sanhedrin feel bound and boxed in by conventional wisdom. Despite what they know empirically about the healing that has taken place – the man is standing there right in front of them – they are at a loss about how to silence Peter and John. So, the leaders order Peter and John not to speak of Jesus.
Jesus was never bound by conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom would have told Jesus not to raise Lazarus from the dead because there would be such a stench after the man was dead for four days. Conventional wisdom would have told him not to head into Jerusalem where people were plotting to kill him. Conventional wisdom would have told him to defend himself against the temptations in the desert and against the charges he faced in front of Herod and Pilate. Jesus was never bound by conventional wisdom. The Lord never lifted his right hand in violence.
The conventional wisdom is impossible to follow when you have received the gift of wisdom from the Holy Spirit and a commission directly from God to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”
Peter the Denier stands there and defies the Sanhedrin. Conventional wisdom can not bind Peter the Denier any longer. Peter the Denier, who gave in to the pressure of the group the night Jesus was arrested, now has the will to resist. He does not buckle and he does not bend. Nothing can stop him from proclaiming the Good News and loving his enemies.
Action
Conventional wisdom. How often are we bound by what the crowd is saying and doing?
How are you reacting to conventional wisdom about faith? Does peer pressure try to force you into certain positions? How do you react when you are put into a position to defend the faith and your relationship with Jesus?
