A Determined Mission
40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. ACTS 5:40-42
I wonder how many of us have a wrong perspective on suffering? When I read this scripture and the account of the apostles, I realize I must. Peter and the other apostles, who had been proclaiming the name of Jesus and his resurrection, did so with great boldness. Because of this there were profound consequences.
After being arrested once before, Peter continued to stay the course knowing what he had been called to do. During this account, in Acts 5:17-42, Peter and the other apostles were wrongly treated just for sharing the gospel.
They were thrown in jail by the Sanhedrin, then miraculously freed by the angel of the Lord. After this, they continued to preach again in the temple complex. They didn’t run and hide, they didn’t keep quiet, they continued to preach as if nothing had phased them!
When the Sanhedrin went to bring them before a mock trial, they discovered they were nowhere to be found, and were baffled as how they escaped. After they were discovered to be in the temple complex, they brought the apostles before them and told them to stop preaching the message of Jesus. I love what Peter says when asked to stop. He replies, “We must obey God rather than men”.
With that response, we see that the apostles knew their mission, and nothing could stand in their way. Not even suffering! Next, we read of the response to their determination. After the mock trial. The Sanhedrin decided to have the apostles flogged to try to silence them even more. Ouch! This form of punishment involved repeated lashes from whips or rods. Yet, it’s still didn’t stop the spread of the gospel and the determination of the apostles. Matter of fact, it says the apostles went away rejoicing that they were worthy to be dishonored on the behalf of the name of Jesus.
Wow, what a perspective! I know I have not been so faithful to respond this way when others have aimed their insults at me, much less how I would respond to being flogged. The apostles knew their role and that was to be about the work of the Father. No man could stop that! Not by slander or by violence. They stayed the course despite of opposition.
We as followers of Christ need to realize that we are on a mission to make known in the name of Jesus! We should not be surprised or discouraged when we encounter persecution, but may we respond with the grace and perseverance of the early apostles. May we say thank you Jesus for accounting us worthy to the cause!
Amanda Patterson
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#amandapattersonblogs
