This is the day of the proto martyr, the first of those who died in witness to the faith and for the sake of Christ. It has an odd juxtaposition, coming right after the dreams and joys of Christmas. But that is life. A funeral is today being planned for one of our members, another was life-flighted to Nashville. The white Christmases of our dreams are always being intruded upon by the harsh realities of life lived under sin.
Without exception, sin is the cause of all our troubles. Though we can often tie our own sins directly to the dire consequences, most of the time it is the sins of others or just living in a sinful world. But I can tell you whose sins did not contribute to our sorrows and struggles – Jesus’. That is because He did not sin. Mary’s sin and Joseph’s and shepherds’ and everyone’s sins have ended the dreamy holy day of our desire and replaced it with trial, trouble, sorrow, struggle, and finally death.
Even if we are surprised by this – by family tensions or personal failures or innocent sufferings or death – Jesus is not. He came not for dreams but for darkness, not to live holy so that He would be rewarded but to take on our sin so that we might be declared holy, and finally to die so that we might live. If this is not in our Christmas story, it is not the real story of Jesus.
Stephen knew this as well. Set apart as an honorable man to serve as deacon, he could not silence his voice in witness for the sake of Jesus – not even when he was threatened. So he stood before that hate-filled mod not to die for sin but to refuse to be silent about Him who did die for sin. He did not relish death as some release from earthly trouble. He wanted to live as you and I do. But he was not afraid of what they could do to him because of what Christ did for him.
Jesus had no death wish but His desire was life for us. Stephen had no death wish but he had no desire for a life apart from Christ. And that is where Christmas brings us a day after we were all about the manger. Christ had no home to call His own but He came so that we might have a home – a home in life and a home in death. This is what comforted Stephen as the stones were raised to silence his voice and end his life. But the odd reality is that the names of those who killed him are forgotten while Stephen is remembered – even celebrated. Well, all the names except one – Saul who would become Paul who held the coats of the killers.
That ought to tell you something. Stephen lives not simply in our memory but in reality – a life death can no more steal away. The angry mob lives not even in memory and much less in the presence of God. Saul, who would be come Paul, lives in memory and in the presence of God but not for his complicity in this act. No, he lives with Stephen as evidence of the power of God’s mercy and the mighty purpose of His will.
At a season when all the decorations and presents cannot mask how hard it is for us to get along, Saul and Stephen who were on opposite sides are now brothers through the blood of Christ. Enemies may not become friends on earth nor will family always be easy to live with or to live without but the blood of Christ cleanses us from sin and becomes that which binds together murderers and their victims. If that can happen, imagine the power of forgiveness to heal us and our hearts, to repair broken relationships, and to unify those who disagree. Christ is certainly a cause for division here on earth but He is also the bringer of unity between those who have nothing else in common.
Soon all that we have labored to put up will be taken down. I saw already that Christmas presents were being posted on Marketplace. The dreams will die but the dead will live. Long after we have worn out the batteries and eaten up the leftovers and finished the thank-yous, the reality of the manger remains. Christ has come for sinners and for those who live in the valley of the shadow of death. The hurts of today will not last but the healing of Christ raises us to life everlasting and bestows the good conscience upon us now. The stones will still be thrown in anger and the words will still be used as weapons against us but none of these will last. They will all give way to the power of the One born of Mary by the Holy Spirit and laid in a manger.
So let me say this. There are no disappointments in our future. These belong only to the moment. They are all overcome by Christ and in Christ. Mortal enemies become blood brothers in Christ. Sins that once condemned are washed clean. Fears that once froze us fade away. Trials that we suffered are ended with their suffering. Darkness gives way to light. All because of Jesus who was born to end all that troubles you and disappoints you and to make you strong enough to endure them all for His sake. So do not give in to sorrow or fear. Live holy upright and godly lives, not because it feels good but because God has rescued us with His goodness and love to know something better than sin, bigger than death. Jesus!
No comments:
Post a Comment