Stephen continues to proclaim the Gospel, and he's connecting everything that's happening in his times to ancient Jewish history. Stephen is telling the leaders that this isn't something brand new that is happening -- it's rooted in history. Everything has been leading up to this.
We give things more credibility when they have history. Tradition helps us see something as having lasting power -- it's more secure. When we can look backward and examine the reliability of something based on what was expected, we're more willing to trust. Stephen is trying to help the leaders see, but their eyes are closed, because all they see is a threat.
May we open our Old Testaments, and may that help us see Jesus as the continuation of what God has been doing for centuries. May we also read the words of Jesus and be willing to let go of our preconceived notions, open to being challenged and willing to hear how God might be calling us to change our minds.
No comments:
Post a Comment