THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF FRIGHTENING CHRIST’S DISCIPLES INTO SILENCE

 

Peter Cartwright a nineteenth-century circuit-riding Methodist preacher known as the "Lord's Plowman" was an uncompromising man. One Sunday morning when he was to preach, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation, and warned not to say anything out of line. When Cartwright stood to preach, he said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn't repent."

The congregation was shocked and wondered how the President would respond. The sermon he preached was from Isaiah 26:4 "Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." After the service, President Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world."

The Apostle Peter and John were arrested for healing a lame man, causing a stir in Jerusalem. In Acts 4:7-15 we are told what followed. ‘The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem…They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: 

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished.  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’

 Peter said “we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame”. If the apostles had beaten the lame man we could understand why the authorities threw them into prison, but they were on trial for a good deed! In John 10:31-32 we read,  “again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” It is not a new thing for good men to suffer for doing well.

 Years later the apostles Peter wrote, “for it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1Peter 2: 19-21). To do well and to suffer punishment is the Christian's lot. 

Peter continued “know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed”. The man was standing there. They could not deny that it was a notable miracle. The power of Jesus working through these men was the only way to account for it. The best defence of the truth of the Christian faith is a changed life; The Gospel's efficacy is demonstrated through radically changed lives. Saul of Tarsus conversion and radical change is a good example of the transforming power of the gospel.

Acts 4 records Peter's third "sermon" to the Jews; in each sermon he accused them of killing the Messiah (Acts 2:22-24; 3:12-15 ; 4:10). Peter adds the piercing pronoun "you." He laid the guilt for Jesus' death at their feet. Peter’s speech is one of the greatest demonstrations of courage. It was spoken to an audience of the wealthiest, the most intellectual and the most powerful in the land, and yet Peter, the Galilean fisherman, stands before them as their judge rather than as their victim.

70+ men stood in front of Peter as he boldly gave his speech. But more than that, this was the very court which had condemned Jesus to death. This same group led by Caiaphas had declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy and sentenced Him to die only 7-8 weeks earlier. Peter knew it, and he knew that at this moment he was taking his life in his hands. One can almost see Peter's eyes panning from side to side as he had eye contact with every member in the council chamber! No fear is found in his words.

Only a Spirit filled man would have spoken such a scathing accusation against the Sanhedrin. Peter countered fear with faith, because He knew who really held His life or as Paul said " I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day" (2 Tim, 1:12).  So while Peter and John could have died this day, it was not God's will for them to die until they had "finished their testimony" like the two witnesses in revelation 11:7.  Our life as a disciple of Christ is immortal until our work for Him has been accomplished.  

The Sanhedrin thought that crucifixion had put a permanent end to Jesus. They had tried to hush up his resurrection (Mt. 28:11-15). But, here it faced them with even stronger evidence than that which the Roman guard brought from the tomb. A dead Jesus could not work a miracle such as this; the risen and glorified Jesus alone could do that. Jesus had healed when he was alive; he had healed after this Sanhedrin had crucified him! The Sanhedrin did not now, or at any later time, attempt to deny the fact that Jesus had arisen.

The stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone (Acts 4:11). This is a direct quote from Psalm 118:22.  Jesus quoted this same verse (Matt.21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17).  Prophet Isaiah had said “so this is what the Sovereign Lord says:“see, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic (Isa.28:16). Those who believe will never be shaken (NLT).

Peter had heard Jesus use Psalm 118:22to describe the religious leaders and they clearly had recognized the verse was describing themselves! So this was probably not the first time at least some of the members of the Sanhedrin had heard these words! However, whereas Jesus had warned them that the prophecy would be fulfilled, Peter now declares it has been fulfilled! Jesus was the cornerstone that Israel's leaders had "rejected",He would prove to be the most important part of God’s eternal plan.

Later Peter quoted both Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:12 in his first letter. He wrote “As you come to him, the living Stone rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall”(1 Peter 2:4-8). To those who believe in Jesus he is precious, trusting him is the best thing that ever happened to them and they cannot exchange him for anything.

Paul said “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ...I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead”(Phil. 3:8-11).

To those who reject Jesus in this life he will one day become their worst nightmare. One day there will be a great earthquake. The sun will turn black, the whole moon will turn blood red, and the stars in the sky will fall to earth as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens will receded like a scroll being rolled up and every mountain and island will be removed from its place.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty and everyone else, both slave and free, will  hide in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They will call to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(Rev.6:12-17).

 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved”(Acts 4:12). The name Jesus means “God the Savior”. This is the name which is above every name. Jesus is God's only authorized Savior. Apart from Him there is no salvation for anyone (John 14:6). Jesus alone is the mediator between God and man (1 Tim.2:5-6). Everyone will one day bow before Jesus (Phil.2:9-11).

Many people believe that there are many authentic roads to God, the creator of the universe, and no religion holds the franchise for illumination. Many people shrug off the claims of Jesus as the only Savior of the world by saying, “you have your way to God and I have mine”.  They believe that Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, various traditional indigenous belief all lead people to the same God.

 Not everyone who calls Jesus Lord will make it to heaven (matt 7:21-23) and all who do not calls Jesus Lord will be locked out. Jesus said “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (John 10:9)”. Since heaven is God’s dwelling place, He has the sovereign right to determine who will be admitted and under what conditions. Any other beliefs about the how and why of admission into heaven are sadly mistaken. If you trust the wrong road, you will end up at unexpected gate and enter a nightmare of eternity.