Just Can't Help It

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then 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. 11He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone. 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Acts 4:1-20

This is one passage I consistently return to. I don't know if it's my favorite, but it's up there. Isn't this how we want to live--in a way where those around us and those we encounter in our ordinary lives know that we have been with Jesus? With passion and courage that don't die down at the possibility of persecution, embarrassment, criticism or fatigue?

Peter and John were facing prison, and probably torture/death, and Peter uses the opportunity to talk about Jesus. He doesn't plead for his life, or beg for mercy--he says: c'mon guys, that crippled man is healed--you can't deny what happened. He seizes an opportunity, takes a risk, and then men know that he and Peter had been with Jesus.

And even when they are let off the hook and told they can go as long as they leave the Sanhedrin and stop speaking about Jesus, they refuse. They had to share what they had seen and heard.

Sometimes for me it's so easy to get in a routine, to just get through the day and move on to the next. But, I want to be like Peter and John--I want to feel like I can't stop talking about what I myself have seen and heard. Sure, maybe I haven't seen a crippled person healed in front of my very eyes-- but I'll tell you what, if you knew me a year ago, you would see transformation.

Every now and then I step back and gain some perspective on where I am today from a year or so ago. I'm not going to bars and drinking in excess in an attempt to not feel lonely, I'm not seeking security from guys in the form of shallow, meaningless relationships, I'm not driven to just make money and get a great job, I'm relying less and less on my own ability to change circumstances. My life has changed. And I didn't do a thing. I couldn't have.

And moments when I get persepctive like that, those are the moments that make me truly feel like I can't keep my mouth shut about Jesus. I'm not perfect. But, I truly believe with my whole heart that Jesus can change a person in a way that nothing else can. And if we are more willing to share and be open about the changes in our own lives, others too can see that we have been with Jesus.

I think there is such great power in sharing that. Power that is bigger than rambling off Bible verses and teaching people the "sinner's prayer" (bleh). How better can we share the Gospel than by showing and sharing how deeply we ourselves have been changed by Jesus?