The Vessel

Several years ago I traveled to Italy and Greece to see some of the sights and to travel to some of the places where the Apostle Paul did missionary work. I’ll talk about that a bit more later on in this sermon series when we get to that point in the story. But while in Italy I got to see some really magnificent Cathedrals. None of them of course was more impressive than the Vatican itself.

As the center of the Catholic religious world, the Vatican is like the height - the pinnacle - of the religious experience if you are a practicing Catholic. I saw people from all over the world just weeping and praying all over the place while I was there. Now, don’t get me wrong — I was thoroughly impressed by a lot of things there. But mostly what I was impressed by was the beauty, the ornateness of the architecture and the art, and the overall size of this place.

But what the Vatican symbolizes is the authority of the Catholic Church. Like years of knowledge and history are sealed up inside of that place. The highest human authority, The Pope, lives there and basically the Vatican determines the religious tone of the entire Catholic denomination. They set the boundaries around what can and cannot happen, what is or what is not acceptable for catholics all over the world, and particularly how catholic clergy are allowed to perform the rights and responsibilities of the ministry.

As United Methodists in Florida we have our own mini version of this. It’s called Lakeland, FL. I was just there this past week with Jean for our Annual Conference. And it’s not quite as nice as the Vatican.

But regardless, what struck me the most about being at the Vatican was that there were a lot of rules. Particularly about what you could or could not wear while inside. Absolutely no shoulders could be exposed. So they have this whole little economy where they sell little shawls that you can buy to cover your shoulders if you happen to have forgotten to wear the right shirt.

And I tell you all of this, because while that might seem silly, the Vatican — and I’m sure central religious centers like it for religions all over the world — have a particular set of guidelines that cover a wide range of topics like the proper way to dress and the proper way to conduct yourself. I mean we have it here even in a church, though it more or less goes unspoken.

This was no different in the Temple in Jerusalem back in the days of Jesus and the Apostles. In fact the temple had actually become a place with a lot of rules and regulations, some that were biblical and some that were just made up over time.

And that temple is going to be the focus of our time together today. You see for many many years the temple was the vessel that contained the activity, the fire so to say, of God. And the people who ran the temple liked it that way, because it meant that they were the gatekeepers to accessing God. People traveled from all over the world to experience God, much like they do today with the Vatican. And this worked for a long time. But something happened at the cross and then something further happened on the day of Pentecost.

When Jesus died, the veil that surrounded the Holy of Holies, the place where God’s presence dwelt, the veil that separated God’s presence from the rest of the world — was torn. And then at pentecost, the Spirit of God, the indwelling presence of the divine God of Israel was poured on into the hearts of believers.

A Tale of Two Temples

We are continuing in our series through the book of Acts, called “How to Start a Fire” and we are looking specifically at what elements were present that allowed the early church to spread like a wildfire.

Today we are going to look at the temple, and see how it acted as the Vessel that carried the fire. Now, if you’ve ever built a fire responsibly, you likely built it in something that would contain it. A fireplace, a stone lined fire pit, a burn barrel, or even an old inverted car or truck wheel will do the trick nicely right? The key is that the vessel just needs to be fire proof. This is what keeps a marshmallow roasting campfire from turning into a California style wildfire right?

And the vessel is important if you’re playing with real fire. But we aren’t talking about playing it safe with our metaphorical fire. We want to start a wildfire, because wildfires spread. And we are looking at Acts as a guide for how our fire here inside the walls of First Church might spread outward from us.

So let’s continue reading. Remember that the religious elites are getting a bit restless around the teachings and practices of the Apostles. They don’t like what’s happening. But what we are about to find is it can’t really be stopped. So here’s Acts 5:12-16

Acts 5:12–16 NRSV

Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Ok. So here’s the deal. To this Jewish audience the temple represents the place where God’s power to heal is located. So Peter and the Apostles are there and they are meeting with people who are in need of healing on the front porch of the temple. Solomon’s Portico was like the entryway into the temple. And they are like, “you don’t even need to go inside. We can take care of you out front here. Then they move even farther out from the temple and begin wielding the power of God in the streets of Jerusalem - the dirty dusty streets. And people are just amazed at what they see and are convinced to begin to follow these men and join the community.

How well do you thing this is going to go over with the status quo religious authorities? Yeah like a lead balloon. Check it out. This is Acts 5:17-18

Acts 5:17–18 NRSV

Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

Listen, one thing you need to understand is that our Bibles talk a lot about Jewish folks who opposed Jesus and the Apostles. But these people don’t represent Judaism as a whole — then or now. It was and is a diverse faith. But in this time period two main sects of Jewish believers had the power. The Pharisees and the Sadducees.

They had differing beliefs on a lot of things but what is really important is the fact that the Pharisees were lawyers who were deeply connected to the rules and the regulations of religious life for Jewish people. And the Sadducees were very practical and reasonable people, known for not believing in the miraculous, particularly in the resurrection of persons, including Jesus, from the dead.

So the Apostles are doing all kinds of things that are beyond the boundaries in the eyes of the Pharisees, claiming to wield the power of God in places that were not fit for the Holiness of God to be, and the Sadducees are offended by the fact that miracles are being performed and that these people are preaching about a crazy thing like resurrection.

So the apostles are arrested and jailed… again. But jails won’t slow down this fire that has begun to rage. The religious elite are hoping to contain this wildfire like the national guard. But it refuses to be contained. Lets move on: Acts 5:19-26

Acts 5:19–26 NRSV

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.” When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on. Then someone arrived and announced, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Once again, the Apostles are not only rescued, but are emboldened in their mission by the power of God. They are moved from Prison — the lowest place in society — to the Temple — the highest place in society. And this happens to open the eyes of the temple elite to the fact that the God that they have been trying to contain within their building of stone and mortar just might be operating above their pay grade.

And actually, that’s what begins to happen. Look at this: Acts 5:27-32

Acts 5:27–32 NRSV

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

So Peter is sticking to his guns here. But focus on these words: WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN ANY HUMAN AUTHORITY.

Peter is saying, like listen I understand your problem with Jesus and with our movement. I’m Jewish, I was raised on our traditions and beliefs. But what I have, what we have experienced is the movement of God in a profound and undeniable way. What we have seen is an authority above our traditions and rules. What we have seen is the face of the living God, and that God has called us to a new life of spreading the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Peter is saying: the time has come to let the fire burn and spread. We’ve waited for our entire history, thousands of years for this moment. We can’t let it pass by.

The response begins harshly, but eventually turns around: Acts 5:33-42

Acts 5:33–42 NRSV

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. Then he said to them, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared. After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting against God!” They were convinced by him, and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

This is where we’ll close out the story for today. But essentially this man, Gamaliel, is like “settle down friends, lets just see how this plays out. Everyone who rises up against the establishment fails. If these folks aren’t of God, God will deal with them.

But if they are of God, then we don’t want to be the ones who are found to be in opposition to God do we? No. That’s not a good look. So just let it happen and let’s see!”

This is an incredible turn of events, and we’ll see that it doesn’t stick. But the person of Gamaliel teaches us about how we should deal with our own reluctancy when the Spirit of God begins to move.

Modern Temples

It’s easy for us to get locked into the processes and traditions that we hold dear. It’s easy for us to try to contain the fire that is raging within our modern day temple — the four walls of our churches. But what we have to realize is that the fire doesn’t only dwell here any more. The fire dwells inside the heart of every single one of us who leaves this place and goes out to be in mission and ministry to the world.

What Gamaliel teaches us is to let go of the reigns of our water cannon that is often quick to try to squelch the work of the Spirit and to just let crazy, big, risky ideas and ministry happen — knowing that if it’s not of God it will fizzle out. But if it is of God… if it is of God we don’t want to be the ones who opposed it. Right?

What Peter and the Apostles teach us is that the temple is now mobile. The fire has broken free from its original vessel and is waiting for us, the new vessels to carry it to new and wonderful places, unconstrained by fear and the unwritten rules of the established order.

The vessel is you. The vessel is me. The vessel is being unleashed. How will you be a part of the work that spreads this fire? Will you be the one who is opposed to the movement of God, or will you be an active participant in starting a fire that illuminates and heals the hearts of this community in the name of Jesus? How will you harness the power that you’ve been given to start a fire?