How to Lay Down Your Life

Sunday, July 16 2023

Introductory information

Stephen was on trial before the Sanhedrin for preaching the Gospel and challenging their teachings

They saw this as Stephen opposing Moses and even God Himself

Stephen had just concluded his defense with a powerful accusation:

He said that it was they who were opposing God and even Moses, not him

We’re about to see how they respond to this and what happens next for Stephen...

READ

Question to consider as we read:

What does it mean to “lay down your life”?

Acts 7:54–60 CSB

54 When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.

EXAMINE

What are some key points in this passage?

#1 | Stephen sees Jesus at the throne of God (1)

He makes the same claim about Jesus, that had condemned Jesus to death

Acts 7:56 “...Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Mark 14:61-62 “...the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Remember, Stephen was being tried by the same court, in the same room, where Jesus had been convicted and sentenced to death

To them, Stephen’s words had now reached the point of deserving the death penalty

Acts 7:57-58 “They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him...”

In their eyes, Jesus had died under the curse of God (Deuteronomy 21:23 “...anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse...”)

So Stephen’s claim to see Him in the place of God was the final straw

Jesus placement in Stephen’s vision meant He was the new mediator

The implication being that people could now access God without the Temple and it’s priests

Stephen was seeing the heavenly court above the earthly one

While this human court was condemning Stephen for his words, he saw Jesus standing in approval of his words

Jesus’ standing posture also suggests that He was receiving Stephen into the Kingdom

#2 | Stephen mirrors Jesus’ death

Stephen committed his life to Jesus, just as Jesus had committed His Spirit to the Father

Acts 7:59 “While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.”

Stephen asks for mercy on his enemies because of their ignorance - just like Jesus did

Acts 7:60 “He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.”

Luke 23:46 “And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Saying this, he breathed his last.”

#3 | In Stephen’s story we see what it means to lay down your life for Jesus

Stephen laid down his life the moment he started preaching the Gospel, not just at the point of Acts 7:58

He had clearly abandoned his desire for safety and acceptance long before this moment

Laying down your life is a daily thing

Luke 9:23-24 “Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”

Stephen focused on pleasing Jesus only

He surrendered his rights and ego

He looked forward to God’s reward

He trusted God with the long-game

APPLY

[Pose the following questions for group discussion, offering the suggested answers below only if the group has nothing to say or drifts too far off topic]

What are the “big ideas” you see in this passage?

While many of us may not be killed for being Christians, we are all called to lay down our life for Jesus

Laying down your life means letting go of everything you fear to lose

In order to receive the ultimate rewards of God, we must accept temporary losses now

How can you apply these ideas in your life? What may be your next steps?

I have to challenge myself on how many things I think I have a right to

I need to receive the good and the bad of life, like Jesus did

REFLECT

Prayer Point

Ask the Lord to reveal hopes or desires that you need to let go

Devotional Question

Jesus isn’t trying to rob our lives of joy, He wants our lives full of true joy. How might your present hopes or desires be holding you back from receiving better things from Jesus?

FOOTNOTES

Instead of being intimidated, Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit (cf. 6:3, 5, 10), saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. The Lord Jesus normally is seated at the Father’s right hand (Ps. 110:1; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22). The standing position may imply that the Lord Christ was standing to welcome Stephen. Acts 7:56 is a climactic verse in this chapter for several reasons. First, it repeats the claim Christ made at His trial before the high priest (Mark 14:62). Just as His claim resulted in His being accused of blasphemy, so also these words brought a violent response toward Stephen. Second, the term Son of Man is filled with significance. This is the last time it is used in the New Testament and it is the only time in the Gospels and Acts when it is not spoken by the Lord Jesus. This expression, Son of Man, shows that Jesus is the Messiah for it comes from Daniel 7:13–14. It is definitely eschatological. Third, Acts 7:56 combines two great messianic passages—Daniel 7:13–14 and Psalm 110:1. Daniel 7:13–14 emphasizes the universal aspect of the Lord’s rule. He is not simply a Jewish ruler; He is Savior of the world. Psalm 110:1 presents the Messiah as being at God’s right hand. Besides stressing power and position, this also shows acceptance. Christ is therefore the Mediator (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5), thus proving that people have access to God by means other than the temple and its priests. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 371.