Courageous Followers

Courage requires a point of reference.

There is no courage without a motivation. Where do you begin? You need something to inspire you.

The reference point is the moment or event that defines your faith and actions forever. For Israel, it was the Passover, when God resurrected his the descendents of Abraham from the abyss of Egyptian slavery. Throughout the Old Testament, God constantly makes reference to Israel’s deliverance as proof of God’s covenant with Abraham.

For the church, it is the Resurrection of Jesus. Everything the church believes and practices is predicated on Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:14–19 NIV

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Jesus’ resurrection is the reference point of Courage and faith of the early church.

Let’s look at the people in this story.

First, there is The Sanhedrin Council, along with the High Priest Annas, the former high priest Ciaphas, who was the chief influencer, members of the royal family and the Sadducees. The Sanhedrin is the supreme, ruling council of all the Jews in Israel at that time. There were over 70 members who operated like the House and the Senate together.

They possessed authority to prosecute and imprison violators of their laws. It is obvious how strong they were for two months earlier, they successfully had Jesus crucified by forcing Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, to charge Jesus with sedition.

Secondly, there is Peter and John. The former followers of Jesus Christ and now healing the sick in Jesus’ name. Peter and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle. Peter and John were among the first four disciples of Jesus. Peter, along with John and James his brother left their nets to follow Jesus. Jesus brought Peter and John along to his transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountain. Jesus instructed Peter and John to prepare for the passover before his crucifixion Peter and John were the two main leaders among the apostles.

Secondly, there is Peter and John. The former followers of Jesus Christ and now healing the sick in Jesus’ name.

Thirdly, There is the Lame man who laid at the Beautiful Gate outside the Temple begging for money, who is now healed and leaping for joy before all the people.

Fourthly, there is the crowd of new believers in Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:4 NIV

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Acts 4:4 NIV

But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Jewish rulers, religious leaders, Jewish scholars, The chief Priest Annas, Caiphas, his son-in-law, and two other former chief priests called a meeting. This is congress and the supreme court of Jerusalem assembled. They thought they put an end to this Jesus’ movement when they crucified the Nazarene; Instead of ending the movement, it grew more powerful.

These leaders had a worse problem on their hands because Jesus was dead, but his disciples were preaching the resurrection of Jesus and proving the power of the resurrection by healing a lame man.

They were mad these men were teaching the crowd. Peter and John had not authority to teach. To teach the resurrection of Jesus was an even worse offense. The Sadducees were the most powerful group in the Sanhedrin.

They were aggravated because they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They arrested Peter and John for teaching and healing, just as they arrested Jesus for his ministry.

If you live for Jesus Christ, the world will treat you the way they treated Jesus. (As was talking to a member the other day who lamented, “why is it so hard to be a Christian?” I said, “You know, within your heart, if the Jews lead the Roman Empire to kill Jesus for his righteousness, you will also be persecuted.”) Peter and John were kept overnight in jail. The next day, they were brought before the entire council for questioning.

They asked, “By what power or what name did you heal this man?”

This is the whole issue.

Nearly 80 of the most powerful men in Jerusalem were astonished at Peter and John because “They were unschooled, ordinary men.”

These men had no formal education. You do not need an education to have power with God! Peter and John were fishermen from Galilee. They had no authority to teach or preach. Yet, they possessed a power the rulers and leaders did not posses. Thousands were accepting their message. A man they healed, in Jesus’ name, was now leaping in the courtyard of the temple.

Jesus Christ had been brutally tortured and crucified about just over a month ago. Didn’t these men know by preaching and healing in Jesus’ name, they could face the same suffering! Yet, they did not fear the Council, jail or death.

The Sanhedrin Council did not intimidate Peter and John. They were not afraid to face prison. They could not silence these Peter and John, for they did not love their lives as to shrink from death. Their testimony regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ shook all of Jerusalem.

What is Christian Courage?

“It is the trait of being willing to undertake activities that involve risk or danger; especially that involve being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.” (NTInter)

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.”― Maya Angelou

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”― Nelson Mandela 

This moment would determine how the early church would survive persecution and define the next 2000 years of Christian history.

LET ME ASK MORE QUESTIONS...

IS THERE POWER IN THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE? Is there more to it than going to church? The true Christ bears all the graces of Jesus Christ. Their compassion can deliver from darkness; their faith can move mountains. They loved can melt the hardest heart. Their words can create miracles. Their wisdom can bring men and women out of the pit of despair. Their character can made demons tremble. Their testimony can threaten corrupt governments.

IS THE CALL OF JESUS CHRIST A CALL TO A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE? He who seeks to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

John 3:3 NIV

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

DOES THE MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION HAVE POWER?

Yes.

Acts 3:15–16 NIV

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

WHAT CHANGED IN THESE MEN? These men were helpless when Jesus was crucified. Now Peter and John confound the assembly. The glory of their witness, the power of their words and the depth of their courage perplexed and terrified the scholars. WHAT CHANGED? The answer is in verse 8, “THEN PETER, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

WHAT CHANGED? THESE MEN WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!

John 20:22–23 NIV

And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on them like fire.

GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND! THEY COULD STILL HEAR THE WORDS OF JESUS IN THEIR SPIRITS, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD.”

JESUS SAID,

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This courage is ours by faith in Jesus Christ and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. There is no other way for us to live.

WHAT CHANGED?

Christ Jesus. He was no longer their teacher; he was now the power within giving them boldness, courage, confidence, trust and power.

That same power can give us courage to stand up to the greatest resistance and beat it. Come one and all and receive the Spirit of Christ and gain the courage of the apostles.

The Sadducees were the most powerful group in the Sanhedrin. They were aggravated because they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.