Easter People are Righteously Bold

Have you ever had to take the car keys away from your aging parent? Have you ever had to put your child in rehab for addiction? Have you ever had to nearly force your loved one into a car to go see the doctor after watching them suffer stubbornly? Have you ever had a conversation with a dear friend that would likely end your friendship, yet you knew the consequences would be greater if things went unsaid? Have you ever sat in a meeting in a room full of people who were staying silent while watching the organization go in a bad direction, yet you could not stay silent any longer? Sometimes, our beliefs, or faith, lead us into a place were tough decisions have to be made and hard conversations must happen. Sometimes, stepping out of our fear puts us right into a tough spot, or a hard situation. These moments call not only for prayer and leading from the Holy Spirit, but for us to be bold in doing what needs to be done or in saying what needs to be said.

Pray and Read Acts 4:5-31

Acts 4:5–31 NRSV

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old. After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

The first verse lists some familiar names to believers. The Gospels of Matthew and John both name the high priest that Jesus was sent to when He was arrested, those that sentenced Him to death. John, in particular names both Annas and Caiaphas as the ones of the Priestly Council who questioned Jesus and sent him to Pilate to be crucified. So here we are, Peter and John before the same council that crucified their best friend, Lord and Savior. And this did not happen that long ago. What would you do in this moment if you were Peter or John? How would you feel? What would you say?

They had to shallow all their fear, anger, pain, and worry about their own lives which were very much at risk in this moment and speak the very truth about Jesus. Knowing that this truth led to His death, and could provide evidence and reason enough for their death.

In verse eight, Peter opens his mouth, and is filled with the Holy Spirit, and just calls it like he sees it. I love it when he says in verse 10, “Who you crucified and God raised from the dead.”

Sometimes our willingness to do what needs to be done or to say what needs to be said is all the faith we need for the Holy Spirit to do miracles through us. Our willingness is our boldness in faith.

Peter and John were not magicians, or doctors, or any major spiritual or political leaders. But they were friends of Jesus. The Jewish Priestly council knew this, and they also saw the miracle that the Holy Spirit had done through Peter and John in healing of the blind man. There was nothing they could do about any of this. They could not prosecute them for there was no crime. So they reprimanded them for speaking about Jesus so boldly and sent them on their way.

So Peter and John go back to the the disciples and tells them all that had happened on their trip to the temple in Jerusalem, and how they lived to tell about it! The disciples were amazed and encouraged. So they began to pray for this kind of boldness. They want to be strong enough to heal, and to cast out demons, and to speak the Truth in love about Jesus the Messiah. So they pray for boldness. They know that if they are willing, the Spirit is able.

Our boldness starts with the willingness to be used by God for His good and perfect will. If we are willing, His Spirit is able to do amazing things through us and in us too. Where do you need to be bold? Are you bold enough to state your faith? Are you bold enough to pray for your needs to God? What do you think would happen if everyone of us were to pray for our collective boldness? How would God use this church if we were so bold?

In the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.