A Mixed Response

“And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd,” (Acts 17:4-5).

There is always a mixed response to the gospel. In both Thessalonica and Berea, those who opposed Paul’s message stirred up the crowds and sought to harm him while many in Athens mocked him. The fact is not everyone will believe and some are openly hostile to the good news.  Sadly, it has always been this way.  But while there was opposition, there was also reception by both Jews and Gentiles.

As was Paul’s policy when he arrived in a city, he went first to the synagogue and began to open the Scriptures and teach God’s word. And what was his message? Verse 3 tells us: “He explained and proved that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and he said, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.'” Paul’s message was Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Lord of all. And this message was received with joy by many. In addition to the Thessalonian converts, we’re told that, “the word was received with all eagerness,” by many of the Bereans (Acts 17:11). In Athens, we read that, “some men joined him and believed,” (Acts 17:34).

And what is it about this message of Jesus as crucified and risen Lord that causes such mixed and polar responses, eliciting eagerness and joy in some and jealousy and open hostility in others? It is the fact that the message reaches the deepest needs of people: relationship with God, forgiveness of sin, relief of guilt, and fear of death and judgment. But in order for the message to become real, there is required for each person a definite and decisive turning from self-control to Christ. Without this yielding of the self to Another, there is no beginning. Whether it takes years for this to occur, or it happens quickly as in the case of the Thessalonians, Bereans and Athenians, there must be a decisive point when we give ourselves to Christ as Lord. There must be a yielding to Him so that we move from a self-directed and self-controlled and self-focused life to a life under the direction and control of Christ’s Spirit. Everyone who claims to be a Christian should be able to point to that time in which this occurred for them or it is still ahead. And what of you? Has the pivot of your life turned to Christ or is the self-life still in control?

Lordship and Dependency

Jesus appears to his disciples while they are fishing (John 21). Some scholars believe they went fishing because they had abandoned the Lord at this point. I disagree. I think they just went fishing because they didn’t know what else to do.  Jesus had told them to wait for him in Galilee where he would meet them (Mark 14:28; 16:7 — John’s Gospel doesn’t record this). Most men are not very good at just sitting around (remember, T.V. hasn’t been invented yet; neither has football). Peter decides to take the lead – but his lead is, perhaps, more according to what seems right in his own eyes rather than what has been guided by the Lord.  Regardless, Jesus uses the opportunity to reestablish his call on these men and to bring them more completely under his Lordship.  There is a simple truth attested to by the saints down through the ages: when we don’t know what to do, we should simply do our duty (while paying attention for God’s guidance through a posture of attentive receptiveness) and God will guide us.

The guys’ best efforts come up empty. Nothing in the nets.  It is a picture of barrenness. They have done what they thought was the right thing, but they experience utter failure.  And this prepares them to learn a primary lesson of discipleship — Apart from Jesus you can do nothing (John 15:5).  The Christian life is not: Jesus saves me, I live my life, and then I go to heaven when I die.  The Christian life is: Jesus saves me, I become a disciple who follows his Lordship daily, he guides me as I live in dependency upon him seeking to do his will and accomplish his purposes for my life, there is much spiritual fruit born in my life and the lives of others, and He gets the glory, though I get to enjoy being part of the process as his cooperative friend.  Oh, and I get to go to heaven when I die. The reason so many Christians experience so little of God’s power and guidance and also have little purpose or sense of fulfillment in their lives has to do with these issues of Lordship and dependency. If you are still “putting down your nets” and coming up empty in life, perhaps its time to speak to the Jesus about these issues.  Ask him be the Lord of your life. Exchange your independence for dependency.