It was my first World Cup. Well, maybe not the first I had been alive for, but the first that I had taken interest in. It was 2002 and the England football team had made it to the quarter-finals and were facing the mighty Brazil. My wife and I were in a local pub garden with my mate Pete and we were watching the game on a TV in the sun. About 20 minutes in the unspeakable, the unimaginable happened as we jumped out of our seats to watch Michael Owen slot in the first goal of the match for England. It was amazing! A glimmer of hope arose in us, but like typical Brits we had this feeling in the bottom of our gut…
We’ve all been in one of those moments where people rise to their feet for something exciting. It could be a sports game or maybe at a concert. There are other times too, when people stand in ovation to pay homage and respect to someone. One such moment was a few years back. I was at our denomination’s National Leaders Summit in Harrogate, and our longest serving General Superintendent was ‘passing the baton’ on to his successor. John Glass had been the captain of our National Leadership Team for sixteen years and had diligently served God, and Elim with integrity and passion. As he stepped down from his position there was a moment where we all stood to applaud this awesome man of God.
Reading the book of Acts, in chapter 7 where Stephen is martyred, I noticed that the scripture says that Jesus was standing at right hand of the Father. I’m not sure how much you read your Bible, but in pretty much every other scripture Jesus is said to be seated at the right hand of God. This got me thinking: “what could make the King stand?”
Jesus being seated at the right hand of God speaks of his work being completed. To sit means to finish. We often look to this and proclaim that Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross, his fulfilling of the law and prophecy in the Old Testament, his rescue mission is finished. There’s a part of me that wonders if he stood for a second as to make a new stride of grace; it’s one thing for you to give your own life, but this was the very first time that one of Jesus’ followers was about to give his life for the cause. In the scriptures we can see the anguish and pain of the Father when Christ dies on the cross by the earth-shaking, sun-blocking, heart-wrenching demonstration that follows. I’ve felt the responsibility of a team members safety in a dangerous situation before, and I sort of feel that Jesus must have needed a special grace to forgive Stephen’s attackers. Have you ever seen a Mum or Dad jump in the way of their child when they are being attacked? I guess it must have taken some restraint for Jesus to stand, instead of jumping in.
Perhaps there was a moment of awe, or respect, for the first of many believers that would be martyred for their faith. Jesus has plenty of followers, but not many that would give up their comfort zone or their job, let alone their lives for the sake of the gospel. I’ve been intrigued by some of my not-yet-Christian friends and colleagues at the YMCA this week who have told me of their commitment to lent. One of them is waking up at 6am everyday as she has given up her lay-ins. Another has given up chocolate and sweets. Yet there are so many Christians who struggle to relinquish anything for the God that they believe has saved them. We can sometimes put the Bible and prayer last on our list of priorities and are more bothered about getting friends approval than a standing ovation from the King of Kings.
My final thought is this; perhaps Jesus became excited and jumped out of his seat as he saw a moment unfolding that was to set the pace of the Church for millennia to come. Stephen wasn’t just the first to be martyred, he was the first to show an understanding of the Kingdom of God… “If you love your life you will lose it, and if you don’t you’ll gain it.” If you’ve ever tried growing some sort of plant, flower or vegetable from seed you will know the joy and excitement of seeing the first shoots of a seed developing. I’ve grown all sorts of funky stuff over the years. Some of the seeds germinate and others don’t, but when you’ve paid a price for something and you’ve ploughed the ground and worked the soil, to see the first signs of life in your garden or on window sill is just so exciting. You jump up and get your family and friends to come see what you’ve grown. You’d probably tell them what it’s going to become, and what it can be used for. Some people even speak to their plants and flowers.
Here’s the thing, I recently purchased some seeds from the internet that would eventually grow into California Reaper chilli plants. I spent a few quid on the seeds, then I went to B&Q and got some soil and plant pots. I bought a load of extra equipment and even looked for the best plant food to get them started. I planted the seeds, watered and nurtured them every day hoping, and waiting for them to pop up. On that occasion the seeds didn’t show. I ended up having to dispose of all my kit because it was taking over the kitchen. I was really bummed out and disappointed. You see, for the money I paid and the effort I went through I was expecting some sort of result. I had twelve seeds and not one sprouted. the whole lot went in the bin and I still feel butt hurt today! I want to ask you this; has the Kingdom seed sprouted in your life yet? Have you got the Kings attention? Is he excited for you? Or were those nails for a lukewarm bland wannabe Christian?
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