26 December 2013 - born in us

26 December 2013 - born in us

Jesus wants to be born in us.  Just as on Christmas he enters the world so too does he desire to enter our hearts.  But what does this look like?  Stephen shows us.

Because Stephen is "filled with grace and power" and "filled with the Holy Spirit" the life is Jesus is made so present in him that he shares in the work of building the kingdom, in "working great wonders and signs" and debating anyone who will listen about the Kingdom of God and the world's need for repentance.  The Spirit empowers Stephen to face false witnesses just as Jesus does.  They bring accusations before him about Jesus just like the accusations Jesus himself faced.  Stephen is empowered by Jesus to unabashedly proclaim the to them the truth of the good news.

The power of the Spirit at work in Stephen gives him the fidelity to keep his eyes fixed on Jesus even as the stones begin to strike his flesh.  Even at this time he is a witness before those who kill him.  He manifests the forgiveness of Jesus, who said, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."  Stephen in turn says to Jesus, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

The death of Jesus empowers Stephen's own martyrdom to the extent that some of the things Stephen says sound familiar.  He is able to surrender his life to Jesus because Jesus makes present the surrender of his life to the Father in Stephen.

As they were stoning Stephen, he called out
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Just as Jesus surrenders his Spirit to the Father so in turn Stephen surrenders his Spirit to Jesus.  Without the surrender of Jesus we are overwhelmed by circumstances and turn back before the end. But only "whoever endures to the end will be saved."  Since we "will be hated by all" because of the name of Jesus we need to surrender our illusions about living this way on our own strength.  We won't be able to witness before governors and kings by preparing really clever defenses ahead of time.  We have to open ourselves to the Spirit of our Father who wants to speak through us as he does through Stephen. Only the Spirit in us will make our testimony to Jesus persuasive.  It is doubtlessly the Spirit in Stephen that plans seeds in the heart of Saul as he witnesses his death.

Even as Stephen is martyred he knows that Jesus is his rock of refuge, stronger than any of the stones that strike him.  With Jesus as his stronghold he is not delivered from circumstance but is instead strengthened to endure to the end.  He is able to win not this temporary battle but the lasting victory, the martyr's crown.  He wins this victory only because of Christmas, only because Jesus is born in him.  May this life be born in us as well. 

Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy.