Readings:
Sermon:
This week is Vocation Sunday – a point in the year when we might look at our personal calling, or indeed, God’s calling on our churches. Doing this can cause us to look inwards but I’m challenging us today to look: beyond ourselves, our natural gifts and talents and the practical resources available to us.
As we look at Acts 4:5-12, I’d like us to answer the question asked of Peter and John as we come to the end of this protracted interrogation they endured regarding the healing of the man at the Beautiful Gate.
The Temple authorities ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
In replying Peter does three things:
One, he points out that they are being cross-examined for an act of kindness…questioned on HOW this man was healed. The questions asked seem to come from a place of fear rather than a place of wanting to be part of this. Peter out their flawed motivation.
Secondly, Peter points to Jesus, reminding them of His name, His heavenly status as the Christ, the anointed one and to His humble earthly status – as a native of Nazareth (an unimportant place, insignificant and off the beaten track).
In doing this Peter and John are pointing away from themselves. Further to this, by what seems to me a risky tactic given the circumstances, he points out that those questioning them are those who rejected Jesus and crucified him! It is by the power of Jesus’ name that the crippled man now stands before them healed.
Rather than point to their own power or strength they point out that Jesus who was rejected is the healer. The stone rejected becomes the most important.
We can also see this pattern in our Gospel reading, in John 10 we have Jesus himself speaking of being the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep.
I would suggest that the culture of our day struggles with this picture of strength and power coming from humility.
Today leaders point to themselves, pointing to their skill, their power, the resources at their disposal. Organisations can do the same…churches can do the same!
Can we be different? Can we be like Peter and John, filled with the Spirit of God – they do not say how great am I – they simply point to Jesus.
Some years ago now our family were involved in some children’s work at a Christian summer festival. This was led by a Church Army Capt. Alan Price. When enabling the children to pray Alan would speak of being like a drainpipe. We reach to heaven and the Spirit of God comes down through us towards the person we are praying for. We are simply a conduit, we are not the source of the power! We don’t even add to it, I simply hope we don’t diminish it!
This model can help to look how we respond the this call to humble service, indeed the issue of our calling or vocation. Where does this calling coming from and how is it directed? I suggest it raises two questions:
- Are we reaching out to God, are we seeking Him? Are we assured that our heavenly Salvation is found uniquely in the name of Jesus? And,
- To whom do we reach out with than truth and that saving power. Which gate is God sending us to, the Beautiful Gate to reach out to the poor beggar or elsewhere, to where and to whom is He sending US?
Let us, as individuals and as churches, not point to ourselves but point to the one who saves. Jesus Christ of Nazareth.