Would You Die for that Bethlehem Baby?

Many wouldn't even make it to church, even for Christmas or Easter, much less offer up their lives. Think about this statement I came across on Facebook, "So you don't want to go to His house on earth, yet you expect to live in His mansion in heaven?" The church year considers the martyr St. Stephen right after Christmas.

St. Stephen is our church's first martyr, but to understand why, your homework is to read the sixth and seventh chapters of Acts.

Stephen, chosen as one of the first seven deacons, was full of grace and power, and did mighty signs among the people. What's not to love? Plenty, at least for the unbeliever and especially for the Jews who wanted nothing to do with Christ. The Jews were worried about what would happen to the temple and their whole way of life. Of course, we understand there would be no need for a temple in Jerusalem. There is still no need, so rebuilding it today only goes against Christ's word.. For Christ is the temple, our temple, the Last temple. He the high priest, He the sacrifice; last and eternal one.

So those of the synagogue of the Freedmen dragged Stephen before the elders and scribes. Stephen could have wiggled out of it. he could have said it was all a misunderstanding. Instead, he offered up a sermon. A proclaimed and profound one at that, recounting Old Testament history, beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then Joseph and Moses, David and Solomon. A full force of Godly promises to be reckoned with. The gist of it? That the entirety of the Old Testament was about Christ, just as Jesus said in John 5:46-47. Also that the Lord who made His body to be the temple would dwell among His people in a new way. Hint, hint, the Lord's Supper. He is hidden now in bread and wine. For Christ was and is the Righteous One, the one whose righteousness alone has the power to bring us into God's presence. Into us to dwell. Consumed in faith the temple resides in and as His bride.

The heart that persecutes the prophets puts Christ to death. The heart that ignores the church ignores Christ, too, despising the Father who gives, and the Son who is his gift. Who is God's Son, but the One who no longer lived in the temple, but took upon himself our flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. Who is this Son? He is the One who has died so that we might live, who was declared guilty who knew no sin, became sin that we might not pay for our many sins.

Sure, Stephen could have remained silent, but the Christian faith compelled him to speak. The Word of God was like a burning coal, and he spoke as if his eternal soul depended on it. And we should listen to the likes of Stephen, to faithful preachers, as if our own souls depended upon it. And so they stoned Stephen all the way to death, rock by rock, blow by blow. And Stephen looked up into the skies, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing, yes standing at the right hand of God. Yes, the Lord knows that His faithful are suffering. He reigns first through suffering then the glory. Does Stephen pray for his own deliverance, for bodily safety? No, he prays for his eternal soul: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And then he prays for his persecutors: "Lord do not hold this sin against them."

Stephen fell asleep, knowing that he would rise again on the day of resurrection. Stephen's first prayer is answered, as is ours, in Christ. His second prayer, for the souls of others, was answered in one magnificent way. Many hearts remained hardened. And we know that Paul was present, approving of his execution. But that martyrdom, that witness made an impression on zealous Saul, who was prepared for his Damascus moment, and a lifetime in which he too would suffer many things, even offer up his life for the Lord of Life, for the one who entered into this world as the Babe of Bethlehem in the City of David in order to die for us outside of Jerusalem as Jesus of Nazareth, the despised and glorious Savior. This Jesus meets you in worship, where the faithful meet to receive His gifts of Word and Sacrament.

Let us spur one another on until the coming of the Lord.

Pastor John