Peter, the Persecuted (Post 17)

I have loved watching Peter become the "man of the hour"!  He has learned so much from his master, Jesus, and he was living out the life of Jesus among the crowds - the receptive, the skeptical and the openly hostile.  He was teaching - as Jesus had done.  He was healing the sick, the demon-possessed, the lame - as Jesus had done.  He was giving the glory to God - as Jesus has done.  Therefore, we should not be surprised that he began receiving the same kind of opposition and persecution that Jesus had received.

Read Acts 4: 18 - 22 and Acts 5: 17 - 32, 40 - 42

As you formulate your own observations, allow me to make three.  

First, the message about Jesus - His identity, His work, His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection - will not be received joyfully by everyone.  That seems so obvious, but it still is a pill hard for us to swallow.   We so want everyone to like us and think we're terrific!  We still want to "tuck and run" when confronted with hostility and opposition.  Peter didn't.  

There are places in our world today where the Jesus message still garners physical persecution.  Pray for those who must, like Peter, face it with courage and determination and the conviction that "we must obey God rather than men."  (5:29)  There is also the subtle persecution of ridicule, of being made to feel just a bit ignorant and un-enlightened.  And perhaps it is the most difficult when its source is people you dearly love. Will you stand with Peter?  Will I?

Second, persecution is painful.  Again, a ridiculously obvious statement, and yet one we do not like to think about or consider for ourselves.  Peter (with his co-apostles) was put into a public jail. (5:18).  He was required to stand in a trial under the scrutiny of very powerful people.  (5:27).  He was flogged.  Translate - beaten.  (5:40).  All these things were meant of humiliate - to intimidate - to threaten.  Yet Peter did not yield.  Jesus had said to Peter, "Follow me."  And Peter faithfully followed - regardless of where those footprints led.  Are you a "follower" of Jesus?  Am I?

Third, how did Peter stand up under such persecution?  How did he keep going?  Of course, he was filled with God's Spirit.  We read of that miraculous coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.  Jesus had promised the Spirit's coming to live "in" believers.  As Jesus was explaining about the coming Spirit to His apostles, He had said:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  John 14:26

As Peter sat in that public jail ... as Peter felt the brutality of the whip cutting into his skin - I think he must have been reminded by the Holy Spirit in him of the words of Jesus.  I think he must have heard ...

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Bless are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."   Matthew 5: 10 - 12

With those words resonating in his spirit, Peter could leave those horrific circumstances "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."  (5:41)

Where is your place of 'suffering for the Name'?  Is it physical?  Is it in your spirit or in your mind?  Is it psychological warfare from someone you love?  Is it based in your secret places of doubt?  It will come ... it will be painful and often fierce ... it can be overcome!

Faithfulness ... like Peter ... Lord, strengthen us!