Passing the Buck -or- What Have You Seen and Heard?

 It's really an easy thing to do.

We've all heard different phrases tossed around.
"Don't Shoot the Messenger"
"Don't Be The Bearer of Bad News"
"Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk."
What happens with phrases like this is : B L A M E

and rightly so because those are the trepidations of playing with those phrases.

It brings on one more ample phrases
"Poke the Bear and Find Out"

Never one to shy from an argument or to stand his ground, Peter, pokes the bear. 
Right in the lair of the bear. The Temple. 
It's a rough place. A rough audience. It is what needs to be said. 
It it the audience that needs to hear it. And, it's not without interruption. 

Lets take a look. 

What's it like to preach through an entire church service with nothing but interruptions?

What's it like to sit through a service with nothing but ins and outs and crying babies and people talking? Yea, its rattling. It's disturbing. And, in the big scheme of things, it is not about us. If we want the church to grow, we will have to deal with interruptions and criers and unhappy faces sometimes. 

We might even have to put up with some persecution. 

Does Peter have any idea what might happen if he stands in this locale on delivers a message like this to this audience? I'd like to think that he does. And, now, he is willing to accept it. 

On the night that Jesus gave his life for all of mankind, Peter was there.
he saw Jesus being whipped. He saw him being pushed and beaten. Peter was called out as one of Jesus' followers. He denies it. He flees the scene. Then he filled with regret for not being there to support his friend. 

Now... Peter is willing to accept that this might happen. They might take him away. They might put him in prison. Previously, all the Twelve were focused on was the Coming Kingdom. Overthrow Roman rule. Maybe that was part of the struggle previously for Peter. The disciple didn't see the big picture and the real reason why Jesus was there. Now... he gets it. Now... he understands what his role is in this big picture. And, if they want to take him away, then he is fine with that. 

That is not what happens - this time. They get a good scolding. They are told not to speak in this name any more. And, they leave, not feeling shame or bitterness about the situation. They leave with even more resolve to keep doing what needs to be done. Speaking in the Name of Jesus despite what others might say. And they are not alone. 

There's a name that hasn't come up in a bit. Pontius Pilate is still in the picture. People would know that name still as the Roman governor had much to do with Jesus' death. But, it's not a speech this time to a crowd. It is a prayer to the Lord and Savior above. It never hurts to stop for a moment, center oneself, and focus before moving forward. They all feel invigored by John and Peter's release. It won't always be like this. They got to go free this time. Next time, maybe it won't be that way. They have to know this as they know whole heartedly what happened to their Lord and Savior as he walked this earth. Now, his words set in. John would recall them later in his own Gospel. 

Before they take a next step, it's time to pray. 
If we in our world today could find it within ourselves to stop and pray together before we take some drastic step or march on a city or parade around like idiots wanting so much attention and glory for ourselves.

 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, 

they immediately organized a rally to sweep in and take back Jerusalem in the name of Jesus because it's God's city and it belongs to the true believers.

No.

No, that's not the way or the answer.
They pray. They thanked God, together. It didn't invigorate them in a one man against the world type regime. It caused them to stop for a moment and thank their Lord for all he had done. 

And it did one more thing.

I'm going to say something here that might shock you. 

This is the kind of world Jesus envisioned for us.

This is Socialism. And, its being done correctly. 
The people are communing together. The people are actually taking care of each other. 
We get scared when we hear word like socialize and commune because that's not what we have experienced with those words through our decades on this earth. The example we have witnessed is where a dictator takes over and easily forces the socialism or communism toward himself and the system of government is not in place to serve the people or support those in need. It ends up supporting just one. 

What we see here in the early church is an example of selfless giving and living that needs revitalized in our current world. How can we live in such a way as to make sure that others needs are met before our own? How can we live with a fire in bones about what we stand for that it comes our in ways of generosity and caring instead eager head-on over-zealousness? Maybe in the weeks ahead we will see more from the early church leaders about how exactly to carry that out. 

In the mean time, let us keep our focus on Jesus.
Let us not be afraid to kick the buck towards him.
Let us not be afraid to share His Name with those who need to hear it. 

Blessings