The Pilgrim Path---Acts 4: 13—22

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

They recognized they had been with Jesus…

Notice how the Holy Spirit gets our attention: “…they could tell they had been with Jesus.” The Brothers were not afraid to testify of the reality of who Jesus is and what He was doing for His Own. They could not help but relay the message of the Kingdom. When asked to give some “clarity” as to what was going on---they even integrated the text of the Old Testament Scriptures to show this was the authority of Almighty God (the Messiah had come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth). The Brothers were not adversarial ---but they declared the truth---which was hard on the flesh (all by itself). They were not troubled by the threats of the Religious leaders or paralyzed by concerns about the future. Their determination: We will simply obey the LORD Jesus (if that is contrary to the stated norms of society---so be it).

The Brothers had no doubt that the Prince of Life would be with them, no matter the path He called them to walk (He had come back from the dead---they certainly believed they could trust Him now). That phrase: “They could tell they had been with Jesus,” is just a hard one to forget. It is rather obvious that we have always been with someone---the question is---Is it apparent that we have been with Jesus? Sometimes, folk would think I have just spent time with myself. That is not going to do people much good. We have got to check on our time spent with HIM. Ole John Bunyan mentions the jury from Vanity Fair. Often those guys “rub” up against us in the world---and they make us quite unattractive: Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Hate-light, Mr. Lyer, Mr. Blindman, Mr. Implacable, Mr. Cruelty---we do not even know how much influence they are having upon us. All we know for sure---they do not remind anyone of Jesus or His Kingdom…

From Charles Haddon Spurgeon: A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is HIS living biography, written out in the words and actions of His people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of Him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, “Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;” but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, “HE has been with Jesus; he has been taught of Him; he is like Him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and actions.” A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace you: take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God. Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, “He has been with Jesus.” Imitate Jesus in holiness. Was He zealous for His Master? So be you; ever go about doing good. Let not time be wasted: it is too precious. Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the same. Was He devout? Be you fervent in your prayers. Had He deference to His Father’s will? So, submit yourselves to Him. Was He patient? So, learn to endure. And best of all, as the high priest of our portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as He did; and let those sublime words of your Master, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” always ring in your ears. Heap coals of fire on the head of your foe by your kindness to him. Good for evil, recollect, is godlike. Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, “He has been with Jesus.”

From Samuel Rutherford: It is the LORD’S kindness that he will take the scum off us in the fire. Who knows how needful winnowing is to us, and what dross we must want ere we enter into the kingdom of God? So narrow is the entry to heaven, that our knots, our bunches and lumps of pride, and self-love, and idol-love, and world-love must be hammered off us, that we may throng in, stooping low, creeping through that narrow and thorny entry.

From John Duncan: Be sure of coming to Christ: be sure of abiding in Christ: be sure of bringing forth fruit to Christ.

HYMN

Be thou my vision, O LORD of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that thou art---

Thou my best thought by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

I ever with thee and thou with me, LORD;

Thou my great Father, I thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine inheritance, now and always:

Thou and thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Ancient Irish poem, ca. 8th cent. / trans. by Mary E. Byrne, 1905

*** versified by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason