Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60 - God Is with Us - December 26, 2021

If I were to ask you to summarize the true meaning of Christmas with just one word, what would it be? (And no, you can’t say “Jesus”). I know, because you are here again on the day after Christmas, that you wouldn’t say, “cheer,” or “gifts,” or “family.” But what would you say? How about Immanuel? Immanuel is the name the Lord gave to the baby born to Mary and Joseph through the prophet Isaiah; a name which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23). Isn’t that the real meaning of Christmas – that in that little baby named Jesus, God is with us? Even more, isn’t that the only way we can handle day-to-day life in this world, standing on Jesus’ promise: surely I am with you always until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). This is the truth of Christmas that comforts us all year long and the message that we proclaim to the world: God is with us.

So what does that have to do with today? Today is the day the church has chosen to remember the first person to die for confessing this truth after Jesus’ Ascension: Stephen. I know it may seem that the day after Christmas is a somewhat strange time to focus on something as gloomy as persecution and martyrdom – but Stephen’s story helps us better understand what that core truth of Christmas means, that God is with us.

Ever since God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden for their rebellion (Genesis 3:24), it’s been difficult – if not impossible – for the average believer to discern God’s presence in their daily lives. (Yes, God spoke once in a while to a patriarch or prophet – but that was a very rare occurrence.) A Romanian priest named Richard Wurmbrand tells of a Yugoslavian man who was arrested and tortured for his faith. In time, his hope and courage changed to doubt and despair. He eventually hanged himself and left the following note for his wife: “I have gone to remind God of a world he has forgotten.” [1] He’s not alone in thinking that God has abandoned this world, is he? If God is with us, why is there so much suffering and sadness in our lives and the lives of those we love? If God is in control, why did he allow tornados to take dozens of lives a few weeks ago? If God is good, why did he allow those Christian missionaries to be kidnapped in Haiti? [2] Where is God in a country where murdering your own child is legal but requiring someone to use the restroom that matches their biological gender is increasingly illegal?

The Christians in Stephen’s day must have wondered the same thing. Stephen was one of seven deacons who were chosen to assist the apostles with the daily distribution of food so that the apostles could focus on preaching and teaching (Acts 6:1-2). Scripture describes him as full of grace and power; a man who did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people (Acts 6:8). He was also a courageous man – a man who boldly confessed Christ crucified for sinners before hostile audiences and even the Sanhedrin itself (Acts 6:12).

And that’s what got him into trouble. Stephen’s opponents were unable to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking (Acts 6:10). So they resorted to a smear campaign. They presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops making threats against this holy place and the law. In fact, we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs Moses handed down to us.” Stephen was placed on trial for blasphemy – a capital crime under God’s OT Law (Leviticus 24:13-16) – but even the threat of death could not stifle his bold confession of the truth. He used Israel’s infamous history of persecuting prophets as his defense and as evidence that the men who were accusing him of blasphemy were no different than their fathers: you stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit! You are doing just what your fathers did. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? This is when things reached the breaking point: when they heard these things, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him…they screamed at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and rushed at him with one purpose in mind. They threw him out of the city and stoned him. I don’t think anyone could blame the Christians at that time for wondering: “Is God really with us?”

Stephen’s death reminds us of two important truths. First, this is a fallen, broken, sinful world and it is ruled by the devil himself (John 12:31). It is a world which will never, ever love the truth of Christ crucified for sinners, but will always despise it, try to silence it, and persecute those who confess it (John 15:18). It will never be “safe” to be a Christian in this world. Second, Stephen’s death reminds us that the same may happen to us. Now I don’t think any of us have ever been kidnapped for our confession and clearly none of us have given our lives – but how many of us have died “little deaths” for the sake of the Christ? How many of us have had a vicious argument or a falling out with a family member who views the historic Christian faith as antiquated and bigoted today? How many of us have chafed as we hear celebrities and politicians mock and ridicule Christians as ignorant and stupid? On the other hand, maybe we’ve never felt pressured or persecuted for our confession. Then the question should be: why not? Is it because we have an unwritten agreement that we won’t discuss sensitive “religious” topics at holiday gatherings? Is it because we’ve given into the pressure of our godless society and simply kept our mouths shut? I’m sure we would all have to confess that there have been times when we haven’t been bold and courageous like Stephen, when we’ve been cowardly and quiet – and for that we need to repent.

Here’s the good news, whether you’ve gotten into trouble with the world because you’ve opened your mouth or offended your holy God because you kept it shut, Stephen’s story assures us that God is with us. Listen again as Stephen’s story reached it’s climax: Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. In that dark moment, even as Stephen’s enemies were pelting the life out of him, Stephen looked up and saw Jesus. Jesus, who had given up the riches of heaven to come to earth to be born in a manger. Jesus, who had lived a perfect life in Stephen’s place. Jesus, who had suffered and died to atone for Stephen’s sins. Jesus, who did not stay dead, but rose to life. This same Jesus was now standing at God’s right hand – and seeing Jesus with all power and glory assured Stephen that God was still with him.

“Good for him, but I’ve never seen Jesus in the dark and lonely moments of my life,” you may be thinking. Oh, yes you have! You may have noticed that some churches have placed the baptismal font right at the entrance to the sanctuary – that is to be a visible reminder that while you may not have seen Jesus when you were baptized, he saw you and claimed you as his possession. You see Jesus every time you open your Bible or hear a sermon. You know how looking at a photo album (or today, scrolling through pictures on your phone) tells a story about your life and the lives of the people you love? This book is God’s love letter to you – detailing all that he did to save you through Jesus. When you receive Holy Communion Jesus is coming to you in a physical, tangible form – telling you, “I haven’t forgotten you, here I am with you, for you, to save you.” And, for all those times that we have folded under the pressure and failed to confess Christ, Jesus comes in the Absolution to assure us that he has paid for even those sins.

And when we see Jesus in these means of grace as proof that God is still with us, then we can also see one of the most difficult things it is for any Christian to see. Christians love to create and purchase art containing Romans 8:28: we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). And that’s fine. But I think a lot of Christians don’t understand what that passage means. They think it means that everything in life will be good for believers. That’s not what it means. It means that God will use everything – both good and bad things – for the eternal good of his people. But doesn’t that just beg the question: how can God use evil for our good? How can God possibly use things like sickness, sadness, depression, and persecution for our good?

Let’s go back to Stephen’s story. After Stephen was martyred, the Jews began an intense persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem, forcing them to flee to Judea and Samaria – and, eventually, throughout the entire ancient world (Acts 8:1-3). I’m pretty sure that none of these Christians thought it was “good” that they were forced to leave their homes and friends and jobs. But remember this: Jesus had promised his disciples you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8) and as these Christians fled the Gospel spread with them like a virus throughout the entire ancient world. (Maybe that wasn’t the best choice of words.) Wherever these Christians went they boldly proclaimed the Gospel and established churches.

How many thousands of people were brought to faith as a result of Stephen’s death, the intense persecution and the dispersion of these Christians throughout the world? Only God knows. But think of the impact that Stephen’s courageous confession must have had on at least one man: a young man named Saul. How often do you think that the Pharisee Saul – forcibly converted by Jesus into a Christian missionary named Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18) – thought about Stephen’s fearless confession as he faced danger and persecution and death himself in his ministry for Christ? How much do you think Stephen’s faithful confession of Christ influenced the letters Paul wrote to numerous congregations – letters which still speak to us today? Would there have ever been an Apostle Paul if it weren’t for the martyred Stephen? Would there have ever been a Martin Luther if it weren’t for Paul’s letter to the Romans – which played a huge role in opening Luther’s eyes to the foundational truths of grace alone, faith alone, and Scripture alone? Would we have ever heard the Gospel if the Lord hadn’t worked from Stephen to Paul to Martin Luther to a parent or grandparent or pastor or teacher in our own lives? Again, only God knows.

The point is that God can (and does) use our courageous confession in the face of hostility and suffering to make an incredible impact on others and to bring glory to his name. I don’t know when or where you will face pressure and hostility and suffering for confessing Christ. It might be with your family and friends this holiday season when you courageously call them out for their openly sinful lifestyles. It might be in the office when you refuse to abide by immoral, politically correct policies. It might be on social media when you refuse to condone homosexuality and transgenderism as acceptable lifestyles. But what I do know is that even if its hard and even if it hurts, God can and will use your bold confession for good – the greatest of which would be to lead others to repentance, faith and salvation.

It may seem strange to be considering the violent death of a Christian the day after Christmas – but I hope it helps you to see that that single word summary of the core truth of Christmas – Immanuel – is not just a cute name, but is the guarantee that in good times and bad, when faced with warmth or hostility, this fact remains true: God is with us. Amen.   

[1] Richard Wurmbrand, Reaching Toward the Heights, 1977

[2] https://people.com/human-interest/missionaries-who-were-held-captive-by-gang-in-haiti-detail-their-escape/