”When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men!“ Acts 5:33-35 NLT
The high council, made up of smart, well-bred, wealthy, powerful, RELIGIOUS men were furious! And that anger pushed them to yet another evil, demonic decision – let’s kill these guys as well.
An Angel of the Lord, not only miraculously freed the imprisoned apostles, but told them to get back out there and tell the people the truth – the word (rhéma) of life. Under direct orders from God, they obey and this re-ruffles the feathers of the Sanhedrin (the senate of the Jewish political system). How could the religious get on the wrong side of God Himself? This council of men supposedly worked FOR God, representing His will and His ways.
The Jewish people had a long history of those who would lead them. First it was just Moses, speaking on behalf of God. The people grumbled and complained about him and God had holes swallow some of them up and diseases ravage their bodies until they said they were sorry. Then judges, Godly men AND women (Deborah) to lead and manage the massive 12 tribes of Israel. But Israel wanted a king. So God gave them Saul. There was hundreds of years of kings, some good, but many corrupt and evil. Then, after the last king, Zedekiah, it was the prophets, spokesmen for God. Almost all of them were murdered. Then nothing. No one leading. Silence from heaven, God just quit speaking and quit sending people to guide the nation. So where did this council, this Sanhedrin senate come from?
I believe this council, this “synedrion,”Greek for “sitting together,” came together out of Moses original plan to assemble a group 70 men to help hear the issues, complaints and problems of the people. So, along with Moses it equals 71 men. This group, now exclusively made up of rabbis, scribes and legal experts made up the New Testament’s senate over Israel. There were of course several disagreeing factions even within the Sanhedrin, some known as Pharisees and Sadducees – based on their deeply held theology and theories about God. It was rare for the whole group to agree on anything! Yet, when it came to power, control and upholding the law of God (as they interrupted that law) they were in unity.
Their interpretations of God’s law got so out of control, so filled with anger and judgment, showing no mercy, that they used their interpretation as the standard by which they killed their own promised Messiah. They killed the God they worked for! It makes sense then, if they were to protect their version of the law, they would have to eliminate all challenges and kill all rebels. They thought they put this “false messiah” rebellion, this coo to rest by killing its leader, Jesus. Gamaliel states this himself, there were others who tried and failed. Once the leader was killed, the followers faded. But not with this one, this Jesus, He was different. Gamaliel recognized, it could continued to grow, he said, “But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” Oh, how true that is!
Reminds me a little bit of the current factions and disagreements in the big “C,” Church today. In this environment of heresy hunting, cancelling pastors right and left, and pursuing a social media trial and conviction to bury ministries, it feels like we’ve got our own self-righteous, self-declared Sanhedrin all over again. It’s a big black eye on the Church of Jesus, I can tell you that much. It’s embarrassing to watch or hear the juicy gossip, the viral podcasts of those who have fallen or been publicly flogged. Yet, in the midst of us behaving badly, chasing religious zealots or modern day Pharisees, Jesus’ Church keeps going.
The Church of Jesus beats the odds, comes through triumphant and miraculously emerges without spots or wrinkles! Why? Because Jesus said it would! And, despite our internal, self consuming drive for perfection or our interpretation of keeping the NEW COVENANT – God continues to bypass the religious denominations and pours out His Spirit on ALL flesh, rescuing and redeeming thousands of people we deemed irrelevant or disreputable. Men and women leaders of the Church, take care what you are planning to do to these Pastors or ministries! You may find yourselves fighting against God.
Prayer
Dad,
Oh, what a time to be alive! What a time to see you move and miraculously rescue us, despite our differences, our theological theories. How exciting to know that You are in control and You never fail! How humbling to know that we are still just broken humans slowly being mended by Your grace. Help us Oh Lord – Your Kingdom come, Your will be done! Amen.