“I like the way you brush your hair. And I like those stylish clothes you wear. I like the way the light hit the ice and glare. And I can see you, boo, from way over there.” Yes, I just quoted Nelly, rapper known @2000’s. What do people recognize most about you? Is it the clothes you wear, the ice you wear (oh my I just said that)? Maybe, it’s how well you are educated, the sport(s) you play. What do people recognize most about you? Think a minute on this before you read what’s next...
The apostles had just healed a man and now they are in front of the religious leaders. They don’t know what to do with these men who obviously are different. Remember, not long ago the disciples were hiding from these leaders because Jesus had just been murdered on a cross and they feared for their lives too. Now they are boldly proclaiming Jesus.
Take notice at what these educated religious leaders said about the disciples, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 It wasn’t their status, the ice they wore, or the way they styled their hair. It wasn’t their education... THEY REALIZED THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS! I think it is the coolest thing to see that these educated men didn’t recognize them as educated but recognized the disciples as having been with Jesus.
Paul wrote to Philemon (another letter in the New Testament) about being refreshing, “For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.”Philemon 1:7 The results of spending with Jesus are bringing His presence into other interactions throughout our day. May we give people Jesus because we have been in the presence of Jesus. May we be disciples of Christ, refreshing, that are spoken of as having “been with Jesus”.
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.