A Disturbing Gospel

February 22

(Acts 4:1-4 NIV)  "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. {2} They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. {3} They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. {4} But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

(Matthew 2:1-3 NIV)  "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." {3} When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him."

When one proclaims that God has come to Earth as Lord and Savior for all mankind, the “powers that be” will be disturbed. When one preaches that wicked men killed Christ, but God raised Him from the dead, evil will rise up to silence you -- for if Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead, we would be fools not to worship and serve Him. Earthly powers will agree that Jesus was a good person and a great teacher, but they cannot tolerate Him as God incarnate. Those in authority are threatened by those who will bow down only to Christ. Man’s autonomy is challenged when we preach that salvation is found in Christ alone. A gospel that gives people only two choices for eternity is a disturbing gospel, and if we preach it, like Peter and John, we will be marginalized, harassed, and even punished. But if we faithfully live it out, some will be saved, and the church will grow. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day