Paul And Jesus

We have seen and noted how Paul, God’s faithful and bold servant, was taken to the Areopagus, by curious, scholarly minds, who wanted to know from Paul, more about what they considered to be a new doctrine. May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? Acts 17: 19b. This curious and scholarly excitement has been occasioned by the sincere preaching, proclaiming and presenting of Jesus by Paul. We are told, because he preached to them, Jesus and the resurrection. Acts 17: 18b.

The resurrection has been and will always be a matter of curiosity, conspiracy and contention among those who refuse to accept this Gospel Truth. The Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Saviour of all humankind, is like the engine in a car. It is the power that gives the dead body of the vehicle, life to be and do.

Have you ever had this kind of experience? You have a good-bodied vehicle, road-worthy tires, clean and spotless outside body, doors and windows opening like clockwork, no sticking, no jamming, indicators in proper working order, inside pristine, with a sweet-smelling aroma, but alas, when you go to start the vehicle, it is dead? O how that is a most vivid picture of myself and of the Church even, when the Resurrection is dead to us.

Regardless of how we believe in God and are religious to a fault, if the Resurrection of Jesus is not central to our believing, receiving and giving, then we are, above all people, dead in the eyes of God. Like the vehicle, because its battery is dead, that good and perfect vehicle is also dead. It is dead to its true calling and purpose, so that no good produced can ever be derived from it.

This is exactly what we are looking at with Paul, who is now in the presence of many distinguished and learned men, both of Roman law and Religious law, where he is not the preacher as he was in Athens, but the prisoner in Caesarea. Here is a little background information to place us in the correct sight and mind. Holding our interest is this similarity.

Paul is before the people in the Areopagus, because of his presenting Jesus and  preaching on the Resurrection of Jesus. Now, he is before this highly distinguished crowd, because of the Resurrection of Jesus. We know this because we hear it from the lip of Festus who is speaking to King Agrippa about prisoner Paul. He categorically told the King that the accusations brought against Paul, by the Jewish leaders had nothing to do with Roman business, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts 25: 19

Have you heard? Are you hearing what is happening here? Who were Paul’s accusers? We need to establish this from the outset.  When Festus went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea, we are told this. Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul. Acts 25: 2a. Yes, these men are the religious hierarchy of the Synagogue, not unlike the hierarchy of our Church, were Paul’s accusers. These are the leaders, the fathers, the teachers, the preachers who shepherd the people of God. These religious men are the ones who are against Paul for preaching that Jesus is alive and with us. They refuse to accept that what drives the believer, what powers the Church, what brings untold, radical changes to the lives of sinners, is not the Holy Law, but the Holy Jesus, who lives and reigns forever.

As unbelievable, as this may appear to you, may God grant each of us, open minds, unclogged ears, unbridled tongues and surrendered hearts, to accept truth, though most disturbing to many. To believe in the Resurrection of Jesus, comes only by faith in God the Holy Spirit, to have the power to raise Jesus from the dead and raise us too, from our lawfully and legally dead states, to believe in, accept and live the living reality of a Risen Jesus in us. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8: 11. The power of the living Jesus in us, is like the battery in the car, which gives power and life to it. Do not live as one deceived, concerning Jesus. 

Listen to the accusations, objection and total anger levied against Paul and thus against the Resurrection of Jesus. Think carefully now!

When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed, but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts 25:  18 - 19

Not one of the Jewish leaders wants to snuff out the life of Paul for presenting and speaking about a Man called Jesus. You see, there is no dispute there, as these Jewish leaders know that there was a Man called Jesus of Nazareth, who lived among them for a time. The life of Jesus is not the problem.

Not one of the Jewish hierarchy is trying to kill Paul for presenting and speaking about a Man called Jesus, the Jewish Rabbi who was crucified, who died and was buried. Believe you me, there could be no doubts or unbelief there, for some of those same priests and high officials, were the ones who ensured the crucifixion of that imposter, who claimed to be of God. The death or burial of Jesus is not the problem.

What is the problem that haunts and torments these religious people, who are strict worshippers and believers in Almighty God, according to law?

We will conclude with this tomorrow.