1st Century Jewish Tomb
Is there anything that followers of Christ can do to get the attention of those who dismiss them as uneducated and backward?
Our Lord had a reputation of being “unschooled”. He drew crowds of people by healing them of all kinds of diseases (Matt 4:24) (John 7:15).
At one point he sent his apostles out with the same power over sickness and demons (Matt 10:1)
After he was gone, his disciples continued to do powerful things in his name, even if less often. In one instance, Peter and John got the attention of Jerusalem’s temple worshipers and leaders by healing a well known beggar who had been lame from birth (Acts 3:1-10).
As a result of such miracles the numbers of Jewish people who believed in Jesus quickly grew to 5000 (Acts 4:4).
Religious leaders didn’t know what to do. They were afraid that if they didn’t act quickly, all Jerusalem would soon believe in the One whose life they had traded for a murderer (Acts 3:13-14) (Acts 4:16-17). Their concerns echoed the alarm they had felt after hearing reports of Jesus’ own miracles, including the resurrection of his friend Lazarus (John 12:9-11).
The miracle that Peter and John did at the gate called “Beautiful” followed a pattern. Once again, “uneducated men”, who were known to have spent time with Jesus (Acts 4:13), used something supernatural to get the attention of those who needed to take another look at their only hope of salvation (Acts 4:12).
So 2000 years later what can we do to get the attention of our generation?
Does it work to claim healings without proof; identify with a political party; advocate for the laws of the Bible; criticize other religions; boycott industries or non-profits that act contrary to our beliefs; or resist governments that we don’t agree with?
Any opinions about what it might take to help our generation take another look not at us, but at the only one who can give anyone something worth living and dying for?
Paul wrote a letter to Timothy about praying for conditions to live “a quiet life.” Is the new norm–to escape notice by living under the radar (1Tim 2:1-4)?
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