You are given a mission
Acts 5:12,17-32 Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles. With one mind, they all continued meeting in Solomon's Colonnade. 17The high priest rose up, along with his associates (that is, the party of the Sadducees), because they were filled with envy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, brought them out, and said, 20“Go, stand in the temple and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life.” 21After they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began to teach.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin (that is, the whole council of elders of the people of Israel). Then they sent orders to the jail to have the apostles brought in. 22But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were puzzled about them, wondering what could have happened.
25Then someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people.” 26Then the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles in without force, because they were afraid that the people might stone them. 27After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin. The high priest asked them, 28“Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man's blood down on us!”
29But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you arrested and killed by hanging him on a cross. 31God exalted him to his right hand as Ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and the forgiveness of sins. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits that are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:4-5). Amen.
James Bond, Ethan Hunt, and Jason Bourne. Gru and Lucy, Carmen Sandiego, and Inspector Gadget. Spies. Secret agents. This is the way my favorite spy showed up for the first time: Major Monogram says, “Good morning, Agent P. The evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz is up to his old tricks. … Find out what he’s up to and put a stop to it. As always Agent P, it is imperative that your cover identity as a mindless domestic pet remains intact. Now, get out there. We’re all counting on you.” Agent P with his fedora is also known as Perry the Platypus from Phineas and Ferb.
Secret agents are given a mission. Beat the bad guy. Foil evil plans. Save the world. Be silent. Be sneaky. Work behind the scenes. Lead a double life. Be a master of disguise. Use wits and gadgets.
You are given a mission. As we’ll see from the example of Peter and the apostles, it is not the mission of a spy or a secret agent. Your mission is out in the open, public, visible and audible. We pray that you are as courageous and resilient as Peter and the apostles. Also, notice that not everyone is excited about your meaningful mission.
The apostles were rapidly making enemies, especially since these events were happening only a few months after these same religious authorities had condemned Jesus. Jesus’ followers were branded a cult. They were labeled as freakish disciples promoting the teachings of a dead rabbi
whom they claimed had risen from the dead. As the apostles’ message began to spread, so did opposition to their message.
Peter and the apostles were facing the Sanhedrin – the same religious council who presided over Jesus’ phony trial. The Sanhedrin were made up of Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were “not fair you see” because they opposed Jesus on Old Testament rules and Messianic prophecy. The Sadducees were “sad you see” because they did not believe in the resurrection. The Sadducees opposed Jesus’ apostles because they kept preaching about Jesus’ resurrection.
Earlier in the temple courtyard, Peter and John met a man lame from birth. Peter said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk” (Acts 3:6)! The Sanhedrin called Peter and John before them because of all the commotion in the temple courtyard. They commanded the apostles not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). Peter and John answered them, “Decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20). The Sanhedrin threatened them some more but let them go.
The Holy Spirit blessed the mission of the apostles. Luke writes, “Many signs and wonders were done among the people through the hands of the apostles. … More and more believers in the Lord were added to their group, large numbers of both men and women” (Acts 5:12, 14). People were being healed of their illness, lameness, and demon possession by the apostles’ touch and words. People were even healed if Peter’s shadow fell on them (Acts 5:15)!
Luke adds some strange commentary, “No one else dared to join [the apostles], but the people held them in high regard” (Acts 5:13). The people were afraid. The Sanhedrin had the authority to kick people out of the temple. To be barred from the temple was like being ostracized from society. If this happened, other Jews would not be allowed to communicate or do business with them. It was a powerful card to hold, but the Sanhedrin was not shy in playing it.
The members of the Sanhedrin discovered that crucifying Jesus did not stop the movement he started. They were surprised. And they were jealous (Acts 5:17)! This conflict was about religion. But it was also about power and politics. So, they arrest the apostles and throw them in prison (Acts 5:18).
But God’s mission will not be stopped! His messengers will not be muted! His witnesses will not be silenced! The Lord sends an angel who opens the prison doors. The angel reminds the apostles that God had given them a mission. “Go, stand in the temple and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life” (Acts 5:20). So, the apostles go back to the temple courtyards at daybreak and begin to preach about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
The Sanhedrin is puzzled about what happened to the apostles. Until someone reported to them, “Hey! These guys you put in prison for preaching about Jesus are back in the temple courts preaching about Jesus” (Acts 5:25)! The temple guards go out and arrest the apostles again. This time very timidly and politely because they are afraid of being stoned by the people. The Sanhedrin challenge the apostles, “Did we not give you strict orders not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man's blood down on us” (Acts 5:28)!
Peter and the apostles reply, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). It is this obedience that fuels their witness even in the face of ostracization, beatings, imprisonment, and eventually a martyr’s death. They tell the Sanhedrin they have been given a mission from God, “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you arrested and killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his right hand as Ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and the
forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:30-32).
God has given you a mission. You don’t have to save the world. You are to tell the old, old story that Jesus has already saved the world through his crucifixion and resurrection. You get to tell people that Jesus not only saved the world, but he also saved them. You are going up against the biggest bad guy of all – the Devil. But Jesus has already beaten this bad guy. You get to tell people that the Devil no longer has to have influence over them. Jesus now rules for our good by being exalted to God’s right hand as Ruler and Savior.
On this mission, you don’t have to lead a double life as a normal person and a secret agent. You can tell people about your normal life – your known sins and your secret sins, but how you repent of them and receive forgiveness from Jesus. Then you lead people to Jesus’ cross and open tomb so they can repent and receive forgiveness, too. You may not know what to say, but Jesus has sent you the Holy Spirit in your Baptism. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will give you the right words to say at the right time (Luke 12:12).
God has given you a mission. This mission is not going to be easy or pleasant. People are naturally resistant to Jesus’ message because they are hostile to God by nature. We are not to expect popularity, but persecution. We will not receive unflagging adulation, but ardent flogging. We will not receive applause and gratitude, but arrest and the grave.
Jesus’ words will come true, “All men will hate you because of me” (Luke 21:17). We as twenty-first century Christians and modern-day witnesses do not go looking for trouble – enough trouble will find us. It has been said that where Christ builds a church, the devil builds a chapel. Wherever the gospel is proclaimed, Satan must attack. Wherever we soldiers of Christ lift high the cross, Satan’s minions dig a grave. Wherever Christ reigns as King, this world’s prince still scowls.
Remember this as you suffer at the hands of governments, unbelievers, social media bullies, and so on. Their opposition will be about religion. It will also be about power and politics. We don’t take revenge. We leave room for God’s vengeance. Until then, we turn the other cheek, forgive seventy multiplied by seven times, pray for our persecutors, and live as lights in the darkness. God will bring trouble on those who trouble us. St. John prophecies, “Look, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will mourn because of him” (Revelation 1:7).
Sadly, we often cower from our God-given mission. We keep our heads down and our mouths shut. We don’t want to be judged in the court of public opinion. We don’t want to be vilified on social media. We don’t want to offend anyone, so we accept the sin that is all around us, even within our own homes, rather than confronting it. We are afraid to go on the offensive.
Or we try to avoid the sinful culture altogether. We hide in our churches, schools, and homes, and shut the door on the evil that influences our culture. We are hunkered down on the defensive. But Jesus challenged his followers to go on offense — to proclaim the truth without shame.
Our churches and schools should become staging areas rather than fortresses – places that equip God’s people to confront a sinful world instead of hiding from it. Church memberships may shrink, and churches may close their doors, but the Christian Church will never die out. It can never be defeated. “Steeples may fall and spires may crumble, but bells still are chiming and calling the young and old to rest, but above all the soul distressed, longing for rest everlasting” (CW 856:1). Jesus promises, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last— the Living One. I
was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell” (Revelation 1:17-18).
On Wednesday, I gave my last chapel at WLS. I dressed like this (picture on screen) – black suit, black hat, sunglasses, and earpiece. I was trying to look like a spy. The point I’m making is that God is giving you a meaningful mission. Unlike a spy, you are not to keep it secret. You are not to be silent. You don’t need to work behind the scenes. You don’t have to be a master of disguise or lead a double life or use nifty gadgets. You don’t have to dress all in black and look cool. Although, the hat is always a nice touch.
Dress however you want. Be yourself. Speak normally. But know that God has given you a mission. You don’t have to save the world. Jesus has already saved the world. He will use you to save souls, though. Jesus has defeated the biggest bad guy and given the victory to you. You may be ostracized from society, mocked in the college classroom, and bullied on social media. The government may oppose, fine, and jail you. That’s to be expected. You obey God rather than people. You are going right back to the temple courts, to the public square of social media, and to the homes of your friends and family. Be bold. Be courageous. Be resilient. Like the apostles, you aren’t afraid. You won’t keep your head down or your mouth shut.
You are on a mission from God. God’s mission will not be stopped! His messengers will not be muted! His witnesses will not be silenced! Amen.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his own blood and made us a kingdom and priests to God his Father—to him be the glory and the power forever (Revelation 1:6). Amen.