Stephen Goes into OT

 If you're a sports fan, you know that overtime is crunch time.  OT is where it all happens.  It's at the end of the game where victory is decided.  

In the Bible, the OT is certainly crunch time and where victory is decided.  But there's one big difference, the OT (Old Testament) comes FIRST.

Here Stephen goes into the OT to explain to the Sanhedrin that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah that God has promised (Acts 7:1-8).  He walks through the OT to show them that all of God's interaction with their forefathers was all about Jesus.

We must never forget that the Old Testament is NOT about great heroes.  It's NOT about wonderful examples of morality.  

There is only one Hero of the story in the OT.  Jesus.  The OT is part of a grand narrative about Christ.  The OT is filled with shadows, types, promises and prophecies about Jesus.  

Some call it the Meta Narrative.  That simply means the Big Story.  

Whatever we read in the OT, we must see in light of Jesus.  We must read it in light of how God uses an endless list of sinful, jacked up people to fulfill His promise of salvation through His Son.

The OT is crunch time.  The OT is where the game is decided.  The only difference is that in the Bible, the OT happens FIRST!

 

Stephen's Jewish enemies drag him before the ruling council.  The proceedings begin with the high priest asking our man Steve, "Are these things so?" (v1).  This is the equivalent of the judge asking the defendant, "How do you plead?"

Well, Steve doesn't exactly answer his question.  Rather, he uses it as an opportunity to preach a sermon.  He basicly opens the Old Testament to its first book and begins walking through God's story, explaining that Jesus is Messiah.  

This is a reminder that we must "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" (1Pet 3:15).  

Are you and I ready?  We need to be.  Maybe not to preach a sermon, but to share the good news of Jesus.

Let's remember how Luke describes Stephen.  The apostles appointed him for service along with six other dudes (Acts 6:5).  These men were to be "men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3).  

Steve shows that he’s "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5).  Once he starts serving, he’s "full of grace and power" as well as "doing great wonders and signs" (Acts 6:8).  

When the Jewish leaders confront him and try to debate him, they’re frustrated by his "wisdom and the Spirit" (Acts 6:10).  No wonder.  With God’s Spirit giving him the words and wisdom, they don’t stand a chance.

The only way they could ever beat Stephen was to cheat.  Just like they did with Jesus, his opponents cook up people willing to commit perjury in order to get him out of the picture (Acts 6:11-13).

Stephen begins his impromptu message by flipping back to the opening pages of the OT.  He tells his Jewish brethren how "the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham" (v2).

Let's be clear about one thing.  Steve is NOT sharing a series of stories about characters from the OT.  He's sharing ONE story about GOD!  

Watch how the One moving the story along, the One making everything happen is actually Almighty God.  He's the One appearing (v2), calling, showing (v3), removing (v4), giving, promising (v5), speaking (v6), judging and afflicting (v7).  

Stephen walks his listeners through the story of Abraham in Genesis (Gen 12:1-4; 17:7-8; 48:4; 15:13-14; 17:10-14).  

This is a not-so-subtle reminder that the first book of the Bible is not a story full of legends and fairy tales.  

It is history.  Or rather His Story.  It is the beginning of the story of God's gracious interaction with His creation.

Heroes are made in OT.  And God is THE Hero of the OT.   

©2011

Jay Jennings