A King Who Stands
This fall on Wednesday mornings, a group of women from City Church are gathering to study the book of Acts. Wednesday morning Bible study is always a highlight of my week because of the women and relationships in the room, but in particular because I am regularly reminded that the Holy Spirit is at work in each of our hearts.
Last week we came to the story of Stephen in Acts 7. Stephen was one of the seven who was selected for works of service and mercy as the church was growing and expanding in Jerusalem. He is “a man full of God’s grace and power”, filled with wisdom, and performing signs and wonders (Acts 6:8-10). Soon Stephen finds himself arrested and on trial before the enemies and haters of Jesus’s followers who are threatened by the power displayed by the Holy Spirit through him. A mob is stirred up and accuses Stephen of undermining and blaspheming God‘s law and the temple.
After the accusations have been made, the high priest asks Stephen: “Are theses things so?” Rather than a simple answer, Stephen launches into his speech. As Stephen outlines the history of the Jewish patriarchs, he shows that the presence of God is greater than a temple made by hands, and that the law of God has always pointed to more. Both the temple and the law have been pointing to Jesus himself. After the speech, Stephen’s accusers are enraged. They drag him outside of the city to stone him to death. As Stephen is on the brink of a brutal murder, he looks up into heaven and sees Jesus “standing at the right hand of God.”
As we discussed the richness of the passage, someone shared a passage from Isaiah that had been on her mind:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength…
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.”
—Isaiah 30:15, 18 (NIV)
The passage from Isaiah combined with Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing overwhelmed me. Stephen was a picture of a person who found his salvation and repentance and rest in Jesus‘s work and love for him. But what he saw in Jesus was not a god far off. Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Throughout the Bible and in images from the ancient world, kings are often depicted sitting down. When kings are seated are they are ruling, they are reigning, their work is done. But a king who is standing up…that is a king who is ready to act. Stephen’s vision of Jesus standing at the right hand of God is a vision of a king of action and authority. This king is rising up, ready to show compassion to his beloved servant Stephen.
And this is the same Jesus who loves us. No matter what chaos and confusion we may find ourselves in, this same Jesus rises to show us compassion. He is not far away and complacent, lounging in disinterest while our lives feel hard. Jesus is our king and friend who stands up to act on our behalf, to show us compassion, to meet us in our darkest moments. He meets us by the power and presence of his Spirit, but he also meets us in one another. In a room on the third floor on Monument Avenue, the Holy Spirit was at work through God’s Word and God’s people reminding me that God is with us. Through the faces and words of friends, I remembered: Jesus sees. Jesus knows. Jesus rises. Jesus acts.