David Bahn – Reflections

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Acts 14:1-15

Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. ² But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. ³ So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. ⁴ But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. ⁵ When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, ⁶ they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, ⁷ and there they continued to preach the gospel.

⁸ Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, ¹⁰ said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. ¹¹ And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” ¹² Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. ¹³ And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. ¹⁴ But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

“We’re just going to come up here and take over,” I said. I intended it as a joke – a comment designed to lighten the mood. It did anything but that. My seminary classmate and I had been sent as good will ambassadors because the seminary was moving to Fort Wayne from Springfield. We would be sharing the campus of the senior college for their final year. The seminary would actually take over the campus the following year. There were not many warm feelings toward us seminary students. In fact, there were some hot feelings of resentment for our takeover of this school’s campus.

So when I made my joke it was a joke only in my own mind. In fact it was a poke in the eyes of the college students we were meeting with. I backtracked as quickly as I could – somewhat unsuccessfully I might add. Only because of the words, demeanor, and influence of a gracious class leader from the college was the meeting saved.

But what I said was actually true. We did come and after our first year of a shared campus, we took over the place.

When the people saw Paul and Barnabas performing miracles they said something that they did not understand. It was true in a way they did not realize. They said, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Paul and Barnabas were not gods. They were quick to dispel that notion. Luke tells us that “they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you.’” They knew the power to do miracles, change lives, and save people was not their own. God was at work through them.

I wonder if Paul remembered this encounter when he wrote to the church in Philippi. He wrote that Jesus Christ was born in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7). Jesus was God having come down to us. His presence among men was something to get excited about. Mostly, however, the people of Jesus’ day did not recognize him for who he was. Many in Jesus’ day were deeply touched by his life and ministry, and saw him as God’s gift to men and women. Many, however, rejected him and saw him as a threat to their way of life.

Jesus is true God and true man. He has come down to redeem us. He calls us to turn from the vain idols “to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”