PrintToday's "Moment with Mark" (103)
4 March, 2013
Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders (Mark 14:43 NLT)
The mob did not come on their own initiative. This whole scenario smells of conspiracy, power and manipulation. Notice who were the instigators of this midnight police raid.
"....the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders."
One of the most insightful comments I have ever heard on this subject went something like this: "
The group that God last used significantly in His work will most likely become the group that persecutes those whom God is now using significantly".
It was the leadership of the religious establishment that was most threatened by this radical usurper from Galilee. Not only did they oppose Jesus, they actively looked for ways and means whereby they could discredit Him and have done with Him once and for all.
I have seen that truth worked out many times since I first heard the principle enunciated. Those who are on fire for God are resisted by the leadership of the "established Church" because they are a threat to good order, discipline and orthodoxy.
I think it was Gamaliel, himself an expert in religious law, who gave the best advice to any leader who is feeling threatened by some new thing that claims to be of God. Please read it right through. It is excellent advice for leaders.
At this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member had a different perspective. He was a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert on religious law and was very popular with the people. He stood up and ordered that the apostles be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he addressed his colleagues as follows: "Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About four hundred others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got some people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.
"So my advice is, leave these men alone. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:33-39 NLT)
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