Acts; Starving in Opposition

Oct. 15

Read: Acts 23:11,12, 22-26

Acts;

Starving In Opposition

“The following night the Lord stood by him (Paul) and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul…” v.11,12

The agenda of the enemy - the Devil - is to “steal, kill, and destroy”. We know this from John 10:10 when Jesus says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The violence, chaos, and blood-thirst of these people in Jerusalem that oppose Paul tell us exactly who they are working for. (cf. John 8:39-47) Can you imagine how crazed you would have to be to make a serious pact with 39 other people to not eat or drink until you killed someone!?! It is ludicrous really when you consider it. I wonder how long these men kept their oath? I don’t think they foresaw at all how their opposition to Jesus would backfire on them… because we see at the end of the chapter just exactly how long this went on:

“When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.” (v.27)

Two years later Paul was still alive and in prison. Two years! I wonder what was going through the minds of these would-be murderers at about day 40 … or even day 50!?  How many days can you even go without drinking? How about eating? 3 days without water… 40 days without food? Their vow is simply FOOLISH, and I am sure that they did not keep it… or if they did… THEY were the ones to die - not Paul.

This is plight of those who oppose themselves to Jesus. In their chaos and blood-thirst they commit themselves to foolish things that in the end only lead to destruction and emptiness. How shocked would those 40 men be when they learned that their plot was actually the catalyst for Paul be transported out of Jerusalem… thwarting their own plan. Or did they ever expect that two years later Paul would be sharing the good news of Jesus with governors and Roman leaders while under house arrest? The ill they wished on someone else had come back upon them many fold. There is simply no life to be found in opposing Jesus - the author and giver of LIFE. I wonder if any of those 40 men changed their minds about Jesus? On what number day did they begin to regret setting themselves up against Paul and the work of Christ? Could they see the ways that Jesus was with Paul? These are all speculations, but maybe worth considering.

Have you make a brash vow somewhere along the way? Maybe you committed yourself to something foolish? Are your plans in opposition to Jesus? There is no life to be found there. These would-be killers were cutting themselves off from both the bread and water of this world as well as “the Living Water” and “Bread of Life” that is Jesus Christ! (cf. John 6:35,7:38) In the end, there is just withering and starvation apart from Jesus… in Christ there is nourishment and strength… Living Water and Bread of Life. This cannot be taken from the people of God! Do not spend today “hungry” - but rather draw near to the “good shepherd” … our Big Brother Jesus! Love you guys! - JDP