Acts 7:54-8:3 | Imitating JesusSample

In Stephen’s death and the persecution that broke out against Christians, Acts introduces us to someone. Here, his name is Saul. Later, we’ll come to know him as Paul. He became a major player in the persecution against Christians. He’ll become a major player in the rest of Acts.

Saul was a man who became like Jesus. We’ll hear more of his story in Acts 9. For now, what’s important to see is just how far and just how warped he was from the true way of God. Here he is, this one who would come to be the key apostle. Here he is, the main player for the rest of the book of Acts. Here he is, the one who would come to write nearly half the New Testament. Here he is, watching the coats of the Sanhedrin as they stoned Stephen, cheering them on every step of the way, and bent on destroying God’s people with an unholy zeal.

Saul would come to know Jesus. Saul would be forever changed by Jesus. Saul would come to be like Jesus (and maybe suffer more than any other disciple did.) That means, for our purposes in the part of the storyline we’re looking at this week, Paul would come to mourn.

Acts 8 tells us that godly men mourned over the death of Stephen. They did not rush past tragedy. They did not rush to the glorious victory aspect of Stephen’s death. No. They mourned deeply. Mourning is the way of God.

Jesus proclaims that we live in a world that is upside down. “Blessed are those who mourn.” Mourning is an act of hope in a reality yet to be fully realized. Someday, mourners will receive the strangely wrapped gift of comfort. Healing, wisdom, work, and resurrection are other strangely wrapped gifts that will come to mourners someday. But let’s not rush to this glorious reality. Let’s mourn first.

Jesus mourned. His followers do too. They see the hurt in the world. They see suffering. They see things that could be whole and filled with life that are vandalized by sin and infected with death. They see sin, including their own, with all its effects. They see loss. And like Jesus, they have compassion. They know this is not the way it is supposed to be. They feel it deeply.

Paul would eventually learn what it would mean to mourn for God. Like Jesus. Like his first followers. Perhaps like you. What suffering are you facing or seeing? Mourn. It’s one of the most Jesus-things you can do. And know his Spirit is with you. Pointing towards his kingdom. Marked with hope.

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