Good Monday to you my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,
Would you agree that PERSEVERANCE is a good thing? Have you found yourself needing extra strength to persevere in difficult circumstances? Perhaps you remember the apostle Paul wrote this to the Christians in Rome suffering great persecution: “…we glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance develops character and character hope.” (Romans 5:3,4) Do you see that happening in you, my friends?
There are many powerful words which describe the apostle Paul, at least as I have come to know him, and as he’s described in the Bible, and certainly “perseverance” would be one of those words. Let’s rejoin Luke’s description of what’s happening, in the great city of Ephesus, as Paul has arrived there on his third missionary journey. This is Paul’s second visit to this great city. His first visit was a few months earlier, (Acts 18:19-21) but it was only a very brief visit and he had promised the people he would return if God would enable him.
Now, a few months later, Paul has arrived and the past few days we saw Paul helping 12 Ephesian men come to a full understanding of Jesus; trust Jesus to be their Savior; experienced baptism, probably by Paul; and also, the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon them. Luke tells us what happened next: “Paul entered the Synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned ‘the Way’.” (Acts 19:8,9)
Paul, of course, felt most at home in the Synagogue of any city. From his boyhood, Saul Paulus of Tarsus had been taught by Rabbi’s and scholars in the Synagogues of Tarsus, Jerusalem and other cities. Paul loved learning and debating. He was incredibly intelligent and had been schooled by some of the most renowned scholars of his day. (Gal.1:13,14) Here in Ephesus, Paul would not only encounter well taught Jews, but very intelligent Greeks and even some from Alexandria, Egypt and Athens, Greece.
There was no shortage of men hungry to debate the truths of God which Paul was presenting. For three months Paul found a hungry audience in the Ephesian Jewish Synagogue, but as always, some refused Paul’s explanation of Messiah Jesus, and the salvation from sin He had earned in His atonement death and resurrection. So, as Paul had experienced in every other Synagogue, resistance met Paul’s perseverance and conflict resulted.
Did you notice Luke’s phrase: “But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned ‘the Way’. That little phrase “The Way” grabs my attention, how about you? I find it in Acts 9:2 when Saul Paulus the Pharisee requests and receives official documents giving him authority to go to Damascus hunting any followers of Jesus. I find it also in Acts 19:23 where Luke describes a great disturbance which arose in Ephesus against followers of Jesus.
We know the word “Christians” was initiated in Syrian Antioch as a description of followers of Jesus, but this phrase “the Way” seems different, doesn’t it? It seems to me it’s describing more than a relationship with Jesus, more than salvation. It appears to be describing both a lifestyle and a prescribed road to God. Why do you suppose those two words, “The Way” were chosen to describe the growing following of Jesus and His teachings? Perhaps because Jesus had said in the upper room, when having the Passover meal with His disciples: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me.” (John 14:6) That is a profound statement.
Jesus was declaring that HE is the ONLY way to know God, approach God, have an encounter with God, build a relationship with God, and be accepted by God! Jesus is declaring that HE is living Truth, the Logos, which John described in John 1. So, what does it mean that opposition to Paul and His teaching rose up to publicly malign ‘The Way’? What was Paul experiencing?
I believe it’s not simply opposition, not simply disagreement or even rejection. The word ‘malign’ is very powerful, isn’t it? It means slander, mockery, and verbal abuse. In fact I think that is exactly what the modern term “cancel culture” means! Public maligning was intended to humiliate, invalidate and ruin the reputation of a person, in this case the apostle Paul! Look around your world, do you see ‘maligning’ happening? Who are the targets in your part of the world?
Paul was not afraid of anyone. But Paul was also not interested in wasting his time in meaningless arguments. Paul was an efficiency expert, wanting to make sure that his brief time in any city was maximized for kingdom of God impact! So, look what Paul did: “So Paul left them. [in the Synagogue] He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in this province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:9,10)
Large, public halls like this one, owned by Tyrannus, were often used as schools in the morning, and then available for rent to be used by anyone or group, something like public town halls in our day. Apparently, Paul was permitted to use this hall for public discussion and debate about God, the kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, Salvation found in Jesus and any other topic with which Paul wanted to engage the public in open discussion.
So many people in Ephesus had deep spiritual interest and Paul so loved this type of public teaching and debate, that Luke tells us Paul held this open forum for two years! So many people participated during those two years, Luke makes the outrageous statement that he doubted anyone lived in that part of Asia who had not heard of Paul and listened to Paul teach about Jesus and the Gospel. Now ponder that for a moment. Can anyone say that about where you live and is it true? Has the Gospel been heard, is the name of Jesus known by everyone in your city?
Let’s pause right here friends. May I ask you… how well known is Jesus Christ in your city? What about “the Way” to God through Jesus, is that well known where you live? What are the expectations of people in your city of Christians, people of “the Way” who live in your city? How have you contributed to or confused the perception of “The Way of Jesus” in your city? Have you and others had to persevere in sustaining a good reputation for Jesus in your city despite opposition, maybe even despite some public maligning? Are those fair questions my friends, to ask us in the year 2023?
Here’s a good worship song to help us reflect on the power found in “the Way” of Jesus, have you found it my friends?
Today’s Scripture is Acts 19:8-10.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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