The Berean synagogue leaders afford Paul a hearing with them to make his case about Messiah–who showed up and was rejected by his own.
Acts 17:11-13; Matthew 23:29-36; 1 Kings 22:1-28; Isaiah 53:1-6
“Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
— Matthew 23:29-36
…
With a horde of Jewish boys seated around him, Benjamin instructs them with the day’s lesson. Upon hearing a commotion outside, he excuses himself from his class and walks across the cavernous room to the door on the other side. He opens the door to a shaft of sunlight that pries in. Shielding his eyes, he makes out what appears to be horses in the synagogue’s courtyard.
“What is happening here?” Benjamin mutters to himself. Finding his voice, he calls out to one of the riders facing away from him. “What is this?”
Another voice calls out from his flank and says, “What does it look like, Benjamin? Our boys have run off to Berea, and we’re going after them.”
Benjamin lets out a deep breath and then says, “Jaden… you can’t do this.”
“We can, Rabbi.” Jaden responds, as he hoists himself up to mount the animal. “And we will.”
…
“Yes, yes, yes…” Paul says with a hint of exasperation. He takes a breath, regroups, and says. “Let me see if I can go at this from another angle… You’re familiar with the prophet Isaiah, yes?”
The elders nod affirmatively and speak out. “Of course.”
“Of course you are.” Paul says as he checks himself. “Forgive me gentlemen, sometimes I forget who I’m talking with. When you think about Isaiah, what comes to mind?”
“He was a prophet who spoke for God.” One of the elders says aloud. “We place Isaiah in the highest of regard.”
“You’re right… We do.” Paul affirms. “Now, I want you to put yourselves in the sandals of those who were being warned by Isaiah. Some were his own people who were in charge of Jerusalem. How did these contemporaries regard him?”
The elders look at each other and then back at Paul, wondering where he is heading.
“When he warned them as God’s mouthpiece… How did his kinsmen feel about him at that moment?” Paul asks and pauses for a beat. “Yes, you and I both know they weren’t too happy with him. I mean, c’mon… nobody likes to be called out when they’ve made the wrong decision, right? Many thought he was going against progress. Some even thought he was falsifying the claims of God. King Manasseh was such an individual, but then again, he didn’t worship the God of Israel. No, this guy even sacrificed his own son into the fire as an act of worship. Neither he nor the people of Judah at the time liked Isaiah or what he stood for, so Manasseh devised a plan to abduct the prophet and have him sawn in half.”
Without stopping, Paul continues: “Jeremiah… also a prophet of God?”
“Of course.” The elders respond nearly in unison.
Paul nods and says, “Yes, yes he was. And when he was forcibly taken to Egypt and found himself confronting a large group of Judeans who were burning incense to the Egyptian “Queen of Heaven,” how did the Judeans respond when he said, “Do you think the LORD did not know that you, your families, and all of Judea were burning incense to idols back in the streets of Jerusalem? It was because the LORD could no longer bear all the disgusting things you were doing that he made your land an object of cursing—a desolate ruin without inhabitants. All these terrible things happened to you because you have worshipped idols and sinned against the LORD. You have refused to obey him or follow his laws.””
One of the elders shifts in his seat, stares at Paul and asks. “Where is this going…? We are law abiding Jews.”
“Yes… you are. Please, gentlemen, hear me out with this.” Paul says. “Throughout Israel’s turbulent history, each prophet of God was rejected by his own kinsman. Jeremiah was stoned to death by his own people. Even their own extended families didn’t want anything to do with them. At parties, people would say, “Oh, that’s our cousin, ‘Crazy Micah’, speaking. We only put up with him on feast days.” Why? Because when a prophet would speak for God, the people of Israel… the children of God… didn’t want to hear what God had to say about the matter–mostly because they had strayed away from the covenant agreement they made with him.”
Paul laughs at this for a moment. Finally, he looks up at the staring elders and says, “Forgive me, my brothers. I was just thinking about one particular prophet and the pushback he received. Back when Israel and Judah were two separate nations, Kings Ahab and Jehoshaphat made a truce to fight together against the people of Aram. Ahab was itchy to get his hands on Ramoth-Gilead and its surrounding territory east of the Jordan, so in persuading King Jehoshaphat of Judah to join in, Ahab–the King of Israel… you know, the people chosen by the God of Israel–had a bunch of prophets come in to predict the outcome should they go to war.”
“Well…” Paul says with a large gesture. “They spoke as if speaking for God and predicted a very favorable outcome. “Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory.” One of them said. Another prophet named Zedekiah made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the LORD says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!” In fact, as if in unison, the prophets raised their fists and proclaimed that God would give Israel the victory against the Arameans.””
“Naturally, Ahab was very pleased with the persuasive oratory of these divine spokesmen.” Paul concedes. “After all, they were confirming what he was already set on doing. But… King Jehoshaphat of Judah… He wasn’t quite convinced. He looked around the swarm of officials who were gathered in front of them at the foot of the city gates there in Samaria… and he wondered, “Isn’t there a prophet of the God of Israel and Judah among us so we may hear from him?””
“You see…” Paul says. “The problem was that there was nobody there who spoke for God. The four hundred prophets who were invited to speak were not representatives of the God of Israel. No, they worshipped a local deity named Baal. So, when Jehoshaphat spoke up, this made King Ahab grumpy. Finally, with some hesitation he said, “There is this one man, Micaiah, who represents the God of Israel and Judah. But I hate him. He’s a thorn in my side. He never speaks well of me, and his prophecies always hint of my demise.””
Paul continues with his story: “So, with hundreds gathered before both kings on their royal thrones, Micaiah was reluctantly ushered into their presence. Even the guy who went to retrieve him gave him a stern warning: “Look!” He said. “All the prophets are promising victory for the king here. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success. Do we understand each other?”
The pressure was mounting. All of the other prophets stood nearby, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. King Ahab sitting right in front of him with the power to take his life without the faintest hint of remorse. It appears that the only one in the room who wanted to hear from God was King Jehoshaphat, and it’s likely he was the only reason that Micaiah was still alive at this moment.”
“Here we have the entire room pulling for King Ahab, and in front of them stands this solitary figure who supposedly speaks for the God of Israel and Judah.” Paul continues. “So, what happened? Leaning forward in his chair and clenching his staff with his right hand, King Ahab stared menacingly at the prophet and finally let out a sigh. The crowd stood in silence waiting… waiting… when King Ahab finally asked the question of the one and only man he wished not to hear from. “Michaiah…” He lets out. “Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead… or… should we hold back?”
All eyes immediately shifted from Ahab to the sole individual standing in the middle of a large crowd. “What will he say?” Many wondered to one another.
Seated next to King Ahab was King Jehoshaphet of Judah, who found himself leaning forward as well. His eyes were fully alert in anticipation of what might be shared.
Michaiah lifted his head and looked deeply into the eyes of King Ahab, saying nothing for the moment. The crowd grew nervous, as their eyes shifted back and forth between the two men.
“Well?” Ahab barked impatiently. “What of it? Should we go to war?” He asked again.
“Yes.” Michaiah replied with a slight smile. “Go, attack, and be victorious. The Lord will give the king victory.”
Sitting silent for only a few seconds, Ahab finally lost it. “How many times must I insist that you speak only the truth when you speak for the Lord?” He demanded.
Michaiah then gave a slight nod and responded. “Okay.” He took in his surroundings and finally said. “In a vision I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘Their master has been killed. Send them home in peace.’”
“The City Gates stood in silence, and it was palpable. Not a word.” Paul says. “With a flat affect, King Ahab glared back at the prophet who just stood and watched. Ahab then leaned over and said to his fellow King from the South, “Didn’t I tell you? He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.”
“By all intensive purposes, Michaiah was a dead man standing.” Paul says. “In his defining moment, he put his neck out and would suffer the consequences. But… get this… Michaiah wasn’t finished. “Listen to what the Lord says.” Michaiah yelled out. “I’ve seen the Lord sitting on his throne with the armies of heaven surrounding him. He asked the armies, “Who can persuade Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead, so Ahab will be killed?” There were many ideas, when finally a particular spirit approached the Lord and said. “I can do it. I will inspire Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.” So you see,” Michaiah went on. “The true God of Israel has declared your doom because you have believed the lies of those who surround you here.”
“So what happened next?” Paul asks. “Zedekiah, the prophet who made the iron horns and promised a massive goring, walked up to Michaiah, slapped him across the face, and demanded: “SInce when did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” Turning his head back from the fresh blow, Michaiah responded. “You will discover soon enough, when they find you cowering in a secret room.””
“”Put this man in prison!” Ahab grouched. “Feed him nothing until I return from battle.”” Paul exclaims, as he reenacts the moment. “Prophets and soldiers alike rushed to grab Micaiah and began to drag him away. But Michaiah managed to say these words on his way out. “If you return alive, then I am not a prophet of God. Mark my words!””
“I could go on and on about how the prophets were rejected by the people of Israel…” Paul says. “So, why do you think it would be any different for the Messiah?”
…
We’re going to stop here for today:
Isaiah was spot on when he said that the well anticipated Messiah of Israel would be completely rejected by the very people who were waiting for him. Isaiah said it this way:
Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed to us by his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.
— Isaiah 53:1-6
What’s happening here? Paul is building his case before the Berean elders to explain how Messiah needed to be rejected by Israel and be killed for his ministry. This is contrary to the false belief that Messiah would simply swoop down and start immediately reigning over Israel. That’s what Jewish leadership in the first Century was expecting and teaching. It is also one of the primary reasons… there were others… that those in Jewish leadership outright rejected Messiah as well as the prophet that would introduce him as Messiah. Of course, I am referring to the ministries of Jesus and John the Baptizer. Those in leadership rejected both John and Jesus alike, even though the general populous overwhelmingly favored them.
Yes, there are some other reasons, that go beyond theology, for the rejection from those in Jewish leadership. While I won’t be able share too much in this podcast, I do wish to point out the issue of infrastructure, rising within the ranks of an infrastructure, and the concept of “group think”.
To explain the ideas of infrastructure and “group think”, suppose you work for a company that has been around and has offered a good product for a long time now. You have liked the product, you have enjoyed working for the company, and you get paid well for working there.
Over the years, the company has had its ups and downs and has changed leadership on a few occasions. For the most part, they have weathered the storms pretty well. However, the industry has changed and competing against newer industry players has become a challenge. Seeing sales diminish over time, you discover that something needs to be done about your product. You raise the flag and try to help your own people to see the problem, but you’re met with some abrasive feedback, especially from mid-level management. “You’re out of line.” You hear on more than occasion. “This isn’t your concern.”
So, when a colleague comes up with a great idea that you think will revolutionize the industry and place your company back on top, you start sharing the idea to your superiors. But, they don’t have the time or the interest to give to it. Furthermore, they are managers and not visionary product developers. So, the idea doesn’t go up the chain of command. You value the company, but you also see the writing on the wall if something doesn’t change. What do you do? Do you just ride things out, hoping to keep your job for as long as you can? Do you not speak out and share the idea, only to just let it pass by the wayside? What do you do when nobody will give you a hearing, especially when it’s not your place to share? You don’t have the pedigree, the letters of certification, and neither does your colleague. You haven’t risen within the trusted ranks that are effectively geared by a system of processes. No, stick to your job and continue to do it well. That’s your calling.
So, you and your colleague decide to test his product on the side. As you expected, it appears to be a game changer. Your demonstrations garner support from the Average Joes within your company… without the leadership’s consent. Uh oh… Yeah, uh oh is right. You get “buy in” from many of the staff. They love the idea and the prototype.
Eventually, leadership hears about what is happening. They aren’t pleased… at all. So, here’s the challenge: You and your visionary colleague are trying to save the company, but those who positionally outrank you are not pleased with the rumblings of how your product is taking flight. They think your actions are usurping their authority. They are far more concerned about your disobedience to stay the course and do your job. After all, it was never your place to offer this.
Hopefully, this begins to paint a picture. Neither Jesus nor John had official rabbinical training. It doesn’t mean they didn’t know what they were talking about. It just means they weren’t raised through the Jewish leadership track. So, when the opportunity arose to herald the Messiah, many in Jewish leadership stood greatly opposed because Jesus wasn’t trained by them. Getting “buy in” without having the pedigree wouldn’t be possible. While many among the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians, the priests, the Sanhedrin members and Romans didn’t like each other… They liked Jesus and John less.
In instances like these, “group think” is fairly easy to see. In many cases, those in mid-level management who have their own ambitions of climbing the ranks within the established infrastructure simply won’t wish to work outside of the lines defined within their training. You do as you have been trained to do. They will tow their respective lines because they wish to be promoted to higher levels of leadership. Whatever the most senior level of leadership prescribes, these mid-level managers are apt to blindly follow simply due to their desire for personal promotion. So, when a player with a radical idea comes into sight, the established leaders immediately feel threatened and will reject both the idea and the player. With such rejection, it isn’t uncommon for these leaders to “circle the wagons” and team up to deal with the threat.
No longer is it about the brilliance of an idea. It’s simply about getting rid of the rogue individual who hasn’t “paid his dues” as we have.
So, what happens when God chooses to bypass the human devised infrastructure to bring about his Messiah? Just like the other prophets who were condemned by their own countrymen, Messiah was also condemned, rejected, and even tortured to the point of death. Yet God chose this to be the very way to reconcile a condemning humanity with himself. Crazy, right?
Well, that’s all for today. May you be encouraged to do some digging of your own and discover how Jesus’ rejection would result in life to those who receive him. And with that, let’s move forward… together.